Council may sell off beach huts in cash saving move

North Norfolk District Council said there is a demand for long-term leases with more than 900 people on waiting lists

The leaseholds of hundreds of beach huts may be sold off by a council as a fundraising solution.

North Norfolk District Council is considering a range of options, which include offering the units to private companies or selling the leases in order to save itself money.

Despite there being a demand for long-term leases with more than 900 people on waiting lists, the council has seen a decline in people renting short-term during the summer months.

Lucy Shires, Liberal Democrat councillor and cabinet member for finance, estates and property services, warned taking away weekly lets could risk "reputational damage".

The council manages 400 beach huts across Cromer, Sheringham, Mundesley and Overstrand.

It is estimated the huts could raise about £288,950 from long-term leases and £45,000 from weekly lets.

While it has been recommended the council continues to manage the beach huts, it could explore converting weekly rentals into long-term leases

Philip Bailey, a Liberal Democrat Sheringham councillor, said more information was needed about how much income could be generated.

"We need to know the price point of what we are charging," he said.

Nigel Dixon, Conservative councillor and chairman of the committee, said: "We wouldn't have any means to prevent that, so in terms of reputational damage, there would be an exposure there that we had done something that caused this."

Overview and Scrutiny Committee members recommended the council continues to manage the beach huts with the aim of raising the price it charges for long-term leases.

It said the council could explore converting more of its weekly rentals to long-term leases too.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said a decision over the beach huts future will be made at a later date.