Cameron 'jumping the gun' on promise to rent out council buildings to small businesses

David Cameron has been accused of "jumping the gun" on proposals to rent out up to 300 local government offices to small businesses.
 
Kevan Davey, managing director of Concerto Support Services, says councils need to know which buildings they own, whether they’re maintained to the correct standards and if they are in a position to be rented to small businesses if they are to help the Prime Minister keep his word.

“Mr Cameron’s announcement that small businesses will be able to use up to 300 empty government offices at special low rates for their first year of operation is commendable, but he’s jumped the gun somewhat,” explains Kevan Davey.
 
“I deal with over a 100 of the councils around the British Isles – many of whom are using Concerto Sites asset management software to successfully track assets and manage the maintenance of buildings within their estates.
 
“However, there is still a significant number of local authorities that have difficulty in defining which buildings are council owned, which are currently rented or in use and whether or not the maintenance checks on the premises are up to date and compliant.
 
“Although the Prime Minister’s proposals are excellent idea for making use of empty premises, it’s a mine field for local authorities to rent empty offices to small businesses, not least in terms of being the landlord and being held accountable for the health & safety of the premises and the relevant compliance that accompanies it.”
 
The Government’s move last year to ‘map’ English local authority assets went some way to begin the process of defining which buildings were or weren’t in use.
 
Mr Davey added: “Selling buildings off in the present climate can be tough and only a fraction of the real value may be realised that way – and so renting is the better option. But that brings a raft of potential issues for council officials who must keep track of their assets and the maintenance of them to ensure that they don’t leave themselves open to issues further down the line.

"Mr Cameron doesn’t appear to understand the enormity of the problem at hand."