Contract Journal articles from August 2002

Contract Journal archives from August 2002

Geoff Brewer examines challenges to adjudication by referral to arbitration.(JT Mackley and Company Ltd. -v- Gosport Marina Ltd.)(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Clause 66 of the ICE forms of contract requires that if a dispute arises in connection with the contract works, either party may serve on the engineer a notice in writing setting out the nature of the dispute. The engineer is then required...

Work winners this week.(contract awards)(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Who's winning the work?Contracts Hotline is your at-a-glance digest of the latest contract awards around the UK. Data supplied by ABI Building Data. London & South East Southend-on-Sea flats Work: Flats Location:...

Investment takes off.(BAA PLC plans Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airport improvements)
August 7, 2002... Despite the after effects of September 11th on air travel, BAA has still earmarked [pound]8bn of investment for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports over the next 10 years.For the lucky few work will come in framework deals of up to 10...

Expansion for Haymills in Gibraltar.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... by Ross Pearman Haymills is expecting continued growth in its Gibraltar division despite the recent unrest over possible shared sovereignty of the Rock. "I don't see work for the group harmed by shared sovereignty," said group chief...

Green-fingered crew.(Contract Journal and MJ Gleeson volunteer with seeAbility)(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... How did 30 staff from Contract Journal cope when thrown in at the construction deep end? Our recent team building challenge was all done in the name of charity, mate! Eva Chambers reports. A derelict plot at seeAbility, a charity for the...

HSE reveals plant fatalities high.(Health and Safety Executive report)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 7, 2002... by Paul Howard The fatality rate for industries involving plant is among the highest across all industrial sectors, according to statistics published by the Health & safety Executive (HSE). The waste and scrap recycling sector has the...

NVQ compromising safety.
August 7, 2002... Safety simulations not deemed an adequate testing method Sir, The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) joint decision to allow...

Adjudication: response to review.
August 7, 2002... Sir, As chairman of the Construction Umbrella Bodies (CUB) adjudication task group that recently published its Guidance for Adjudicators, I am keen to respond to Geoff Brewer's review of our booklet in the 24 July edition of Contract...

NEWSBRIEF.(industry news)(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Hire station's fast track delivery service VP subsidiary Hire Station has unveiled its One Call Fast Track shuttle service for direct hire and equipment delivery to the shopfitting, heating and ventilating and electrical sectors. Launched...

Fiat Kobelco to renew excavator range.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 7, 2002... Fiat Kobelco will renew its entire range of excavators by June 2004 starting with the tracked 16t and 21t models. There will be 12 tracked excavators in the 13t to 45t range, including 13t, 20t and 22t short tailswing machines not available...

Strategic Forum puts emphasis on training.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Training and reskilling staff to address labour shortage is high on agenda by Ross Pearman The Strategic Forum is considering the formation of a new pan-industry training body to show the government it is committed to addressing the...

Wrekin poised for [pounds sterling]100m turnover.(Wrekin Construction expects to reach target)(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Wrekin Construction is on target to hit a turnover of [pound]100m by the end of this year, a figure managing director John Evans describes as "a significant milestone". The past two years have seen vigorous growth as Evans steered the...

SED 2001 in fourth place.(exhibition receives honor)(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... SED 2001 has been ranked fourth in a list of the top 100 trade and public exhibitions by Bulletin 100 magazine. Among trade shows, SED was ranked second - only the Spring Fair Birmingham (giftware and jewellery show) scored higher. The...

Baldwins faces an uncertain future.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Baldwins, crane hire specialist, reported a pre-tax loss of [pound]14.4m for the year ending 31 March (against a [pound]5.8m profit in 2001). The company said: "There is some uncertainty over the group's ability to continue in its present...

Back bites.
August 7, 2002... 4th rock from the sun There's nothing like an asteroid scare to bring the entrepreneurial spirit out of people. Following the recent scare that a 2.5km wide space rock, enchantingly christened 2002 NT7, and with the potential to...

Hanson's positive results.(Hanson Building Materials profits)(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Hanson has announced a pre-tax profit of [pound]130m on a turnover of [pound]2bn for the first half of the year. Announcing the results, chief executive Alan Murray said: "This has been an encouraging first half and the pattern looks set...

Industry pays tribute to FMB's Ron Brown.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
August 7, 2002... Ron Brown, the former Labour MP for Shoreditch and deputy director general of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), has died. He was aged 80. Brown represented the London constituency of Shoreditch from 1964 to 1983. He was subsequently...

