Audit Commission report on Homes for Islington

London Borough of Islington - Homes for Islington (ALMO) p 23
112 One example of this was where residents were concerned about the quality of
capital works. As a result HFI is introducing a brochure for residents explaining
the role of the Clerk of Works and what sort of quality of work they will accept.
This document was in draft at the time the inspection. HFI is also working on the
development of a protocol between constructors and themselves to ensure a joint
approach to quality control.
113 There are effective methods in place to manage the capital contracts.
Pre-contract meetings are held where all early arrangements are discussed.
Thereafter there are monthly site meeting chaired and minuted by a client officer.
A review is held a month before practical completion and there is a formal
handover meeting when performance indicator data is collated to assess
performance.
114 Capital projects are routinely and effectively reviewed. Each project is reviewed
on a regular basis. Valuations are prepared by a quantity surveyor on a monthly
basis and supported by a job cost <strong>report</strong>. There are meetings every six weeks
with group staff and the whole programme is called over with the investment
team every six weeks to fit in with the project review programme. There is also a
review after completion of the project and a final check on asbestos data to
ensure all tasks have been completed.
115 Officers have recently commenced work on a project to compare the costs of the
framework contract to costs that they would have incurred under a traditional
contract. They will use this information as a means of establishing value for
money in the future by comparing the costs of different contractors, and
comparing their overall costs to other authorities. Officers acknowledge that this
is an issue they need to take forward but as yet it is too soon to judge their
overall comparative costs and the outcomes of the project.
116 There is effective management of HFI's responsibilities under the CDM 6
regulations. There are procedures in place and HFI has introduced a number of
checks and balances in the preparation of health and safety plans.
117 Despite a robust monitoring regime, officers anticipate that there will be slippage
on schemes this year. This is largely because of the delayed start to the
framework contracts and the fact that they introduced a new way of delivering
schemes and a new contract appraisal process. There have been issues with
planning and individual leaseholders that have impacted on the delivery of the
programme but there is no clear pattern emerging on the reasons for slippage.
118 There is limited resident involvement in the development of capital schemes. As
yet, residents do not play a major role in the choice of contractor, or in the timing
and design of the schemes. Officers accept that this is something they need to
deal with in the future and a <strong>report</strong> has been presented to the board outlining the
options for resident involvement in the 2006/07 schemes.
119 As a result of our last inspection HFI introduced a construction site safety audit
system that was piloted earlier this year and formally launched in October 2004.
This system aligns the checks carried out by the clerk of works and the health
and safety officers. HFI developed this audit tool based on research with a
number of their contractors, including the Health and Safety Executive.
6 Construction (Design and Management) regulations 1994 - The CDM Regulations are aimed at improving the
overall management and co-ordination of health, safety and welfare throughout all stages of a construction project
to reduce the large number of serious and fatal accidents and cases of ill health which happen every year in the
construction industry.