Issue - meetings

This report provides a progress update of the Council’s corporate accommodation project, which includes the targets and achievements for the period October 2006 to June 2007.   The main focus of the report is the outcomes from the Hungate feasibility study, a key area of activity during this reporting period. The study demonstrates how a level of further investment will improve the overall business case for the project and provide further benefits particularly in relation to sustainability and the future use of the building.  It sets out the top ten project risks and how these continue to be managed and seeks Member approval for a revised business case for the project. 

RESOLVED:(i) That the contents of the report and the progress of the accommodation project to date be noted;

                        (ii) That the revised business case for the project that supports the outcomes of the feasibility study, detailed in paragraph 42 of the report, be approved.

REASON:To update the Executive on progress achieved and to monitor the project effectively.

Members received a report which provided a progress update of the Council’s corporate accommodation project, which included the targets and achievements for the period October 2006 to June 2007.   The main focus of the report was the outcomes from the Hungate feasibility study, a key area of activity during this reporting period. The study demonstrated how a level of further investment would improve the overall business case for the project and provide further benefits particularly in relation to sustainability and the future use of the building.  It set out the top ten project risks and how these continued to be managed and sought Member approval for a revised business case for the project. 

The feasibility study confirmed that the Hungate site could provide a building of adequate size (13,122 m² gross) that would meet the overall needs of the Council and include the York Customer Centre, other civic space such as a corporate conference suite and general office accommodation to support 1,404 staff.  The study recommended the massing option B as the preferred solution, as set out in the plans in Annex 2 of the report.  In line with other national benchmark schemes a target of £1,880 per m² for construction was proposed which equated to the need for a construction budget of £24.67m.

Members welcomed the revised business case for the project which showed that, by investing more capital funding at the construction stage, greater savings could be achieved for the Council in future years than previously anticipated.  They noted that currently the Council was spending £2.5 million each year on its buildings and that the new Hungate building would cost £1.3 million a year, thereby enabling savings to be invested in services for residents.

They also welcomed the significant opportunity the project represented to contribute to the climate change agenda, with the building achieving an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating, having 20% of its energy needs met on site from renewable sources and bettering the government’s CO2 building requirements by 30%.

Members recorded their thanks to the Ambulance Service for their flexibility in relation to their move from the Hungate site.

Having considered the advice of the Shadow Executive, it was

RESOLVED:(i) That the contents of the report and the progress of the accommodation project to date be noted;

                        (ii) That the revised business case for the project that supports the outcomes of the feasibility study, detailed in paragraph 42 of the report, be approved.

REASON:To update the Executive on progress achieved and to monitor the project effectively.