Archived decisions

ITEM 3

AT A MEETING of the BUILDINGS, LAND AND PROCUREMENT PANEL of the County Council held at The Castle, Winchester on 6 June 2006.

Councillors:

p M.J. Woodhall (Chairman)

100 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should normally at the time of the debate declare their interest, and having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed. No such interests were declared by Members.

101 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 4 April 2006 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

102 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported that arrangements were being made for Members of the Panel to visit selected properties in early September. In addition, he reminded Members that today's meeting would be followed by a tour of Ashburton Court.

103 DEPUTATIONS

No deputations had been notified under Standing Order 21.

104 PINEWOOD INFANT SCHOOL, FARNBOROUGH

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 6 in the Minute Book) giving details of a project appraisal for a new one-form entry infant school with pre-school and specialist resource provision on the site of the former school which had been destroyed by fire in 2003. Members queried why it was not proposed to provide a sprinkler system in the case of this school, and the Director explained the robust risk assessment process undertaken by his staff and Fire Service staff. In the case of Pinewood the new building was designed in such a way as to inhibit any spread of fire and was equipped with modern fire detection systems. As the school was single-storey and was not residential, a sprinkler system would entail unnecessary duplication and cost and was therefore not recommended in the design project appraisal. With regard to the closed circuit television system, Members suggested that it might be worth trying to negotiate a linkage with Rushmoor Borough Council's control centre if that provided 24-hour cover. Further investigation of this possibility, together with the fire precautions built in, were considered to provide reassurance to parents, staff and the local community.


RESOLVED:

(a) That the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that the design project appraisal for the Pinewood Infant School, Farnborough, at an estimated cost of £3,295,000 excluding fees, be approved.


(b) That the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services be asked to investigate further the possibility of the closed circuit television system at the school being linked to Rushmoor Borough Council's CCTV control centre if that provided the option of 24-hour cover.

105 SWANWICK LODGE SECURE UNIT, SWANWICK

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 7 in the Minute Book) detailing a scheme to provide a joint use area for staff training and the counselling of families of young people housed at Swanwick Lodge Secure Unit, separate from the secure unit accommodation; additional ancillary spaces/offices required by the Operational Unit; and a more secure perimeter to the secure unit.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that the scheme at the Swanwick Lodge Secure Unit, at an estimated cost of £766,000 excluding fees, be approved.


(b) That, subject to confirmation from the Department for Education and Skills, a sum of £458,260 excluding fees, be approved for additional refurbishment works at Swanwick Lodge Secure Unit.

106 RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR THE BUILT ESTATE 2005/06 - PROGRESS REPORT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 8 in the Minute Book) detailing progress with the risk management strategy for 2005/06, summarising the agreed actions and resources required to improve performance and recommending that resources are directed to the highest and most significant liabilities across the built estate. Members expressed concern that there would be a funding gap after the expiry of the New Deal for Schools (NDS) system in two years time and any eventual allocations under Building Schools for the Future; the funding shortfall for secondary schools was considered particularly critical. However Members paid tribute to the very effective service level agreement in force between the County Council and schools which led to the best possible use of the resources available for repairs and maintenance.

RESOLVED:

That the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that approval be given to

(a) The progress on the implementation of the Property Services Strategic Risk Register for 2005/06 set out at Appendix 2 of the report.


(b) The budget position for strategic risk assessment and the impact likely on the budget over the coming financial year.


(c) The proposed re-profiling of resources associated with the Dedicated School Grant and uncertainty over future NDS funding beyond 2008 along with the impact on the liabilities associated with the non-school estate.

107 STRATEGY FOR THE BUILT ESTATE - MANAGING THE BACKLOG OF REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 9 in the Minute Book) explaining Hampshire's position in the context of the national trend; on the economics of building maintenance and on some of the key plans and strategies for managing the backlog of repairs and maintenance for the County Council's built estate. Members congratulated the officers on their achievement in formulating a coherent programme of planned maintenance which kept operational the wide rang of buildings in the County Council's built estate.

