Agenda item - Update on One Public Estate Programme Application and Greater Brighton Strategic Property Board Proposals

Report of the Chair, Greater Brighton Officer Programme Board (copy attached).

1)           That the Board note both the progress made in developing the City Region’s Services and Assets Delivery Plan and its contents.

2)           That the Board approve the proposed governance and delivery arrangements for the Programme, encompassing the establishment of the Greater Brighton Strategic Property Board to provide direction, oversight and accountability and the Greater Brighton Public Sector Property Group, to deliver at an operational level.

3)           That the Board approve the Terms of Reference for the Greater Brighton Strategic Property Board, attached as Appendix 1 subject to the deletion of the following from section 1.4: “The organisations represented on the Board will have a ‘right of first refusal’ on the purchase of Government assets (at market rate) that have been earmarked for disposal. Any Government sites that are identified to be surplus and that subsequently transfer to the Homes & Communities Agency will include a housing target”.

4)           That the Board appoints Peter Davies of the Shoreham Port Authority, also a Coastal West Sussex Board member, as the independent business representative on the Greater Brighton Strategic Property Board.

17.1.    The Board considered a report of the Chair, Greater Brighton Officer Programme Board that provided an update on progress in relation to the City Region’s application to the National One Public Estate (OPE) Programme, a summary of the City Region’s Services and Assets Delivery Plan and an overview of the proposed governance and delivery arrangements for the Greater Brighton OPE Programme.

17.2.    Councillor Morgan asked for clarification that the Housing & Communities Agency (HCA) would not have a first refusal on government land.

17.3.    Nick Hibberd clarified that the HCA could not commit to the right of first refusal but were keen to engage with the Strategic Property Board.

17.4.    The Chair moved a motion to amend the recommendations to reflect the above which was passed.

17.5.    Dean Orgill stated that he wished to publically endorse the appointment of Peter Davies as the independent business representative on the Greater Brighton Strategic Property Board.

17.6.    John A. Peel noted that the GBEB would be the arbiter in situations where there were competing demands which may represent a challenge.

17.7.    Councillor Wall noted that observations had been made that the Programme was overly bureaucratic and asked if that was something the Board could deal with.

17.8.    Nick Hibberd clarified that the issue had been raised with government before the second stage bid had been made and assurance had been received that the Programme would become less onerous. In addition, funding had been set aside for a dedicated programme management resource.

17.9.    RESOLVED-

1)            That the Board note both the progress made in developing the City Region’s Services and Assets Delivery Plan and its contents.

2)            That the Board approve the proposed governance and delivery arrangements for the Programme, encompassing the establishment of the Greater Brighton Strategic Property Board to provide direction, oversight and accountability and the Greater Brighton Public Sector Property Group, to deliver at an operational level.

3)            That the Board approve the Terms of Reference for the Greater Brighton Strategic Property Board, attached as Appendix 1 subject to the deletion of the following from section 1.4: “The organisations represented on the Board will have a ‘right of first refusal’ on the purchase of Government assets (at market rate) that have been earmarked for disposal. Any Government sites that are identified to be surplus and that subsequently transfer to the Homes & Communities Agency will include a housing target”.

4)            That the Board appoints Peter Davies of the Shoreham Port Authority, also a Coastal West Sussex Board member, as the independent business representative on the Greater Brighton Strategic Property Board.