Westminster Sustainable Business Forum’s work cited by the Department for Communities and Local Government

 

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) has launched an online ‘demo’ map locating over 180,000 public sector assets, currently in the ownership of almost 600 public sector bodies. The move forms part of CLG’s work to make savings at both central and local government level through improved asset management.

The Department press release cites the Leaner and Greener: Delivering Effective Estate Management report, published by the Westminster Sustainable Business Forum in February 2011, which estimated local government could save up to £7bn a year in operational costs through better property management and also made key recommendations to Government on the need for property data collection and GIS mapping of information on the public estate.

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Rt. Hon Eric Pickles MP has called on councils and public bodies to publish an asset list to help identify potential savings and protect frontline services. Speaking about the launch of the map Mr Pickles said, "I want the public sector to take a good hard look at what they own. By cataloguing each and every asset councils can help Government find innovative new ways to utilise them, improve local services, keep council running costs down and save taxpayers' money.”

The Government has also published the findings of a pilot project of eleven councils known as Capital and Asset Pathfinders which found that on average 20%, savings could be made by rationalising assets or co-locating services. The short video below contains more details on the opportunities a new approach to asset management may hold and speaks to those involved in the Pathfinders project.