Key proposals on the agenda include partnering arrangements on housing schemes, guidance for grant-funded social housing schemes and incentives for innovation in design and procurement on social housing projects.
The housing division of the assembly, which is spearheading the initiative across departments, was due to meet the local government and housing select committee on Wednesday to decide what changes should be introduced.
The meeting comes after a conference in Cardiff on Monday to raise awareness of the assembly's plans for procurement, which was was convened by the assembly in conjunction with the Construction Best Practice Programme and the Construction Industry Council.
John Bader, head of the housing and community renewal division, who spoke at the conference, called for the Welsh construction industry to work together. He said: "There needs to be more co-operation, more true partnering and exchange of ideas and knowledge." And he warned firms not be put off by an excess of initiatives. He said: "It is fair to say there's too much going on – too many initiatives and programmes inducing innovation fatigue turning people off, not turning them on." The housing and community renewal division also intends to set up working groups with public sector bodies to decide how best to introduce partnering. In addition the assembly plans procurement conferences and seminars for assembly departments and construction.
The announcement was welcomed by the Construction Industry Council in Wales.
But Robert Firth, chairman of the CIC in Wales, warned that the move away from compulsory competitive tendering to best value would not be easy. Firth, who is also a partner at architect Austin: Smith Lord, warned that firms will have to rethink how they approach jobs.
- The Quarry Product Association has called on the Welsh assembly to review the new quarry tax because it will cost the industry £40m a year. The chairman of the QPA's Welsh region, John Hopkins, said the tax threatened 3120 jobs.
