Hampshire Property Services go from strength to strength

Friday, 13 July 2012

An ambitious strategy has been developed to enhance and grow the future capacity of Property Services within Hampshire County Council.

Hampshire County Council Property Services is a pioneering public service organisation with an established national reputation for delivery in design, procurement, asset management and development. It offers a wide range of professional services, comprehensive advice and sustainable solutions. With over 30 years experience, knowledge and expertise as a public authority partner in delivering excellence, innovation and value for money, Property Services provides a responsive approach and a tailored range of services including portfolio and asset management, integrated design services, property management and maintenance and agency, land and estates management, development and disposal.

Sharing best practice

By working closely with many local authorities from across the country, they also deliver programmes and projects sharing best practice, efficiencies and the benefits of new ways of working, including:

• education and schools
• early years and children's centres
• older persons' homes and extra care
• heritage and community
• office rationalisation and flexible working
• joint public sector asset sharing and rationalisation
• asset management, development and disposal

Building capacity and skills for the future

In response to growing demand for these services from within the County Council and external partners and clients, over the next two years Property Services has identified potential growth of an additional 25% on 2011-12 levels. Sustained income levels are also expected to remain at this higher level for the next three to five years. This means that the Service will be increasing its complement of staff over the coming months from a wide range of professions to build capacity and skills to deliver the increased workload.

Increase in school places

The provision of additional school places over the next four years and a £200million programme of work at schools are among the key drivers for future expansion. Growth of this scale has not been experienced since the late 1990s, as for the more than a decade, there has been an overall drop in rolls across Hampshire. Property Services also has an excellent record of securing business from Academy schools and this is expected to continue in future years with the anticipated conversion of more Hampshire schools.

Care changes drive demand

Major changes in relation to the care provided to vulnerable adults is also expected to result in greater demand; principally from the provision of support to residents with learning difficulties, as well as enabling and supporting older residents to continue to live independently for longer.

Ongoing partnership working with other public sector organisations including unitary authorities, other county and district councils, fire, police, health trusts and schools, to help deliver greater savings and efficiency for taxpayers, continues to form an integral part of future demand.

£5 million for building repairs over next two years

The Property Services team will deliver £5million of additional capital repairs on the maintenance of County Council buildings over the next two years in addition to an ongoing investment in schools repair and improvement.

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Ken Thornber, said:

"In order for Property Services to respond to the levels of growth that have been forecast for the future, it is predicted that resources should increase by around a quarter, and the right staffing levels and skills must be in place to support these additional areas of work and help generate income for the local authority.

"Around a third of Property Services' current business is for other public sector organisations, and they also manage construction frameworks on behalf of all the local authorities in the South East and London. In addition, the team is gaining national acclaim from Government for its collaborative working arrangements with partners.

"Senior management within Property Services has been reduced by 15% as part of wider corporate efficiency measures but in future, recruitment to more junior positions will be needed in line with the overall business strategy so that the skills and capacity of the workforce can be developed. This will help to support the delivery of these projects, grow the Property Services business and continue to generate income to support local service delivery in Hampshire and help offset the reduced levels of funding we now receive from Government."

• Property Services

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