Issue - meetings

[Report of the Director of Housing, Regeneration and Planning. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation]

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation introduced the report which sought approval for the programme of office moves, refurbishments and agreement to tender the package of works, to ensure the delivery of high quality services.  Changes were required to a number of key council buildings to support immediate goals relating to the New Ways of Working Programme and the Accommodation Strategy, during the intervening period before the refurbishment of the Civic Centre, subject to final decision on that project in January 2022

The Cabinet Member and Assistant Director for Capital Projects and Property responded to questions from Councillor Cawley-Harrison:

-           There were no decisions to be made at this stage regarding the future of any building.  The decision at this stage was in relation to the short term future of the buildings whilst the refurbishment of the Civic Centre took place.

-           Valuations had not been carried out on the properties, as they would be used for the Council’s own operational purposes.

-           Not using River Park house would reduce the amount of carbon produced there.  The Council would be looking proactively at future proposals to see how net zero carbon can be achieved going forward.

RESOLVED to

1.      Approve the planned refurbishment works for Alexandra House and 48 Station Road, to allow for their re-occupation by officers. 

2.      To agree to the tendering of the package of works following the procurement approach set out in section 8 of this report.

3.      To note the estimated budget of £10.16m.

Reasons for decision

To deliver office accommodation improvements

The council has a poor standard of office accommodation, which is not reflective of the expectations of a modern workforce and does not enable high quality services for our residents.

Investment in the interior decoration, and fit-out of Alexandra House and 48 Station Road has been not taken place for a number of years.  Some planned maintenance and compliance works are also now required, which will be more economic to deliver as a single programme.

To ensure the council has an appropriate accommodation offer, prior to the Civic Centre project completing in 2025, with or without an Annex.  This means investment is required across our sites for the next 4 years usage, which will also contribute to enhanced assets and value to the council once vacated.

To enable the continued adoption of flexible working

Prior to the pandemic, the council was on a journey of adopting modern, flexible ways of working and improving council accommodation to enable this.

A significant number of staff continued to come into Haringey and use council accommodation during the pandemic but this period has also demonstrated that widespread flexible and home working can allow officers to continue to deliver for our residents and reduce the cost of council accommodation, whilst also improving the work-life balance for many staff.

The Council’s vision for how it will work in the future will recognise the benefits of maintaining flexibility in where its staff work. Whilst there are clear benefits to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 656