Recommendation 3

We are not yet convinced there is a coherent approach to making decisions on major projects as part of wider plans for local areas and national missions. The ultimate responsibility for a large and complex project currently sits within one department despite the fact these projects can affect multiple sectors of society and the economy. We were told that the Government intends to use the boards overseeing delivery of the government’s five missions to identify the links between projects where they collectively contribute to a mission. Government also intends to use the infrastructure strategy and pipeline to drive more “place-based” governance and co-ordination of projects which are dependent on each other to deliver outcomes in a specific area. These are in addition to the new arrangements being put in place for mega projects. However, we were unconvinced by witnesses’ explanation of how these separate yet overlapping structures would work in practice, raising the prospect of duplication of work and confusion in delivery without the right skills involved in decision-making recommendation Alongside its Treasury Minute response, the Treasury should write to the Committee with explanations–with worked examples–for how it will ensure major and mega project governance will align with Mission and place-based governance in the delivery of the infrastructure strategy.