Decision Reference Number: WPCC4-0039
Lead Officer: Calum Walmsley
Chief Officer approval: DCC David Gardner
Date: 16/01/2025
Publication: Information in this form is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act) and other legislation. Unless the information provided is covered by an exemption and stated to be either confidential or partly confidential, the information contained in the form will be published on the OPCC website.
Status: Non-confidential
Decision summary:
This decision recommends entering a licence to occupy a conference room and two offices within Aston House at the College of Policing in Ryton for the use of First Aid training.
I confirm that my register of interests declaration is up to date and that none of my interests preclude me from making this decision.
Signature: P.Seccombe
Date: 05/02/25
Supporting information
1. Background information: why do we need to make this decision?
Aston House is a building located on the College of Policing (CoP) campus at Ryton, Warwickshire. Within Aston House, a conference room and two offices have been occupied by Warwickshire Police for two years under a licence to occupy, with it being used to deliver first aid training to Police Officers.
The CoP have issued licences on 6 monthly terms, each with a definitive end date.
The licence expired on the 2nd February 2024.
The licence was not renewed as of February 2024; however, Warwickshire Police have continued to occupy the rooms and deliver services from this location from February 2024 to date.
The payment for the licence has been made for the period of February to August 2024.
The CoP have provided a draft form of licence to cover the period from August 2024 to 31st March 2025 retrospectively to cover the period already occupied and to ensure service continuity. The cost of this period is £13,297.17, which is already budgeted for with Force budgets.
As part of the agreement they have also provided within the licence an additional 6 months of the licence to run from 1st April, with the contract becoming rolling going forwards. A 6 month notice to terminate has also been included.
Please see attached in Appendix 1 a draft of the licence.
The ongoing need for this licence has been reviewed by the OPCC Estates Manager in conjunction with WP Estates and WP L&D. A review of the freehold estate for alternative premises that may be able to accommodate this operational requirement has been undertaken. Aston House has been visited to understand the provision of space and facilities.
Table 1 below shows the training requirement for space on a 12-month period from L&D.
Table 1.
| Training Course Duration | 8-hour 1 day course |
| Number of Attendees | Average 9-10 (Max 12) plus trainers |
| Number of courses annually | 89 |
It has been deemed that there are no suitable alternatives within the freehold estate to meet the need of the L&D team. Due to the number of courses and course duration, the booking of alternative rooms is not possible. Having a dedicated space for sole use of First Aid training is essential. The CoP also offers adequate car parking, storage and access to welfare facilities.
A business case is currently being worked through for the redevelopment of the former training block at Leek Wootton and it would be intended that once this project is implemented that this would be used for the provision of First Aid training in the long term.
Other indicative projects to bring back into use space at Stratford Court House, may also provide an opportunity to house the training in the medium term.
Should alternative space be identified via refurbishment or realignment of operational teams, 6 months’ notice will duly be given on this licence.
2. What additional documents are relied upon? Please provide a link or separate attachments.
Appendix 1 – Draft Copy of the licence
Appendix 2 – Email summary from L&D on occupation levels
Appendix 3 – Cost breakdown vs external hiring of space to house this training
3. What benefits will this bring, including financial, social or environmental benefits?
The ability to continue to deliver operational First Aid training within suitable premises. This option offers better value for money than hiring other suitable external venues.
4. What is the impact of not approving the application?
The inability to deliver first aid training. Potentially having to hire additional space at external venues, resulting in higher costs.
5. How much will it cost? (please provide cost breakdown, including any identified savings, and include where they have been approved)
The costs for the 8-month period of lease from 1st August 2024 to the 31st March 2025 is £13,297.17. This is included for within current Estates Revenue budgets.
It is proposed that the next 6 months of the contract are charged £10,561.27, this is inclusive of service charges and utilities. The licence costs will be reviewed annually based on actual utility charges for the premises. This has been budgeted for within Estates Revenue costs for 2025-26.
A comparison has been undertaken on hiring a similar sized conference room at an alternative premises for the same period (Copy attached as appendix 3).
In comparison to other premises, this option provides value for money and a potential saving of £25,869 per annum vs other external venue hire.
6. Who has been consulted on this proposal?
Warwickshire Police Estates Team and DCC David Gardner
Warwickshire Police Learning and Development Team
7. Will this decision have an impact on any specific individuals or groups or communities?
No
8. Does this decision have legal implications? Has legal advice been sought?
Not required
Comments from the Chief Finance Officer
The costs are included within this decision notice, and they can be met within the current estates budget.
Comments from the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer
This arrangement is required for the provision of essential training
