Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Accepted
FCDO previously lacked integrated oversight of estate projects and policies, prompting a departmental merger.
Recommendation
FCDO’s large estates projects are delivered centrally, and FCDO considers that it has very strong controls on spending for specific projects.43 However, FCDO acknowledges that it currently lacks oversight of how all its projects align with each other or with its policies for other areas, such as maintenance, and whether its prioritisation processes are being used properly. Previously, FCDO had two separate estate departments: one managing policy and large projects, and the other the day-to-day management and maintenance of the estate. FCDO told us that this separation meant these departments were not able to join the dots between both sides of the business and it has now merged them. FCDO is also planning on establishing a new estates governance board in the autumn, with the aim of bringing together into one place its management of spending, policy, projects and intervention and support programmes.44 37 Q 58 38 Committee of Public Accounts, Twenty-Ninth Report of Session 2024–26, Condition of Government property, summary and para 9 39 Q 35 40 C&AG’s report, paras 2.4, 2.18 41 Q 35 42 Qq 57-58 43 Qq 39, 57 44 Qq 39-40; C&AG’s report para 1.16 12 2 FCDO’s management of its estate FCDO data
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to implement plans to improve its governance model, including establishing a new estates governance board and publishing a new maintenance strategy for posts, with a target implementation date of March 2026.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3. PAC conclusion: FCDO’s central estate function does not have adequate oversight of estate activities, both at overseas posts and across its project portfolio. 3. PAC recommendation: FCDO should implement its plans to improve its governance model, including establishing a new estates governance board and publishing a new maintenance strategy for posts. FCDO should update the Committee in its Treasury Minute response on its progress in improving central oversight of its overseas estate. 3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 24 Target implementation date: March 2026