Property Services

Somerset Property Services supports the aims of Somerset County Council by ensuring that its property asset base is utilised and maintained in a way that both maximises and enhances benefits to the many and varied users of those assets.

We are responsible for ensuring that the Council has sufficient sites and buildings to fulfil its own responsibilities to the citizens of Somerset. Often, this involves planning for needs years ahead of the building actually being built or acquired, and we constantly review the Council's stock of properties to ensure that best use is made of this.

Where necessary, we arrange to buy, lease or otherwise acquire new buildings, and to dispose of others when they no longer suit the purpose for which they were intended. This long-term strategic and operational planning is carried out by our Forward Planning Team  and supported by the Valuation and Estates Team.

When a need for a new building is identified, our Project Implementation Team will appoint our in-house Design Team of architects, a contractor or a consultant to design and build the property for us. The Project Implementation Team will monitor progress to ensure that appropriate standards and timescales are met. Once the building is complete, responsibility will be handed to the Property Management Teams (East and West). They will ensure that the building is maintained by implementing a programme of  planned repairs andn improvements, and by responding to emergencies 24 hours a day.
All of this is underpinned by a Performance and Business Team, who provide the administrative and clerical support needed to ensure that the front-line teams can function well. 

Responsibility for dealing with the contractors and consultants who carry out work on our behalf lies mainly with the Frameworks Team. Further information, including details of opportunities for future construction projects, may be found on the Corporate Property page by following the link at the top of this page. Our contractors may, however, like to take note of the important information contained in the Publications section of this page, which sets out our minimum standards for dealing with Health and Safety when undertaking construction projects for the County Council.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do schools have responsibility for their own building maintenance?

Have the building contractors working at my Child's School had a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau check)?

Can you tell me if you own a bit of land or a building near my house?

I am a building contractor and haven't been paid for some work that I did on a Council building, can you put me through to someone?

Who can I speak to about a vacant building that the council owns?

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