Published on:
29
September 2011
In what is believed to be the first move of its type in Scotland, a radical plan has been developed to share public buildings in Forth Valley. With a combined property portfolio of more than 1,000 individual buildings with a total floor area in excess of 1 million square metres, the initiative aims to streamline accommodation and support further joint working, at a time of fiscal restraint.
Details of the project, which involves NHS Forth Valley, the three local authorities - Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire - the University of Stirling, Forth Valley College, Central Scotland Police, Central Scotland Fire and Rescue and the Scottish Ambulance Service, will be unveiled later this week.
The scenario planning exercise examined three different levels of future change - minimal, intermediate and more ambitious. Opportunities put forward included the elimination of under-used and surplus accommodation, rationalisation of the existing joint property portfolio and shared use of space/buildings across the partner organisations. Sharing office space has already happened, with some NHS Forth Valley staff moving to Stirling Council offices and Central Scotland police premises in Larbert.
NHS Forth Valley Strategic Projects and Property Director Tom Steele said: "This is a great opportunity to deliver joined-up services such as child protection in one building. It is also a welcome alternative to the now unaffordable "replace old with new" strategy that was prevalent in the past and means we will be able to sell surplus buildings. to bring more money back into the public sector."
Greater joined up working between public sector agencies was one of the key recommendations of the Christie Commission report on the future delivery of public services and was also highlighted in the recent Scottish Government spending review.
Clackmannanshire Councillor Janet Cadenhead said: "This plan will not only save money, but make life easier for people looking for help from the public sector across Forth Valley."
Work on the Best in Class initiative began in May last year and was overseen by the Forth Valley Property and asset Management Group. The findings will now go out to consultation across the partnership organisations.