Agenda item

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk which informed Members of the Accommodation and Ways of Working project, which aimed to modernise working practices, optimise the use of buildings and facilities to provide focus for improvements to our business processes, skills and assets, and enhance the Wellbeing of our staff.

A Member commented that this report had also been considered by the Establishment Committee and at that meeting Members had commented that it would be vital that the organisational culture and the IT systems were appropriate if the changes to working practices which were proposed in the report were to be achieved. The Member also explained that the Establishment Committee had commented that it would be important that Senior Officers were also willing to adopt new working practices, including, if appropriate, removing their private office provision.

A Member asked for clarification regarding the potential for letting Walbrook Wharf once the new practices were in place. The Member also asked whether such property transactions which could be realised following the implementation of the new practices would realise sufficient income to cover the financial implications of adopting the new practices. The City Surveyor explained that contracts were in place for the use of Walbrook Wharf by third parties until 2019 and 2025, so it was anticipated that a final decision on the long-term future of that property would be determined nearer to 2025. He explained that the agreed option and full financial cost of the New Ways of Working Project was not yet known and, given the long-term nature of the project and the uncertainty regarding potential property transactions, it was currently difficult to confirm whether such income would cover the costs of the project.

RESOLVED – That the Sub-Committee notes the Accommodation and New Ways of Working Programme and the implications for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Corporation’s operational property.