**Past event - Operational Efficiency Programme (01/03/2010)

Delegates attended the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster on a glorious sunny 1st March 2010. It is hard to feel anything other than awe inspired as you exit Westminster Underground station and are faced by the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

The excellent facilities at the venue were immediately apparent with registration in the entrance hall followed by coffee served in the Mountbatten Lounge where exhibitors and sponsors had their stands.

At 09:30 the plenary session saw an expert panel of speakers giving their views on the importance of effective property asset management in achieving the operational efficiency programme targets.

The key theme which was returned to by all speakers was the vital need for accurate data Not least to support benchmarking.

Sound data helps the benchmarking process by facilitating:
• meaningful analysis
• performance comparisons
• an understanding of costs, exposing inefficiencies
• decision making around cost reduction based on factual analysis
• improvement in planning around costs and performance

It was pointed out several times during the day that good decisions made on property rationalisation should not be perceived as “selling off the family silver” but rather working smartly and efficiently, reducing public sector costs, reducing carbon footprint and improving services provided in the public sector.

Following on from the plenary, the conference proceeded with three sessions (one am and two pm) where a number of concurrent workshops were delivered, by sponsors, to delegates with interest in the particular subject being presented.

Spatial Intelligence with our client Hertfordshire County Council, presented a session entitled Data at the Hert of Asset Management. Adam Watson and Keith Hutt presenting, were delighted to see the seats in the audience rapidly filling up, with a need for extra chairs to be brought in to meet the demand. An expected audience of 40+ soon turned into 60+.

Adam gave an introduction to Spatial Intelligence particularly for the benefit of audience members new to this event. This was followed by Keith Hutt who provided an invaluable insight into Herts approach to data management and how it is core to the decision making process. Keith provided a first-hand account of some of the useful detail that can be gained from the plans including aerial and room photographs; explaining that photographs provide an opportunity to reduce the need for expensive site visits by allowing desk based analysis.

Keith explained that the service provided by Spatial Intelligence since 2003 supports their Strategic Asset Management planning and ensure that Hertfordshire County Council continue to be recognised as a Beacon authority for asset management (one of only five councils to be awarded Beacon status for asset management).

Copies of the HCC Strategic Asset Management document were available on request with downloadable PDF of the presentation to be made available on the SI website.

Following this event we will be arranging a series of workshops around the country and we will be in touch to let you know about dates, venues and agenda.

Operational Efficiency - Property Asset Management

The Operational Efficiency Programme and numerous reports from the Audit Commission, the National Audit Office etc, have stated that there is significant scope for public sector property and land to be used more efficiently and effectively. Recommendations for strengthening accountability and performance management are a crucial part of the new approach, designed to improve the efficient use of property assets.
Over the next 10-year period, The OEP estimates the potential for savings from improved efficiency to be around £20 billion in receipts from property disposals (excluding council housing), and savings in running costs of up to £5 billion a year by the end of that period.

Action must start now and must be continued if these targets and deadlines are to be met.

By attending the Property Asset Management Conference, you and your organisation will be better prepared to tackle the challenges that you will undoubtedly face over the coming months and years. Learn from practical, evidence based case studies from your colleagues and peers from across all areas of public service and discover what’s new from the very best solution providers. Build and strengthen networks to create benefit beyond the event itself.

See the event website for full details http://oep2.efficientgov.co.uk

Conference Agenda

•09:30 - 11:00 Plenary
•Chair: Andrew Smith OBE, Chief Executive: Hampshire County Council
•Mike Burt, Director of Government Estate Transformation: Office of Government Commerce
•Simon Roberts, Corporate Real Estate Expert: Adviser to Lord Carter of Coles, HM Treasury OEP Adviser (Property)
•Anna Dunne, Director: PricewaterhouseCoopers

•11:30 A1 Being Part of the National Estates Agenda

•11:30 A2 Strategic Asset Management - What Does it Look Like?

•11:30 A3 Measure to Manage - Data Collection, Interpretation and Use

•11:30 A4 Rationalising the Estate During a Downturn

•11:30 A5 Co-location - Meeting the Challenges: Real World Examples of How to Do It

•13:30 B1 Efficiency Through Collaborative Facilities Management

•13:30 B2 Data at the Hert of Asset Management
An enlightening presentation given by the Assets Officer of Hertfordshire County Council. The journey begins at the decision to invest in core data ten years ago through to the intricate journey data takes through the organisation from its extensive use in data driven decision making to the unexpected benefits now realised.

Adam Watson , Head of Public Sector Asset Management: Spatial Intelligence

Keith Hutt, Systems Development Manager: Hertfordshire County Council

•13:30 B3 Better Space Utilisation

•13:30 B4 Manage Your Carbon Emissions and Energy Use: Reduce Costs and Increase Efficiency

•15:00 C1 The Role of 'Total Place'

•15:00 C2 Who Needs Their Own Desk?

•15:00 C3 Collaboration Across Borders

Local Authorities
Central Government
NHS
Executive Agencies
NDPBs
MoD
Schools
Universities
FE Colleges
PBOs
"Blue light" services

CEOs will be joined by Directors/Heads of
Estates
Property
Finance
ICT
Facilities Management
Workplace Change
Programme and Project Management
Relocation
Commissioning
Resourcing
Corporate Services
Procurement
Planning
Regeneration
Operations
Transformation
Efficiency

QEII Conference Centre,
Broad Sanctuary,
Westminster,
London
Telephone 0207 798 4426
Website: www.qeiicc.co.uk
SW1P 3EE

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It is quicker and easier to travel to the venue by public transport.

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Car Parking Facilities
There is no parking at the centre but there are 4 NCP car parks nearby. Visit www.ncp.co.uk for more information.