Agenda item

(Leader of Council) To consider the attached report (C-005-2017/18).

(1)        That the progress of Projects and Programmes within the Transformation Programme for March 2017, alongside the planned actions for April 2017, be noted;

(2)        That the update on the Service Accommodation Review, including the Programme Definition Document, be noted and a detailed business case for the option selected by Cabinet in March be progressed; and

(3)        That, in order to fund the external support for the production of the business case, a virement of £120,000 from the capital budget for the purchase of Bridgeman House be recommended to the Council for approval.

The Leader of Council presented the Transformation Programme Monitoring Report for March 2017 and an update on the Service Accommodation Review.

The Leader reminded the Cabinet that regular highlight reports on the progress of the Transformation Programme were presented to each meeting of the Cabinet. This was the highlight report for March 2017 and covered progress for all chartered projects of Medium and High Risk Potential, as well as the key aspects of the Transformation Programme. Overall, progress indicators for ‘cost’ and ‘benefits’ were Green for this period. The indicator for ‘time’ was Amber to highlight that 1 action from a total of 194 actions was overdue. The indicator for ‘delivery / outcomes / outputs’ was Amber to highlight that 2 projects were on hold.

The Leader stated that the first stage of the Accommodation Review had concluded on 9 March when the Cabinet had considered a number of strategic outline cases. The preferred option involved a re-configuration and refurbishment of the new building and releasing the Condor building, 323 house and the rear extension for re-development. Whilst the outline case set out income and costs at a high level, a more detailed business case was now required to establish a sequential costed programme of works, a clear time line and the indicative layout and number of workstations to be provided.

The Leader added that, when the purchase of the former police station in Waltham Abbey was being evaluated it became clear the purchase of Bridgeman House was not going to proceed and so the £297,000 included in the Capital Programme was available to be re-allocated. As the Accommodation Review had now reached the detailed feasibility stage, it could be funded from the Capital Programme and it was sensible to re-allocate a budget that was no longer required instead of seeking a supplementary estimate. Consequently, the Leader was requesting that the Cabinet recommend a virement in the sum of £120,000 from the capital budget for the purchase of Bridgeman House to the Council for approval, in order to fund the production of the business case for the Service Accommodation Review.

The Cabinet felt that this was a sensible approach and was happy to agree the virement. Cllr C C Pond enquired as to whether the Council had an Archiving Policy. The Head of Transformation confirmed that the Council did have an Archiving Policy and agreed to provide the Councillor with a copy of it.

Decision:

(1)        That the progress of Projects and Programmes within the Transformation Programme for March 2017, alongside the planned actions for April 2017, be noted;

(2)        That the update on the Service Accommodation Review, including the Programme Definition Document, be noted and a detailed business case for the option selected by Cabinet in March be progressed; and

(3)        That, in order to fund the external support for the production of the business case, a virement of £120,000 from the capital budget for the purchase of Bridgeman House be recommended to the Council for approval.

Reasons for Decision:

To inform the Cabinet of progress on the Transformation Programme, including work streams, programmes and projects.

In order to progress the Accommodation Review to achieve the stated objectives of the Cabinet,  then external support and funding for this support was necessary.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

No other options were available as failure to monitor and review progress of the Transformation Programme and to consider corrective action where necessary, could have negative implications for the Council’s reputation, and might mean opportunities for improvement were lost.

The Cabinet could decide not to progress the Accommodation Review or to progress the Review but fund it in some other way. However, if the review was not to be progressed then it would mean foregoing the opportunity to transform the Council’s accommodation and working practices.

Capital funding could be provided through a supplementary estimate; however, this was not recommended as sufficient resource existed within the current Capital Programme.