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As a local government Property Services Department, we are generally approached by our front-line service colleagues with requests for new properties, or for alterations to existing ones that help them to provide their service better. The Corporate Group, which also includes Business Support for the Department, works closely with our clients to plan how best to deliver results. Sometimes, this work begins years before a building is actually completed, and the Group continually reviews the property estate owned by the County Council, to see if it continues to meet the needs of our services. Where we can, we recommend more efficient use of our existing buildings.
We also monitor the standards used whenever a property is built or altered, to make sure that Somerset residents get the best value for their money and end up with a building that is suitable for the purpose for which it is intended. Although our Consultancy Group, who actually deliver the properties, carry out much of the day-to-day monitoring of standards, Corporate Property, in the form of the Forward Planning Team , monitors the setting of standards, and deals with long-term planning.
Within the Corporate Group, our Valuation and Estates team help with the disposal and acquisition of land and properties, both freehold and leasehold. They work where necessary in conjunction with colleagues from the Council's Legal Department. They carry out much of the necessary negotiations with landlords and tenants, and help to draw up any leases that are required. They also carry out reviews of rating values, to ensure that the Council does not pay more than it should in Rates, and helps to establish realistic values for the properties we wish to buy or sell so that we pay or receive the appropriate amount.
Also within the Corporate Group is the Frameworks Team . They manage the relationships with the various contractors and consultants who carry out most of the building work on our behalf. They also manage any opportunities for contractors who wish to do business with the department. The current opportunities are to be found through the Publications link at the top right hand side of this page.
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