Wakefield Council is to accelerate the sale of between 100 and 150 of its buildings over the next two years to raise funds, according to proposals due before the council's Cabinet on 22 September.
The Reform-led authority, which owns a portfolio of more than 1,600 properties, already made £6.5m from the sale of 18 assets during the last financial year.
Which buildings are being considered?
Feasibility work has already started on the potential sale of Pontefract Municipal Offices, Castleford's Five Towns Resource Centre and Queens House in Wakefield city centre.
The council previously approved a number of high-profile sales under the previous Labour administration, including Woolley Hall, which sold at auction last month for £1.5m. Castleford Civic Hall was also disposed of and is due to be demolished to build education facilities.
Why is the council selling buildings?
The council says a "more disciplined and accelerated" approach is required to its retention of properties, given its resources to manage and maintain them are "increasingly constrained".
According to the report, assets have historically been retained because they may be required at some future point. This has resulted in assets remaining in council ownership without a clear operational need, funded project or agreed business case.
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy has urged local authorities to only hold assets required to deliver services to residents, and to ensure any investment property is properly managed and provides tangible value for money.
