Whilst we are faced with many issues around sustainability such as energy management, low carbon, our industry is always seeking ways to innovate and deliver measurable long term value for money, the single biggest issue we keep returning to is money.

The CLAW event last week was dominated by the need to do more for less. However, the event demonstrated one of the great things about Welsh construction: the desire to deliver great projects. And by great, we do not mean simply being in budget. We mean facilities, such as schools, that are not just fit for purpose and meet targets on waste and low carbon, but have a clear and demonstrably positive effect on the lives of the people using the building. 

Climate change is a topic that is often quite confusing, sometimes divisive and always earnestly debated whether by pundits in the media, politicians, scientists or by architects and designers, construction professionals and facilities managers. Everyone has a different view, but almost all agree – especially within the construction supply chain – that minimising carbon emissions is a good thing. Perhaps the question should be less about why reduce carbon, but more around how much to cut and how much of an investment needs to be made. Too many in the construction industry see the carbon reduction targets set by Welsh Government as cost prohibitive barriers. 

Last week almost 60 local authority officers from across Wales met as part of the CLAW Design Group led by Mike Gwyther- Jones of Cardiff County Council to discuss the opportunities and challenges offered through “template” school designs.

We’re all aware of the forward challenges facing the public sector in Wales and the wider UK. The demand for “more for less” couldn’t be more evident than in the education sector in Wales and particularly the challenges facing the Welsh Government’s C21^st Schools Improvement Programme.

The Minister for Finance, Jane Hutt, has announced publication of a Procurement Advice Note and Guidance document produced by Value Wales on the implementation of Project Bank Accounts (PBAs) within public sector construction and infrastructure projects. Attached are copies of the documents which can also be found on the Procurement Route Planner 

PBAs are a mechanism to ensure fair payment throughout the supply chain and builds on the requirements of the Welsh Fair Payment Guidance. PBAs can be applied to each project to provide a transparent process of ensuring prompt payment to sub contractors.

Date: Thursday 8th May 2014
Location: Dolgellau

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