A new plan showing how more than £55 million worth of public assets in West Cumbria should be managed has been drawn up.

The draft asset management plan has been put together by Allerdale council alongside a policy on how assets the authority no longer needs should be disposed of and new assets acquired.

In a report to the council's ruling executive, officers stated that the authority has more than £33 million worth of investment assets, which provide income for the council and help boost commercial development in the borough. They include retail and industrial units.

It also holds more than £20.5 million worth of community assets, including parks and leisure centres.

The council's operational assets, such as offices, service centres and depots required to deliver council services, are valued at £2.8 million.

It holds more than 100 acres of empty development land.

The valuations do not include all property the council owns, with some community assets in particular not valued.

Officers also warn that the valuation methods used in some cases may not reflect market values.

The policy covers land and property owned or leased by the council.

In 2016-17, the council expects to raise more than £1.7 million of revenue from its assets, from rents and other fees.

Between 2012 and 2015 it received more than £2.8 million in capital funding from 29 sales of land and buildings.

The draft documents seek to help the council be more efficient in the face of reduced funding from central government, better manage and invest in its property and benefit the community.

Assets could be transferred via sale, lease, short tenancy or grant of rights over land.

Options include selling sites through Allerdale Investment Partnership, which has already been used to bring a new Lidl supermarket, currently under construction, to Maryport.

The documents are due to be voted on by full council on July 20.