Monday, January 31, 2011

Police hope to raise over �1.3m from building sales

POLICE want to sell buildings worth more than �1.3m to help make up for money lost in Government spending cuts.

The sale of seven police houses, five of which are occupied by officers and their families, could raise �1.2m.

And the sale of Notts Police Federation's North Lodge home, on the boundary of the force's Sherwood Lodge HQ, is expected to fetch �160,000.

The homes will be offered to the residents at market value, but if they decide not to buy, they will be given three months to leave.

Officers in England and Wales receive a housing allowance which they forego if they live in a police house.

Mick Taylor, chairman of Notts Police Federation, said it was interested in buying North Lodge.

"The force has offered accommodation in Sherwood Lodge but we would lose our independence and be restricted on meeting dates. Some of the officers we deal with, especially those injured on duty, want to receive support away from main police buildings.

"We are disappointed that it's come to this. However, we know the force needs to save money wherever it can."

On the sale of the houses, Mr Taylor added: "Anyone who has lived in those premises will know it brings home the nature of 24/7 policing.

"People who know there is an officer in their village or area are at the door asking for help.

"I think when you start closing down police houses, local policing does suffer."

The police authority meets on Wednesday at County Hall, when it will also be asked to allow the continuation of rental agreements with communication companies to site aerials, dishes and associated equipment on police-owned masts.

The annual rental income of �120,000 is the preferred option rather than a potential sale value of �750,000.

The integrated offender management team – comprising police officers and criminal justice and probation service staff – is also set to move from the Venture Centre in Worksop to a non-police building.

The move will save the drug and alcohol action team about �5,000 a year.

An ongoing review of the force's estate has already led to planned investment in 2010/11 and 2011/12 being stopped for police stations at Arnold, Eastwood, Clifton, Broxtowe, Beeston, Retford, Ollerton, Kirkby, Harworth, Hucknall, Mansfield, Worksop, and also stables at Sherwood Lodge and CCTV for custody suites.

Notts Police wants to save �45m over three years from April 2011 to cope with a 20 per cent reduction in government force spending.



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