Estates update

Report: 09
Date: 19 January 2006
By: Commissioner

Summary

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

A. Recommendation

That Members note the information 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. Source documents can be found in previous relevant reports and also in the Members' Library.

Service review

2. As reported in November 2005, proposals to accelerate the roll-out of the Estate’s Strategy and the escalation of the Safer Neighbourhoods programme will impact on the delivery timetable. A number of initiatives (including the custody centres concept) await Investment Board approval prior to report to the Authority, further funding deliberations (including revenue implications) are also still to be resolved.

Safer Neighbourhoods

3. At 30 November, space for 114 teams had been delivered against a full year target of 160 teams in 2005/06. It is expected that accommodation for approximately 200 teams will be provided by the end of the financial year. In terms of the overall project performance, space for 300 Safer Neighbourhood Teams will have been delivered by the end of the current financial year.

4. Borough visits continue for 2006/07 rollout to agree a Safer Neighbourhoods accommodation plan taking full account of Property Services Asset Management Plans.

Acquisitions and sales

5. The acquisition of the leasehold interest in Waltham House, Leytonstone to support Waltham Forest BOCU completed on 6 December 2005. Contracts were exchanged on 23 December for leased office accommodation at Lymington Avenue, Wood Green in support of Haringey Borough Operational Command Unit’s (BOCU’s) office requirements.

6. The sale of Erith Boat Yard (part of the former police station) was completed on 16 December, and the disposal of the excess land adjacent to Sutton police station was completed on 23 December. The disposals of Peel House, 105, Regency Street and Aybrook Street, W1, were also completed in December.

7. Following the request of MPA members, a schedule of disposals completed to 31 December 2005 is contained at Exempt Appendix 1.

Property Capital Programme

8. Overall projects remain on and within budget and timescale although some re-phasing has been necessary due to delays in regulatory approvals and related matters. Property Services are working with Directorate of Information (DoI) to finalise the revised occupational requirements of DoI for one of their South London locations. It is clear that DoI no longer see a particular location as key to their occupational arrangements, as a result this project has been cancelled from this year’s construction programme.

MPA/MPS Estate Strategy – “Building Towards the Safest City” (BTSC)

9. As previously reported, draft revisions are expected to be available to key stakeholders and members for consultation in early 2006 with a report on a proposed updated strategy coming to Committee by no later than March 2006.

Residential Estate Strategy update

10. Members approved an interim strategy at the Finance Committee meeting on the 7 December 2004. Disposals in accordance with that decision are ongoing and certain replacement transactions are at an advanced stage of negotiation. Following the request made by MPA members in November 2005, a schedule of the most recent residential disposals is contained at Exempt Appendix 2.

11. Property Services anticipates presenting a strategy for consideration by Members through appropriate routes and hence to this Committee in February 2006.

Central London Accommodation Strategy - Empress State Building

12. Post occupancy surveys are under way to ensure maximum utilisation/reallocation and to ensure Service Review changes are not resulting in reduced efficiency of usage.

New Scotland Yard

13. Pending the result of the Counter Terrorism funding bid a review is ongoing as to space implications and the options available to accommodate growth.

Disposals

14. The disposal of Regency Street and Aybrook Street, London W1, completed in December 2005. Receipts were higher than original projections and will be reported in detail as part of the formal report on the delivery of the Central London Accommodation Strategy in April 2006.

15. The only outstanding disposal in regard to the 2005/2006 financial year relates to the West London training facility.

Telecommunications Masts (Planning Control) Bill

16. The Telecommunications Masts (Planning Control) Bill is a Private Members Bill that may be presented later this year. The Bill proposes to amend existing legislation, primarily the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and resultant orders. The Bill proposes to close some mechanisms that operators currently use to deal with planning refusals and tightens up the regulations Operators must adhere to in making applications.

17. If the Bill is enacted it is likely to have a minimal impact on the MPA. Many of the proposed sites on MPA property would already have planning consents in place; any requirements to modify new site designs would fall to the respective Operator to resolve.

C. Legal implications

1. Contract or other documentation in these matters will contain all the usual commercial terms and provisions, and no unduly onerous or unusual terms – except where reported otherwise.

2. Significant risks have been evaluated and considered and steps taken to minimize or manage such risks.

3. All reported matters are considered to be within the powers of the authority.

4. All/any disposal represents the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained – save where stated otherwise.

List of abbreviations

MPS

Metropolitan Police Service

MPA

Metropolitan Police Authority

BOCU

Borough Operational Command Unit

D. Race and equality impact

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.

E. Financial implications

Any financial implications from the above items will be reported in full to the relevant committees at the appropriate time. Support to Theseus and associated operations continue to place significant financial demands on Property Services, and the estate. Much of this is expected to be reimbursed by Special Government Grant. Unless otherwise stated, other financial implications are manageable within existing approved budgets.

F. Background papers

None

G. Contact details

Report author: Alan Croney, Director of Property Services, MPS.

For more information contact:

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

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