Eagle House Lease Renewal

In order to support the Estates strategy approval is sought to renew the lease at Eagle House for a period of up to ten years. The lease expired in May 2020. The site supports the South West Basic Command Unit and provides accommodation for an Achieving Best Evidence suite for the safeguarding team, digital forensics and Met prosecutions. The costs of the proposed lease renewal will be met from within existing MPS resources.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to approve the renewal of the lease at Eagle House for 10 years.

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

1. Introduction and background

1.1. This paper seeks approval to renew an existing lease at Eagle House, Kingston Upon Thames for a period of ten years with a tenant only option to break the lease in year five.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. The lease renewal will provide accommodation for the South West BCU safeguarding functions including a Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) suite, and other teams including digital forensics and Met prosecutions.

2.2. The MPS confirm that this location forms part of the to be retained estate, and its retention avoids significant costs of relocating the ABE suite and IT systems.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. Further detail is set out in Part 2. The costs of the proposed lease renewal will be met from within existing MPS resources.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. Section 6 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (“the Act”) provides the MOPAC must secure the maintenance of the Metropolitan Police Service and secure that the Metropolitan Police Service is efficient and effective.

4.2. In carrying out its functions, the MOPAC may, under paragraph 7, Schedule 3 of “the Act” ”do anything which is calculated to facilitate or is conducive or incidental to the exercise of the functions of the Office”. This includes, entering into contracts and other agreements, in addition to acquiring and disposing of property (including land).

4.3. Paragraph 4.16 of the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) with delegated authority to approve all business cases to acquire or renew a leasehold with a value in excess of £500,000 over the initial lease period or 5 years whichever is the lesser.



5. Commercial Issues

5.1. Due to commercial interests, this information has been included in the Part 2 paper.

6. GDPR and Data Privacy

6.1. This report does not use personally identifiable data of members of the public therefore there are no GDPR issues to be considered

7. Equality Comments

7.1. 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.

7.2. There are no equality implications arising from this proposal.

8. Background/supporting papers

8.1. Appendix 1 MPS report.