Head of Property Candidate Briefing Pack
Introduction
About Us
The Estate
The Strategy
Job Description
Benefits
Diversity & Inclusion
Campaign Schedule & Key Dates
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for taking the time to find out more about the appointment of Head of Property with Cambridgeshire County Council.
Cambridgeshire County Council seek to provide public services to the population of 650,000 people within the County. Operating across a diverse landscape, the County of Cambridgeshire incorporates large areas of rural space as well as many diverse towns and the bustling city centres of both Cambridge and Peterborough. The Council is embarking on an ambitious period of estate transformation in order to ensure greater commercial returns are generated from both the urban and rural portfolios. This is in addition to day to day operational delivery across the estate portfolio in order tomeet the needs of its staff, partners and the community it serves. The role of Head of Property is vital to develop and implement the Estates and Asset Management Strategy by forging close partnerships internally, with other local government groups and partner organisations.
The Portfolio
Cambridgeshire is a great place to live and work. A thriving economy has led to Cambridge being named the UK’s most ‘vibrant’ city for a sixth successive year and the area continues to be recognised nationally and internationally as one of the most forward thinking places in the UK. At Cambridgeshire County Council we are proud to part of that story and to be recognised as an innovative and well run authority. We have a huge amount of potential in our communities, our places and our people and we have ambitious plans to make Cambridgeshire even better. To do that, we know that we must develop different approaches and relationships – ‘business as usual’ won’t be enough. We have great ideas on how to support people to lead the fulfilling lives that they want, doing the things that matter to them - and we are ready to invest in a fair, caring Cambridgeshire where the Council is part of a community that looks out for each other.
The Estate
The asset valuation of the estate is circa £900m; comprising investment, operational and community assets. The portfolio also incorporates a significant rural estate, comprising 33,000 acres which generates £5m in annual rental income.
Recent Commercial Investments include:
Brunswick House, Cambridge 251-bed purpose-built student accommodation property purchased for £38m
The Kingsbridge Centre, Peterborough 10 acre industrial estate purchased for £11m
Tesco Superstore, Newmarket Road, Cambridge Acquired for £51m
Cromwell Leisure Park, Wisbech Leisure Asset incorporating cinema and three restaurant units Acquired for £6.9m
The Strategy
The financial challenges faced by the Council have been well documented. Reducing central funding coupled with growing demand for services has resulted in the Council having to look innovatively at everything it does. The Council established the Commercial and Investment Committee during 2016 to drive a more commercial approach within the organisation and to deliver better financial returns from its property and asset holdings. The remit of the Committee now includes driving all aspects of the Council’s commercial agenda. As a consequence the Committee have agreed that as part of this programme it will develop a strategic approach to commercial acquisitions. Any commercial acquisition carries with it a degree of risk and as this involves the investment
of public funds the rationale for engaging in such activity should be clear. The Council is looking to invest to mitigate budgetary pressures and to increase revenue that supports front line services. The wider Estates Strategy which seeks to develop effective relationships with Members, Developers and strategic partners.
Tasked with finding innovative ways of transforming the whole property service,
(including Estates and Asset Management, Rural, FM and Compliance), the Head of Property will be responsible for creating and implementing the Council’s Estates Strategy moving forward.
Job Description
Job Title : Head of Property Reports to : Deputy Chief Executive Officer Service : Resources Directorate Grade : Director, Grade D
Background Details
The Resources Directorate is responsible for many of the enablers of countywide and regional growth and prosperity. This role is a new senior post, which reports directly to the Deputy Chief Executive. The role holder will be part of the leadership team for the whole service area – balancing line management accountability for a particular service area along with strategic and leadership responsibilities across the wider service, Cambridgeshire County Council and partners. Developing effective relationships will be key to success - with Members, Developers and strategic partners/suppliers as well as with residents. A key responsibility of this role will be to find new and different ways of transforming the whole Property service through further developing partnerships and integrating services with others where this makes sense. The asset valuation of the estate as a whole is worth circa £900m, comprising investment, operational, and community assets. The portfolio incorporates a significant rural estate comprising 33,000 acres that generates £5m in annual rental income.
