Members considered an update following completion of the joint feasibility study between Thames Valley Police (TVP) and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) to consider a shared office and police station site in Windsor.

The Lead Member for Finance explained that significant work had been undertaken to optimise the council offices in Windsor. There was a clear requirement to continue to have a viable front office and staff space in the town. At its 30 January 2014 meeting, Cabinet authorised a joint feasibility study with Thames Valley Police (TVP) to explore a Windsor office accommodation strategy for both public bodies. Three options had been identified: York House, the Tinkers Lane depot and the Bachelors Acre library site. consultants had determined that the wholesale redevelopment of the site would not be cost effective. However, adding a further floor to the existing building would provide significant additional value of £3-3.5m at a cost of £1.5m. A lot of office accommodation in the town had in recent years been converted to residential therefore there was a demand for office accommodation.

The cost to reconfigure the council office space in the building would be £1.8m but this would increase the capital value by an additional £1m. TVP were due to meet on 29 January 2016 to agree to proceed with the proposals. A secure police pound would be included on site with a front counter service. TVP would pay for the costs of construction of their facility and make a contribution to the refurbishment of the original building. The council was also in discussions with the Crown Estate about extending the car park at the back of the site.

The Lead Member for Education commented that they key was partnership working with TVP. The Principal Member for Policy highlighted that the council worked in partnership with a number of blue-light services, for example the fire station at Tinkers Lane and the Multi-agency Safeguarding hub. Retailers in Windsor had reported a fall in lunchtime trade with the loss of office accommodation and it was therefore good t see the council investing in office accommodation in the town. The Principal Member for Transformation and Performance commented that an exhaustive review of multiple options  had been undertaken. The proposals added value in three ways: a capital increase, services offered and a legacy site. the chief whip  supported the proposals on behalf of the residents in the south of the borough who usually accessed services in Windsor, given the distance to Maidenhead.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Cabinet:

i)             Notes the conclusion of the joint TVP/RBWM feasibility study confirming that there is sufficient synergy between the public bodies to underpin further collaborative work for the York House site.

ii)            Agrees to negotiations being explored and concluded with third party land owners/potential tenants as detailed in Appendix D (Part II).

iii)           Delegates authority to the Strategic Director of Corporate and Community Services in consultation with the Lead Member for Education (including Windsor) to negotiate an agreement with TVP, including terms to ensure that a counter service will be provided from the site for an agreed future period.

iv)          Authorises the Strategic Director of Corporate and Community Services in consultation with the Lead Member for Finance (including Property) and the Lead Member for Education (including Windsor) to prepare a planning application for the extension of York House.

v)            Authorises the extension of the existing Hunters contract to prepare a planning application for the extension of York House.

vi)          Agrees to a report being brought back to September 2016 Cabinet (prior to the submission of the planning application) on the financial and practical implications of the proposed works.