STRATEGIC PROPERTY REVIEW - PHASES I & II

On 27 February 2006 the Cabinet gave approval for a programme of property reviews from 2006 to 2009 covering all of the County Council's services, subject to the necessary resources being available. The programme comprises three phases, namely:

(I) a strategic review of the County Council's land and buildings

(II) a review of the County Council's accommodation portfolio

(III) a series of targets and methodologies to improve performance

The approval given on 27 February was for Phases I and II; Phase III requires further work to be carried out, which will be submitted for approval later in the year.

The reviews will focus on efficiency, improving utilisation and corporate working, reducing the costs of occupancy, reducing the number of buildings held for operational purposes and bringing forward land and building disposals which will generate further capital receipts. The reviews will act as a catalyst to challenge existing service delivery models, facilitate the exploitation of the County Council's e-government and recent IT investment and support more flexible working patterns.

The reviews will take the form of:-

· service reviews of land and property to check current and future usage alongside new models of service delivery


· thematic reviews of properties for particular uses (such as office accommodation)


· area reviews to look at the County Council's (and potentially other public sector) property holdings in specific geographical areas


· efficiency reviews to establish higher levels of utilisation for the same or lower levels of input cost

The programme will commence with a service review of Recreation and Heritage; a thematic review of office accommodation (one of the main components of this will be the refurbishment of Ashburton Court); and the first efficiency review is underway by way of Adult Services residential accommodation.

The Cabinet welcomed the proposals which were timely given the current climate of efficiency savings, emphasis on partnership working, and the importance of developing a fully flexible and effective workforce. The efficient utilisation of all County Council buildings will make a significant contribution to the local environment and improve the quality of services. The Cabinet also agreed that:

· the property reviews and all future reviews of surplus school places be developed in unison

· the Service Review process be reported to the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel and Executive Members

· other public sector agencies be invited to take part in the reviews

· a dedicated review team be established up to 2009 on an `invest to save' basis

· the `business rates/valuation' project continues to be developed on an `invest to save' basis

· County Council land for development through future Local Development Frameworks and Sub-Regional Strategies be promoted

· in principle, the proceeds from the disposal of surplus properties be retained on the basis of 50% for the department and 50% for the landlord (with the latter being made available for repair and maintenance expenditure and office accommodation)