OGC sets tough target for best practice.(Office of Government Commerce)(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Exclusive by Ross Pearman The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has set itself a tough target of 70% of one-off or occasional clients adopting best practice over the next few years. This announcement came hot on the heels of the...

RG Group revamp puts clients first.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... RG Group, formerly RGCM, is to increase its focus on major clients with the appointment of key account managers. The name change, effective from 1 August, is the result of a relaunch of the brand and a restructuring of the company. It...

Scotland set to trial replacement for PFI.(private finance initiative)(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... PFIs may be abolished if not-for-profit private investment scheme succeeds Exclusive by Ross Pearman Scotland could be about to abandon PFI if a not-for-profit system, due to be piloted in Falkirk in December, is successful. The...

Combined deal for M&E in view.(mechanical and electrical engineering)(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Hopes are rising that this autumn may see real progress towards establishing a combined agreement on pay and conditions in the mechanical and electrical engineering sectors. Employer sources have confirmed only that there are "ongoing...

Tyneside NHS PFI to bypass BAFO stage.(hospital may go straight to appointing a preferred bidder to build mental health unit)(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... The client for a [pound]20m-plus PFI hospital deal in the North East may bypass a key stage of the tender process to speed up the project. It is understood that the Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Heath NHS Trust could...

A burden or a benefit?
August 7, 2002... On 1 November the late payment law changes, allowing any firm to claim interest on late payments from any other. Will this improve cashflow in construction or will small contractors be squeezed further? Justin Stanton investigates. Believe...

Skills shortage delays Hackney housing work.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... A shortage of skilled labour is likely to mean slow progress on a massive London housing regeneration scheme. According to an insider, Hackney Borough Council's [pound]450m-plus Woodberry Down scheme may take up to 12 years to complete...

A McAlpine looks to 6%.(Alfred McAlpine expects a margin of 5% to 6% on design of project)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 7, 2002... Firm wants margins on PFI design and build phase to match returns on FM work by John Leitch Alfred McAlpine's PFI strategy is simple - it expects to make a margin of 5% to 6% on the design and build phase of the project followed by a...

Trio in [pounds sterling]26m PFI schools bid.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Three groups are vying to make the grade for a [pound]26m private finance schools scheme in north London. Babcock & Brown, King Sturge/Ballast and Japanese firm Kajima will work up bids to redevelop the Haverstock School in Challe Farm for...

Taywood set for [pounds sterling]20m sports deal.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Taylor Woodrow is emerging as preferred bidder for a [pound]20m-plus remediation package to kick off a [pound]700m scheme for an international sports village at Cardiff Bay. It is understood that Nuttall is the city council's reserve...

Nuttall gets [pounds sterling]27m Dover ferry deal.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Edmund Nuttall has landed a [pound]27m contract to build two new ferry berths at Dover. The Harbour expects port ferry traffic to increase in the medium term and is investing a record amount in construction of new berths. Work is set to...

DTI tackles bogus self-employment.(Department of Trade & Industry )(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Questionnaire aims to highlight dangers to government of unskilled site workers Exclusive by Ross Pearman Bogus self-employment is back on the agenda this month as two consultation documents on the issue have been posted out to...

Contractors shoulder PFI insurance risks.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... PFI contractors must pay for insurance hikes of up to 200% before state helps by James Atkinson and Carol Millett PFI contractors will have to bear a three-fold increase in insurance premiums before the public sector intervenes,...

Stoke puts spotlight on Tay Valley.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... City council jumps straight to preferred bidder stage for streetlighting project by Brian Warner Stoke-on-Trent City Council has turned the spotlight on to the Tay Valley Lighting consortium to deliver an estimated [pound]50m privately...

Government ignores insurance problems.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... by Glenda Thisdell A call for the government to underwrite the industry's insurance requirements is likely to go unheeded. Despite cries for help from an increasing number of firms facing ruin because of sky-high premiums, the...

UK firms ignored in Ballast sell-off.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... As continental contractors muscle in for Ballast, UK buyers are being overlooked by John Leitch Three continental contractors are reported to be showing an interest in acquiring Ballast, with its PFI division being seen as "the jewel...

