The Centre's role: The Centre is part of the Benefits Agency but has a distinct identity in administering the only universal social security benefit, which is paid to all parents regardless of their income.
Accommodation requirements: The Centre regard their current accommodation as adequate but not sustainable beyond the year 2000 because cabling could not be installed at its Emerson House building and maintenance costs were rising annually. The project will move them to new premises at Waterview Park.
The Centre's views of the Private Finance project: The Centre's representative indicated to us that the project should provide a solution to the inflexibility and rising maintenance cost of Emerson House. But they had had less influence over the building design than would have been the case in a traditional project. Their membership of the Customer Assurance Panel had helped them keep up to date with events. The project should also provide the opportunity to bring together at Waterview Park staff currently spread over three sites, though a 10 per cent shortfall in space would have to be resolved through changes in working practices.