Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Management of Single Living Accommodation has long suffered from a lack of coordination, ownership and...
Recommendation
Management of Single Living Accommodation has long suffered from a lack of coordination, ownership and strategic grip. Currently no single person has responsibility for Single Living Accommodation, and there are many different stakeholders involved, with some groups having been set up in response to the lack of governance and ownership of Single Living Accommodation. Overall responsibility is now delegated, with all Commands having their own plans to tackle different priorities, but there is a lack of a central view. The Department is developing the Defence Accommodation Strategy to coordinate the overall approach to all accommodation needs which will also include the Defence Estate Optimisation Portfolio (to reduce the estate) and the Future Accommodation Model (to provide housing options). There is much experience in different public and private housing sectors which could be drawn on to help better manage Single Living Accommodation. Recommendation: The Department should review and simplify the governance structures for Single Living Accommodation, including clarifying overall responsibility, and ensuring that those making decisions have the necessary capability and capacity.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: September 2021 5.2 Management of SLA is delegated to the single Services, therefore the picture across Defence’s SLA provision is complex, with management and future investment planning varying to suit the needs of each Service. To cohere activity across the Services, the department has clear governance arrangements through the Single Living Accommodation Expert Group and the Accommodation Coherence Group. In response to the NAO recommendations, the Chief of Defence People has been confirmed as the senior sponsor within the department. 5.3 The department will review and enhance the governance structure for SLA to incorporate the newly appointed senior sponsor and bring together policy, delivery and funding by the end of summer 2021. This will enhance coherence across policy, delivery and single Services stakeholders with robust senior coordination of issues requiring departmental parity whilst maintaining clear demarcation at the single Service level, maintaining the delegated SLA management model.