Monday 15 April 2013
An important and ambitious Strategic Asset Management plan, approved in principle by the Policy Council, has today been presented to States Members.
A report will be put to the States this summer, and if approved the Strategic Asset Management plan will lead to a better and more efficient use of property owned and used by States of Guernsey to improve service delivery.
The objective of the Strategic Asset Management plan is to provide a better service to the public and to make cost savings by selling off some States-owned properties and making better use of the retained accommodation.
Deputy Gavin St Pier, Minister for the Treasury and Resources Department said:
"At the heart of these plans is the making of decisions about property based on what is best for delivery of service to taxpayers. The plans will also feature an increasing move towards delivering common services from common locations. This programme can bring about significant benefits to islanders and to our staff and lead to more efficient use of land and buildings. The initial consideration of the proposals by the Policy Council has resulted in an intention to present this matter to the States for formal consideration this summer. If the States agrees - it will happen.
"The aim is to improve the service we provide for our community and transform and modernise the way that we work. However, the programme will also generate a significant amount of money for the States. Some buildings will be sold, some buildings that the States rent will be vacated, some buildings will be refurbished and reused and some buildings and sites will be developed to meet other community needs. This is about improving and modernising our facilities.
"It's also important to add that this project would have a positive impact on the local construction industry, which currently faces a challenging business environment."
Writing to States staff today, Chief Executive Mike Brown has said:
"Over the years the States has acquired a great many properties which it has used as offices or to provide a range of public services. Some have been purpose built but with the passage of time and changing standards are no longer fit for purpose. Many others have been bought or rented and we have done our best to adapt our needs to the limitations posed by the buildings or the site. Because of the way in which the States has worked in the past, most of these buildings have been acquired and developed on a Department by Department basis and not as part of any overall strategy or plan.
"With this in mind throughout 2012 we have been looking at producing a clear plan for improving the service we deliver to the community through better and more efficient use of States property. The aim has been to explore how we might improve the services we provide to the public while at the same time reducing the number of buildings we use and releasing some of those to generate efficiency savings and income for the States of Guernsey. Chief Officers of all Departments completed a high level questionnaire about their Department's future direction and related property requirements and having collated the responses the Policy Council has agreed, in principle, a plan that will potentially see a radical rethink of how the States uses its property."
Although discussions are at an early stage, the Policy Council has initially identified the buildings earmarked for acting as bases for common services as Sir Charles Frossard House, Edward T Wheadon House, the old States Office (Guernsey Information Centre) and the King Edward VII site.
Contact Details
Damon Hackley
Strategic Planning Officer
Tel: 717027
