Uplands Business Park – Lease Renewal

This paper requests approval for the short term renewal of the lease for Uplands Business Park to secure the MPS’s continued use of the property until it becomes surplus to operational requirements.

The DMPC is asked to approve a short term renewal of the lease for Uplands Business Park (Waltham Forest Patrol Base) for a period of five years.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. The property is used by the MPS as a Patrol Base where the borough’s Tasking Teams and Emergency Response and Patrol officers start and end their tours of duty.

1.2. The property is not included in the Baseline Portfolio and is likely to become surplus to operational requirements before 2021.

1.3. Property Services Department’s Commercial Real Estate advisors, Frank Knight, were instructed to agree terms for a new five year Lease with a Tenant only option to terminate the Lease on or any time after the third anniversary of the term. This would secure the site for use by the MPS and allow a timely disposal in line with MPS and MOPAC’s requirements. Frank Knight advised there has been a significant rise in industrial rents across London.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. These are discussed in the Part 2.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. These are discussed in the Part 2. The Property Services Department budget includes provision to meet the increased costs, including any back dated rent.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. Section 6 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (“the Act”) provides the MOPAC must secure the maintenance of the Metropolitan Police Service and secure that the Metropolitan Police Service is efficient and effective.

4.2. In carrying out its functions, the MOPAC may, under paragraph 7, Schedule 3 of “the Act” ”do anything which is calculated to facilitate or is conducive or incidental to the exercise of the functions of the Office”. This includes, entering into contracts and other agreements, in addition to acquiring and disposing of property (including land). The MOPAC has the power to dispose of surplus properties (including land) under paragraph 7 (2) (b) of Schedule 3 of the “the Act”.

4.3. The Commissioner may also do anything which is calculated to facilitate or is conducive or incidental to acquiring and disposing of property (apart from land) but only with the consent of MOPAC under paragraph 4 (2) (b) of Schedule 4 of “the Act”.

5. Equality Comments

5.1. There are no direct equality or diversity implications arising from this report