PCD 1568 Accommodating the Uplift of the Directorate of Professional Standards

PCD 1568 Accommodating the Uplift of the Directorate of Professional Standards

This paper seeks approval for investment of £1,930,000 to refurbish Cobalt Square. This will enable the relocation of elements of the Directorate of Professional Standards to vacate Empress State Building, move initially to the third floor at Cobalt Square and then to have a permanent move to the ground floor at Cobalt Square. The cost will be met from the MPS Capital Plan. 

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:   

1. Approve the capital funding required of £1.93m. Budget has been included in the PSD Capital Plan & Forecast, subject to approval of the overall MPS Capital Plan.  

2. To provide delegated authority to the Director of Commercial Services to initiate procurement action via the compliant MOPAC or third party framework, and to enter into contract with the successful contractor.

PART I - NON-CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND ADVICE TO THE DMPC 

1. Introduction and background  

1. The Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) was uplifted by 150 officers earlier in 2023.  The programme to refurbish Empress State Building (ESB) has been able to temporarily accommodate elements of DPS but now require their re-location in order to progress the Counter Terror Operations Centre (CTOC) refurbishment. 

2. Issues for consideration 

1. The MPS has identified Cobalt Square as a suitable location for the DPS uplift requirement. Initially, these DPS functions will be accommodated on the third floor of Cobalt Square and then permanently re-located to the ground floor. 

2. The paper seeks approval for the refurbishment and associated costs (ICT, re-locations, etc.) for Cobalt Square.  Further detail is set out in the restricted section of this paper. 

3. Financial Comments  

1. Spend to date to accommodate the DPS team at ESB has incurred costs of £336,000. The total estimated cost of this proposal (including the £336,000) is £1,930,000.   

2. The capital budget and borrowing costs to fund this investment is contained within the 2024/25 Budget Submission. 

4. Legal Comments 

1. The Directorate of Legal Services assure that the proposed variation to the contract of the existing contractor refurbishing Cobalt Square, and the award of a contract via existing approved framework for the ICT works are legal and compliant with Public Contract Regulations. 

2. The MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (“DMPC”) has delegated authority to approve  

• business cases for revenue or capital expenditure of £500,000 or above. 

• All requests to go out to tender for contracts of £500,000 or above, or where there is a particular public interest (paragraph 4.13). 

3. Paragraph 7.23 of the Scheme provides that the Director of Strategic Procurement has consent for the approval of the award of all contracts, with the exception of those called in through the agreed call in procedure.  Paragraph 4.14 of the Scheme provides the DMPC reserves the right to call in any MPS proposal to award a contract for £500,000 or above. 

5. Commercial Issues  

1. The refurbishment requires commercial activities in relation to both ICT, professional and construction works.  The ICT works will be procured via an existing compliant framework agreement.  The professional and construction works will be procured by way of a modification to the existing contract for the refurbishment of Cobalt Square. 

6. GDPR and Data Privacy  

7. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.   

8. The MPS assure that this project does not use personally identifiable data of members of the public, so there are no GDPR issues to be considered. 

7. Equality Comments    

8. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. 

9. The MPS assure that a site-specific Equality Impact Assessment will be undertaken as part of the HR process and detailed design process. 

10. Background/supporting papers 

• Appendix 1 MPS Report - Accommodating the Uplift to the Directorate of Professional Standards