Skip to main content
Facilitate Magazine: Informing Workplace and Facilities Management Professionals - return to the homepage Facilitate magazine logo
  • Search
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @Facilitate_Mag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management Logo of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
    • Comment
    • People
    • Reports
    • Research
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Features
    • Round Tables
    • Webinars
  • Outsourcing
    • Contract Finder
    • Contracts
    • FM Business Models
    • Interviews
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Opinion
    • Procurement
    • Trends
  • Know-How
    • Explainers
    • Legal Updates
    • White Papers
  • Jobs
  • Topics
    • Workplace Services
      • Hospitality
      • Catering
      • Cleaning
      • Front of House
      • Grounds Maintenance
      • Helpdesk
      • Mailroom
      • Manned Guarding / Security
      • Pest Control
      • Washroom Services
      • Disaster Recovery
      • Specialist Services
    • Professional Performance
      • Behavioural Change
      • Continual Professional Development
      • Education
      • Management
      • Recruitment
      • Training
    • Workplace Performance
      • Benchmarking
      • Health & Wellbeing
      • Operational Readiness
      • Procurement
      • Security
      • Workplace User Experience
      • Workplace Culture
    • Compliance
      • Health & Safety
      • Risk & Business Continuity
      • Standards
      • Statutory Compliance
    • Building Services
      • Architecture & Construction
      • Asset Management
      • Building Controls
      • Building Fabric
      • Drinking Water
      • Fire Protection
      • HVAC
      • Landscaping
      • Mechanical & Electrical
      • Building Security
      • Water, Drainage & Plumbing
    • Technology
      • Building Information Modelling
      • CAFM
      • Data & Networks
      • Document Management
      • Information Management
      • Internet of Things (IoT)
      • Software & Systems
    • Energy management
      • Energy Management Systems
      • Electricity
      • Gas
      • Solar
      • Wind
    • Sustainability
      • Environmental Quality
      • Social Value
      • Waste Management
      • Recycling
    • Workspace Design
      • Agile Working
      • Fit-Out & Refurbishment
      • Inclusive Access
      • Lighting
      • Office Interiors
      • Signage
      • Space Planning
      • Storage
      • Vehicle Management / Parking
      • Washroom
    • Sectors
      • Corporate Office
      • Education
      • Healthcare
      • Manufacturing
      • International
      • Retail
      • Sports & Leisure
      • Regions
  • Buyers' Guide
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Topics
Comment
Professional Performance

Political priorities

Open-access content Tuesday 18th May 2010 — updated 1.53pm, Tuesday 5th May 2020

As the UK is faced with a new political landscape the future looks uncertain. But for FM many challenges lie ahead, explains the BIFM's corporate and public affairs director Richard Byatt.

 

20 May 2010


One of the drawbacks of traditional print media is the lag between writing and publication. I am writing this on 
30 April but you will be reading it sometime after 18 May. The general election was almost two weeks ago and we are all navigating a new political landscape.
Given the volatile pre-election atmosphere I will not try to predict what has now taken place, but whatever the colour and composition of the new Government, it is clear that policy debate will be dominated by one issue – the need to repair public finances.


Just to recap, the deficit is around 60 per cent of GDP. Before the election the Institute for Fiscal Studies said that, by 2014-15, cuts of between £47bn and £64bn a year would be needed, depending on which party’s tax and spending programme was adopted.
To put this in perspective, total public spending in 2008/9 was almost £621bn. £64bn is over 10 per cent of that, about the same as the entire budget for the Department for Children, Schools and Families or a little more than the state pensions bill.


The need to reduce public spending will affect most businesses and other organisations, directly or indirectly and FM will take its share of the pain as capital programmes are cut back and managers are asked to do even more with less.


We have seen almost unprecedented investment in public facilities, largely through PFI. These new schools, prisons and hospitals may have some breathing space before major maintenance or renewal of fabric and systems is required but we could be storing up trouble as maintenance cycles are extended and we move back to a reactive regime.


However, there could be other longer-term consequences of the election campaign. Parsimony may be joined by three other Ps: Probity – visible and beyond compliance; Participation – greater involvement of people in decisions that affect them; and Plurality – competing ideas will have to fight it out.


As the country pulls itself out of recession and pays down its debt, we will need to manage facilities and resources even more efficiently. In an age of austerity there will be casualties certainly but also great opportunities.


[email protected]




Also filed in:
Topics
Comment
Content
Professional Performance

You might also like...

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Today's top reads

 

Latest Jobs

Project Leader (Maternity Cover One Year Contract)

Cambridge
Circa £50,000 Pro Rata + Benefits & Opportunities
Reference
56378

Maintenance Supervisor

Surrey
Up to £43,000 + Excellent Package & Opportunities
Reference
56376

Regional Facilities Manager

South West England
Circa £40,000 + Benefits & Opportunities
Reference
56375
See all jobs »

 

 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to print

Sign up to receive our bi-monthly magazine

Subscribe
Facilitate magazine cover, June 2020
​
FOLLOW US
@Facilitate_Mag
Facilitate Magazine
Facilitate Magazine
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel: 020 7880 6200
​

IWFM

About IWFM
Become a member
Qualifications
Events

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to Facilitate Magazine
Write for Facilitate Magazine

General

IWFM Jobs
Help

© 2022 • www.facilitatemagazine.com and Facilitate Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