The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) has announced the restructuring of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), the scrapping of the Council's Delivery Group, and the abolition of the role of Government’s Chief Construction Advisor (CCA).
BIS Ministers and officials have placed the future emphasis on dialogue with industry, rather than working in partnership, which was the strapline to the Industrial Strategy (Construction 2025).
The Construction Industry Council (CIC), which represents 46 leading professional organisations working in all sectors that create and maintain the built environment, has welcomed the renewed emphasis on dialogue but expressed disappointment at the Government’s decision to discontinue the role of the Chief Construction Adviser.
Tony Burton, CIC Chairman, a former member of the CLC and senior partner at Gardiner & Theobald is disappointed at the lack of dialogue with industry in arriving at these decisions. He said: “It is a pity that this announcement comes without meaningful consultation with industry about the proposals”, adding, “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.
"The two CCAs in post over the past six years (Paul Morrell and Peter Hansford) have provided a key role both in terms of their advice to government about being a better client and becoming the key interface between government and the industry. CIC has supported the role throughout and we were happy to increase the level of that support since we believe that the role is so vital.”
Graham Watts, the CIC Chief Executive also emphasised the importance of the role: “The industry once had a dedicated Minister of State; but, over time, ministerial interaction with construction has greatly diminished. Some eight years ago, the appointment of a Chief Construction Officer was recommended by the Trade and Industry Select Committee and, in due course, that recommendation was accepted by government. I don’t see any circumstances that have changed to negate the need for the role.”
The new Council will build on the work of the government’s Chief Construction Adviser, working closely with ministers to ensure the industry’s concerns and ambitions are addressed. As a result, the role of the Chief Construction Adviser will not be continued after the incumbent Peter Hansford’s tenure ends in November 2015.
The government welcomed business leaders to join ministers on the renewed Construction Leadership Council last week. The council was created in 2013 to work between industry and government to identify and deliver actions to improve efficiency, skills and growth in UK construction.
Skills Minister Nick Boles (who co-chairs the council), said: "The construction industry recently saw its 24th month of consecutive year on year growth, and is key to our plan for increasing Britain’s productivity and prosperity.
"We will work closely with the newly focussed Construction Leadership Council, with its top business expertise, to deliver that plan and drive growth for the sector and wider economy."
The new membership of the council sees a reduction from its previous 30 members to 12, in response to calls from the sector to make it more effective and business-focused. Members have been drawn from leading construction firms such as Laing O’Rourke and Bouygues UK.
The Council’s industry co-chair, David Higgins, said: "I’m delighted the government has responded to calls for a smaller, more business-focused Construction Leadership Council. The new Council of 12, with its business leaders from across the sector, will be best placed to drive the skills, innovation and productivity outcomes to help the industry build on its recent growth."
RIBA President Stephen Hodder said: “The Construction 2025 agenda has played a major part in helping the UK Construction sector rise to the challenge of getting Britain building. If we are to tackle the housing crisis and deliver the infrastructure needed it is vital that government works with the whole sector, including architects and other professional services, who coordinate, enable and drive this work.”
“The loss of the Chief Construction Adviser role at this crucial time will leave a significant gap in terms of drawing together the skills of the sector. The industry needs to look at how the workstreams announced will be coordinated to avoid silos developing in the new approach. It’s therefore vital that the work of the new Construction Leadership Council is informed by the whole of the industry and the professional services sector has strong representation.”
New Council members include: Madani Sow (Bouygues UK), Anna Stewart (Laing O’Rourke), Mike Putnam (Skanska) and Andrew Wolstenholme (Crossrail). They will be joined by the Chair of UKTI’s Construction Advisory Group, a volume housebuilder, a supply chain small/medium business and the Council co-chairs: Skills Minister Nick Boles and Sir David Higgins, Executive Chair of High Speed 2.
