UKGC Office Running Costs Exceed £99,000 Annually
A Freedom of Information request reveals the UK Gambling Commission spends £99,744 per year on essential services for its single office. The data provides a transparent look at the regulator's operational spending on cleaning, maintenance, and supplies.
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A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed that the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) spends £99,744 per year on facilities management contracts for its single office location.
The disclosure, made in response to a request dated 3 June 2024, provides a transparent overview of the regulator's basic operational spending. This data offers a rare glimpse into how the organisation, which is funded by the licence fees paid by gambling operators, manages its day-to-day costs.
For consumers and industry observers, this information demonstrates a commitment to public accountability, showing precisely how funds are allocated to maintain the regulator's physical infrastructure.
Key Contract Details
The UKGC confirmed it operates from a single rented office and outsources four key services. The total annual value of these contracts is £99,744, including VAT. The spending is broken down as follows:
- Cleaning Services: The largest expense is the cleaning contract held by Ideal cleaning, valued at £61,000 annually. This contract, which began on 1 July 2021, was due to expire on 30 June 2024 and is currently being retendered.
- Office Supplies: A contract with Banner Business Supplies for stationery and other office goods costs £25,000 per year. The contract, which started on 4 January 2021, had an option for a one-year extension until 3 January 2025. The UKGC noted this service will likely be procured via a Direct Award under a government framework agreement in the future.
- Planned and Reactive Maintenance: Phosters provides maintenance services under a £10,000 annual contract. This agreement is set to expire on 12 December 2024 and will be retendered later this year.
- Confidential Waste Collection: A long-standing contract with Restore Datashred, active since 1 March 2013, costs £3,744 per year. The Commission stated that this contract is likely to be extended for another year until 1 March 2025.
Why This Matters
The data reveals the standard procurement processes of a public body. The decision to retender the cleaning and maintenance contracts, extend the waste collection contract, and use a government framework for office supplies demonstrates active management aimed at securing value.
Responsibility for overseeing these contracts lies with the 'Head of IT & Facilities' and the 'Procurement Manager', indicating a clear line of accountability within the organisation.
The FOI response also confirmed that the UKGC does not use any specialised facilities management software or outsourced helpdesk services, which is consistent with its stated position of being a tenant in a single office building with limited direct facilities management needs.
While the figures relate to routine operational matters, they provide essential transparency. Understanding how the UK's gambling regulator manages its own finances, no matter how mundane the expense, is crucial for ensuring public confidence in the organisation's governance.