Estates update

Report: 7
Date: 3 May 2007
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

Members are invited to:

1. 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 March 2007, space for 180 teams has been delivered during this financial year. By the end of 2006/07, 450 teams will have been accommodated in total.

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

4. The MPA review of the contracts placed in regard to the Safer Neighbourhood programme continues.

Procurement related issues

5. With Procurement Services, work continues to build and enhance Procurement support in Property Services. A separate paper proposing a procurement arrangement for the delivery of construction projects is being presented at this meeting at agenda item 10.

MPA / MPS Estate Strategy

6. Following approval of the MPA/MPS Estate Strategy document and associated consultation and communication strategy at MPA Full Authority in December, a presentation was hosted by TP in March to outline to MPA Members and Officers and BOCU Commanders the process that will be followed in regard to the consultation and communication of plans. To support the process, the document ‘Property for Policing’ has been published and was issued to those attending the meeting. Further copies of the documentation are available on request.

Acquisitions and Disposals

7. There have been no acquisitions since the previous reporting period. The MPA has approved (Co-ordination and Policing Committee 5 April 2007) the leasehold acquisition of a Patrol Base for Greenwich BOCU and a verbal update on progress will be available at the meeting.

8. The sale of four former Residential Quarters blocks / properties and one area of surplus land continue. At the time of writing, each of the transactions have exchanged and deposit money taken. The five sales will be completed between April and May 2007. Following the request of MPA members in November 2005 a schedule of Commercial and Residential disposals completed to 31 March 2007 is shown in exempt Appendices 1 (Commercial) and 2 (Residential); these Appendices make reference to the five properties referred to above.

Property Capital Programme

9. To mitigate this, Property Services continue to bring 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

10. Following approval at 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. The opening up of the Property Zone function to all MPS colleagues has been welcomed by colleagues and commercial operators alike. Property Services continue to work 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.

11. 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

12. The annual update paper is being presented separately to the Finance Committee as . In previous years the paper has reported the position at 31 January, this year the paper reports the position at 31 March to provide visibility of the revised arrangements in regard to Wellington House.

Pan London Asset Plans

13. As reported above, TP BOCU Commanders are leading the consultation process for their respective BOCU Asset Management Plans. Property Services continue to work with TP to develop the consultation and communication plans for each Borough.

14. The MPA recently approved three pilot schemes, with the CPS, for Integrated Prosecution Teams under Urgency Procedures. Property Services will support a wider business case and report on this programme, which is under preparation and is led by Territorial Policing. The programme will have significant estate ramifications and these will be covered in the TP report. A smaller pilot scheme for the introduction of “virtual courts” is also being undertaken.

15. Requirements for Heathrow are currently under discussion with those teams based at the Airport. Identified solutions are currently being evaluated and will be included in ongoing contact with BAA.

16. Submissions have been sent to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) in regard to MPS property related requirements for the London 2012 Games to assist in the forthcoming planning application that will be submitted by the ODA. The MPS are seeking confirmation that the ODA/London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games will make suitable provision for the MPA/MPS needs.

Property “deals” under consideration

17. Property Services continue to consider other property opportunities. A separate paper for the acquisition of a Patrol and Custody base for Barking & Dagenham BOCU is on the agenda for this meeting as agenda item 9.

Operational Support Group

18. Property Services have been heavily involved in recent policing operations (for the MPS and other Forces) both in response to counter-terrorist activities, and recent festive events.

Town planning issues

19. Property Services have 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. We continue to liase with the GLA in regard to the forthcoming review of the London Plan.

20. Responses have been submitted by the MPA and MPS in regard to the outline planning application made by the ODA in regard to the proposals for the Olympic Venue at Stratford. Meetings have also been held with the Head of Planning. Feedback is awaited; Property Services continue to work with the Central Operations Olympic Security Directorate on this matter.

Facilities Management (outsourced re-tender / realignment)

21. The transition to the new facilities management outsourced providers continues to proceed as planned. The new phased introduction of the Facilities Management Information Centre /Met Property Information Centre service commenced on the 2 April and is proceeding well.

2007 Budget – MPA Property related Implications

22. With effect from April 2008, empty rates relief on commercial properties will be restricted to six months for industrial properties and three months for office and retail properties. This does not affect the rate relief available in regard to buildings undergoing redevelopment/substantial refurbishment. Property Services endeavour to utilise properties from the date of acquisition, and as such, any impact as a result of this budgetary change will be kept to a minimum.

GLA Sustainable Development Budget Report

23. Property Services have responded to the GLA’s request for details of the MPA/MPS Sustainable Development Expenditure budget for 2007/08. In addition to this submission, Property Services have also provided a summary of the progress made in regard to the Environment and Sustainability in 2006/07 and the priorities the MPA/MPS are working to for the next financial year. These details will be included in the MPA Environmental Report due in September 2007.

GLA Convergence / support work

24. The property stream of the GLA studies is being lead by the Property Director at Transport for London. Property Services have attended an exploratory meeting and are providing relevant inputs for the GLA study. Updates will be provided to the MPA as the work progresses.

Abbreviations

BOCU

Borough Operational Command Unit

CO

Central Operations

FMIC

Facilities Management Information Centre

GLA

Greater London Authority

LOCOG

London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games

MPA

Metropolitan Police Authority

MPS

Metropolitan Police Service

MPIC

Met Property Information Centre

ODA

Olympic Delivery Authority

OSD

Olympic Security Directorate

TP

Territorial Policing

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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