Draft Annual Business Plan 2011 (P99/2010): Minister for Housing Comments

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A decision made on 24 August 2010 regarding comments in respect of the draft Annual Business Plan 2011 (P99/2010)

Decision Reference: MD-H-2010-0073
Decision Summary Title :	DS – P.99/2010 - Comments		Date of Decision Summary:	24th August 2010
Decision Summary Author:	Director of Strategic Development		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?			Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title :	SD - Comments		Date of Written Report:
Written Report Author:			Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: The presentation to the States of the Minister for Housing’s comments in respect of P.99/2010 Draft Annual Business Plan 2011
Decision(s): The Minister instructed that his comments set out in the attached supporting document be presented to the States.
Reason(s) for Decision: To ensure that the Minister for Housing’s official comments are notified to all members prior to the debate.
Resource Implications: None
Action required: The Greffier to be requested to present the comment to the States by 26th August 2010
Signature:		Position: MINISTER
Date Signed		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Draft Annual Business Plan 2011 (P99/2010): Minister for Housing Comments

P.99/2010 – Draft Annual Business Plan 2011

COMMENTS

The proposition does not make specific reference to the proposed treatment of property as set out on pages 44 – 48 inclusive of the draft business plan itself. It is therefore not possible to lodge any specific amendment in respect of property. It is expected that future planned disposals or proposed management outsourcing will be brought to the States as specific proposition or where appropriate authorised in accordance with Standing Order 168.

PAGE 44 - Section 9.1 – Objective 1(i)

The desire to reduce operating costs for property is wholeheartedly endorsed. One means of achieving such reductions whilst improving efficiency and service to the occupants is to see that property is managed by the right department or organisation. In respect of States owned residential accommodation, some of which sits within the property portfolios of departments such as Health, Education, Home Affairs, Property Holdings, et al, management should be concentrated with the Housing Department who are already experienced in large scale residential portfolio management and have the proper infrastructure and contractual arrangements for 24 hour emergency repairs and long term planned maintenance.

Bringing all of the residential property together under one management would allow for greater flexibility in the use of property as the needs of the ‘user’ departments change and allows the residential estate to be used to best effect.

PAGE 46 – Department Portfolio Plans

Prior to any decision being made to restructure or rationalise residential portfolio’s or outsource their management, a review needs to take place with the Housing Department to ascertain whether any parts of those portfolios have a potential use for social housing, whether that be in their present form or as potential development sites. It is my view that good use can be made of significant elements of the States owned residential portfolio and that its absorption into the social rented stock would be an efficient and cost effective method of management. Access rules for social housing would, as a consequence, be extended to allow access to ‘key workers’ and would provide for greater equity in access to accommodation for those migrants, a key objective within aim 14 of the States Strategic Plan.

Minister for Housing