Strategic Property Management

Background

The States of Jersey property estate provides an essential platform for public services and Government operations. The estate comprises 867 sites covering infrastructure and operational land and buildings.

The States need to manage their property effectively in order to achieve their strategic priorities and to secure value for money in delivery of public services.

The first Island Property Estate Strategy was published in 2021 to guide the development and management of all Government operational land and buildings (270 sites) under a single corporate landlord model.  Infrastructure assets (597 sites) are managed under separate strategies.

As at 31 December 2023, the land and buildings owned by the States of Jersey Group had a value of £4.1 billion. Of this, approximately £1 billion related to social housing (including land) which is administered by Andium Homes Limited.

The Budget 2025 to 2028 (Government Plan) proposes expenditure of £212 million for Government feasibility, estates and infrastructure projects over the period, excluding the New Healthcare Facilities Programme.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the States of Jersey’s strategic arrangements to manage their portfolio of property assets to ensure value for money in the delivery of public services.

Scope

The audit will evaluate the States of Jersey’s overall arrangements and procedures for strategic property management.  It will also consider the arrangements for managing operational land and buildings and infrastructure assets.

The audit will review how arrangements within the States, including within Jersey Property Holdings, integrate with the strategic direction of States-owned entities including Andium Homes, Ports of Jersey and the States of Jersey Development Company.

The audit will include a follow-up of the implementation of recommendations made a report by the C&AG’s predecessor Operational Land and Buildings (June 2018).

It will also consider the action taken by the Government in response to the Public Accounts Committee Report (Follow Up) Review of Estates Management 2021 (October 2021).