Select committee review recommends that Whitehall official is appointed to co-ordinate built environment change and improve public procurement

MPs have concluded that a high-profile 鈥榗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: 鈥淭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 the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (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 chief executive Andrew Eastwell also backed the recommendations, 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.

Other recommendations were:

  • Early involvement of the supply chain in the procurement process to ensure buy-in from the whole delivery chain;
  • Greater use of project bank accounts and insurance, and collaborative contracts, to facilitate team-working;
  • Ending the practice of retentions within the public sector;
  • Simplifying the 精东影视 Regulations.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor