MPA accommodation

Report: 10
Date: 20 September 2001
By: Clerk and Treasurer

Summary

The attached report sets out the action taken to date in conducting a search for suitable temporary offices for the MPA and suggests that it may be prudent to widen the search area.

A. Recommendation

Members consider whether they wish to widen the search area for MPA accommodation.

B. Supporting information

1. The full Authority at its meeting on 10 May 2001 determined the Victoria area as the preferred location for MPA offices for a temporary period from July 2002, or sooner.

2. It was noted that given the short timescales, and the proposed temporary nature of the immediate move it might be necessary to relax the criteria the location at some stage. One specific area for compromise might be to detach the requirement for public meeting rooms from the location of the MPA offices.

3. Following the decision on location, the MPS Property Services Department were provided a specification for the move and conducted a trawl of likely available/soon to be available office space. The requirement now includes internal audit in the light of advice that their current location, at Putney, is a significant drawback to the recruitment of good quality staff.

4. The following property resulted from the trawl by Property Services Department:

• Albany House, 94-98 Petty France SW1
• 30 Buckingham Gate SW1
• 66 Buckingham Gate, SW1
• NIOC House 1, Tothill Street, SW1
• 6 -18 Old Queen Street, SW1
• Butlers Place SW1
• 63 Romney Street SW1 - Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority (GLMCA) building
• Portland House, Stag Place SW1

5. All the properties with the exception of Portland House have been visited at least once. At this stage none of the property is considered immediately suitable, for a variety of reasons including: cost, access, lack of flexibility, suitability for offices and/or meeting rooms. Portland House offered ‘serviced’ office space but the floor plan layout indicated that it would be too cramped for MPA usage. The GLMCA building has potential but it is not clear that the accommodation will in practice be available - further enquiries are taking place.

6. The Property Services Department has advised that during the summer holiday period there was a lull in office property being marketed and that the position is likely to pick up. As soon as suitable property is identified visits will be made to assess suitability.

7. However, in view of the urgency and the apparent lack of appropriate office space on the market we need to look again at the requirements. While the ideal is to find premises within a quarter of a mile of New Scotland Yard, it may be appropriate to redefine the search area and expand the search to say a three-quarter of a mile definition, excluding the St. James’s area because of cost implications. A sketch map at Appendix 1 is attached identifying the area.

8. It is intended that a date of 19 October 2001 should be the deadline for identifying new premises including the extended search area, if Members are content with this approach. A further report will then be brought for approval to the full Authority on 10 December 2001.

C. Financial implications

The costs of the future accommodation for the MPA will inevitably exceed the cost of the current arrangements and will have to be reflected in the budget for 2002-03 and future years.

D. Background papers

• Existing report referred to above

E. Contact details

The author of this report is Ken Hunt, Deputy Treasurer.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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