Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the BUILDINGS, LAND AND PROCUREMENT PANEL of the County Council held at The Castle, Winchester on 12 January 2010.
Councillors:
p T.K. Thornber C.B.E.
p A.P. Collett a D.A. Kirk
p B.D. Dash a K. Mans
p C.R.H. Davidovitz p Mrs J. Porter
a A.D.G. Evans p J. Wall
a R. Ellis p A. Weeks
p K. House
27 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A.D.G. Evans, R. Ellis, D. A. Kirk and K. Mans.
28 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 save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Code.
29 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 2 October 2009 were confirmed as a correct record.
30 CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chairman announced that the County Council had recently received several awards and congratulated the following recipients;
The Outstanding Achievement in Procurement award was awarded to Pro 5, a consortia of five Local Authority purchasing organisations. The award was presented by the Society of Purchasing Officers in Local Government and sponsored by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
Elizabeth II Court had been crowned the Sustainable Project of the Year in the UK Green Building Council Sustainability Awards in recognition of the environmentally-friendly design. The refurbishment also received a commendation in the RTPI (Town Planning Institute) Sustainability category.
Wellstead Primary School won the best Interior Design in the Public Sector Category at the FX International Interior Design Awards, beating Interiors in a Marketing school in Richmond Virginia, a University campus in San Diego, a Learning Academy in Maidstone, Kent, a Culinary School in Toronto, and a Hospital in Chelsea & Westminster UK.
Odiham Castle restoration scheme received a commendation at the RIBA South Conservation Awards. This was the fourth award in seven years from the RIBA for the County Council's historic building team.
The Chairman thanked the officers involved for their hard work and commitment and was pleased that their efforts had been recognised with these awards.
31 CORPORATE PROCUREMENT UPDATE
The Panel considered and approved the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 5 in the Minute Book) concerning progress on corporate procurement initiatives over the last year. During the discussion it was noted that efficiency savings of approximately £300,000, as outlined in section nine of the report, were expected to increase to approximately £500,000 by the end of the current financial year.
The Panel questioned the relationship with the Voluntary and Community sector (VCS) in relation to the approaches adopted for the increased tendering activity in the Children's Services department. In response, the Director explained that a workshop with the VCS had taken place to address some of the concerns and resulting action included ensuring that tenders were offered in a more manageable size and increasing support to the VCS in relation to training.
RESOLVED:
That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that the progress on corporate procurement initiatives be endorsed.
32 PROCUREMENT INITIATIVES
Councillor A. P. Collett declared a personal interest in this item as a Member of Hampshire Police Authority.
The Panel considered the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 6 in the Minute Book), concerning a proposed trading company for Property Services and a shared service arrangement with Hampshire Police Authority. Whilst the Panel welcomed the formalisation of the shared service arrangement with the Police Authority, it had some concerns about the proposed trading company and requested further clarification on the legal position including the views of the District Auditor. The Director explained that further detailed information would be presented to the Panel at a future meeting. The recommendations were approved subject to the advice of the District Auditor.
RESOLVED:
That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that:
a) Property Services formalise the legal structure and management arrangements for a Shared Service arrangement with Hampshire Police Authority, and formally enter into this arrangement.
b) Hampshire Police Authority be involved in developing the detail of the trading company, subject to the advice of the District Auditor, with a view to it being one of the first organisations to participate in such an arrangement.
COUNCILLOR C.R.H. DAVIDOVITZ IN THE CHAIR
33 STRATEGY FOR THE BUILT ESTATE - MID-YEAR REVIEW
The Panel considered and approved the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 7 in the Minute Book) concerning the mid-year review against the agreed annual strategy plan for the built estate in 2008/09. During the discussion the Panel asked for clarification on the costs associated with the increased number of Display Energy Certificates which would need to be processed for all buildings exceeding 1000 square metres, including individual campus buildings previously included on a campus-wide certificate. The Director undertook to provide details following the meeting.
RESOLVED:
That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that the update on the Annual Strategic Plan 2009/10 and the intention to produce an Interim Asset Management Plan for 2010/11 be endorsed.
34 AUDIT COMMISSION REVIEW OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THE DISPOSAL OF LAND AND BUILDINGS
The Panel considered and approved the report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 8 in the Minute Book) concerning the outcome of a recent Audit Commission review into the County Council's management of the disposal of its land and buildings.
RESOLVED:
That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that:
a) The outcome of the Audit Commission Review of the management of the disposal of land and buildings be welcomed, in view of its overall conclusion that the County Council's current approach is sound.
b) That the response to the specific recommendations for improvement contained within the action plan prepared by the Audit Commission be agreed and actioned.
35 PROJECT APPRAISAL: REDEVELOPMENT OF EXISTING HAVANT INCINERATOR LAND
Councillor K. House declared a personal interest in this item as a Board Member of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).
The Panel considered and approved the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) concerning proposals to redevelop the former Havant incinerator site at Harts Farm Way, Havant.
RESOLVED:
That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that:
a) The Project Appraisal for the redevelopment of the existing Havant Household Waste Recycling Centre at Harts Farm Way, Havant, at an estimated net cost to the County Council of £1,097,000, be approved.
b) The submission of a planning application seeking consent to carry out the development of the new Household Waste Recycling Centre at Harts Farm Way, Havant be approved.
36 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED:
That in relation to the following items the public be excluded from the meeting, as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, 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 of Schedule 12A to 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 reports.
37 LAND AT HARTS FARM WAY, HAVANT
Councillor K. House declared a personal interest in this item as a Board Member of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).
The Panel considered and approved the exempt report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 11 in the Minute Book) concerning land at Harts Farm Way Havant.
RESOLVED:
That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that subject to the County Council developing the new Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) on land at Harts Farm Way, Havant:
a) The grant of permanent access rights over the Council's land be approved and the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Strategic Manager - Assets and Development) be authorised to settle detailed terms and conditions
b) The contribution payable in respect of the grant of access rights be treated as a capital receipt and `ring-fenced' for reinvestment by the Director of Environment in the provision of the new access road element of the development of the new Havant HWRC.
38 BUSINESS SERVICES GROUP - BUSINESS PLANS 2010/11
The Panel considered and approved the exempt report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Item 12 in the Minute Book) concerning the 2010/11 business plans for the Business Services Group.
RESOLVED:
That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that the 2010/11 Business Plans for the Business Services Group (BSG) be approved.