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PRIVATE SECTOR SET TO CASH IN
00:00 22 Sep 1994
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The Highways Agency is actively seeking ways to better use the
private sector in its operations.
Its business plan calls for a full look at the way private companies could help the road build and maintenance programme.
'We are looking at getting cost-savings and providing a better service to the customer all the time,' says the agency's maintenance chief John Fellows. 'One of the ways will be to use the private sector more.'
The news will give fresh hope to medium-sized civil firms that are struggling to win work against local council's direct labour organisations because of the way work is packaged (see CJ August 18).
Changes should see more contractors winning work, while engineering consultancies will also benefit. Already engineers Parkman and Frank Graham & Partners are acting as agents for the agency in London and the old metropolitan areas-a role traditionally played by local authorities.
This is likely to be expanded around the country with private consultancies managing the contracts and getting the work instead of local councils.
Its business plan calls for a full look at the way private companies could help the road build and maintenance programme.
'We are looking at getting cost-savings and providing a better service to the customer all the time,' says the agency's maintenance chief John Fellows. 'One of the ways will be to use the private sector more.'
The news will give fresh hope to medium-sized civil firms that are struggling to win work against local council's direct labour organisations because of the way work is packaged (see CJ August 18).
Changes should see more contractors winning work, while engineering consultancies will also benefit. Already engineers Parkman and Frank Graham & Partners are acting as agents for the agency in London and the old metropolitan areas-a role traditionally played by local authorities.
This is likely to be expanded around the country with private consultancies managing the contracts and getting the work instead of local councils.
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