Nottinghamshire County Council has set out the buildings it will prioritise for major repairs and upgrades this year amid a maintenance backlog of at least £100 million. The authority has recently approved projects at 14 of its buildings across Nottinghamshire, with problems prioritised being those that could "cause closure of buildings or disruption to services".
Removing asbestos, upgrading heating systems and replacing roof tiles are among the works that will be carried out. The buildings chosen include five children's centres, four youth centres, four libraries and a car park.
The 14 projects will cost an estimated £4.5 million, with the most expensive work being carried out at Sutton in Ashfield's library. £2 million of work there will include replacing lifts, refurbishing all electrical systems and installing new energy-efficient lighting.
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The council said: "With a significant backlog of maintenance works required across the council’s property estate, thought to be at least £100 million but likely to be significantly higher, it is necessary to prioritise the works to be undertaken within the funds currently available. The clear objective of the maintenance programmes is to address matters that could cause closure of buildings or disruption to services whilst maintaining safe, compliant spaces for staff and service users."
Maintenance and improvement at the county council's buildings is delivered through several programmes, including the schools building improvement scheme. Day-to-day maintenance is carried out from existing budgets at the council's corporate buildings, but the major repairs and upgrades just approved relate to the Property Planned Maintenance Programme (PPMP).
In planning which buildings should be prioritised, the council commissions condition surveys to identify any "safety-critical" works that need doing. It says it is developing the way it does these surveys so that a "practical and realistic maintenance programme" can be introduced.
Other buildings where work will be carried out over the next financial year, running into 2024, include youth centres in Redhill, Calverton, Bircotes and Bilsthorpe. Libraries in Newark, Blidworth and Toton, children's centres in Mansfield, Chilwell, Netherfield and Sutton and the Lambley Primary car park will also receive upgrades.
