A city council cabinet member has hit back at claims from opposition councillors that its plans to sell 32 of its sites were being done "secretly".

Councillor Sarah Bogle said there are "very specific" reasons why the sites are confidential.

As previously reported, the Daily Echo has been told cash-strapped Southampton City Council has earmarked 32 sites to be sold, which includes 16 car parks and 16 buildings. This includes in Bitterne, Shirley and Woolston.

A senior opposition councillor said he had been “gagged” and has warned there would be "uproar" from the public should the locations be revealed.

READ MORE: Struggling council to 'secretly' sell 32 sites in 'sickening' move

Cllr Bogle, cabinet member for economic development, said: "There is no guarantee that all of these in the list are going to be sold. There are some we have chosen to retain from the original list, and we don't want to jeopardise what we can get for the taxpayers.

"We have taken advice that this is a very sensible course of action. Otherwise, we are putting things out there and upsetting a lot of people, and then deciding we aren't selling that asset. That would not make any sense.

"There seemed to be less opposition in March, I don't know what has changed. There wasn't any difference to what happened then, it is almost like they didn't get the memo.

"We have gone through lots of scrutiny and debates. Members of the council have the right to be briefed and find out more about it, I am not sure if they have availed themselves of that right.

"This is as much about financial sustainability as it is about growth. It is change and it is a new way of working, so I accept that some people have found this difficult, but I genuinely think this is a positive reform and it can help the city.

"We want to be as transparent as we can be, but we have to protect the taxpayer's money and how we spend it to get the most possible value out of the sites."

Councillor Sarah BogleCouncillor Sarah Bogle (Image: Newsquest)

Councillor Bogle adds that the decision on whether to sell all or any of the 32 sites will probably take the next year to "sort out". 

READ MORE: Council bids to make £85m by selling assets off and reviewing investment

The initial target for money raised through the sale of these assets was £85m, though Councillor Bogle says this is now "less of a focus", with the aim shifting towards development. However, the council is still expected to raise around £15m this year. 

She adds that when sites are sold, they will still enter the usual process of planning applications that all sites are subject to. This would include public consultation.

"The sites chosen for disposal are ones that would not harm our interests. Most of our assets are not on the table," added Councillor Bogle.

"This is only one aspect, and it is helping, but it is only one of 28 transformation projects.

"It is not a disposal to sell off sites quickly, but to have something done with them. It shows we have more of a grip on our assets than we did in the past."