I refer to memorandum number 88-24 dealing with the above matter wherein it was indicated that a detailed review of office accommodation strategies was to be undertaken.

Following the establishment of the Property Services Group in October 1989, the review has now been completed and the functions and responsibilities set out in memorandum 88-24 have been deleted. Consequently, the following directives are to apply:

(a) Responsibility for determining office accommodation space allocations in terms of the Government office accommodation standards and guidelines has been devolved to Chief Executive Officers of Departments and Declared Authorities.

(b) Departments and Declared Authorities may undertake their own arrangements for provision of their office accommodation subject to the accompanying attachment.

(c) The Property Services Group is required to advise Government on a variety of policy and strategy issues concerning property overall and will remain specifically responsible for the management of the portfolio of Government owned and leased multi-occupancy buildings. As a result of the devolution of the responsibility for accommodation arrangements to Departments, consideration will only be given to the provision of additional funding in respect of single occupancy rent increases to the excess of the rent increase over the enhancement threshold.

I would be pleased if you would instruct the Chief Executive Officers of Departments and Declared Authorities within your administration to conform with these arrangements which are effective immediately.

Nick Greiner MP

1. Undertake strategic planning for the development and co-ordination of the utilisation of Government office accommodation and advise the Government in this area.
2. Maintain a database of all Government office accommodation in NSW as an extension of the Government property register.
3. Co-ordinate all plans for the acquisition of sites or properties or the development of existing sites for the erection of office accommodation.
4. As the Government's agent, manage multiple occupancy Government owned and Crown leased buildings to:

(a) ensure the optimum investment rate of return on Government office buildings;
(b) ensure full-occupancy of Government owned and Crown leased multiple occupancy buildings as a matter of policy;
(c) manage the portfolio of tenancies for a specified fee and the Government lease in the case of leased buildings, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding with which all Departments and Declared Authorities are required to comply. Departments and Declared Authorities are required to comply with the following:

(a) As a first priority, to occupy space in Government owned office buildings or Crown leased multiple occupancy buildings, wherever available and appropriate. In this respect Departments and Declared Authorities are required to advise the Property Services Group of any requirement for new or additional office space and obtain the Groups written advice that no suitable space is available, prior to entering into any commitment to lease new or additional office space.

The Group will advise Departments and Declared Authorities of the availability of space within Government owned or Crown leased accommodation on a regular basis.

(b) Government office accommodation standards and guidelines promulgated by the Property Services Group; compliance with these standards is to be reviewed regularly in internal management audit programs..

(c) The policy of achieving the provision of office accommodation facilities within the benchmark costs determined annually by the Property Services Group.

(d) Government policies concerning the regionalisation of public sector office accommodation. The foregoing requirements apply to all Government office accommodation occupied by public service staff in excess of 100m2.