Decision details

To consider and respond to the recommendations made by the Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to the Council’s accommodation project.

(a)  That, in view of the significant costs involved in leasing and running Maidstone House, approval is given to appointing a project manager, at the earliest opportunity, to ensure all accommodation options (build, buy, lease) are investigated and reported back on without delay; and

(b)  That the informal, cross-party, Accommodation Working Group, continues to meet during the 2014/15 municipal year.

On 4 March 2014 the Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed that an update on the future of Maidstone House should be considered by scrutiny before the end of the 2013/14 municipal year.

Following this request, the Director of Environment and Shared Services attended the Committee on 6 May 2014, where the following issues were discussed:

·  Options and next steps for the Gateway and Maidstone House;

·  The programme reviews being carried out by Kent County Council (KCC) across Kent including those assessing the offer at each gateway and the value of the gateways to KCC;

·  The work carried out via the cross-party Accommodation Working Group;

·  Future strategy options including the pros and cons of “building”, “buying” and “leasing”; 

·  Options to appoint a project manager. 

The recommendations at paragraph 1.2 of the Report of the Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been put forward based on the evidence provided during the question and answer session with the Director of Environment and Shared Services, the significant costs involved in leasing / running Maidstone House, and to ensure all the options (build, buy, lease) are looked at when developing an accommodation blueprint for the future. 

Cabinet could have decided not to endorse the recommendations made by the Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee. However, the recommendations are based on evidence provided by the Director of Environment and Shared Services and support the Council’s objectives with regard to Corporate and Customer Excellence.