Estate updates

Report: 08
Date: 12 December 2002
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report updates members on the latest information on Estate Property Services matters.

A. Recommendation

Members are invited to note the information update on current estate issues.

B. Supporting information

Introduction

1. At the Finance Committee on 24 October 2002 it was agreed that a report on estates issues would be produced at alternate meetings. This is the first of those reports. Source documents can be found in previous relevant reports and also in the Members Library.

Trenchard House

2. A meeting has taken place between officers with Westminster City Council to discuss planning issues and a full report will be made to Committee in February 2003.

Rochester Row

3. This is subject to a separate report for members consideration. (agenda item 9)

Bow Street

4. There is a report in the exempt section of this agenda

Old Street

5. A meeting took place with CAP and their advisers on the 22 November 2002. A number of items require clarification and depending on progressing these a full report is submitted to this meeting at agenda item 12. CAP have made requests for an opportunity to present their proposals to various Authority Committees.

Arbour Square

6. Whilst originally earmarked for disposal this property is now considered suitable to meet expanding operational need. The cost of bringing the property back in to service is currently considered to be modest and containable with in existing budgets. Should costs require MPA approval a full report will be made. At present the Director of Property Services believes the action will fall within his delegated powers and this will be subject to a short report to the Resources Allocation Committee (RAC). The reuse of this property will not include a front office open to the public.

Capital programme

7. A review is ongoing to improve affordability and value for money in light of increasing and changed demands emerging from policing plans/priorities. A full report is expected to the MPA in January 2003.

Surplus residential units let to Housing Association

8. Discussions are ongoing with the Housing Associations and a report on this and related needs for a review of Housing Policy will be brought to the Committee in January 2003.

Glidewell

9. There is a Criminal Justice update report at agenda item 13.

10. As previously reported no further capital expense is being committed to this project until such time as a full costing is available along with a partnership /exit strategy. A pan London group of all the property representatives of criminal justice organisations has been formed and is progressing practical resolutions around co-location and the necessary protocols. There is general agreement around the issues (particularly the need for balanced funding solutions so no one organisation bears the brunt of property costs) but there is a problem still around some aspects of standards and space allocation required by the CPS. Work is ongoing and provided the MPA approves the revised strategy, protocols and costs the first two units will be rolled out at Edmonton and Colindale. The Director of Property Services could execute these schemes under delegated powers if the Committee concurs with the principles involved.

South East London (SEL) PFI variations

11. All schemes are progressing well and early 2003 will see a number of handovers to the MPA of major new facilities. It is suggested that the Committee may wish to visit the new stations on opening.

12. Final cost information is awaited from the contractor of changes requested by the Serious Crime Group OCU Commander and if necessary these will be presented to the MPA in a future paper.

Front office upgrades

13. Redesign work to ensure best affordability and maximum deployment is at an advanced stage and early work suggests costs have been reduced to an affordable level. As a consequence it now looks highly likely that a greater number of stations will be able to be dealt with from existing budgets. Priority is being given to stations within safer streets and other policing priority Boroughs but the overall aim of a fully compliant front office in at least one station within every Borough is being maintained. Most of the schemes now fall within the delegated powers of the Director of Property Services. If Members wish an informal presentation on details can be made after the January 2003 meeting.

Hounslow Heath

14. Planning consultants and disposal agents have been appointed and the site will be marketed early in the new year. Copies of the disposal packs and related materials will be placed in the Members Library. Achieving a base line disposal figure is part of the South East London PFI Contract so the sale effectively generates only a cost neutral situation for the MPA. Sale below the base line creates a liability and as figures emerge the Treasurer is being updated.

Tintagel House

15. The revised refurbishment plans for this office building are progressing and a full report will be brought forward early in the New Year.

Equality and diversity issues

16. As part of the review of housing policy (see item 7 above), currently at the working stage, a wide range of consultations is being undertaken and will include examination of Equity and Diversity issues. It is acknowledged that the urgent need for an interim review, as a result of increasing officer numbers, may limit the scale and extent of these consultations. Members are invited to alert the Director of Property Services to any issues they are aware of.

Capacity of the Estate to accommodate extra officers

17. The report on anticipated impacts (particularly on the training estate at Hendon) has been deferred to the New Year to allow discussions with the Training Commander.

Energy and sustainability

18. Property Services and MPA/MPS colleagues are appearing before a GLA Scrutiny Committee on the 3 December to answer questions. A verbal update will be given to the Committee.

Property Services

19. The Director of Property Services has announced a restructuring of the unit and the new structure chart is attached (see Appendix 1). The objectives are to simplify the overall structure:

• so staff and internal users have a clearer understanding of who is doing what;
• increase accountability for delivery and financial responsibility;
• drive a modernising/change agenda forward and to ensure best value; and
• ensure best practice is achieved.

20. A new post, at Deputy Director level, has been created to lead on “Asset Management & Utilisation” of the MPA estate and is being externally advertised. This will address the concerns of the Authority, and the observations of the Knight Frank review and the Impact Plus report, as well as ensuring the estate is more comprehensively managed on an investment basis.

21. Initial staff response has been positive and the HR processes to implement are underway. Change on this scale is an important part of the MPS modernising agenda and the Director of Property Services would like to record his appreciation of the staff's response and engagement in this process.

Starter homes

22. To date a total of 368 applications (258 from police officers, 110 from civilian staff) have been received by Tower Homes who are administering the Key Home Buy scheme on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service. Of these applications 223 (163 police officers, 60 civilian staff) have been accepted. Six applications (police officers) have been processed to conclusion with the purchase of a property.

Action under delegated powers (Director of Property Services):

23. The following significant items have been actioned under delegated powers.

• Egerton Lodge (Bromley) - The lease is being renewed for this small office building (225.46sq metres) used by Occupational Health. There were no other suitable alternatives within the current MPA estate and RAC endorsed the business case.
• Southwark Police Station - A lease has been granted to the London Borough of Southwark, as a partnership initiative, to enable them to install a centralised CCTV control room in the garage area of the police station.

C. Equality and diversity implications

Any equality and diversity implications arising from the matters in this report are being assessed as part of the individual project or item and will be reported separately to the Committee at the appropriate time. Co location issues give rise to MPA staff, and staff of other organisations, accessing new accommodation and as a consequence ensuring equality and diversity policies of the organisations align is very important. This and any cost implications are being addressed in the protocols concerned. Unless stated to the contrary no other implications are believed to arise.

D. Financial implications

Any financial implications from the above items will be reported in full to the relevant committees at the appropriate time.

E. Background papers

None.

F. Contact details

Report author: Alan Croney, Director of Property Services

For more information contact:

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

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