As local authorities navigate an increasingly complex landscape—from decarbonisation and digital transformation to shifting public expectations—the way public estates are managed is becoming a critical part of the conversation. Facilities management (FM), once viewed as a back-office function, is now a strategic lever that can help councils deliver on both immediate operational needs and long-term goals.
What is TFM?
Total Facilities Management (TFM) brings together multiple services, such as hard services, cleaning, security, catering, pest control and energy management under a single provider. This integrated model offers streamlined delivery, greater transparency, and improved value for money, allowing councils to focus on their core responsibility: serving communities.
The Shifting Role of Facilities Management
The public estate, including council offices, libraries, and leisure centres, is where many citizens engage directly with local services. The condition, accessibility, and sustainability of these spaces shape public trust and community well-being.
Increasingly, FM is using data, technology, and joined-up service delivery to ensure these spaces support broader social and environmental priorities. When done well, TFM can provide local authorities with:
- Greater control over costs and performance through consolidated contracts and clear accountability
- Real-time data that informs asset strategy and maintenance planning
- Opportunities to embed sustainability into everyday operations—from energy use to waste management
- Improved user experience for residents and team members alike
TFM as an Enabler of Public Value
Total Facilities Management isn’t a one-size-fits-all model, it’s a framework that allows councils to tailor service delivery in a way that reflects local needs and ambitions. Whether the focus is decarbonisation, digitalisation, workforce development, or community resilience, a well-designed TFM approach can enable progress on multiple fronts.
For example:
- Energy and carbon reduction: TFM partners can support councils in achieving net zero targets by identifying energy-saving opportunities, deploying smart building technology, and managing retrofit programmes.
- Digital transformation: Integrated FM systems can provide better data visibility, improve responsiveness, and support predictive maintenance strategies.
- Community impact: Frontline facilities colleagues, often the most visible face of the council, play a key role in shaping resident experiences. Training, culture, and inclusion all matter.
The Case for Strategic Collaboration
The relationship between councils and FM providers should go beyond transactional service delivery. What’s needed is a strategic partnership built on trust, shared values, and long-term thinking. OCS works alongside local authorities as an extension of their teams. We co-create solutions that align with wider policy objectives and community outcomes.
As pressures continue to mount–fiscal, environmental, and social–local authorities that treat FM as a strategic function rather than a commodity will be better placed to respond and adapt. The future of local public services will, in part, be shaped by how we manage and reimagine the places where those services are delivered.
How OCS Supports Local Authorities
- Efficiency and Cost Control
With increasing scrutiny on public spending, TFM helps local authorities drive efficiencies by reducing duplication, simplifying supplier management, and leveraging economies of scale. OCS delivers flexible, tailored services that meet each authority’s specific needs while keeping costs under control.
- Integrated, Consistent Service Delivery
We manage a wide range of facilities across council estates, from civic centres and offices to libraries, schools, and public housing. With a single point of accountability, our TFM model ensures services are joined-up, responsive, and consistently delivered to a high standard.
- Enabling Net Zero and Sustainability Goals
OCS works in partnership with local authorities to meet their environmental commitments. From smart building solutions and energy-efficient upgrades to low-impact cleaning methods, our services are designed to reduce carbon emissions and support long-term sustainability strategies.
- Supporting Public-Facing Environments
Council buildings are community spaces, and the residents’ experience matters. Our teams are trained in technical excellence and customer service, ensuring welcoming, well-maintained environments for the public and council employees alike.
- Agility and Resilience
Local authorities need services that can adapt quickly, whether it’s scaling operations during elections, responding to emergency weather events, or maintaining service continuity through disruption. OCS provides the flexibility and resilience to meet these challenges head-on.
Conclusion
As local authorities face growing pressure to deliver more with less, the role of facilities management is rapidly evolving from operational necessity to strategic enabler. Total Facilities Management offers councils a powerful way to optimise resources, enhance service quality, and align estate management with broader policy goals like decarbonisation, digital transformation, and community well-being.
We understand that no two local authorities are the same. That’s why we work in close partnership with councils such as Brent and Croydon to deliver integrated, adaptable solutions rooted in local priorities. By treating FM as a collaborative, long-term investment and not just a contract, we help councils unlock public value and create better places for people to live, work, and thrive.
