Local Authority Property and Estates 2024

10:00 – 11:15 Plenary

Chair’s welcome

• Dave Sweeney, Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership

Supporting local authorities with their estates, to help make better use of land and buildings to free up space for residential development

• Angela Harrowing, One Public Estate, Cabinet Office

How the CCS Facilities Management and Workplace Services Framework can help Local Authorities

• Keith Finnigan, Crown Commercial Service

The impact of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) on property valuation? – Globally the built environment is responsible for almost 40% of global carbon emissions and in the UK 25% of emissions are directly attributable to the built environment. These stats demonstrate the sector’s vital role in addressing the climate crisis.  The latest RICS valuation standards (2021) strengthen the focus on capturing and reflecting environmental, social governance and sustainability features in valuation reports, however, to date there is no globally adopted approach to how a valuer should report ESG and sustainability in property valuation. The presentation will look at the growing importance of considering sustainability and ESG factors when valuing property.

• Ellen Atkin, VOA

Strategic Asset Management through a net zero lens

• Sara Cameron, ACES

Sessions

11.45 – 12.15

Unlocking funding for all: a guide to Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme – This session will show how PSDS can be successfully delivered by breaking down the responsibilities of the clients, consultants, and contractors, underpinned by working together to achieve a shared goal of decarbonisation within the one-year funding deadline. It will also highlight the challenges of the application process and the critical path activities, such as DNO, planning consent and onsite limitations. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the PSDS process, from application to final commissioning, alongside a knowledge of the pitfalls and opportunities you will face.

• Nazar Soofi, Eddisons

12.15 – 12.45

Working in partnership: a case study on local authority and private sector collaboration – In 2023, Amey seconded a member of staff into Bradford Council for eight months. The secondment was the first of its kind and has proved to be an excellent way to build relationships, connect and find commonalities which lead to exciting strands of work. Join this work session to understand how building collaborative relationships with private sector companies can drive innovation and efficiency.

• Ian Warren, Business Director for Public Estates, Amey
• Phil Hunter, Strategy Manager Employment and Skills, Bradford Council
• David Aird, Director of Strategic Projects, Amey

13.45 – 14.15 

Inside local authority portfolios – With budget shortfalls at a critical level, many councils have started offloading their real estate assets, but is this the best strategy for plugging the gap? Including research from Carter Jonas.

• Alexandra Houghton, Partner, Carter Jonas
• Rad Radev, Associate Research Analyst, Carter Jonas

14.15 – 14.45

Strategies for brownfield regeneration in partnership with local authorities – This session will discuss how LCR works with local authorities to unlock brownfield land and spur regeneration. It will cover initial engagement with stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of local demographics and their evolving needs, the importance of managing piecemeal ownership, freeing up resources and the need for a guiding mind to help local authorities create and deliver plans.

Local authorities play a major role in placemaking, and LCR can support them by providing the resources, skills and expertise to help make a vision that serves the community a reality. In her presentation, Alice will draw on case study examples such as the Stafford Station Gateway and Dock Branch masterplan, where working with local authorities has been instrumental to delivering a successful project.

• Alice Clerkin, LCR

15.15 – 15.45

Transforming the Public Estate – Exploring the Challenges and Solutions – In a climate of reduced funding, how do we find efficiencies but still address the need to regenerate communities, digitise, achieve net zero, travel sustainably and deliver a circular economy? By realising total value and maximising benefits to the community, public sector organisations can achieve resilience, and find safe, regenerative solutions through the effective management of their assets and resources.

• Andrew Bannister, Head of Business Development, SCAPE Group
• Chris Clarke, Director of Performance and Improvement, SCAPE Group
• Jo Ellis, Operations Director, Mace
• David Hutt, Partnership Director, Perfect Circle

15.45 – 16.15

The future of the estates profession in public sector – one year on – A panel of recently qualified ACES members working in the public sector will discuss their route to the profession, along with the challenges, techniques, technologies, and real-life experiences that were used to manage the new world of hybrid working in the public sector. We will discuss the change in attitude towards working, the workspace supply, and the ever-changing demand from staff and management.

• George Bissett, Graduate Planner, Enabl
• Josef Eckert, Asst. Quantity Surveyor, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (MoD)
• Persephone Gallanis, Development Surveyor, Manchester City Council
• Robbie Metcalfe, Estates Surveyor, Lancashire County Council
• Facilitated by: Sara Cameron, President, ACES

16.15 – 16.25

Chair’s wrap-up and closing remarks

16.25 – Conference Close