Kier chairman Colin Busby has called on the public sector to meet its own deadlines in the PFI bidding process, following a series of delays
Busby told Building that several recent education projects have taken twice as long to complete the bidding process than was originally timetabled by the public sector client.

He said: "The one thing that I have been driving for is the public sector to conform to its own timetables. The majority simply doesn't adhere to them."

The comments come on the back of the Major Contractors Group's push to cut costs and save time in the PFI bidding process. The MCG wants the preferred bidder to be announced earlier in the process, to save the other contenders from incurring further bid costs.

Busby was speaking after the announcement of Kier's annual results on Wednesday, at which it reported that pre-tax profit for the 12 months to 30 June was £33.3m, an increase of 18.9% on the previous year. Group turnover rose from £1.37bn to £1.42bn.

The one thing I’ve been driving for is the public sector to conform to its own timetables

Colin Busby, chairman of Kier

Kier had problems of its own this year at the £65m Castlepoint shopping centre in Bournemouth because of fears that the multistorey car park might collapse. This led to speculation that the opening of the shopping centre would be delayed. However, Busby insisted it would open on schedule next month: "It has been very disappointing but we will finish the contract on deadline."

Speaking to Building, Busby also attacked the Higgs report published earlier this year, which set out guidelines for the structure of company boards. One recommendation is that a chief executive should not go on to be chairman, as this undermines the independence of the role.