Archived decisions

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Item 4

Finance and General Purposes Committee

23 April 2003

Second report of the Asset Management Working Group

Report of the Chief Fire Officer

Contact:

David Howells, Director of Corporate Services

Tel: 023 8064 4000 Ext 203

1

Introduction

1.1

Since the last report the Group has met just once - on 21 February 2003.

1.2

The major item of business centered on the future development of the Headquarters site. Now that there is the possibility that the Authority might receive some additional funding from central government for accommodating four specialist vehicles under the `New Dimension' project, the Group felt that the Authority ought to reconsider the scope for proceeding with a capital project that would rationalise and improve training centre and headquarters facilities. A separate report on this agenda deals with this issue.

1.3

Other items considered by the Group at its last meeting are set out below.

2

Asset Register

2.1

Additional information has been received from Estates Practice comprising a location map and outline site plan for each of the Authority's property holdings. It was agreed that this information should be added to the website providing that current licences with the Ordnance Survey covered such use. It was further agreed not to include the location maps of housing stock on the web site.

3

Garages adjacent to Gosport Fire Station

3.1

The Group considered a short report by the Authority's Estates Adviser setting out options for the future use and/or disposal of (domestic) garages to the rear of the Gosport Fire Station. Given that the garages no longer service operational housing stock (the houses were sold many years ago) and bearing in mind future maintenance and tenancy issues, the Group agreed that the garages/site should formally be considered surplus to operational requirements and disposed in the most financially advantageous way.

4

Second fire station at Basingstoke

4.1

The project architect for this scheme had requested further instructions on whether to commit further resources (and fees) to this project. The Group confirmed that the scheme remained the Authority's highest priority capital scheme and will be included in the forward capital programme. The Group accepted that work must now proceed in preparing a full project appraisal to the Authority assuming a start on site in 2005/06. Associated fees will be charged to the capital provision for the scheme. It was also noted that outline planning permission for the site (owned by the Authority) needed to be renewed.

5

Housing at Winchester

5.1

It was noted that an offer on a house at Winnall, Winchester had been accepted to support the day-crewing duty system. The cost of acquisition is being offset from the proceeds of disposing of two houses at Havant. It will mean that the Authority will not have to rely on continuing to temporarily rent a property to meet urgent accommodation needs at the Station. Since the meeting of the Group contracts have been exchanged and the house is now in the Authority's ownership.

6

Replacement of Cosham Fire Station

6.1

The Authority's Estates Adviser reported on continuing enquiries concerning the preferred site for the replacement of Cosham Fire Station at King George Playing Fields. It was noted that there may be development restrictions and that these are being actively investigated with the parties involved

5

European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998

5.1

The proposals within this report are compatible with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998 and considered in the light of the Race Relations (amendment) Act 2000.

Recommendations

1

That the report be noted

2

That the (domestic) garages to the rear of the Gosport Fire Station be formally declared surplus to operational requirements and disposed on terms to be agreed by the Chief Fire Officer in conjunction with the Treasurer and Authority's Estates Adviser by the most financially advantageous method.

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose the facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of the report.

None

NB The list excludes:

1 Published works

2 Documents that disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act

Secretarial/WP/Word/Corporate/HFRA FGP 23 April 03 Asset Management DH/JMW/10/4/2003