News

Industry condemns loss of chief construction adviser in sweeping reforms

Peter Hansford to step down in November but industry “disappointed” that vital role is abandoned after “united voice ignored” and urges immediate rethink.

Peter Hansford, chief construction adviser

The Government’s Chief Construction Adviser role was this week abolished by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) in a package of sweeping reforms designed, it said, “to help the industry build on its recent growth”.

The announcement by BIS will see a radical restructuring of the Construction Leadership Council, cutting the number of members from 30 to 12, scrapping of the Council's Delivery Group and taking on the role of working with ministers “to ensure the industry’s concerns and ambitions are addressed”.

“I am delighted that the combined success of my predecessor Paul Morrell and myself over the last six years has resulted in the industry change agenda for construction and engagement between government and industry now being in a much better place.” Peter Hansford.

As such, BIS said, the role carried out by Peter Hansford since 2012 and by Paul Morrell before him will not be continued after Hansford’s tenure ends in November 2015.

“Speaking personally I was only ever going to be in the role for three years so there isn’t really a surprise there,” said Hansford. “But the work is not finished. So over the next few months I will be working with industry and government to make sure that effective arrangements are put in place to continue this important work before I leave the role at the end of November.”

Hansford wouldn’t be drawn on whether or not the loss of the Chief Construction Advisor role was backward step for the industry, which had campaigned for so long to achieve the position to represent the sector.

He said: “I am delighted that the combined success of my predecessor Paul Morrell and myself over the last six years has resulted in the industry change agenda for construction and engagement between government and industry now being in a much better place.”

However the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) slammed the decision by government to move away from partnership with industry towards simply having a dialogue.

“We are disappointed to see the government take this action, and extremely concerned that it was taken with a thorough lack of consultation with the industry,” said Nelson Ogunshakin, chief executive of the ACE. “It represents a backward step at a time when collaboration between industry and government is essential as we seek to deliver on a massive programme of investment.

“We are disappointed to see the government take this action, and extremely concerned that it was taken with a thorough lack of consultation with the industry,” Nelson Ogunshakin.

He added: “The positon of chief construction adviser provides a key single point of contact between our sector, ministers, and officials and is a vital line of communication that has highlighted blockages, acted as a flow point for information, and been a source of expertise.”

A similar response came from the Construction Industry Council (CIC) where Tony Burton, CIC chairman, a former member of the CLC and senior partner at Gardiner & Theobald added: “It is a pity that this announcement comes without meaningful consultation with industry about the proposals.

“This is especially so given the industry’s unanimous support for the continuation of the Chief Construction Adviser’s role and it is a pity that this united voice has been ignored,” he said.

Industry could take responsibility for funding the role, said Sean Tompkins, chief executive of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

“The united industry worked hard to establish a single point of contact through the Chief Construction Adviser and has ensured that two good people have filled the post effectively over the past six years,” he said. “The role is still required and – if this is an issue of cost – the leading members of CIC would be willing to make the necessary contribution to keep this important post which combines both expert adviser to Ministers and the highest representative of industry".

BIS announced that industry dialogue will now be via the streamlined Construction Leadership Council still to be co-chaired by Skills Minister Nick Boles and Sir David Higgins, HS2 executive chairman, but with 10 members leading specific workstreams to deliver improvements to working practices in the industry.

"While the remit of the new group appears less defined, we are pleased it will continue and hope the new structure provides the same level of leadership and ownership,” Nick Baveystock

 Council members include: Madani Sow (Bouygues UK) - supply chain / business models, Anna Stewart (Laing O’Rourke) - skills, Mike Putnam (Skanska) – sustainability and Andrew Wolstenholme (Crossrail) - innovation.

They will be joined by the chair of UKTI’s Construction Advisory Group, a volume housebuilder, a supply chain small/medium business.

Hansford said the new smaller Construction Leadership Council, was clearly about creating a “more streamlined and more accountable” council.

However, Ogunshakin was clear the change undermined the pan-industry oulook acjhieved by the previous council. 

“ACE urges the government to rethink these reforms, to consult with the whole industry about the proper way to collaborate, and ensure the bodies tasked with maintaining the dialogue are fit for purpose,” he said. “With the scale of the investment programmes we will be seeing in the coming years, it will be in everyone’s interest to ensure we get it right!”

Institution of Civil Engineers Director General, Nick Baveystock agreed that the original council had benefitted from members with influence, including a high level ministerial champion to provide a strong platform for government and industry to collaborate to deliver the Construction 2025 targets.

“While the remit of the new group appears less defined, we are pleased it will continue and hope the new structure provides the same level of leadership and ownership,” he said. “It is also important that the progress made by the previous members is captured and built on to ensure continuity.”

The new Council will meet with ministers four times per year to advise and update on efforts to drive improved productivity and growth across the industry. Each Council member has committed to attend the Council for a two year period.

If you would like to contact Antony Oliver about this, or any other story, please email antony.oliver@infrastructure-intelligence.com.

Comments

Code for Sustainable homes and allowable solutions both scrapped. Part L update scrapped now this. Shall we scrap BIM and go back (literally) to the drawing board?