The number of managers who felt their public sector counterparts could benefit from additional help was only just over half. Their reasons, however, highlighted some of the perennial issues that surround PFI contracts. They included:
• developing a deeper understanding of legal constraints
• developing contractual boundaries (including having access to easy to read contracts)
• more balanced responsibility
• greater partnership
• developing a better knowledge of financial accounting
• developing a more commercial focus
• maintaining a more long-term focus
• retaining members of the management team
Looking to the future, there are a number of concerns:
• life-cycle issues such as investment and profitability
• cost control
• variation changes and contractual interpretation
• client culture change
• new regulations, especially the costs of environmental legislation.