Southampton council urged to reveal list of buildings it wants to sell

It comes after the authority was forced to issue a statement after a BBC News story incorrectly said Tudor House was on the list to sell off.

In the unusual move, the council publicly refuted the accuracy of the story, labelling it as “false”.

Now Cllr Jeremy Moulton - the deputy leader of the Conservative Group in Southampton - has called on the authority to publish the list “to end the worry and confusion”.

Jeremy Moulton

Jeremy Moulton said: “The BBC story suggesting that the council at some point considered selling Tudor House has caused real concern.

“Opposition councillors have seen the confidential list and there are some sites and properties on there which would really worry businesses and residents if they knew about them.

“The Labour council should publish the list to end the worry and confusion and to give local people a chance to have their say.

“Otherwise, there will undoubtedly be more speculation about what they are planning”.

Council leader, Lorna Fielker said publishing the information would undermine the value of properties.

The council has previously said car parks would be sold off. The move comes after Government granted Exceptional Financial Support to the council.

It allows the authority to sell capital assets to pay for running costs - something not normally allowed.

The support package gives the council permission to generate up to £121.6m to pay for running costs.

This includes helping plug a £30m shortfall for 2023/24. Savings had been made to leave just £7.7m to find this year - but more savings are needed next financial year.

Cllr Fielker said: “There are no plans to sell Tudor House and Gardens or galleries. However, Southampton City Council has a duty to ensure it receives the best price for any council assets sold.

“Putting all the information into the public domain is one go will undermine the value. My priority is to do what is right for the residents of the city in the long term rather than respond to speculation”.

She said the council owns more than 330 assets and the sale of some of these is “an opportunity to be more proactive about the management of council assets to support and drive regeneration and economic development”.