Public project assurance methodology
Improvements and rigor needed in public project assurance methodologies, including updated tools and reviewer training.
45 items
1 source
7 inquiries
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Inquiry recommendation
60match
ETI-11 - Public Fund Protection
The Scottish Ministers and local authorities responsible for funding light rail projects should be mindful at all times of their obligation to protect public funds and to obtain value for public expenditure. In that regard: • the Scottish Ministers should impose conditions on the payments of grants, similar to the “hold points” imposed on the offer of grant...
Matched on
terms: project, public
Inquiry recommendation
60match
ETI-18 - Interviews of Key Personnel in Readiness Reviews
As part of their investigations, representatives of OGC undertaking an independent “readiness review” of a publicly funded project and representatives of any person, including representatives of any public body such as Audit Scotland, undertaking a review of the progress of and/or expenditure on a project funded in whole or in part by public funds should interview key personnel...
Matched on
terms: project, public
Inquiry recommendation
57match
RHI-13 - External Expertise on Project Boards
Project boards are an essential element of project management oversight and must include individuals who can challenge and who are not directly responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the project. Such boards, in appropriate circumstances, can benefit greatly from the inclusion of individuals external to the Northern Ireland Civil Service, preferably with experience/expertise in the project subject matter.
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
57match
RHI-11 - Project Management Disciplines
Best practice project and risk management disciplines should be the default practice within the Northern Ireland Civil Service when developing novel and complex policies and managing their implementation. These disciplines can be widely applied and should not be confined only to major or capital projects. They can be tailored to the specific circumstances of an initiative and are...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
56match
RHI-19 - Business Case Approval Redesign
The processes within a Department for approving new expenditure and business cases including, where it forms part of that process, the role of Casework Committees, should be thoroughly re-designed to be more rigorous, testing and independent. Such processes should be less bureaucratic and pay greater attention to examining the unique features of the project proposed.
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
56match
ETI-1 - Public Inquiry Efficiency
Scottish Ministers should undertake a review of public inquiries to determine the most cost-effective method of avoiding delay in the establishment of an inquiry, including consideration of establishing a dedicated unit within the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and publishing regularly updated guidance for people involved in the establishment and progress of public inquiries.
Matched on
terms: public
Inquiry recommendation
55match
ETI-10 - Joint Working Group with COSLA
In the interests of protecting the public purse and maximising the benefits from public expenditure on major projects, the Scottish Ministers should contemplate establishing a joint working group consisting of officials in Transport Scotland and representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (“COSLA”) to consider how best to take advantage of: • tolerating the risk of cost...
Matched on
terms: project, public
Inquiry recommendation
55match
ETI-9 - Risk Management Standards
The identification and management of risk should be an integral part of the governance of all major public-sector contracts in future. In identifying and managing risk the following principles should be adopted: • Probabilistic forecasts rather than single-point forecasts should be used to take account of the risk appetite of funders and project sponsors. • Funders, sponsors and...
Matched on
terms: project, public
Inquiry recommendation
51match
SHI-7 - Independent validation of hospital construction
It is clearly desirable that a health board has the assurance prior to the handover of a new or refurbished healthcare facility that the facility's specialised ventilation systems have been independently validated by an Authorising Engineer as fit for purpose and capable of achieving the operating performance originally specified. I accordingly recommend that, whatever the method adopted for...
Matched on
terms: assurance, project
Inquiry recommendation
51match
SHI-5 - Streamlining NHS construction quality procedures
A range of procedures now exists to help ensure health board projects meet appropriate standards. One is the NHS Scotland Design Assessment Process ("NDAP"). There is also a Sustainable Design and Construction Procedure ("SDAC"). In addition, there is the NHS Scotland Assure Key Stage Assurance Review (KSAR) procedure. These can be time-consuming and demanding to complete. There is...
Matched on
terms: assurance, project
Inquiry recommendation
51match
ETI-24 - Duty of Disclosure Legislation
The Scottish Ministers should also give consideration to the need for legislation to impose a similar duty of disclosure to that owed by policyholders to their insurers upon a company, its directors, employees or consultants and upon a local authority and its officials towards representatives of OGC or of Audit Scotland undertaking any review of a publicly funded...
Matched on
terms: project, public
Inquiry recommendation
51match
ETI-2 - Inquiry Independence
In any event Scottish Ministers should not appoint as the sponsor of any public inquiry any department, agency or other government organisation where it, or any of its employees, has had any involvement in the project or other event giving rise to the establishment of the public inquiry.
Matched on
terms: project, public
Inquiry recommendation
51match
ETI-12 - Record Keeping Requirements
For reasons of transparency and accountability for public expenditure, the Scottish Ministers should keep minutes of: • the nature and content of any discussions and the reasons for any decisions taken at all meetings, discussions or telephone conversations, and in email or other correspondence between a Minister and civil servants relating to the nature and extent of any...
