| 1. Previous reports on the construction industry have either been implemented incompletely, or the problems have persisted. The opportunity which exists now must not be missed (Chapter 1, paragraph 1.10). 2. Implementation begins with clients. The Department of the Environment should be designated by Ministers as lead Department for implementing any recommendations of the Report which Ministers accept. Government should commit itself to being a best practice client. Private clients have a leading role and should come together in a Construction Clients' Forum. Clients, and especially Government, continue to have a role in promoting excellence in design (Chapter 1, paragraphs 1.17-1.19). 3. The state of the wider economy remains crucial to the industry Many of the problems described in the Interim Report, and also addressed in this Final Report, are made more serious by economic difficulties. But others are inherent (Chapter 2). 4. Preparing the project and contract strategies and the brief requires patience and practical advice. The CIC should issue a guide to briefing for clients (Chapter 3, paragraph 3.13). The DOE should publish a simply worded Construction Strategy Code of Practice (Chapter 3, paragraphs 3.14 - 3.15) which should also deal with project management and tendering issues (Chapter 6). 5. The process plant industry should be consulted by the DOE, and be part of the Construction Clients' Forum (Chapter 3, paragraph 3.18). 6. A check list of design responsibilities should be prepared (Chapter 4, paragraph 4.6). 7. Use of Co-ordinated Project Information should be a contractual requirement (Chapter 4, paragraph 4.13). 8. Design responsibilities in building services engineering should be clearly defined (Chapter 4, paragraph 4.21). 9. Endlessly refining existing conditions of contract will not solve adversarial problems. A set of basic principles is required on which modern contracts can be based. A complete family of interlocking documents is also required. The New Engineering Contract (NEC) fulfils many of these principles and requirements, but changes to it are desirable and the matrix is not yet complete. If clients wish, it would also be possible to amend the Standard JCT and ICE Forms to take account of the principles (Chapter 5, paragraphs 5.18 - 5.21). 10. The structures of the JCT and the CCSJC need substantial change (Chapter 5, paragraphs 5.26 - 5.29 and Appendix IV). 11. Public and private sector clients should begin to use the NEC, and phase out "bespoke" documents (Chapter 5, paragraph 5.30). A target should be set of 1/3 of Government funded projects started over the next 4 years to use the NEC; 12. There should be a register of consultants kept by the DOE, for public sector work. Firms wishing to undertake public sector work should be on it (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.11). 13. A DOE-led task force should endorse one of the several quality and price assessment mechanisms already available for choosing consultants (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.11). 14. The role and duties of Project Managers need clearer definition. Government project sponsors should have sufficient expertise to fulfil their roles effectively (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.18). 15. A list of contractors and subcontractors seeking public sector work should be maintained by the DOE. It should develop into a quality register of approved firms (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.24). The proposed industry accreditation scheme for operatives should also be supported by the DOE (Chapter 7, paragraph 7.10). 16. Tender list arrangements should be rationalised, and clear guidance issued (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.32). Advice should also be issued on partnering arrangements (paragraph 6.47). 17. Tenders should be evaluated by clients on quality as well as price. The NJCC recommendations on periods allowed for tendering should be followed (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.39). 18. A joint Code of Practice for the Selection of Subcontractors should be drawn up which should include commitments to short tender lists, fair tendering procedures and teamwork on site (Chapter 6, paragraph 6.41). 19. Recent proposals relating to the work of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITE) need urgent examination (Chapter 7, paragraphs 7.16 - 7.18). 20. The industry should implement recommendations which it previously formulated to improve its public image. Equal opportunities in the industry also require urgent attention (Chapter 7, paragraph 7.25). 21. The CIC is best suited to co-ordinate implementation of already published recommendations on professional education (Chapter 7, paragraph 7.30). 22. Existing research initiatives should be co-ordinated and should involve clients. A new research and information initiative should be launched, funded by a levy on insurance premia (Chapter 7, paragraph 7.40). 23. More evidence is needed of the specific effects of BS 5750 within the construction process (Chapter 7, paragraph 7.46). 24. A productivity target of 30 per cent real cost reduction by the year 2000 should be launched (Chapter 7, paragraph 7.48). 25. A Construction Contracts Bill should be introduced to give statutory backing to the newly amended Standard Forms, including the NEC. Some specific unfair contract clauses should be outlawed (Chapter 8, paragraphs 8.9 - 8.11). 26. Adjudication should be the normal method of dispute resolution (Chapter 9, paragraph 9.14). 27. Mandatory trust funds for payment should be established for construction work governed by formal conditions of contract. The British Eagle judgement should be reversed (Chapter 10, paragraph 10.18). 28. The Construction Contracts Bill should implement the majority recommendations of the working party on construction liability law (Chapter 11, paragraph 11.15). 29. "BUILD" insurance should become compulsory for new commercial, industrial and retail building work, subject to a de minimis provision (Chapter 11, paragraph 11.24). 30. An Implementation Forum should monitor progress and should consider whether a new Development Agency should be created to drive productivity improvements and encourage teamwork. Priorities and timescales for action are suggested (Chapter 12). |