Small firms to benefit from HSE grant scheme.(Health & Safety Executive )(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Small contractors are set to benefit from a Health & Safety Executive (HSE) pilot grant scheme to improve their health and safety. Running until May 2003, the Small Firms Assistance Scheme will be co-ordinated on behalf of the HSE by the...

Fencing firm fights to ensure Stenoak pays.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... by John Leitch A fencing contractor, already owed [pound]102,000 by Stenoak, has had to read the riot act to Barclays Bank to ensure payment of two cheques worth a further [pound]100,000. Colin Philipson, director of CPC Fencing in...

Fall in road spend hits civils.(civil engineering contractors)(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... by Ross Pearman A lack of local road maintenance spending is starting to hit civil contractors hard, according to the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA). After expressing concerns last year that the country's 108 local...

PFI-scepticalScots must put delivery first.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Scotland has always been the home nation most suspicious of PFI. The Scots have refused to take at face-value political and private sector assertions that PFI is the great panacea to all their infrastructure ills. And now, the Scottish...

Hirex@SED: RBI and Emap join forces.(Reed Business Information)
August 7, 2002... SED and Hirex are joining forces to create a new zone within SED called Hirex@SED. It is the first-ever partnership deal between the organiser, Reed Business Information (publisher of Contract Journal), and Hirex owner Emap. SED exhibition...

NEWSBRIEF.(construction industry news)(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... Two contract wins for Norwest Holst Norwest Holst Construction's civil engineering division has been awarded a [pound]14m contract by United Utilities Water to design and construct an extension to the Huntingdon Water Treatment Works in...

Pair of NHS LIFT projects move ahead.(National Health Service)(Brief Article)
August 7, 2002... All six of the first tranche of NHS LIFT pilot schemes are finally up and running with the launch last week of the long-delayed Newcastle scheme. This [pound]45m public private partnership, led by North Tyneside Primary Care Trust with...

Geoff Brewer of Brewer Consulting considers contractual quantum meruit.(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Despite the sterling efforts of many in the construction industry, the procurement and contractual arrangements even for large construction projects are often extremely haphazard. A typical example is described in the Court of Appeal decision...

Work winners this week.(construction contract awards around the United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Contracts Hotline is your at-a-glance digest of the latest contract awards around the UK. Data supplied by ABI Building Data. London & South East Milton Keynes warehouse Work: Warehouse Location: Milton Keynes Value:...

Nuttall boxing clever.(Edmund Nuttall Ltd.)
August 14, 2002... Just outside Northampton, Edmund Nuttall is constructing a tunnel under the M1 for the Highways Agency. But it's not just any tunnel, as Will Mann found out on a visit to the site. It will be the first of its kind in the UK. Never before...

Aussie aspirants.(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Australian contractor Multiplex is a new name in the UK construction market, but it is making its mark by scooping the Wembley stadium deal. And while it waits for that deal to complete, it is busy building one of the most luxurious apartment...

Site safety debate contines.(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Managers must be committed to educating workers on the importance of site safety Sir, I am responding to the letter from Michael Sarling (CJ 10 July) regarding the issue of the money spent by the construction industry to train...

Hitachi offers more.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 14, 2002... 100 machines in 17 ranges and a new factory to build 3,500 machines a year by Colin Sowman From the new year Hitachi will start to offer over 100 machines in 17 ranges while its new factory in Holland will be building excavators...

Hewden in crane sale talks.(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Hewden Stuart, the country's biggest plant hirer, has confirmed it is in discussions with a third party over the proposed sale of its Hewden Tower Cranes division. In a statement issued by the Hewden Stuart board, the company said these...

Safety Council endorses VCOP plant training code.(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... The voluntary code of practice (VCOP) for training plant operators drawn up by the Loughborough University-based Off-Highway Plant and Equipment Research Centre (OPERC) has been endorsed by the British Safety Council. OPERC members are...

NEWSBRIEF.
August 14, 2002... Five Volvos for viking plant Shrewsbury-based Viking Plant has taken delivery of five Volvo A25D articulated dump trucks and has placed an order for another five. The new trucks take Viking's fleet, only established in April this year, to...

John Wade takes first new Volvo F12 tippers.(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... The first four new FM12 eight-wheel tippers to go on the road in the UK have entered service with John Wade (Haulage) of Newton Aycliffe. The FMs form part of an order for 12 trucks including seven FLE 220 skip loaders and a 150t GCW Volvo...

