AVDC launches ground breaking joint venture for commercial property portfolio

Aylesbury Vale District Council and the Akeman Partnership have signed an agreement to establish a ground-breaking commercial property joint venture to be known as Aylesbury Vale Estates (AVE).

The innovative move will ensure that AVDC’s portfolio of industrial units, shops and offices meets the needs of modern businesses and continues to provide an income stream which can then be used to support important services.

As part of the joint venture, which has a minimum life of 20 years, AVDC has transferred ownership of all of its commercial property assets to AVE. The properties will now be managed, improved and developed by the joint venture, with an income coming to the council.

AVDC and the Akeman Partnership will control AVE on a 50/50 basis, with the council represented on the board of the joint venture and continuing to be involved in the operation of the portfolio at a strategic level.

AVDC chose the Akeman Partnership following a thorough procurement process that followed the regulations set out by the European Union. The council was advised throughout the procurement process by consultants Drivers Jonas.

Tenants have been informed of the initiative.

The council has around 250 commercial and tenanted premises in the district, including small industrial units, shops and office accommodation. The property is mainly occupied by business tenants ranging from local firms to international companies.

The rent paid by business tenants is an important income stream which has helped cover the cost of council services for some time now. A key factor in the council’s decision to take this project forward was to maintain this valuable source of additional income to support its services.

Councillor Michael Edmonds, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “Offering good quality business property acts as a catalyst for growth which is vital for Aylesbury Vale given that we need to create at least 21,500 new jobs between now and 2026. We want to improve the availability and quality of our commercial properties so that businesses can expand in or relocate to Aylesbury Vale. Joining forces with the Akeman Partnership is our best opportunity to do this.”

Councillor Edmonds added: “I would like to thank staff, especially our asset management, legal and financial teams, and my fellow councillors for their help and support. I would also like to pay tribute to our advisors Drivers Jonas, Pinsent Masons and Grant Thornton for their part in this process. This is a big step for AVDC to take but I’m sure it is the right one.”

Graham Cole of Guildhouse UK, speaking on behalf of the Akeman Partnership, said: “We are delighted to have established this innovative joint venture with the council. We look forward to working with the council and the tenants of the commercial property portfolio on this pioneering initiative.”

Pinsent Masons lawyers acted for AVDC in the transaction, while the Akeman Partnership was represented by Taylor Wessing.

Free Christmas parking in Aylesbury again thanks to AVDC

This festive season, shoppers looking for that special gift in Aylesbury town centre will be able to park for free every Saturday in the run up to Christmas.

Free parking will also be available for late night shoppers every Thursday from 19 November until Christmas Eve, starting at 4pm.

This scheme, which aims to help town centre businesses by increasing footfall in the vital Christmas period, is an extension of the limited free parking made available last year, which didn’t include free Thursday evening parking.

Councillor Kevin McPartland, Cabinet Member for Civic Amenities at AVDC, said: “We’re really hoping that the free Christmas parking initiative will encourage even more shoppers than last year, especially with the addition of six nights of free parking to tie in with late night shopping. This is a common sense move which benefits everyone. With businesses and shoppers across the Vale still feeling the pinch of the current financial climate, this is an early parking concession that helps both shoppers and businesses.”

The free parking scheme applies to every Aylesbury town centre car park run by AVDC. The only exception is Aqua Vale where a charge will still be made but will be refunded on use of the facilities and Hale Street Car Park where parking will be free, but limited to one hour stays.

Applicable dates are:
• Saturday 5, 12 and 19 December
• Thursday 19 and 26 November, 3, 10, 17 and 24 December from 4pm.

David Cameron's conference speech

AVDC opens new Enterprise and Innovation Centre in Aylesbury

A state-of-the-art enterprise and innovation centre in Aylesbury designed to create a hub of entrepreneurial activity was officially launched on 7 October.

