• There would appear to be a lack of shared understanding, both by those commissioning and providing the services of Independent Certifier in PPP forms of contracts, with regard to the level of inspection to be undertaken by the Independent Certifier and the degree of reliance that clients can place on the issue of Availability Certificates as to the quality of the construction.
• The level of service provided by Independent Certifiers needs to be reviewed and contracts of appointment written to reflect what clients actually require of the role, so that clients better understand exactly what they are getting and providers of the service better understand what is required of them. Standard forms for these appointments should spell out the nature of the inspection required.
• The Inquiry is of the view that one possible model or option to overcome the type of issues identified in the PPP1 project would be to extend the range of services required in the appointment of Independent Certifiers to include the provision and management of Clerks of Works services.