Matched on
terms: project, public
Inquiry recommendation
48match
RHI-21 - Sceptical Business Case Scrutiny
The Department of Finance's distinctive role in scrutinising business cases should be searching and sceptical, guarding against over-reliance on the assurances offered by the applicant Department.
Matched on
terms: assurance
Inquiry recommendation
48match
RHI-16 - Third Party Governance
Where other government bodies, such as Ofgem, or contractors or other third parties are involved in the implementation of a project, the 'home' Department must retain overall control and overall project management. The governance arrangement between the Northern Ireland Department and the third party must be owned and led at a senior level in the Department.
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
48match
RHI-14 - Risk Tracking and Reporting
The risks involved in implementation of an initiative must be tracked, re-considered regularly and used to manage, improve and adjust the project in real time. How the risks are being acted upon should be reported to the Project Board and to the relevant Minister.
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
48match
ETI-15 - Qualified Project Management
In recognition of the various difficulties likely to be experienced in the design and construction of a light rail project through a city centre, the promoter and owner of the project should appoint as its procurement and project manager a company with suitably qualified and experienced permanent employees that has delivered a similar project successfully on time and...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
48match
RHI-12 - Invest NI and SIB Collaboration
The leaders of the Northern Ireland Civil Service should work with Invest Northern Ireland and the Strategic Investment Board to consider how both organisations can better contribute their expertise to the work of mainstream Departments, particularly in relation to good practice on implementation of programmes and project management. This could for example include providing advice at the early...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
47match
RHI-10 - External Consultants Guidance
The Northern Ireland Civil Service should consider what changes are needed to its guidance and practices on the use of external consultants arising from the experience of RHI. Specific recommendations include: (a) that better assessments are needed at the outset of a given policy or project pre-procurement, as to what type of specialist support is to be sought...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
44match
ETI-19 - Collaborative Delivery
At all stages of the project there should be a collaborative approach to delivering it. This should include the co-location of representatives from each organisation relevant to the particular stage reached and having an interest in its completion to enable any issues to be addressed and resolved at the earliest opportunity, thereby minimising the risk of the escalation...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
44match
F286 - Impact assessments before structural change
Impact and risk assessments should be made public, and debated publicly, before a proposal for any major structural change to the healthcare system is accepted. Such assessments should cover at least the following issues: What is the precise issue or concern in respect of which change is necessary? Can the policy objective identified be achieved by modifications within...
Matched on
terms: public
Inquiry recommendation
44match
RHI-23 - Ministerial Notification of Approval Conditions
Ministers should always be advised of any conditions attached to the approval of a policy or project by the Department of Finance. The Department of Finance should also require, and be kept informed of, regular reviews to ensure compliance with such conditions by the spending Department.
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
44match
RHI-15 - Programme Boards for Sector Coordination
Co-ordination of groups of projects aiming to achieve change in a particular sector – e.g. renewable energy projects – would be stronger through use of high level Programme Boards. Such boards should meet regularly and receive reports of relevant experience as to how the projects are working 'on the ground'. Had such a board existed, taken such reports...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
43match
SHI-6 - Information on common construction errors
It is important that common project errors are not repeated. One helpful step is to ensure health boards undertaking projects have information about such common errors, and that this information is clearly communicated to them. This would ensure that health boards are aware of such errors and thereby better equipped to avoid them. The information should be updated...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
43match
ETI-20 - Prohibition on Misleading Reports from ALEOs
The directors, employees and consultants of the company responsible for the procurement and delivery of the project as project managers, including an arm’s-length external organisation (“ALEO”) wholly owned by the local authority that is the promoter and owner of the project, should not submit to the local authority information that is deceptive or reports that are misleading either...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
43match
ETI-8 - Update Optimism Bias Guidance
The existing Guidance on optimism bias was based on empirical data available almost two decades ago and should be revised to take into account the additional data that is now available. In particular, the reference classes should be updated to include a specific reference to light rail projects and the recommended uplifts for the different reference classes should...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
43match
RHI-1 - Policy Skills Assessment
A new policy at its earliest stage should be subject to a rigorous process to determine whether the Northern Ireland devolved administration has (or is prepared to assign) the necessary skills and resources to deliver the policy safely and competently. The scope for economies of scale through working in partnership with another administration (for example a Westminster Department,...
