WP3324 - Asset Management Service Review - AWARD

Walsall Council are inviting bidders to submit a quotation for consultancy services to provide an independent review and audit of its existing Asset Management service, processes and practices, and subsequently outline prioritised recommendations/ strategy for improvement in line with the services' key functions and aims.

As with all local authorities, Walsall Council is experiencing significant financial challenges. Since the Emergency Budget of 2010 when Government set out its initial plans to reduce the overall Government deficit, the Council has reduced its spending by £84million and needs to save a further £86million between 2016/17 to 2019/20 in order to balance the budget.

As part of the budget savings and efficiencies already made, the restructuring of the Council's Property Services area was implemented in 2015/16. This process resulted in the merging and repositioning of teams into the following:

Asset Management

Structure: Regeneration and Development service area within the Economy and Environment Directorate

Role: Acquisition and disposal of property assets; year-end statutory asset valuations; professional property advice; and rental and management of a commercial portfolio.

Integrated Facilities Management

Structure: IFM service area within the Change and Governance Directorate

Role: Programme and commissioning; commercial management (contract and performance management); energy management; and soft FM services (cleaning, caretaking, curators).

Post the restructuring process the Council is now seeking an independent audit of the Asset Management functions and processes and a prioritised phased strategy for service improvement and refinement to help the Council achieve its corporate and business objectives within a challenging financial environment.