Greenfield buys kit to reduce hiring costs.(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Durham-based civil engineering contractor Greenfield has invested [pound]350,000 in new plant and equipment after analysing the amount it spent on plant hire and the availability of kit. According to director Nick Redpath: "Not only was it...

Prolec system sets the limit for telehandlers.(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... The first UK installation of a height and reach limiting device specifically designed for a telehandler has been carried out using a system designed by Prolec of Poole. The Liftwatch 5 module, fitted to a Hawk Plant-owned JCB 537-135,...

Lend Lease to keep Bovis.(Bovis Lend Lease)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Ross Taylor, chief executive of Bovis Lend Lease, has vigorously denied that the parent group Lend Lease, an Australia-based property outfit, will put its Bovis subsidiary on the market. "There is no way that Bovis will be sold out of the...

Revenue warns composite firms.(Inland Revenue: dividends taxable)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Dividend payments to come under same tax and NI rules as emoluments by John d'Arcy The Inland Revenue (IR) has issued a fresh warning to so-called composite companies that the payments they describe as dividends are subject to PAYE tax...

UCATT backs 48hr week.(Union of Construction, Allied Trades and)(Technicians)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... UCATT is to demand the legal enforcement of a maximum 48-hour working week at next month's TUC conference in Blackpool. A UCATT motion tabled for the conference between 9 and 12 September calls for the removal of the power of individuals...

Four eye housing PFI.(private finance initiative)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... [pound]130m social housing refurb job may go straight to preferred bidder stage by Brian Warner Four groups are hoping to unlock a privately financed social housing deal in south London, worth up to [pound]130m. The deal, for...

Rest of Ballast staff now safe.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 14, 2002... Threat of redundancy withdrawn from surviving southern division of Ballast by John Leitch Staff morale in Ballast's troubled southern division has soared - its 60 surviving employees have been moved to a new office in Dartford and...

Midas strikes gold through long-term framework deals.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 14, 2002... Property service group Midas has doubled its turnover and profit through successful long-term framework agreements and a restructuring of the group. Figures for the year ending 30 April saw turnover up 53% on last year to [pound]115m....

'Easy' CSCS safety; test to be revised.(Construction Skills Certification Scheme)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Exclusive by Paul Howard The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has revealed that the questions in its controversial health and safety test, which provides qualification for the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), are...

Wates initiative cuts accidents.(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Company sets target of just 76 lost time accidents to push figures down further Exclusive by Ross Pearman Wates has achieved a 20% reduction in lost time accidents and is clamping down further on its supply chain. The group had 40...

CJ team gets full marks in CSCS test.(Construction Skills Certification Scheme)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... by Paul Howard The CJ editorial team undertook the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) health and safety test last week to gain their Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) site visitor cards. The CJ team achieved a...

Three firms to bid again for Glasgow PFI hospital.(private finance initiative)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... At least three of the groups that originally prequalified for an aborted private finance hospital project in Glasgow are anxious for a second bite of the cherry. Early last year, teams including HBG, Amec and Sir Robert McAlpine were among...

HA seeks telecoms firm.(Highways Agency)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... The Highways Agency (HA)is to appoint a provider of telecommunications services dedicated to supporting its traffic systems. The HA estimates that the cost of providing key traffic system services will amount to around [pound]400m over a...

Single rollers are okay.(highway construction equipment)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Single drum rollers in the 600kg/m to 1,000kg/m range have been returned, temporarily at least, to the list of approved equipment for the reinstatement of openings in highways pending laboratory tests next month on their effectiveness. The...

McCarthy treads carefully.(McCarthy & Stone; ammunition found)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Following the discovery of a cache of ammunition at a McCarthy & Stone site in Wiltshire (CJ 31 July), Wiltshire County Council has carried out a magnetic survey of the site before allowing work to recommence. The council's emergency...

PFI in choppy waters.(private finance initiative)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... The government's revised PFI guidance is meant to speed up the bidding process - but the industry feels cast adrift. Carol Millett reports. Lately, the government's PFI programme has been sailing in choppy waters. Soaring insurance...

Back bites.(low-riding jeans; includes other information)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Builder's crack Fashionistas beware, the next trend to hit the high streets will have a construction theme: the builder's bum is to become de rigueur on the catwalk. Following the popularity of hipsters among women, and the low-slung...

Constructionline goes to NI.(Northern Ireland)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Public sector use of the government's online registration scheme Constructionline has expanded into Northern Ireland. From 30 September all public sector bodies in Northern Ireland will be adopting the system, and existing in-house...

