Recommendation 20

Departments may reduce their maintenance cost and backlog by disposing of existing properties that they no longer need. However, they may decide not to move because the proceeds from the sale of an old building would 31 C&AG’s Report, para 3.14 32 Q 35 33 C&AG’s Report, para 3.14 34 C&AG’s Report, paras 3.14–3.15 35 Q 33 14 be low and the cost of acquiring a new building high.36 We queried whether departments are sufficiently interested in disposing of old buildings. The Cabinet Office replied that departments want modern buildings, though it also acknowledged that the estate is vast, and a lot will depend on property experts within individual departments.37 The NAO report noted that departments may be culturally attached to older buildings that are more expensive to maintain.38 The Cabinet Office added that it provides guidance and support to departments on disposals, and in written evidence provided after the evidence session, it elaborated on the guidance documents provided to departments.39 We raised in particular the disposal of the land and property that was originally acquired to extend High Speed 2 (HS2).40 The Cabinet Office told us that the approach to property disposals and asset management of these assets is under the auspices of the Department for Transport (DfT) but property experts in Cabinet Office and the OGP regularly engage with departments and ALBs on disposals. OGP officials will specifically ensure High Speed 2 are invited to discuss disposals at OGP’s next regular engagement point with DfT.41 Skills and capacity