Many a slip - hic - D&B clients like Clerks - Brewer wrong says Bunton

Sir; The design and build feature in Contract Journal, 28 July 1994, is most interesting. We would observe that increasingly Clerks of Works are being appointed by clients or their project managers in a widening capacity to monitor quality standards on D&B contracts.

Although not recognised by the 'clerk of works' title on several of the design and build procurement methods, the growing need is to ensure directly that site construction performance to clients' expectations is being met. From experience this has not always been achieved.

The whole success of design and build at construction detail level/stage is monitoring of both materials and quality at the workplace.

The Chairman of the ICW Liaison on Contract Procedures Working Group, Mr Bob Hewitt, who is carrying out an in-depth study on the clerk of works' role within design and build contracts, states that, from returns at hand, it appears the quality of details and construction performance varies greatly from contract to contract. It is only when the procedure for regular independent inspection is undertaken on this type of contract that the client will be properly protected on those works that fall short of an acceptable standard when consideration is given to future maintenance and the life of the building.

AP Macnamara

General Secretary

Institute of Clerks of Works

London W5

Sir; The article generated by Geoff Brewer (CJ, 21 July) on the selection of consultants was arguably one of the best pieces he has ever written setting out clear guidelines for clients with regard to the selection of their professional team on a construction project. I would however like to comment on two points raised by Geoff Brewer and one that he excluded.

Firms involved in the provision of Quantity Surveying or Commercial Management Services may be driven by market forces to utilise agency/freelance staff with regard to the production of pre contract documentation. As fee levels for this service continue to be driven down, then professional practices can no longer afford to maintain a level of directly employed permanent staff and my own belief is that many consultancies, sooner rather than later, will have a core resource supplemented by agency/freelance resource utilised on a project by project basis. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this as long as the quality control requirements are sustained, and of course contracting organisations have subcontracted the majority of building works for the last 25 years so why should consultants be any different?

Geoff Brewer's comments that 'there is no point in interviewing the Partners who will never be seen as long as the project is underway' is completely unfair and off the mark. Partner and Director involvement in projects is absolutely critical, not only to ensure quality of service but to maintain client relationships. I would like, with respect, to suggest to Geoff Brewer that more Partners and Directors will get their sleeves rolled up and actually get back into document production and become fee earning on projects.

Again this will be a matter of necessity rather than anything else.

Finally, as I say, Brewer misses a comment on two fundamental points - the requirement for consultants to demonstrate and actually prove the existence of a satisfactory level of Professional Indemnity cover, and indeed some clients are moving beyond this to ask firms to confirm that they have no professional negligence claims underway against them, and secondly, many clients are now looking for consultants to demonstrate their financial stability by the production of three years' trading accounts, and the horrendous prospect of the client's professional team becoming insolvent during the currency of a project in many instances in the current market place may become a reality, so there are further factors that clients need to consider in addition to those defined by Brewer.

All of us involved in the Construction Industry are coming under extreme scrutiny, and of course there is only a matter of time before claims consultants may have to join the beauty parade, demonstrate resources, track record and financial stability before they are appointed to produce claims!

Len Bunton

Beard Dove

Glasgow

Sir; we always enjoy reading Backbites, but as a quantity surveying practice firmly committed to the working lunch we were surprised to see reference made in your 11 August edition to Wordsworth's of Devizes. We are of course well acquainted with Wadsworth's excellent brews in our neverending quest for lunchtime excellence. Maybe your correspondent is about to wax lyrical... I wandered lonely as a PQS. It has a certain ring to it.

Martin Daykin

John Gibbs Partnership

Gloucester