COMMENT
2) Control
An inseparable part of this process should be the centralisation of control over prop- erty within a single department to enable more efficient estate management. Co- ordinated decision-making over procure- ment and facilities management contracts would enhance the economies of scale by increasing the size of the estate being man- aged.
3) Going Green
the range of £180-£200 per m² per year from lower energy spending. The benefits of a ‘greener’ local government are clear.
‘Leaner’ estate management refers to a more sustainable, streamlined way of working; for example, local authorities sharing buildings with other public sector partners or relocating their property port- folio to centralised offices. There are some barriers to this kind of success, yet despite these barriers, the inquiry demonstrated that there is more than enough evidence to prove that the rewards and savings from changing practices are both possible and realistic.
For example, Birmingham City Council is planning to reduce the 55 buildings it uses for office space to just eight, sav- ing 50,000m2
. One building alone, the
Lancaster Circus Council Building, has al- ready merged 13 buildings into one, cutting 10,000m2
of floor space, generating finan-
cial savings of £3.5mn a year in running costs, and a 40% reduction in carbon.
Importantly, service delivery can also be improved significantly by these methods. Kent County Council has brought together 60 service providers in creating a one-stop- shop of services for residents. Through working in partnership, sharing facilities, and operating sustainably, Kent CC will de- liver services more effectively.
Other councils, such as St Edmundsbury and Suffolk, report a whole host of ad-
What others say about the report...
“This timely report shows that every council could save millions by managing their properties better, using the money to protect frontline services or keep council tax down.” - Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
“Through a combination of these new buildings and work practices, and managing buildings more effectively, we’re already reaping the rewards and surpassing our expectations.” - Councillor Randal Brew, Cabinet Member for Finance, Birmingham City Council
While some of these proposals may be chal- lenging, the organisations we heard from who made the leap, testify that the impact is significant and the rewards are there for the taking. I urge local government to consid- er how they manage their property, and to use it in a leaner and greener way.
Matthew Hancock MP
FOR MORE INFORMATION The full report is at:
tinyurl.com/4bso34u
public sector executive Mar/Apr 11 | 17
ditional ‘soft’ benefits, ranging from in- creased staff productivity to lower sickness and turnover rates. Sustainable offices make work a nicer place to be.
But while the benefits are obvious, the path to success may be more difficult to dis- cern. So, in order to help other authorities achieve similar remuneration, we are mak- ing a number of practical recommenda- tions that we think will help local authori- ties improve the way they work:
1) Data
Currently, many local authorities often lack the crucial information to make informed decisions about their estate.
So local government needs to gather rel- evant property data and explore relevant flexible working tools to improve the effi- ciency of space use.
Above: Birmingham’s Lancaster Circus council building has already cut 10,000m2
of floor
space, generating savings of £3.5m per year in running costs, plus a carbon reduction of 40%.
Greening local government property is a must. The imperative to lower carbon emissions is often considered a burden, but as described, through implementing simple measures to reduce energy use and create renewable energy, local authorities cannot only reduce their environmen- tal impact, but also ease the pressure on budgets.
4) Co-operation
Finally, in seeking innovative solutions, local government should look beyond its own borders and try to actively cooper- ate with other public sector and voluntary partners to develop property solutions in the locality.
We have seen that property sharing gener- ally enhances the extent of efficiency sav- ings by enlarging the size of the managed estate.
© Birmingham City Council
© Birmingham City Council © Birmingham City Council
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