The government’s replacement for private finance is the subject of consultation, held up like so much else at the Brexit roadblock, and now by a general election. The conclusion of the consultation is keenly awaited by an industry worried about what infrastructure will actually be built – as opposed to the programmes promised by politicians caught up in election hysteria – and crucially, how it will be paid for.
Blog and Comment
Procurement needs more competition and transparency
Public sector procurement has always been a focus of interest to Construction Law and in recent years recognition of the need for reform has been growing.
No easy rides for late payment reform
The UK government will take account of a supplier’s approach to payment when it comes to allowing it to tender for public sector projects, according to new payment practice rules.
Crossrail fiasco can expect further scrutiny
Another scathing report from a parliamentary select committee has further shredded the remnants of the UK’s reputation for infrastructure procurement. We reported two issues ago (CL Vol 30 No 5) on the evidence session of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which brought out some astonishing revelations in the wake of the discovery that the Crossrail project was late and over budget.
TeCSA scheme limits adjudicator costs
It was bound to happen. Adjudication, the lower cost and speedier alternative to taking disputes to court, has ended up being sometimes just as expensive and complex as full-blown, all sides fully lawyered-up, battles in court.
Private procurement failings exposed
Readers of this column will be familiar with the seemingly never ending stream of reports from the likes of the Public Accounts Committee and the National Audit Office as well as House of Lords Committees, highlighting critical failings in public sector procurement capabilities, particularly as they affect delivery of large scale construction and outsourcing projects.
Obituary – Michael Thurston Phipps
It is with great regret that we have to report the sad death on 20 April of long term Construction Law columnist Michael Thurston Phipps, who has provided the Contracts Monitor column for 20 years (Obituary: The Times, 7 May 2019 and “Readers’ Lives”, The Times 25 May 2019).
Capital solution for fair payments
All government’s key suppliers, including Tier One contractors, are among 10,000 companies that have been sent letters warning them to sort out their payments practices or risk being banned from tendering for public sector work until they do.
Construction remains cartel target
The Brexit debacle still winds its weary way through the news and analysis pages, although nothing substantive seems to change in the original entrenched positions of our politicians. Business life continues but there are anecdotal noises from the industry that contracts aren’t being signed against the drawn out, uncertain background.
Playing at reform?
Government is introducing new measures that it says will reform how it procures public services in the wake of the Carillion collapse, with a new focus on ensuring appropriate risk allocation and increased visibility on spending plans.