The 4,000 sq ft centre in Gatehouse Way has been created by Aylesbury Vale District Council with support from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).

It will provide new and developing businesses, with under 120 staff, free support and advice while also offering office and desk space on flexible terms and other facilities such as meeting rooms, telephone answering and a business post address service.

The centre, managed by Hot Office Business Centres, is being funded by AVDC for a four-year trial period. A further 2,000 sq ft of office space could be made available if the centre is fully occupied within the first two years of its operation.

Over the next two years an estimated 200 business will be assisted to progress to second stage growth via the support initiatives operated at the new centre.

Councillor Michael Edmonds, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development at AVDC, said: “The Aylesbury Enterprise and Innovation Centre is playing a vital role in our plans for the district’s successful growth. New business start-ups represent an important segment in the 21,500 new jobs that we need to create between now and 2026. These new businesses will be able to service the needs of larger firms that we hope to attract and, as they grow, they will offer new employment opportunities for many more people.”

Max Campbell, Managing Director of the Aylesbury Enterprise and Innovation Centre, said: “The centre is dedicated to helping new businesses launch, assisting local entrepreneurs to evolve their ideas and supporting existing businesses with their ongoing growth. We look forward to meeting the entrepreneurs of Aylesbury over the coming year.”

Businesses interested in using the centre can call 01296 318150 or visit the website at www.aeicentre.com

Conservative Employment policy

Conservative Party Conference, Manchester. Monday 5th- Thurs 8th October

The Conservative party conference has only been in full swing for less than a day, but already they have had a lot to say about the current job market. In their section today entitled 'Get Britain Working' they discussed the following:

'local unemployment sows the seeds for many social problems'

Sayeeda Warsi (Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion and Social Action.)

Job Clubs. 50 parts of the UK have already set up 'job clubs' inspired by the Conservative party. These are purely driven by local people to respond to daily local needs, to tackle community unemployment and to help people get back into work. This involves mentoring, improving job finding skills, CV surgeries, and giving those people who find themselves out of work someone to talk to. These are community based projects that are happening now to tackle unemployment.

A new Conservative government would establish a network of 'work clubs' based on the job clubs that are already formed. They will be places to meet others and exchange skills, help with voluntary work and to be used to access mutual support. They would be created as a franchise model so that they can be easily set up by local communities. The Conservatives know that 'local people really want to be part of the solution'.

Tories would like to implement a new nationwide volunteering project, to support communities affected by the economic downturn. 'Work Together' would allow you to see the ways in which you can help and volunteer in your local area. This not only helps support local communities, but also offers the unemployed a chance to gain new skills whilst they are looking for work. The Conservatives have set up a website to support their project: http://www.conservatives.com/getbritainworking/ to support people looking for work, which lists over 1 million positions for voluntary work in the UK.

George Osborne- Shadow Chancellor

National Insurance contributions will be abolished for the first ten employees employed in the first year of any new business founded under a new Conservative government. This funded tax cut has been proposed in a bid to create more job opportunities in small businesses and to boost enterprise.

The tax break will enable the Tories to create 60,000 new jobs over two years.

The Tories are the party of jobs while Labour is the party of mass unemployment.

Ken Clarke- Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills

'Small companies could employ a lot more people if we create the right climate for them'

The Conservatives want to encourage people with a desire to work for themselves- people should be supported, and moving people from unemployment to self employment should be a priority, which they believe doesn't exist in the Labour party.

David Cameron- Leader of the Opposition

'We will not let Britain down'

People on incapacity benefit need to be assessed and those who can work need to be encouraged to get back into work with the right help and training. 'If you can work, you should work... we will help you to work.'

Focusing on a bold shake-up of the Welfare system.

Cameron wants to replace the current Flexible New Deal and implement more personalised help and training, which will extend to people who have been unemployed for over 6 months.

Today is the opening day of the Conservative conference in Manchester. A key theme was how to help the unemployed during the recession and help people get back into work.