Relocation of Police Head Quarters to Green Street Car Park - Addendum - Ministerial Response - 22 February 2013

Findings

Comments

Key  Finding 1 –  The  reservations expressed  by  Police  Officers  to  their Association  have  been  addressed  in discussions with the Deputy Chief Officer and Project Team. Many specific concerns can be resolved in the next detailed stage of the  design  process.  The  principal outstanding  issues  around  parking provision for police officers and for visitors to the Enquiry Desk remain. These have been acknowledged and work remains to be done by the States of Jersey Police and the Project Team to define a solution.

As identified in the body of the report and Appendix 1,  nearly  all  the  issues identified by the Police Association have been  resolved  to  the  satisfaction  of  the Association.  Despite  the  extensive consultation  process,  the  Association recognise in the report that a number of the concerns were raised through lack of knowledge, rather than because the design was deficient.

The key issues identified as outstanding will be considered as part of the detailed design stage (see below).

Key  Finding 2 –  Feedback  from  civilian staff raised very similar concerns to those given to the Police Association, the issues of  parking  for  staff  and  visitors  and  the lack  of  expansion  possibilities  featuring strongly.  The  Panel  believes  that  in  the main  the  specific  concerns  expressed  by civilian  staff  can  be  addressed  through appropriate  discussion  and  interchange with  management  in  the  same  way  that police  officer  concerns  have  been addressed.

As  identified  in  the  report,  the   Deputy Chief  of  Police  has  responded  to  the issues raised and a further opportunity for all  staff  to  review  the  plans  and  make comments to the architects was provided in December 2012.

Again,  many  of  the  points  have  been addressed or clarified in the response of the Deputy Chief of Police and the key issues outstanding will be considered as part  of  the  detailed  design  process  (see below).

Key  Finding 3 –  Further  detailed refinement of plans for the Police Station will  take  place  at  the  next  stage  of  the design process and will be able to respond to specific issues raised by staff.

As  stated  above,  should  the  scheme achieve planning consent, detailed design will take place which will again involve engagement with staff. This will provide an  opportunity  to  address  outstanding issues relating to building design.

In  terms  of  internal  design,  this  will include –

• Addressing the issue raised regarding access  to  the  custody  suite  from reception

• Where  required,  reviewing  internal layouts  to  ensure  they  provide  the right  environment  for  those occupying these areas.

Findings

Comments

In terms of the broader issue of parking for  Police  officers,  including  those recalled to work at short notice, this has been  covered  in  the  response  to S.R.19/2012.

It is recognised that this is one of the key issues raised by staff, and there will be a need  to  work  with  the  States  of  Jersey Police staff in terms of travel to work and to  identify  solutions  to  the  specific parking issues identified.

This will be undertaken as part of the next stage of design, and will be included as part of the development of a Workplace Travel Plan. However, this is not a reason to delay the progress of the project.

Key  Finding 4 –  In  the  Panel's  view the figures for police establishment and crime figures over the last 10 years appear to give weight to its belief that the Police Station should  take  account  of  potential requirements  for  future  expansion  in response to developing services.

The  fact  that  staff  total  numbers  have risen by c. 6% over the last 17 years is not evidence to suggest that this will continue into  the  future.  In  addition,  evidence provided to the Panel suggests that it is the way the building is used, rather than total  numbers  which  will  dictate accommodation requirements.

It  is  also  questionable  whether  such  a conclusion  can  be  drawn  simply  from total  staff  numbers.  The  staff  numbers provided make it clear that they include part-time staff. In recent years, like many organisations,  the  Police  have  increased the numbers of those who work part-time or job-share. Whilst this does contribute to  an  increase  in  total  headcount,  the nature  of  part-time  and  job-share  roles serve  to  lessen  the  impact  on accommodation.

Furthermore, the Panel's report identifies the  evidence  provided  by  the  States  of Jersey Police about the nature of future policing,  in  particular  the  emphasis  on embedding officers in the community, and the use of technology in the future which will result in a reduced requirement for traditional accommodation in the future.

Findings

Comments

The Panel also received evidence about the flexibility and expansion capabilities built in to the new building (10% in office areas)  which  are  designed  to  support  a workplace strategy which will continue to promote  more  flexible  working  and facilities.

Adoption of modern technology, such as mobile  data  terminals,  will  reduce  the requirement for permanent desk spaces as out  of  the  office'  mobile  working becomes more commonplace.

Far  from  suggesting  the  need  for additional  accommodation  in the  future, the  above  supports  the  current  building design which is flexible and adaptable to meet the changing demands of a modern Police force.

As  identified  in  the  response  to S.R.19/2012, the Panel's beliefs that there will  be  a  need  for  additional accommodation  in  the  future  are  not accepted.

Key Finding 5 – The Minister believes that there may be a future possibility to expand the  building  depending  on  future redevelopment of the existing Green Street car park.

In the unlikely event that expansion was required  in  the  next  30 years,  the  new Police HQ would adjoin Green Street car park, which is owned by the public and is scheduled  to  be  redeveloped  sometime over the next 10–15 years. The site does therefore  provide  scope  for  expansion space in the future.

Key  Finding 6 –  The  office  space  within the new building has been designed with an overall  expansion  flexibility  of  10%  in theory.  This  will  allow  concerns  about specific  office  accommodation  to  be considered at the next stage of the design process.

The  expansion  flexibility  is  not theoretical; it has been included within the design.

The  Panel  has  been  informed  that 10% spatial  tolerance  has  been  incorporated into  all  office  areas.  This  means  desk configurations  can  be  reorganised  to provide space for an additional increase of workstation numbers, whilst still meeting the  requirements  of  Health  and  Safety minimum  standards  and British  Council of Offices guidance.

Findings

Comments

The above refers to office areas, and the Panel was also provided with evidence of the flexibility provided in other specialist areas,  such  as  the  control  room,  which provide greater tolerance.

Key  Finding 7 –  Direct  consultation  with Honorary Police Officers will take place at the next stage of the design process.

This consultation has been planned for the next stage of design. As the Panel notes in its report, provision has been made in the design  for  facilities  for  professional partners.