Uses 
- Asset Management
- Building Maintenance & Minor Works
- Classcare
- Communications
- Capital Projects
- Estates Management
- Property-Related Policy Development
Asset Management
The Capital Strategy Unit, in the Children, Families & Education directorate is responsible for developing and managing KCC's Asset Management Plan (AMP), which involves the production and collation of data on the condition, suitability and sufficiency of the school property portfolio. This helps to ensure that funding is directed to those areas of greatest need. Various programmes of capital building works are developed in accordance with the priorities specified in the AMP - ensuring a fair distribution of allocated funds. These include the Modernisation Programme, which funds schemes for the removal of temporary accommodation and the Condition Programme, which covers major maintenance works. Other programmes of work are designed to meet health and safety legislation (such as asbestos and safety glazing) and the Disability Discrimination Act. The team also provides support and advice to schools and governing bodies including assisting with the production of School Premises Development Plans and preparing and delivering training courses for governors on property issues and developments. For further information please contact Bruce MacQuarrie on 01622 694796 or Sheree Hyder on 01622 694771. Alternatively you can email them at bruce.macquarrie@kent.gov.uk or sheree.hyder@kent.gov.uk Top
Building Maintenance & Minor Works
The role of the Building Maintenance & Minor Works team is to drive additional value out of the supplier relationships that have been put in place to deliver services to schools. This includes all aspects of legal, regulatory and policy compliance. Building Maintenance & Minor Works provide technical guidance on maintenance works and can advise if costs are the responsibility of the Landlord or Tenant (e.g. KCC's budget or the schools' budget) taking account of funding thresholds. Whilst the Framework Agreements and Preferred Contractor Database have been developed to aid schools with commissioning consultants and contractors for construction and maintenance projects. The team manages the school's annual maintenance programme, reactive maintenance, the planned maintenance agreement contracts for servicing, Classcare and the glazing survey budget. They can also advise on health and safety matters and how to ensure the Construction (Design & Maintenance) Regulations are complied with. For further information please contact one of the following area contacts:
| Zone | Contact Name | Telephone | Email |
| 1 | Mark Carnt | 01622 696039 | |
| 2 | Lynn Keeley | 01622 221193 | |
| 3 | Edward Trimmer | 01622 694725 |
Capital Projects
Property Group has a team of project managers to ensure construction projects keep within set timescales and budget, comply with government legislation and are built to a high quality. A project manager is appointed to each KCC managed project and acts as a liaison between the school, consultants and other professionals and are responsible for managing the project from feasibility to completion They also provide guidance (for KCC and non-KCC managed schemes) throughout the life of the project and offer advice regarding the day to day logistics of a building project. Dependent on the size and scale of the project the consultant may be selected via the design competition process. This process is managed by the Capital Projects team and has been developed to make sure:
- Proposed schemes comply with the brief
- The appropriate procurement route is used
- Best value is achieved without compromising quality of build
- Sustainability is incorporated into the design
- The proposed programme is realistic and acceptable
Classcare
Classcare is a popular indemnity scheme run by Property Group with the following ethos: to keep schools "open, dry warm and safe". Classcare enables schools to focus on other priorities whilst still ensuring responsibilities relating to the maintenance of buildings and grounds are met. There are three packages with different levels of cover available. As Classcare operates on a shared fund basis, works are approved based on need, not on the amount paid in by each school. Technical Services manage the scheme and ensure best value by monitoring the quotes from contractors and by conducting yearly audits. Schools can join the present contract at any time during 2004-05 until August 2005. An annual contribution is payable, based on the Fair Funding allocation for property for each school, irrespective of when the school joins. Further information can be obtained by calling 01622 696189 or by emailing classcare.enquiries@kent.gov.uk Top
Communications
Within Property Group there is a dedicated resource responsible for the delivery of communications to ensure information flow is accurate and timely. The Property Group website has been designed to be informative and easily navigable with a section of downloadable documents relevant to schools whilst the Blueprint newsletter for schools is produced each term, containing news and updates on property-related issues. In order that we can improve our communications to you we would appreciate your feedback on what information you would like to receive and how you would like to receive it. Please send your comments to Léonie Harrington on 01622 694691 or email leonie.harrington@kent.gov.uk Top
Estates Management
The Estates Management team is responsible for the management and review of the KCC estate to ensure the effective use of all property and associated capital and revenue expenditure. This team also deals with property acquisitions, leases and other third party agreements and the generation of capital receipts from the disposal of surplus county properties. For further information please contact Nigel Brown on 01622 696970 or email nigel.brown@kent.gov.uk Top
Property-Related Policy Development
Property Group develops and implements property-related policies to ensure compliance with current legislation and central government initiatives, such as asbestos, ecology and the Construction (Design & Maintenance) Regulations. This involves translating the requirements of legislation into user friendly operational guidance and continually monitoring and reviewing policies to make sure they are appropriate and up-to-date. In many cases non-compliance can incur heavy financial penalties therefore professional advice is available for schools. For further information please email property.enquiries@kent.gov.uk Top