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News Release from: EC Harris | Subject: Reaction to Chancellor's Budget
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 23 March 2007
EC Harris reaction to Chancellor's
Budget
EC Harris give their reaction to various aspects of the UK Chancellor's Budget.
EC Harris' reaction to Chancellor's Budget 1
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 21 Jan 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Capital and Assets.
* Development of a unique Asset Management Strategy for each Govt department (AMS).
* These AMS will ensure:.
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- assets are adequately maintained and efficiently utilised to deliver high performing public services.
- surplus assets are no longer required for service delivery and are disposed of.
- future investment decisions are based on a more complete assessment of the condition and performance of the existing asset base.
- In their AMS, all departments will then have to outline plans for their disposal.
* PS efficiency savings targets of 3% over the next three years.
* Extra asset sales over the next 3 years to release GBP35bn.
"This additional and high profile pressure from the Treasury is very welcome, and builds on what we have all known for years - that there is a lot to be gained from tackling what is for many departments the second biggest line of cost after staff".
"It should bring added impetus to the Gershon and Lyons reviews and lead to crystallisation of plans and real action".
"The key to success will be effective engagement with the private sector." Graham Kean, Head of Public Sector at EC Harris .
2.
Health.
* Efficiency (Gershon) target = 6.4 billion / reported delivery = 4.4 billion.
* NHS to receive extra GBP10bn this year; investment levels for 08-11 will be decided in the upcoming spending review".
"I think we are all waiting to see the outcome of CSR 07, however, the health service is bracing itself for a significant drop in growth to 3-3.5% vs 7.5% previously".
"Therefore, the key issue is productivity - delivering more from less".
Howard Forster, Head of Health Sector at EC Harris.
3.
Education.
* Total budget to reach GBP74 billion by 2010.
* Removing VAT constraints for current academies and all those planned for the future".
""This is welcome as it will provide a further stimulus to the Academies programme, further helping its continued roll-out".
Paul Foster, Head of Education and Local Government at EC Harris .
* The DfES Centre for Procurement Performance (CPP) is rolling out an e-Procurement system to both deliver savings to the taxpayer and improve choice and convenience for schools".
""For more complex procurement this is missing the point".
"E-Procurement, while delivering process efficiency, actually distances the buyer from the supplier".
"This is OK if you have a simple brief, e.g if you are buying commodities (paper, pencils etc) but where there is a high degree of design, buyers need to be getting closer to suppliers".
"Pre-assembled supply chains, organised and managed via an e-Procurement system, could achieve real benefits, but let's not forget the need to communicate".
Graham Kean .
* Delivering a nationwide network of 3,500 Sure Start Children's Centres, one in every community, by 2010.
* Student debt worth GBP6bn to be sold off.
4.
Environment.
* Insulation grants worth up to GBP4,000 to be offered.
* Zero carbon homes up to GBP500,000 to be exempt from stamp duty".
""The stamp duty exemption is very welcome and will act as a catalyst, prompting increased activity amongst developers and house builders to bring forward products that will meet the anticipated demand for zero carbon homes".
"Demand for housing aside, this move has the potential to suppress prices for traditional housing stock as the public is unwilling to pay a premium for enhanced environmental performance".
"I wonder if this was in the Chancellor's mind when he came up with the idea?".
Graham Kean.
* VAT to be cut from 17.5% to 5% on environmental products for the home.
* Landfill tax up GBP8 per year from next year until 2011.
* Stern and King to report on renewable energy innovation in transport.
* Rejection of proposals to levy VAT on airline tickets.
* Tax relief on empty business property to be restricted to six months and to three months on empty retail space.
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