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Executive urged to adopt construction charter |
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Monday, 11 June 2007 |
Executive procurement and payment systems have in the past served local Scottish electrical, construction, plumbing and heating contractors poorly, according to representatives of the industry.
Those very contractors have now warned that before the election the
Executive was undermining the very economy it sought to develop by
failing to stimulate growth and nurture Scotland’s developing companies.
As a result, a group representing some of the main contractors has
published a charter for public sector construction procurement that it
says will help to deliver best value in procurement, improve the
capacity of the industry and improve profit margins for all firms
involved.
In the last session of the Parliament, the Cross Party Group for
Construction recognised the need to improve the relationship between
politicians and the construction industry, with one of its stated aims
being to examine:
“The relationship between the Parliament and the construction industry,
particularly when such a large element of public spending is on
construction, in key policy areas such as economic development,
housing, urban regeneration and the provision and maintenance of our
national infrastructure.”
However, the problem, according to the industry, is that while there
may be cross party political agreement on the need for change, getting
anything concrete in place is taking too long. “Given the benefits that
a standard charter would bring, it is difficult to understand why those
involved are still dragging their feet,” said David Wright, head of
external affairs for SELECT, the trade association for Scotland’s
electrotechnical industry.
SELECT is one of the trade bodies that drew up the charter, alongside
the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors, the British
Constructional Steelwork Association, the Electrical Contractors’
Association, the Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association and
the Lift and Escalator Industry Association.
According to the charter, contracts should, where possible, be offered
to tender in a way that enables Scottish companies that are registered
with reputable qualification schemes to respond, and there should be an
emphasis on best value rather than lowest price.
“The tenders that firms submit should spell out the supply chains they
would use in detail, as well as recording the past performance they
have in regard to paying those suppliers,” said Wright.
The charter also outlines measures to ensure timely payment for contractors and subcontractors.
Wright added: “Scottish politicians must seize the opportunity that has
been gift wrapped for them in the shape of the proposed construction
charter and look to make the changes sooner rather than later.
“Last March, Tom McCabe, [then] Finance Public Service Reform Minister,
said: ‘While the public sector is doing well in many areas, there is
undoubtedly room for considerable improvement. Action is needed to
ensure we drive up standards in the way the public sector procures
goods and services to ensure we spend taxpayers’ money as wisely as
possible. Urgent action is also required to ensure we use improved
procurement practices to help deliver the efficiency savings we expect.’
“It is now time to deliver on that so-called urgent action.”
No one has commented on this article.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 11 June 2007 )
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