To seek agreement for the restack and refurbishment of Invicta House as part of the New Ways of Working roll-out programme, part of the ‘Doing Things Differently’ business transformation agenda.
The works respond directly to and are a key part of the ‘Doing Things Differently’ business transformation agenda, currently being undertaken by KCC in response to ‘Facing the Challenge’, a proposed restructuring of how the Council undertakes its business in order to reduce the cost of local government and council expenditure generally.
Additionally the overall programme of works contributes to ‘Building stronger relationships with key business sectors across Kent’ as Kent based businesses are being engaged to undertake the refurbishment works on KCC’s behalf; it responds to ‘key regeneration challenges and working with our partners’, specifically where it releases previously leased property back into the business community, allowing new businesses to take up the opportunity to expand and develop in Kent or where deals can be done with partners / developers that enable former KCC land to be redeveloped to provide community facilities, such as Schools or similar. As retained buildings are restacked to provide refreshed workplaces for increased densities of KCC staff, the greater utilisation of fewer buildings resulting in a decrease in energy costs, business rates and maintenance costs, responds directly to the ‘Kent Environment Strategy’.
Financial Implications: A budget has been included and approved in the Medium Term Plan. If this project does not progress, the Council will be unable to exit its leasehold properties.
Legal Implications: The building is wholly owned by KCC but planning approval might be necessary dependent upon the level of external change required to address accessibility and any additional or new building services plant, required to cope with the increased population of the building. Works will also be subject to building control.
Equality Implications: An ‘Equality, Inclusion and Access’ (EqIA) assessment has been undertaken for the programme and will be updated as appropriate.
‘Facing the Challenge’ and ‘Doing Things Differently’ are both documented approaches that KCC are embracing as part of its initiative to reduce the cost of the Council to the people of Kent and are included in the Council’s Medium Term Plan
Decision type: Key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 18/10/2013
Anticipated restriction: Part exempt - View reasons
Explanation of anticipated restriction:
It is possible that some commercial details of the proposed contract award may be exempt from publication until the decision is taken and the call-in period complete.
Department: Strategic & Corporate Services
Contact: Henry Lamb - Tel:01622 696791 E-mail: henry.lamb@kent.gov.uk.
Consultees
The original ‘New Work Spaces’ decision to adopt the overarching strategy was considered and endorsed by P&R Cabinet Committee at its meeting in November 2012 https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=750&MID=4859 and was taken by the Cabinet member for Business Strategy, Performance and Health Reform in February 2013, decision number 12/1970 https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/documents/s38363/Signed%20RoD.pdf
This proposed decision to enter into contract for specific works
under that programme will be considered by the Property Sub Group
of the Policy and resources cabinet Committee to be held on
13th November 2013.
Alan Chittenden is the Local Member for the division in which Invicta House is located.
Financial implications: Lead officer: Henry Lamb. New Ways of Working Project Manager 01622 696791; henry.lamb@kent.gov.uk Lead Director: Rebecca Spore, Director of Property & Infrastructure Support 01622 221151; Rebecca.spore@kent.gov.uk
Legal implications: 13/00078
Equalities implications: Financial criteria exceeded