Reading the latest construction weeklies, Construction News has a column (not yet online) from Neil Jarrett of the Collaborative Working Centre explaining how collaborative working will address the problem of bid-rigging, advocating open book cost management (to give greater visibility of real costs and make it difficult for contractors to benefit from collusion) and frameworks (to build up long-term relationships, thereby eliminating cover-pricing scenarios). It’s a good explanation of how more progressive approaches can help eliminate unfair practices.
However, among the serious debate about the ongoing OFT row, there are some lighter moments. The star contribution this week comes from The Foreman in (the new ‘Executive’ sized) Contract Journal, who quotes the late Humphrey Lyttelton, a wit renowned for his double entendres:
Talking about his fictional score keeper Samantha’s encounter with a builder, Littelton [sic] once said: “She was pleased to see his tender won, but was startled when it suddenly grew to twice its size.”
(The same page in the print edition also links to the top five web stories of the week, including ‘OGC embarrassment at new logo’.)