Europe meddles with social housing deals.(European Commission)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Prescott's housing masterplan under threat from EC's procurement rules Exclusive by Laura Hailstone Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's plans to speed up the delivery of badly needed social housing are being threatened by the...

NEWSBRIEF.
August 14, 2002... golf challenge to play another round The 2002 Contract Journal European Golf Challenge will take place from 20-22 November in St Malo, Brittany, France. It is open to all readers on a first come, first served basis at a cost of [pound]99...

M27 job was jv, insists HA boss.(joint venture)(Highways Agency)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... by John Leitch Tim Matthews, chief executive of the Highways Agency (HA), has issued a categorical statement saying that the [pound]18m M27 project north of Southampton was a joint venture between Hanson and Stenoak, which went into...

Wasted: [pounds sterling]250m each year in risk business.(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Huge sums could be saved if all parties collaborated better on risk assessment by Tim Wood An estimated [pound]250m is being wasted every year in the risk management process because of a failure to share information. The shock...

Utilities paid to work together.(new cash incentives proposed)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Exclusive by Ross Pearman Utility contractors may soon be offered cash incentives for shared working on the nation's roads under new contractual proposals set out by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). In response to ongoing...

CJ staff CSCS test a qualified success.(Construction Skills Certification Scheme)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... When it was announced that the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) would be extended to include all site visitors (CJ 15 May), Contract Journal was faced with a dilemma. Plainly it was important that our journalists gain the...

Interserve seeks acquisitions.(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Exclusive by Tim Wood Interserve has admitted it is looking for further acquisitions in business process outsourcing. Interserve executive director John Vyse told CJ: "There is a distinct possibility that other acquisitions will be...

Skanska winner in race for the [pounds sterling]177m Derby NHS PFI.(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Skanska has beaten off a challenge from its only remaining rival Kier/Alfred McAlpine/Interserve to become preferred bidder for the [pound]177m PFI contract to redevelop acute health services in southern Derbyshire. Southern Derbyshire...

NEWSBRIEF.(news briefs related to UK construction sector, including merger of Russells and Pentith Construction)
August 14, 2002... fatality at albion wharf development A foreman died last Tuesday after being struck by a falling timber shutter panel at the Albion Wharf development on Hester Road, Battersea, south London. The 31-year-old worker, who has not been named,...

NHS won't get Chelsea Barracks.(National Health Service; housing plan)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Fears that Chelsea Barracks was among military properties in central London being considered for sale to the Department of Health (DoH) have proved groundless. Discussions between the DoH and the Ministry of Defence took place last week as...

I get so much junk e-mail (I believe it's called SPAM) sent to me. It is especially bad with my private Hotmail account. Can I: a) prevent this happening; and b) take any action against persistent SPAMers?(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... SPAM is a way of flooding the internet with many copies of the same message, in an attempt to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it. Most SPAM is commercial advertising, often for dubious products such as...

Ramesys plans takeover deals.(Brief Article)
August 14, 2002... Firm talks to rivals in a bid to gain a bigger share of the construction software market by John Leitch Ramesys is talking to four of its competitors with a view to making takeover bids as it pushes to increase its share of the...

HSE takes safety message to the boardroom.(Health & Safety Executive to address issues to contractor' senior managers and directors)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 21, 2002... Exclusive by Ross Pearman The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) will shift its focus from site inspections to drill the safety message home to contractors' senior managers and directors. While launching its intervention strategy, Mike...

TUC fights for temperature control.(Trades Union Congress)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 21, 2002... Sweltering working conditions on UK sites will have to change if proposals on temperature control set out by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) gain favour. According to the union, contractors should be more aware of the dangers of heat...

Home Office prison work failed to use best practice.(when it tendered contract for new medical center at prison)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 21, 2002... Exclusive by Ross Pearman The Home Office has come under attack from one contractor this week for courting eight bidders on a recent prison contract in London. According to the source, who cannot be named for commercial reasons, the...

Rogers courts Forum approval.(Peter Rogers seeks support to become Stanhope operations director)(Brief Article)
August 21, 2002... Exclusive by Ross Pearman Stanhope's operations director Peter Rogers will spend this week meeting Strategic Forum members to win their support for his bid to be the body's chairman. In an informal chat at Rogers' office, he will be...