The WLGA and CEW (Construction Excellence in Wales) have met with local authorities and key partners in the construction and procurement industry to promote collaboration and identify opportunities for making the best use of diminishing resources to deliver and fund future construction projects in Wales.
The construction industry has long been recognised as a key indicator of the condition of the economy and as a potential medium for stimulating economic regeneration.
Over the last few years public sector construction projects have diminished considerably due to challenging economic conditions and stringent budget cuts.
This year’s Assembly Budget indicated a cut in capital funding by 14% in 2011-12 with further cuts expected over the following two to three years. Today it is widely accepted that the funding available to maintain current levels of service or to improve services for the future will fall short of the requirements needed.
In response to these challenges, Welsh local government has set up the ‘Collaborative Works Group’ (CWG). The partners in this Group work together to identify opportunities for delivering construction projects across Wales’ four regional areas. The Group works towards achieving the best outcomes for facilitating new builds, delivering refurbishment works and maintaining public sector assets by working collaboratively and optimising the best use of available resources.
Speaking at yesterday’s event, Milica Kitson, Chief Executive, CEW said:
“Collaborative working is our key theme. In our report: No Turning Back we anticipated that this year was not going to be easy for the welsh built environment, but our recommendations for the integration of teams, strong leadership from public sector clients, clear pipelines of work, consistent procurement and payment methods have been embraced by local authorities and the Welsh Assembly Government. .
A collaborative approach to all construction projects delivers long term value as well as cost reductions. We were pleased to hear again yesterday that the Minister for Business and Budget, Jane Hutt fully endorses this approach and the work of the CWG and CEW.”
Derek Downer, CWG Chair spoke of the desire of the CWG group to pull everything together across Wales and develop best practice in terms of procuring construction contracts going forward.
Yesterday’s event took place at the Metropole hotel in Llandrindod Wells.
