The Federation of Property Societies in Local Authorities (FPS) provides the co-ordinated voice of local authority property management. Originally formed in 1988/9 the Federation of Property Societies was established to provide an umbrella organisation and an overarching role to the constituent organisations representing all the property related interests within local government.

The diversity of professional and managerial knowledge and skill involved in local authority property is immense and is supported by a number of organisations. Whilst this diversity of knowledge and skill is a strength the dilution of representation is seen a weakness and the primary objective of FPS is to provide a consolidated voice by:

• Acting as a forum for discussion on all matters affecting local government property;
• Co-ordinating the views and actions of the different professions and bodies involved in local government property;
• Providing a consolidated response to general or common issues affecting local authority property to the Local Government Association (LGA).

The principal activities undertaken to date are:

• The Federation’s input and influence in the development of guidance for Asset Management Planning through representation on the ODPM Advisory Group;
• The development of the Asset Management network in Partnership with CIPFA/IPF;
• The development of the National Best Value Benchmarking Scheme in Partnership with CIPFA and the constituent bodies;
• The Federation’s representation on the Local Government Task Force for ’Rethinking Construction’ and on the National Strategy Panel for Demonstration Exemplars.

Future activities are focussed on:

• Assisting constituent bodies through difficult transitional periods for property professionals in local authorities, because of changing attitudes to property ownership;
• Initiating appropriate research programmes into property issues e.g. whole life costing, innovative procurement, asset management planning etc;
• Continuing to develop the sphere of influence with the Government and other bodies.