Development of the Leyton site to provide the Waltham Forest Custody Centre

Report: 14
Date: 15 June 2006
By: Commissioner

Summary

The Estates Strategy report presented to the Finance Committee in February 2006 and subsequently to MPA Full Authority in May 2006, highlighted the progress that has been made by the MPS in resolving the accommodation needs relating to custody and criminal justice.

A detailed custody business case report recommending the provision of custody centres in each London Borough to meet long term custody needs was presented to Investment Board and approved in February 2006.

The need to provide further custody provision throughout the MPA estate to support MPS operations is widely accepted and funding has been included within the Capital Programme for 2006/07 and on to fund the first custody centre schemes.

This report requests authorisation to proceed with the development of a 30 cell custody centre on the cleared the site in Leyton High Road, Waltham Forest, to support operational needs drawing funding from existing MTFP budgets.

A. Recommendations

Members are asked to:

1. Approve the proposal for the development of a custody centre at the Leyton High Road site.
2. Approve the appropriate tendering action including the production of the OJEU The feasibility study anticipates an out turn cost inclusive of fees in the sum of £ 7.18m inclusive of prudent contingencies.

B. Supporting information

1. The MPA and MPS Estates Strategy highlights the need to provide a ‘template’ solution to Borough (BOCU) based policing. The roll out of BOCU based asset plans is dependent on unlocking the current challenges surrounding custody facilities. Until suitable facilities are made available, much of the existing portfolio will need to be retained.

2. The quality of accommodation within the BOCU estate has been widely reported, as has the inefficiency of locationally dispersed cell provision.

3. With continuing operational pressures, the need to meet Government targets and to tackle crime effectively, property solutions are required to address operational policing needs. Custody provision and the use of custody facilities is one element of this.

4. A detailed custody ‘Business Case’ report was presented to the MPS Investment Board and approved in February 2006. This report highlighted the need to address custody provision on a short, medium and long-term basis. The need for a new model of building provision for custody and criminal justice is accepted, but a major concentration of cells is not practicable as there is a dis-economy of scale issue in terms of buildings and staffing. There is a need to achieve best value and best management of available facilities - at the same time.

5. The longer term solution which was approved was the provision of Borough Based Custody Centres of appropriate size through a combination of the continued use of current fit for purpose suites, extending suitable facilities or the provision of new builds as required. It is anticipated that there will be a total of 33 centres of 30 cells each, although the number of cells can be flexed to meet operational demands.

6. This suggested solution with “custody centres” of no more than 30 cells will keep sites deliverable and fundable whilst not growing “support space” (including support/partner space). Funding has been included in the capital programme for the first five sites, including the proposed 30 cell facility at Wood Green. Waltham Forest.

7. The on set of the 2012 Olympics and the impact of Thames Gateway on this Borough may necessitate the provision of further custody facility in time. At this stage, no decision has been taken in regard to Chingford Police Station, which currently houses 12 cells.

8. The Leyton site was acquired in the 1990’s to provide a location for a PFI funded police station for Waltham Forest. When the role out of PFI projects was halted, the site was retained pending a decision over its future use. As a result there has been much interest in the MPA’s plans for the site, and many enquiries from local residents, both directly and from the Local Authority and MPA contacts.

9. Following consultation with TP Custody Directorate and the Borough Commander for Waltham Forest, the site is an ideal location for a custody centre. If approved, the redeveloped site will provide suitable accommodation for custody and criminal justice.

10. The development of the site does not impact on existing operational functions within the BOCU but will provide improved levels of custody.

11. The proposed redevelopment of the Leyton High Road site to provide custody facilities, is based on a clear affordable and deliverable template solution. Providing this facility will meet the custody requirements of Waltham Forest BOCU.

12. Part of the current site will not be required to accommodate the new custody facility and disposal plans/town planning resolution will be a part of the project process.

13. The Finance Committee considered the overarching Estate’s Strategy and related financial matters on the 16 February 2006.

Communication/consultation implications

14. The need to ensure there is suitable communication between the MPS/MPA and London stakeholders in regard to the role out of the estates strategy has been widely discussed. In addition to this, and due to the nature of the functions/facilities provided in custody centres, a communications strategy is being developed to support the role out of this project.

15. Generic plans are being developed and will be issued to the Commander to ensure TP and Property Services consider stakeholders who need to be contacted. Follow up meetings will be held in early June to finalise this strategy, and a verbal update will be given at the MPA Finance Committee meeting.

16. It is also essential that local community groups are consulted as part of the formal planning process the MPA/MPS will need to follow, to obtain the necessary planning consent of this particular project. Meetings have been held with the Local Planning Authority in Waltham Forest, to ensure that their particular consultation processes are followed, prior to and during the planning process.

17. TP/Borough Commanders will lead on the communication process with support from Property Services. Property Services will lead on the consultation process with support from TP/Borough Commanders.

Abbreviations

BOCU

Borough Operational Command Unit

MTFP

Medium Term Financial Plan

OJEU

Official Journal of the European Union

PFI

Private Finance Initiative

TP

Territorial Policing

TPHQ

Territorial Policing Headquarters

C. Legal implications

1. There are considered to be no unusual or additional matters to be brought to Members attention in regard to normal property or construction related matters.

2. Local Authority Planning consent will be required to construct a 30-cell custody centre. Consultation prior to the application for planning consent will be made in liaison with TPHQ and the respective TP link Commander and Borough Commander.

3. The custody centres will be designed to specific Home Office standards. Human Rights’ issues are being led by TP.

D. Race and equality impact

1. Modern improved custody facilities will offer an opportunity to meet many non statutory standards and other concerns that are undeliverable in existing facilities.

E. Financial implications

Capital

1. Details of the capital costs of funding the redevelopment of the site to provide suitable custody facilities are detailed in a note which is available for members in the members room. Capital funding has been included within the Capital Programme for 2006/07 and on, for the role out of a limited number of custody centres. It is proposed that the cost of developing the Leyton site to house the Waltham Forest custody centre is funded from this budget.

Revenue

2. The operational ‘property’ running costs in terms of heating, maintenance etc., and business rates of the new custody facility, will be absorbed within current budgets as the revenue costs associated with the operation of the new facilities are considered to be lower than the current aged stock. This will also help alleviate the “maintenance backlog”. It is not anticipated that revenue cash savings will arise.

3. Operational Staffing costs will be met through existing budget lines.

F. Background papers

• Update on the Estate Strategy – Building Towards the Safest City
• TPHQ – Emerald Custody – Borough Custody Centres
• Update on the Estate Strategy – Building Towards the Safest City – Finance Committee February 2006
• Update on the Estate Strategy – Building Towards the Safest City – MPA Full Authority May 2006

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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