Asset Management Plan
The formal requirement for Local Authorities to record Asset
Management data for schools was introduced in 2000, principally to
demonstrate that decision making on investment in premises would be
based on robust and transparent information and to demonstrate
effective estate management principles.
Aims of the Asset Management Plan
The AMP provides an agreed basis for local decisions on spending
priorities and a framework within which the capital implications of
other plans e.g. the School Organisation Plan will be
considered.
Schools and other settings, dioceses and the LA are expected to
draw on the AMP information to inform capital spending and to
provide assurance that capital investment decisions are soundly
based and represent good value for money.
A major aim of the Asset Management Plan is to manage accurate,
comprehensive, consistent and up-to-date information to ensure that
expenditure on school properties contributes to the raising of
educational standards and to ‘Best Value’. It takes account of the
following expectations:
- providing access to property-related data on all Children and
Families establishments;
- providing data for bids to DFE and other bodies for other
building programme resources;
- providing data for maintenance programmes;
- recording completed building work, both “capital” and
“maintenance”;
- providing data for, and recording, property implications for
statutory and corporate plans;
- providing a basis for evaluation, justification, and
prioritisation of property developments;
- demonstrating ‘good practice’ in asset management:
- helping to increase community use of school facilities;
- maximising value for money;
Basic Data
In accordance with DFE requirements the LA will record and
maintain accurate premises information for all premises covered by
the AMP. Information will be updated and transmitted when required
to DFE both to meet DFE appraisal requirements and to provide data
which will be used for benchmarking. The returns to the DFE will
include basic factual data and data relating to the three AMP
categories of ‘condition’, ‘suitability’ and ‘sufficiency’
described in more detail below.
How information is collected, analysed and made available
The need to invest in schools and other settings will be
assessed on condition, sufficiency and suitability:
- Condition needs focus on the physical state of
the major elements of premises such as roofs, external walls
electrical services, playgrounds etc.
- Sufficiency needs are concerned with total
areas and the quantity and organisation of places within and across
schools in relation to demand
- Suitability needs are concerned with how well
premises meet the needs of pupils, teachers and other users and
contribute to raising standards.
The Capital
Development Officers within Children and Families will
undertake the suitability and sufficiency assessments. Condition
assessments will be undertaken by the Asset Manager.
The data of all 3 elements (condition, sufficiency and
suitability) are all held on a central database called
“Atrium”. Establishments have access to the condition data via the
Property Portal and sufficiency and suitability data are e-mailed
to establishments each time they are updated. Over time, the aim is
to have all the data available via the Property Portal.
As well as property-based information (e.g. condition surveys,
accommodation schedules, capacity figures etc.) other data will
inform the Asset Management Plan, including pupil data (e.g. PLASC,
pupil projections) and planning data on new
housing.
