Chorley Partnership with Liberata

June 28, 2007

A national company which provides specialist support to partner organisations is moving into Chorley after striking up a £5million seven-year contract with the Council.

Liberata, one of the UK’s leading providers of outsourced business processes, will manage the Council’s property portfolio from a new base in the Borough, which will now also house Liberata’s property management services to its wider client base. Liberata works with public sector bodies including Central Government organizations and Local Authorities to improve, streamline and simplify complex back-office processes.

Councillor Peter Goldsworthy, leader of Chorley Borough Council, said: “The partnership is fantastic news for the whole of Chorley. The Council will make significant savings while attracting major UK businesses to invest in Chorley. This contract will both safeguard existing jobs within the property team and hopefully create new employment opportunities in the future. I am delighted with that.”

The partnership between Liberata and the Council follows the recommendation of the Executive Cabinet to the Council that it outsource its property services. Liberata, already a service provider to Local Authorities across Lancashire, will manage the portfolio as well as carry out maintenance and improvement programmes. All staff from the Council’s team will transfer to Liberata.

Robert Gogel, Chief Executive of Liberata, explained: “We are delighted to work with the Chorley Borough Council. Property is often the most valuable asset that any organisation owns and it is both strategically and operationally valuable. We will ensure that property assets are professionally managed through our work with Chorley and Liberata will enable the Council to maximise its return on property assets and enable them to increase their focus on the delivery of services to the local community.”

Liberata currently manages over 500 properties and controls over £18m of building-related expenditure in the UK. The contract with the Council involves the maintenance of 70 assets under management, including over 50 operational and non operational buildings. The company leverages knowledge, experience, scale and investment to deliver outstanding service and guaranteed results.