SCOTTISH Borders Council is to review its property portfolio as it bids to “live within its means” in the coming years.
The cash-strapped local authority says the move will help “achieve efficiencies”, make it “more sustainable” and “allow it to deliver key services”.
Work has also been done to repurpose the council’s offices in Newtown St Boswells as a Civic Hub – opening the facility up as a shared space for other organisations including Live Borders and NHS Borders.
Councillor Simon Mountford, SBC’s executive member for management and planning, said: “The process of estate rationalisation is a crucial step in helping to create operational efficiencies, enabling the council to live within its means in the years to come.
“Our estate is ageing and the large and dispersed nature of our portfolio of properties places pressure on services with valuable resources used up keeping them functional and in reasonable condition.”
A plan was presented to councillors last week outlining an approach to “rationalise, optimise and decarbonise” property.
The measures would see a reduction in the amount of underutilised property the council owns, the use of key assets maximised and the introduction of measures to significantly reduce C02 emissions.
It follows a review of the council’s estate which was undertaken in 2022.
That activity identified the need to streamline an ageing and oversized estate which was not meeting the needs of local communities and was financially unsustainable.
A related project will also be undertaken jointly by SBC and Live Borders to review and consult on the future of council-owned buildings used for sport, leisure and cultural services.
Mr Mountford said: “This plan outlines a clear strategy for making significant long-term savings across the estate through the rationalisation of property, targeted investment and an increased focus in reducing energy costs.
“This means vital services and key assets can instead by prioritised and protected in the longer term helping support a more sustainable council that delivers for its residents.”
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