OXFORDSHIRE councils received about £45m by selling off assets over recent years, an investigation found.

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) was told the Westgate Centre car park was sold off for £11m, with the shopping centre sold for £8m.

Oxford Mail:

But the council said it negotiated a more favourable deal so it will receive income in the future.

A council spokesman said: “Oxford City Council has never sold any part of its investment portfolio to balance the books.

"The value of our investment portfolio, the majority of which is invested in Oxford city, increased from £97.6m in 2012 to £182.6m in 2017, which is generating about £12m annually to protect front-line services.”

The TBIJ said the Vale of White Horse District Council sold Emcor House in Hatfield, Herfordshire for £1.4m.

The sale of Westway in Botley also generated £12.3m for the same authority. The sale of that was finalised in January 2018.

Oxford Mail:

The same district council also sold off 29-39 Grove Street in Wantage, which was used as three-bedroom houses for homeless accommodation, for £895,661.

THE LIST 

According to TBIJ, Oxford City Council sold:

  • Westgate car park - £11m (disposed of in February 2015)
  • Westgate Shopping Centre - £8m (February 2015)
  • Temple Cowley Pool - £3.6m (April 2018)
  • Abbey Place car park - £3m (February 2015)
  • Sub station sites - £1.25m (March 2015)
  • City Farm - £550,000 (November 2016)
  • York Place amenity land - £500,043 (October 2016)
  • Cranham Street car park - £453,000 (March 2016)
  • Brasenose Farm - £395,000 (February 2017)
  • Westlands Drive Old Community Centre - £350,000 (December 2016)
  • 92 St Clements - £325,000 (January 2015)
  • Parking spaces within Abbey Place - £200,000 (February 2015)
  • St Giles toilets - £125,000 (February 2017)
  • Between Towns depot - £100,000 (September 2017)
  • Woodstock Road toilets - £82,000 (July 2016)
  • Grantham House land strip - £80,000 (January 2015)
  • 46 Hythe Bridge Street - £64,000 (August 2018)
  • Castle Street toilets - £61,000 (February 2015)
  • Westgate kiosk - £50,000 (February 2015)
  • Westgate car park toilets - £50,000 (February 2015)
  • 12 Manor Road - £21,500 (April 2014)
  • Dunnock Way pathway - £13,000 (April 2016)
  • Bracegirdle playground - £8,850 (December 2014)
  • 12 Bullrush and land - £7,500 (March 2017)
  • Land at the back of 19 Daisy Bank, Abingdon - £4,000 (December 2016)
  • Land adjoining 243 Campbell Road - £3,500 (January 2018)

Vale of White Horse District Council sold: **

  • Westway, Botley - £12.4m (January 2018)
  • Emcor House, Hatfield - £1.4m (November 2015)
  • 29-39 Grove Street, Wantage - £895,661 (July 2016)
  • No 1&2 Goose Willow Cottages, Steventon - £621,015 (June 2015)
  • Wootton Road, Abingdon - £44,091 (March 2017)
  • Junction of Larkhill Road/Longmead, Abingdon - £22,000 (June 2014)
  • Kimber Road, Abingdon - £20,000 (September 2014)
  • Reynolds Way, Abingdon - £11,723 (March 2017)
  • Land in Little Howe Close, Radley - £4,250 (March 2014)

**These details have been updated - a previous version of this story showed incorrect dates of sale.