The Local Government Task Force (LGTF) has launched the first ever practical guide to implementing Rethinking Construction for local authorities.
The Rethinking Construction Implementation Toolkit is the first guide to construction procurement aimed specifically at local authorities. It is also the first major initiative by the LGTF since its launch last year, which has notched up more than 100 demonstration projects among local authorities across England.
Launching the LGTF Toolkit, Local Government and Construction Minister, Beverley Hughes MP, issued a challenge to local authorities to make a corporate commitment to Rethinking Construction at every level in their organisations: “Local Authorities can achieve so much more added-value for their organisation and for local communities if they apply Rethinking Construction principles more rigorously to their procurement practices.
“Rethinking Construction and Best Value go hand in hand. Authorities need to take the lead from the top and apply the principles of Best Value in all of their procurement; embrace Best Value and reject lowest cost; and use the toolkit to make a step-change in their performance.”
“The Rethinking Construction Implementation Toolkit is the first guide to construction procurement aimed specifically at local authorities,” said Ted Cantle, LGTF Board Chairman, “It is widely reported that there is more than 30% wastage in the construction process which is clearly unacceptable, especially with public money. Many organisations, both clients and contractors are becoming more effective by adopting Rethinking Construction principles. It is now the time for local authorities to demonstrate the same level of commitment to achieving an effective and efficient construction process.”
Rethinking Construction sets out clear targets for the industry, its supply chain and customers, including annual reductions of 10% on capital costs involved in construction, plus 10% gains in productivity, 10% reduction in construction time and 20% improvements in project predictability, the number of defects and the number of accidents on a project.
“Most recent figures show the local government public sector spends more than 5bn a year on construction and maintenance,” said Ted Cantle. “If you applied a small fraction of potential improvements to be gained through Rethinking Construction, the savings would be enormous. For example, a one percent improvement would mean a gain to the public purse of some 50 million. If local authorities exceeded the Egan target of ten percent, then we could be looking at savings of more than half a billion pounds. That is a figure that local authorities have a collective obligation to aim to achieve.”
The LGTF Toolkit has been endorsed by the Audit Commission, LGA (Local Government Association), DETR (Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions), CABE, CBPP (Construction Best Practice Programme), CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy), OGC (Office for Government Commerce) and the Improvement and Development Agency.
For more information on the toolkit, please visit the Construction Best Practice Programme’s website.
—Richard Byatt
Reprinted with permission; copyright 2001 i-FM
