Estates update

Report: 8
Date: 23 November 2006
By: Acting Director of Resources on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

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

A. Recommendations

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.

Safer Neighbourhoods

2. At October 2006, space for 87 teams has been delivered during this financial year. Property Services remain on course to deliver a full year target of 180 for the current financial year.

3. Borough visits continue for the 2007/08 and 2008/09 roll-out to agree a Safer Neighbourhoods accommodation plan taking full account of Property Services Asset Management Plans.

4. The pace of available premises is now ahead of the in-year funding.

Procurement related issues

5. With Procurement Services, work continues to build and enhance Procurement support in Property Services.

MPA/MPS Estate Strategy

6. Following MPS agreement to the corporate priorities in regard to the modernisation of the estate, the MPA/MPS estates strategy document and associated consultation and communication strategy was tabled for approval at the MPA Full Authority in October. The paper was deferred and separate discussions have been held by MPA members in regard to the contents of the paper. At the time of writing, it is understood that the strategy is scheduled to be considered at the Full Authority meeting in December.

Acquisitions and disposals

7. There have been no acquisitions during the last reporting period.

8. A number of surplus residential properties have been sold since the last reporting period. Following the request of MPA members, in November 2005, a schedule of disposals completed to 31 October 2006 is attached at exempt Appendices 1 and 2.

Property Capital Programme

9. A number of construction projects have been completed since the last report, these include training accommodation in Victoria and Enfield Patrol Base.

10. The re-phasing of a number of projects due to delays in regulatory approvals and related matters, and the outcome of the MPA’s decision regarding the overarching estates strategy, will result in a significant under-spend against budget for this year’s capital programme and will impact on budget submissions for 2007/08 and on.

11. To mitigate this, Property Services have brought forward a number of smaller projects, although the impact on the overall capital spend will be minimal in the current year.

Residential Estate Strategy update

12. Outstanding contractual arrangements with Housing 21 have now been settled, and those properties formerly managed by Housing 21 have now been returned to the MPA. All but one have been returned with vacant possession. The management of the one property returned with tenants in occupation remains temporarily assigned to a Registered Social Landlord who manages other MPA Properties, pending a more permanent solution.

13. Following approval at the Finance Committee in February 2006 to exit the majority of the MPA’s residential estate, holding a core estate for operational reasons, Property Services continue to communicate with those individuals occupying residential properties owned by the MPA, including individual letters and intranet notices. Property Zone, the Property Services’ team set up to assist colleagues looking to purchase property by highlighting options and funding streams etc., has also run a number of presentations / open days in recent weeks to highlight options. The opening up of the Property Zone function to all MPS colleagues has been welcomed by colleagues and commercial operators alike. Property Services continues to work successfully with commercial operators who focus on the provision of key worker housing and those who assist key workers in purchasing properties to ensure the options available to colleagues are as broad as possible.

14. In line with the residential estate strategy, surplus properties continue to be sold in the open market via auction / private treaty as appropriate.

Central London Asset Management plan

15. Plans to decant Wellington House prior to lease expiry in June 2007, the sale of Sunbury and the planned occupation of Cobalt Square, continue in line with prior MPA approvals.

Pan London Asset Plans

16. Asset Plans include proposed solutions for Borough Based Custody Centres, Patrol Bases, Safer Neighbourhood units and accommodation for supporting office based functions. Sign-off of all borough based Asset Plans by TPHQ and the respective BOCU Commanders has been achieved as the first phase of overall rollout.

17. Over the course of the coming months, asset strategies will be progressed for other business groups, the Hendon estate and a number of larger pan London properties where business groups share occupation. This will include contact with relevant stakeholders and does not include citizen interface sites.

18. Solutions in regard to training, including specialist training needs, will be developed and reported to the MPA when business cases have been finalised/approved.

19. Requirements for Heathrow are currently under discussion with those teams based at the Airport.

20. Initial submissions have been sent to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) in regard to requirements and legacies for the London 2012 Games to assist in the forthcoming planning application that will be submitted by the ODA. Property Services are working with British Transport Police to ensure the needs of both organisations are met, but not duplicated, and to ensure that suitable provision is made for policing within the Stratford City development. Initial meetings have also been held with the Thames Gateway Development Corporation and other regional development groups involved in the roll out of Thames Gateway Schemes.

Operational Support Group

21. Property Services have been heavily involved in recent policing operations (for the MPS and other Forces) in response to counter-terrorist activities, and this work is in ongoing.

Town planning issues

22. Property Services has continued to work closely with the GLA, London Development Agency, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation and Local Planning Authorities responding to the consultation process in regard to the 5 Sub-Regional Development Frameworks, Area Action Plans, Opportunity Area Frameworks and other Planning Policy documents. Property Services continues to liase with the GLA in regard to the forth-coming review of the London Plan.

Facilities Management (outsourced re-tender/realignment)

23. Facilities Management Information Centre (FMIC) transition continues to proceed as planned. A separate report is being presented on Facilities Management Supplier (FMS) tendering progress as agenda items 9 and 12.

Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and Inter Agency Property aspects

24. Property Services is reviewing current charging regimes for third party use of our services to ensure full recovery of costs and appropriate market related payments for our expertise / facilities are being levied.

25. An exploratory meeting with SoCA has proved most helpful and is being actively pursued.

Property ‘deals’ under consideration

26. Property Services continue to consider other property opportunities.

Abbreviations

BOCU

Borough Operational Command Unit

BTSC

Building Towards the Safest City

DDA

Disability Discrimination Act

DoI

Directorate of Information

DPG

Diplomatic Protection Group

FMS

Facilities Management Services

GLA

Greater London Authority

HMG

Her Majesty's Government

HQ

Headquarters

IPLDP

International Police Learning and Development Programme

MPS

Metropolitan Police Service

MPA

Metropolitan Police Authority

MPA FC

MPA Finance Committee

NIC

National Insurance contribution

ODA

Olympic Development Agency

PFI

Private Finance Initiative

RCOS

Resilience, Compliance & Operational Support

SOCA

Serious Organised Crime Agency

TfL

Transport for London

TP

Territorial Policing

TUPE

Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations

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 minimise 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.

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 security operations continue to place financial demands on Property Services and the estate. 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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