Stronger CIEC replaces Newco plan

Top contractors have agreed a compromise on plans to launch a high-level, united employer lobby organisation under the provisional title of Newco.

They have now backed off setting up an entirely new body and are ready to move in the direction of strengthening the existing Construction Industry Employers Council (CIEC). Details of the compromise deal are expected within the next few days.

The emphasis will be on transforming CIEC into a much stronger central lobby organisation and expanding its current membership.

The deal has been brokered by Sir Michael Latham. It follows two top level meetings in January involving Sir Brian Hill and Hugh Try, from the BEC, Fraser Morrison and Peter Galliford, from the FCEC, and Joe Dwyer, Martin Laing, and Sir Alan Cockshaw, representing the major contractors. The talks resulted in a draft 'heads of agreement' document. This has been taken back to the individual organisations for their approval. And there have also been consultations with other members of CIEC.

The Newco plan was launched last May when PA Consulting was commissioned to report on how a united employer organisation might be established. PA reported in September. The findings were accepted in principle. But the various parties remained at odds over their broad vision of the shape of any new lobby. Progress was also impeded by a lack of clarity over funding and policy-making.

Dennis Maiden, director of the Federation of Master Builders, appears to have summed up the overall conclusion when he commented recently: 'Why reinvent the wheel when CIEC already provides the structure for the Newco concept?'