Purpose of Job
This role is responsible for leading on the development and delivery of key property and investment initiatives across Cambridgeshire and is therefore pivotal to Cambridgeshire delivering on its long term aspirations. Cambridgeshire has ambitious plans for investment in the County’s infrastructure. Close partnership working is required with other parts of local government, suppliers and agencies. The role is responsible for ensuring greater commercial returns are generated from our asset portfolio (both urban and rural) and investment opportunities are maximised with defined and associated metrics and measures of success and knowledge of market trends to illustrate our acquisition mix and divestment strategy.
Structure Chart
Deputy Chief Executive Officer Chris Malyon
Head of Finance
Head of Property
Principle Accountabilities
To lead and direct the following services ensuring that they are managed and delivered to the high- est quality standards in accordance with statutory requirements, within CCC budgets, procedures and frameworks, and in accordance to the RICS guidance : o Strategic Property Policy Development o Major Capital Funded Property Delivery o Growth and Development of the Commercial Property Agenda o Property Services, Compliance and Asset Management o Rural Estate - oversightof the UK’s largest rural farm estates via a specialist team
• To act as the authoritative voice for all Property teammatters with Members, partners and stake- holders – ensuring Cambridgeshire can respond effectively to developments in the external environment and be represented effectively at regional and national forums and groups. • To act as CCCs key day to day interface with stakeholders on the delivery of property related aspects of investment in the Council’s property infrastructure, ensuring the delivery to time, cost and quality of projects and schemes in that programme.
• To lead market intelligence on acquisition opportunities, market trends and investment mix, and to illustrate the landscape in which to divest of assets.
• Lead on the development of CCCs Estate and Asset Management and Investment strategy and associated policies, ensuring alignment with our strategies for economic and commercial growth and housing.
• Identify appropriate opportunities for property investment including recognising and highlight- ing risk potential. Investigate and understand the Council’s appetite for risk and advise as the subject matter expert accordingly. • Lead on the delivery, with partners, of major investments across Cambridgeshire, providing professional guidance as required, ensure effective monitoring and management of projects and schemes, ensuring an appropriate balance is achieved between value for money, quality and timeliness, and commercial returns.
• Work with Local Planning Authorities to ensure new developments have appropriate plans and facilities necessary to establish them as sustainable attractive communities.
• Engage with the public, key stakeholders and the media to build and maintain support for new CCC developments.
• To develop close working and strategic relationships with others, finding effective ways of delivering services at reduced cost including through the development of effective shared and integrated services with Peterborough CC, and the sub region. • To provide strong and visible leadership to the Asset Management, Property Services and Property Compliance teams – leading by example and proactively demonstrating Cambridgeshire’s leadership behaviours. • To provide visible leadership across the Resources Directorate, demonstrating a strong under- standing of the responsibilities of the whole service area and acting as a spokesperson for the whole teamwith external bodies when required. • As a member of the Resources Directorate leadership team to develop and deliver CCC’s strat- egies and plans and give direction to the development of shared services with relevant part- ners and greater customer focus in order to deliver more effective and efficient services.
• Lead, drive and manage incremental and transformational change – acting as a champion for innovation across the Resources Directorate and CCC.
• To continually improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the services by seeking to implement synergies to optimise value for money and evolve both internal and external service delivery. • Develop and evolve services to meet the changing needs of internal and external customers, partners and stakeholders, ensuring the development of innovative ways to deliver service including through the use of new technologies. • Ensure actions are in place to identify and manage risks in accordance with the Council’s policies and procedures and that risks are appropriately identified and addressed by all relevant third party providers and partners.
