黑洞社区

MPs have concluded that a high-profile 鈥渃onstruction champion鈥� is needed to oversee change in the construction sector and to improve public sector procurement.

The revelation came as part of the long-awaited Construction Matters report, following a select committee investigation.

The report stated that: 鈥渢ruly joined-up working between government and industry, and between different government departments, would be immeasurably improved by the creation of a post of chief construction officer.鈥�

Industry leaders have welcomed calls for the new specialist post, which is likely to sit within BERR.

Lord O鈥橬eill, president of the Specialist Engineering Contractors鈥� (SEC) Group announced that he was delighted with the committee鈥檚 announcement. He also stressed the need for a chief officer who is 鈥渃ommitted and determined to get things done鈥�.

BSRIA鈥檚 chief executive Andrew Eastwell also backed the recommendations wholeheartedly, but warned that the industry 鈥渃annot dither in implementing the report鈥檚 findings.鈥�

The call was one of a number of recommendations designed to use the government鈥檚 position as the UK鈥檚 largest construction client to bring about change in the sector. Others involved:

鈥� Early involvement of the supply chain in the procurement process to ensure buy-in from the whole delivery team;

鈥� Greater use of project bank accounts and insurance, and collaborative contracts, to facilitate team-working;

鈥� Ending the practice of retentions within the public sector;

鈥� Simplifying the 黑洞社区 Regulations.