RESOLVED:

The Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that approval be given to

(a) The strategies adopted to manage the backlog of repairs, as set out in the report and its appendices.


(b) Continuing the current levels of repairs and maintenance funding for school buildings until at least the Building Schools for the Future Programme commences for Hampshire in 2011 and until the outcome from the Government's consultation for Every Child Matters - Primary Capital Programme is known.


(c) Identifying future levels of capital repairs funding for the non-education sector to alleviate the repairs and maintenance pressures.

108 CORPORATE PROCUREMENT - PROGRESS REPORT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 10 in the Minute Book) detailing the final draft of the revised Corporate Procurement Strategy and highlighting key procurement objectives and outcomes for the next few years. Members felt that there was considerable scope for further synergies and efficiencies to be achieved if the County Council, together with other local authorities, could negotiate long term contracts for procurement in areas such as Adult Care Services and Children's Services. Out-county placements were quoted as a possible example of an area where a consortium arrangement might yield substantial savings. Members also felt that there was scope for the County Council to build on its reputation as a reliable partner and prompt payer to negotiate competitive deals for supplies and services.

RESOLVED:

That the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that approval be given to

(a) The revised corporate procurement strategy set out in the Appendix to the report.


(b) The establishment of a corporate gateway review process for major and high risk procurement projects.


(c) The progress on the corporate procurement work programme and departmental procurement reviews.


(d) The Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services to report back to a future meeting on progress with procurement in the areas of Adult Care Services and Children's Services.

109 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That, in relation to the items set out in Minutes 110, 111 and 112 below, the press and public be excluded from the meeting as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the public were present during the items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within paragraph 3 of Part 1 to Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the three reports concerned.

110 MERTON RISE - OUTCOME OF DESIGN-LED SELECTION

The Panel received a presentation from the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 12 in the Minute Book) on the outcome of marketing for phase 1 and the proposed marketing strategy for phase 2 of the Merton Rise Development.

RESOLVED:

That the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel advise the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that approval be given to

(a) The progress made on the procurement of the replacement secondary school within and the implementation of the approved servicing strategy for the Merton Rise site at Basingstoke.


(b) The Merton Rise site in Basingstoke being declared surplus to the requirements of the County Council to enable its phased sale for the development of a contemporary, high quality urban extension.


(c) The selection of the preferred purchasers for the respective sub-phases of the phase 1 land on the Merton Rise site, with the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Head of Estates) be authorised to settle terms and conditions of sale, including any adjustment to the purchase price that may be agreed following a minor amendment to the schemes of development.


(d) The marketing strategy set out for the phase 2 Merton Rise land which includes the mixed use neighbourhood centre.


[SUMMARY OF MINUTE WHICH CONTAINS EXEMPT INFORMATION]

111 MAJOR PROJECTS UPDATE

The Panel considered the exempt report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 13 in the Minute Book) setting out an update on major projects currently being progressed.

RESOLVED:

That the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel advise the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that

(a) Progress with the Nursing Care Accommodation (Enhance) programme be noted.


(b) Approval be given to the action taken on the refurbishment programme for Ashburton Court to date, the forward agenda of issues, the arrangements for public consultation for the planning consent, the strategy for Member parking during the refurbishment and the construction of the Park and Ride car park at Bar End.


(c) Approval be given to the addition of the capital repairs programme and the use of the uncommitted balance of the advantageous land budget from 2005/06 to 2006/07.


[SUMMARY OF MINUTE WHICH CONTAINS EXEMPT INFORMATION]

112 NUANCE GLOBAL HOUSE, EASTLEIGH

The Panel considered the exempt report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 14 in the Minute Book) concerning leasing arrangements at Nuance Global House, Eastleigh.

RESOLVED:

That the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel advise the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that

(a) Approval be given to arrangements to secure further office accommodation at Nuance House Building in Eastleigh on the basis outlined in the report.


[SUMMARY OF MINUTE WHICH CONTAINS EXEMPT INFORMATION]