With a general election set to be held later this year, and a change of government currently looking likely, the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) is making an early pitch for attention.
Some of its demands are either notably vague or unambitious, as might be considered typical for documents produced by committee. For example, CECA calls for a transport strategy but expresses no view on what that strategy should be. 聽The strategy is to have a strategy.
And CECA is no longer even calling for the outright abolition of retentions, but instead calls mildly for 鈥渁ccelerating progress in abolishing retentions鈥�.
In its document, Priorities for an incoming government 2024/25, CECA's demands are listed as:
- Investing in 鈥榯he future鈥� 鈥� through maintaining delivery of projects outlined in the National Infrastructure Strategy;
- Maintaining confidence 鈥� by ensuring the 鈥榮tar chamber鈥� for infrastructure announced in the 2023 autumn statement puts infrastructure at the heart of policy-making;
- Enabling regions to thrive 鈥� by pursuing the 鈥榣evelling up鈥� agenda and supporting industry to develop an independent bank of expertise to offer local authorities advice on planning issues and unblocking projects;
- Delivering 鈥榳orld-class connectivity鈥� 鈥� by publishing a transport strategy for England that supports the devolved transport authorities (Transport for London, Transport Scotland etc), with five-year capital settlements complemented by indicative five-year funding;
- Strengthening 鈥榬esilience鈥� 鈥� by publishing a national water strategy, upgrading the wastewater network and reducing water demand;
- Supporting SMEs 鈥� by accelerating progress in abolishing retentions and ensuring social value requirements reflect SME needs;
- Maximising best practice & driving innovation 鈥� by encouraging public and private sector clients to adopt and track progress against the use of best practice models such as the Construction Sector Playbook, Project 13 and the recent Cabinet Office frameworks review;
- Delivering skills 鈥� by developing an apprenticeship system for construction employers that is supported by public sector clients.
CECA director of operations Marie-Claude Hemming said: 鈥淭hese priorities must form the basis of an incoming UK government, whichever party or parties emerge victorious from the next general election. The past number of years has seen the UK economy buffeted by a series of economic shocks, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the impact of Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine. Key to returning the UK economy to dynamic growth will be stability, certainty, and pipeline visibility.
鈥淲e are calling on all parties to adopt these policies to ensure the UK is set on a more sustainable and prosperous future through the delivery of world-class infrastructure.
鈥淏usinesses and communities across Great Britain a relying on the next UK government to get this right, by working with industry to drive growth, create jobs, and deliver the stronger economy the UK deserves in the years ahead.鈥�
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