Matched on
terms: public
Inquiry recommendation
39match
SHI-10 - Uniform policy for obtaining technical advice
This issue was highlighted in the Grant Thornton report where similar recommendations are made to what is set out above. NHSL has taken steps to address the issue. However, it is not clear from the available evidence that any such changes have taken place more widely within the NHS. I accordingly recommend that a uniform policy or procedure...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
39match
ETI-16 - Design Engagement Process
Immediately following the appointment of the designer, and throughout the design of the project, the designer should engage with the promoter and owner of the project, the procurement and project manager, the local planning authority, the utility companies and interested third parties owning land that may be affected by the project to clarify their design criteria. In such...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
39match
ETI-13 - Utility Diversion Planning
The procurement strategy for any future light rail project should make adequate provision for the uncertainties concerning the location of utilities and redundant equipment belonging to present and past utility companies, particularly in urban centres. In particular, although it is not possible to be prescriptive about the appropriate timescale: • the procurement strategy should include a requirement that...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
39match
ETI-7 - External Peer Review
The assessment of risk at each stage mentioned in Recommendation 6 should be the subject of a peer review by external consultants with experience of similar large-scale infrastructure projects in the transportation sector who should submit a report of each review to the promoter and owner of the project as well as to the procurement and project manager...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
39match
ETI-5 - Business Case Timing
Where the Business Case for any future light rail project is based upon an assumption that, prior to the award of the contract for the construction of the infrastructure, certain matters will have been completed (e.g. design, the obtaining of all necessary approvals and consents or the diversion of utilities), the contract negotiations should be delayed until completion...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
39match
ETI-4 - Inquiry Cost Transparency
In reporting the cost of a public inquiry Scottish Ministers should report its net cost to the public purse, after discounting expenditure already incurred on accommodation, staff and other resources, as well as the total cost appearing in the accounts of the sponsor department.
Matched on
terms: public
Inquiry recommendation
39match
RHI-17 - Professional Development
The Northern Ireland Civil Service should take steps to draw on best practice from other jurisdictions to provide more support for professions within the civil service. The Inquiry specifically recommends: (a) the establishment of a project management profession with a named senior leader and a comprehensive programme of professional development; and (b) the development of improved professional opportunities...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
36match
RHI-22 - Proactive DoF Monitoring
Particularly where a policy initiative is demand-led, novel, complex and/or likely to be lengthy, consideration should be given to increasing Department of Finance involvement from an early stage and on an ongoing basis, including a more proactive role in monitoring the financial progress of the relevant initiative, rather than merely reactively dealing with periodic requests for additional expenditure...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
35match
ETI-17 - Governance Structure
The governance structure for the delivery of a major project such as a light rail scheme should follow the published guidance and should ensure that there is clarity regarding the respective roles of the various bodies and individuals involved in its delivery. In particular, the chairman of the company responsible for the procurement and management of the project...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
34match
IR2-14 - Arms Length Body Administration
I recommend that an Arms Length Body (ALB) should be set up to administer the compensation scheme, with guaranteed independence of judgement, chaired by a judge of High Court or Court of Session status as sole decision maker, transparent in its procedures so far as the law permits and accountable directly to Parliament for the expenditure of public...
Matched on
terms: public
Inquiry recommendation
32match
RHI-2 - Novel Policy Scrutiny
Novel, potentially volatile and untested initiatives should in future be scrutinised thoroughly, well ahead of ministerial and business case approval. The Inquiry commends processes such as a 'starting point Gateway assessment' and, at a suitable point, a 'feasibility signoff' completed by the Department's Accounting Officer. With regard to particular policies driven by unpredictable demand, consideration should always be...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
31match
ETI-22 - Civil Sanctions for Misleading Reports
Where a company, including an ALEO, knowingly submits a report or other information to local authority officials that is misleading by reason of the inclusion of false statements or the omission of relevant facts or where such officials knowingly submit misleading information to councillors, whether or not councillors act upon that information, the Scottish Ministers should consider whether...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
31match
ETI-6 - Optimism Bias in Business Cases
All versions of the Business Case, including any Business Case required as a result of altered assumptions, should include an assessment of risk that takes account of optimism bias in accordance with the current published government guidance.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
27match
COVID-M5.9 - Commercial Framework for Emergency Procurement
The UK government and devolved administrations should collaborate to establish a UK-wide commercial framework agreement of pre-approved external specialists in the emergency procurement and distribution of healthcare equipment. The framework should be refreshed every three years.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
27match
ETI-23 - Criminal Sanctions for Misleading Information
In addition to any civil liability arising from any sanction introduced in accordance with Recommendation 22, the Scottish Ministers should consider whether there is a need for a statutory criminal offence involving strict liability once it is established that the information and/or report was misleading by reason of the inclusion of false statements or the omission of relevant...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
27match
ETI-21 - Duty of Officials to Councillors
Local authority officials should be mindful at all times of the distinction in roles between them and councillors, who are solely responsible for strategic decisions, and of their duty to provide accurate reports to councillors to enable them to take informed decisions based upon the reality of the situation. Such reports should not be misleading either by the...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
27match
ETI-14 - Utility Diversion Risk Management
Although some participants in the Inquiry criticised the use of MUDFA to divert utilities in advance of the infrastructure works and advocated the “bow wave” approach to the diversion of utilities that followed the mediation settlement at Mar Hall, I do not think it appropriate to be prescriptive about how the risks associated with the diversion of utilities...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
18match
HIA-6 - HIA Redress Board
We consider the appropriate method of administering the compensation scheme is to create a specific Historic Institutional Abuse Redress Board for that purpose, and we so recommend. The HIA Redress Board should be responsible for receiving and processing applications for, and making payments of, compensation.
Matched on
classifier match