Estates update

Report: 16
Date: 19 July 2007
By: Director of Strategic Finance on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

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

A. Recommendations

1. Members are asked to 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. By the end of the 2006/07 year end dedicated accommodation for 450 teams had been accommodated in total.

3. An MPA review of the contracts placed to date in regard to the Safer Neighbourhood programme continues.

Procurement related issues

4. Work continues to build and enhance Procurement support in Property Services.

MPA/MPS Estate Strategy

5. As agreed at Estates Oversight Group (ESP), the ESP will be updated on a regular basis.

Acquisitions and disposals

6. An Agreement to Lease in respect of a property in Greenwich has been agreed, following MPA approval (CoP 5 April 2007 refers) to acquire a Patrol Base for Greenwich Borough Operational Command Unit (BOCU). Documentation is due to be completed on 24 June 2007. Documentation has been exchanged in regard to the purchase of a property in Havering following MPA approval to acquire a Patrol Base for Havering BOCU.

7. The sales of three former residential ‘quarters’ blocks/properties and one area of surplus land (as previously reported to the MPA), have now completed. The fourth residential block is due to complete on 31 May 2007. Following the request of MPA members in November 2005, a schedule of Commercial and Residential disposals completed since 1 April 2007 is shown in exempt Appendices 1 and 2.

Residential Estate Strategy update

8. Following approval of the MPA Residential Estate Strategy in February 2006, 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.

9. 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

10. The annual update paper is being presented separately to Finance Committee.

Pan London Asset Plans

11. Territorial Policing (TP) BOCU Commanders continue to lead the consultation process for their respective BOCU Asset Management Plans. Property Services are supporting TP in developing the consultation and communication plans for each Borough.

12. The three recently approved schemes to provide MPS/CPS Integrated Prosecution Teams are now operational. 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.

13. Asset strategies continue to 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. The timeframes of the asset strategies are outlined in the Estate Strategy Plan and progress updated quarterly. At Hendon the Local Planning Authority (LB Barnet) have invited the MPA/MPS to join the Colindale Stakeholder Group which is working in partnership to look at the wider housing led regeneration of the area. It is proposed to take up this invitation unless Members wish otherwise.

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

15. Proposals in regard to a strategic co-ordination centre are being developed by Central Operations in support of the pan-London resilience and the London 2012 Olympics. A report detailing the property related implications was presented to Management Board in June and pending the outcome, will be referred to a future Finance Committee.

Property “deals” under consideration

16. Property Services continue to consider other property opportunities. A separate report for the acquisition of a Patrol base for Merton BOCU will be tabled for MPA approval at the September Finance Committee meeting.

17. Positive discussions are ongoing with town planners in relation to Hendon residential towers. An Exempt briefing will be submitted, for Member input, as soon as possible.

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. The Cup Final at the new Wembley Stadium saw the first major (non test) use of the revised physical public order arrangements. These worked well but until surrounding developments are completed barrier and related “blocker” deployments are extensive. The Carey Way custody facility /base also operated to plan for the first full time since the rebuilding project.

Town planning issues

19. Property Services have continued to work closely with the Greater London Authority (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 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 Olympic Delivery Agency (ODA) in regard to the proposals for the Olympic Venue at Stratford. Further meetings have also been held with representatives from the ODA, London Development Agency (LDA) and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), to reach agreement on the MPS’s property requirements and legacy issues that arise. Property Services continue to support 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 the service providers commenced in May.

Abbreviations

BOCU

Borough Operational Command Unit

COP

Coordination of Policing

ESP

Estates Strategic Plan

CPS

Crime Prosecution Service

LB

London Borough

BAA

British Airways Authority

HAL

Heathrow Airport Limited

GLA

Greater London Authority

LDA

London Development Agency

CO

Central Operations

FMIC

Facilities Management Information Centre

GLA

Greater London Authority

LOCOG

London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games

MPA

Metropolitan Police Authority

MPIC

Met Property Information Centre

MPS

Metropolitan Police Service

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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