'Super CIEC' plans stumble at start

Ambitious plans to transform the existing Construction Industry Employers Council (CIEC) into an all-embracing British Construction Alliance have stumbled at the first fence.

A lengthy meeting of CIEC leaders last week put forward plans for not only strengthening the CIEC with a top level, full-time executive but also expanding the body to bring in both the professions in the Construction Industry Council and the specialists and subcontractors of the Constructors Liaison Group.

Both the CIC and CLG representatives invited to the meeting expressed reservations. The professions were not opposed in principle to the creation of an over-arching 'one voice' body but felt the contractors should first establish their own revamped organisation.