Implications

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no direct financial implications in this report.

However, the report sets out the need for of £500m of capital investment in the Police Estate over the next 10 years. At current spending levels of £22m per year (£220m over 10 years), this would mean a funding shortfall of £280m over the 10 years.

The outline programme identifies potential capital receipts of £80m over the period which offset against the funding requirement, leads to a net capital requirement of £200m over 10 years.

Police Scotland is not currently able to hold reserves or to borrow, as was the case in legacy Force arrangements. If the SPA/Police Scotland were able to borrow £200m over the 10 years to meet the shortfall, it could be afforded through the reduced annual running costs of the estate resulting from a smaller more efficient estate that meets future needs.

10 years is of course a long time, during which there will be many twists and turns in the local and global economy. Effective ongoing financial management and governance will support the estates transformation.

PERSONNEL IMPLICATIONS
There are no direct personnel implications in this report.

Pending positive discussions in relation to the Masterplan strategy, an implementation programme will be developed. Depending upon the levels of funding secured, this will dictate the shape and size of the implementation programme, and therefore the associated resource implications required to deliver this.

As part of the stakeholder engagement process in relation to the development of the Estates Masterplan, a series of initial and then detailed engagement sessions have taken place. These will continue during this evolving and iterative process.

We recognise that policing is a difficult but rewarding role. As we learn more about trauma in policing it becomes ever more important to have a suitable estate that supports the wellbeing of our workforce.

COMMUNITY IMPACT
Police Scotland’s Estate, and the legacy forces before its creation have long recognised the importance of police buildings and the connection to how safe communities feel. More broadly Police Scotland must ensure that there is suitable public access to police buildings.

We also recognise however that the way in which policing operates, and the way in which the public want to access our services is changing. As the Modernise Contact and Engagement Programme continues, we will improve our digital offering to the public.

The Estates Masterplan will continue to have a community focus and will involve communities in detailed design that impacts on their area and the police service provision.

EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
There are no equality implications in this report.

An EQHRIA will be utilised as just one element that supports equality and inclusion during the design phase.

ENVIRONMENT IMPLICATIONS
Substantial investment in the Police Scotland Estate as proposed in this paper will significantly improve the energy efficiency of the Estate and reduce Police Scotland’s carbon footprint. In the current Police Estate 96% of buildings are below EPC level C and this needs to be improved. Whilst there are likely to be a small number of new build premises, the bulk of significant building works will be refurbishments and upgrades of existing buildings. These will be carried out to the appropriate environmental and other standards and in accordance with Police Scotland policies and contribute to the Net Zero goals.