Education, Knowledge, Experience and Skills
Education/qualifications
Essential
Desirable
x
Degree or equivalent in relevant subject
x
Postgraduate (or equivalent) professional qualifications in a Property Related Discipline Evidence of CPD in one or more of the relevant service areas, including membership / participation in professional bodies
x
Knowledge/Experience Essential
Desirable
x
Experience of senior leadership in a complex, multi-disciplinary, political environment Significant knowledge of relevant specialist sector(s) to lead and maximise our investment and divestment strategy and operations Considerable experience of working successfully in a political environment, including leading on the development of effective relationships with members, Cabinet and the Leader Experience of leading and managing large professional Property teams
x
x
x
Essential
Desirable
x
Experience of responding positively to the challenges of change and to the development and delivery of large scale, complex projects and programmes Experience at leading a strategic Corporate Landlord function to large commercial and investment tenants Experience of asset optimisation in commercial terms to provide robust and sustainable income for the Council Experience of developing effective cultures and ways of working across specialist teams
x
x
x
Essential
Desirable
x
Experience of effective multi agency partnership working and of developing effective, long standing partnerships that deliver value for money Experience of leading, inspiring and empowering others Experience of preparing and presenting reports at Board level Experience and understanding of the issues facing the public
x x
x
sector in general and local government in particular
Key External Relationships
This role is heavily outward facing and is responsible for developing, maintaining and growing effective relationships with a wide range of bodies including the Combined Authority, Greater Cambridge Partnership, District Councils, This Land, Local Stakeholder Groups.
Relationships with Politicians and Provision of Professional Advice
Highly effective relationships with Members are vital to the success of this role. The role holder will be responsible for the provision of advice and guidance whilst upholding political impartiality. The ability to present ideas and concepts clearly and effectively tomultiple audiences will be important. The role holder must inspire trust and confidence inMembers, senior managers and staff across the Council and beyond (into our partnerships and with our residents).
Commissioning and Contract Management
Some services are provided on behalf of other parts of CCC eg provision of advice on how to best commercialise Children’ Centres and Libraries negotiating with District Planners where appropriate on behalf of the Council. The Service is responsible for commissioning professional advice, design and construction from consultants, specialists and contractors. The Service utilises the other departments such as High- way Services for advice, design and delivery of projects. The post holder will work closely with Highways in the development of schemes.
Critical Dimensions Staff of c.40 18/19 FY Budget £6.8m Revenue - this is the recurring annual element £10.7m Capital £17.5m Total
Benefits
• Local Government Pension Scheme with employer contribution • Generous annual leave provision • Option to buy extra holiday • Comprehensive employee discounts scheme • Employee Assistance Programme – access to free support 24 hours a day • Lease car scheme (salary sacrifice scheme - T&Cs apply) • Payment for business mileage expenses • Salary based charitable giving scheme • Work life balance and flexible ways of working • Employee recognition reward – win shopping vouchers and extra holiday • Cycle to Work scheme – tax saving to buy a bike
Diversity & Inclusion
Our commitment to achieving equality and diversity
Cambridgeshire County Council works hard to ensure that we are fair and accessible to everyone, including people who are:
• Using our services, in need of our services or may need our services in future; • Living in, working in or visiting Cambridgeshire; • Employees or prospective employees; contractors supplying goods or services; or people volunteering with us;
We are committed to meeting our duties under the Equality Act 2010. We will work to eliminate discrimination and to promote diversity and equal opportunities through our
• Service delivery, • Community engagement, and • Employment practices.
We know that the diversity of people and communities in Cambridgeshire helps to make our county the vibrant and creative place it is.
Our Single Equality Strategy • Our strategic objectives
Our single Equality Strategy will help us to achieve our commitment to equality and diversity. The current strategy runs from 2018-2022 and has three main objectives:
• Objective A: Promote equality and inclusion within our workforce, our Members and through our employment and procurement practices.
• Objective B: Promote equality and inclusion through fair and accessible services.
• Objective C: Promote equality, inclusion and celebrate diversity through engagement between the council and communities, groups and individuals.
Campaign Schedule & Key Dates Cambridgeshire County Council are being supported on this recruitment campaign by the search consultancy The Management Recruitment Group (MRG).
To arrange a confidential briefing conversation please contact our advisor Stephanie Howe (stephanie.howe@mrgpeople.co.uk) of MRG on 0203 962 9900.
Applications should consist of a comprehensive CV (of not more than 4 pages) and a covering letter (of not more than 2 pages).
Closing date for applications is midnight on 13th December 2019.
MRG screening interviews to take place w/c 16th December 2019.
First stage interviews with Cambridgeshire County Council are scheduled for w/c 13th January 2020.
Second stage interviews with Cambridgeshire County Council are scheduled for w/c 20th January 2020.
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