Public project assurance methodology
Improvements and rigor needed in public project assurance methodologies, including updated tools and reviewer training.
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Local audit finding
69match
Public Interest Report: London Borough of Croydon
Second Croydon Report in the Public Interest, on the Fairfield Halls refurbishment delivered through the council's company Brick by Brick. The auditor concluded the council failed to ensure proper financial control and effective governance; the project was delivered late and cost substantially more than the original £30m budget.
Matched on
terms: project, public
Inquiry recommendation
66match
63 - System Authorities to oversee new projects
One or more System Authorities should be created to oversee the specific development of any new project on the railways and to oversee continuation of work on existing projects, including AWS and ATP (paras 15.13, 16.13, 16.18).
Matched on
terms: project
Committee recommendation
65match
#105 - 1st Report - High Streets: Life beyond retail?
The success of these policies is dependent on the capacity of local planning departments and the willingness of developers in the private sector to submit planning applications for the relevant sites. We heard that the sequential test had acted as “a deterrent where it was a weak case” but that there had been less stringent application of these...
Matched on
terms: project, public
NAO recommendation
65match
Lessons learned: Governance and decision-making on mega-projects
For mega-projects, HM Treasury and NISTA should strengthen the project gateway and business case approval processes to ensure that government has assurance about the affordability, value for money and feasibility of the project before it is given final approval to proceed. This might include only providing funding to take the project to the next stage of development and...
Matched on
terms: assurance, project
Local audit finding
62match
Public Interest Report: Nottingham City Council
Report in the Public Interest on Robin Hood Energy, the council-owned energy company, finding inadequate governance and a failure to understand the risks of entering the energy market, with cumulative company losses of about £34.4m. Published in the week to 11 August 2020.
Matched on
terms: public
Inquiry recommendation
61match
64 - Rigorous programming and funding of future research and development
Future R&D must be the subject of rigorous programming, cost-projections and funding arrangements, including reliable contingencies. R&D funding must be on a cross-industry basis, irrespective of whether individual TOCs decide to fit new technology (para 16.22).
Matched on
terms: project
NAO recommendation
60match
The challenges in implementing digital change
Individual departments and public bodies should: d) carry out proper evaluation and assurance in the early stages of a digital programme to understand its complexity and scope, assess how realistic the chance of success is and reflect this in the programme approach;
Matched on
terms: assurance, public
NAO recommendation
60match
Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme
• develops a clear assurance plan appropriate to the risks and maturity of the Programme. This should make the most of opportunities for the Programme to be externally assured, such as through the Infrastructure and Projects Authority.
Matched on
terms: assurance, project
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
Local audit finding
57match
Public Interest Report: Woking Borough Council
Report in the Public Interest on past decisions that contributed to the council's financial position, finding historic shortcomings in financial, governance and legal arrangements and making five statutory recommendations.
Matched on
terms: public
Committee recommendation
57match
#79 - 1st Report - New Towns: Commit and Build
Despite the potential for novel materials, Katherine Adams, Technical Director at the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products, warned that the use of certain products can make it difficult to insure buildings. 130 She explained that any perceived risk, including the utilisation of novel building materials, adds cost to a project. 131 Mr Hopkins thought that the construction sector...
Matched on
terms: project
Committee recommendation
57match
#40 - 1st Report - Long-duration energy storage: get on with it
The Government, supported by the Future System Operator and as part of its planning, should incentivise the right mix of technologies by specifying in detail which energy system services it wants to procure, including storage capacity and duration, in line with the Assessment of Likely Need. This should include suggested levels of payment and published modelling should project...
Matched on
terms: project
Committee recommendation
57match
#101 - 1st Report - High Streets: Life beyond retail?
Local planning policy impacts where and how developers build new retail developments. Patrick Melia, CEO of Sunderland City Council, emphasised to us that a key requirement for success in town centre renewal was a vision that is backed up by Supplementary Planning Guidance. 191 Through this, LPAs can influence the mix of businesses on the high street and...
Matched on
terms: public
Committee recommendation
57match
#54 - 1st Report - High Streets: Life beyond retail?
Ensuring that local businesses support and are involved in high street regeneration projects is vital. Local authorities should empower and enable local business leaders to drive forward high street regeneration projects. Business Improvement Districts
Matched on
terms: project
Committee recommendation
57match
#47 - 1st Report - Methane: keep up the momentum
The Government should provide an update on this work, including target dates for when the projects are expected to achieve their aims to develop direct measurement of landfill emissions at site level.
Matched on
terms: project
Committee recommendation
57match
#34 - 2nd Report – UK International Climate Finance: Sustaining Commitments and Impact Amid a Shrinking Aid Budget
We urge the government to publish more granular data on ICF results and spending through its existing ODA reporting mechanisms, including the annual Statistics for International Development publication and Development Tracker. (Recommendation, Paragraph 112) 59
Matched on
terms: public
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
NAO recommendation
56match
Investigation into the UNBOXED festival
We consider it important for public transparency and visibility that this evaluation should be published and should: ? include information to allow DCMS and Festival 2022 Ltd to fully understand the volume and nature of participation for each project alongside the final cost of each. This analysis could then be used in conjunction with the identification of other...
Matched on
terms: project, 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
Committee recommendation
53match
#82 - 1st Report - New Towns: Commit and Build
Richard Cook, Chief Development Officer at Clarion Housing Group, commented that “the sector has really struggled” with innovation in construction methods. 135 As with construction materials, innovative methods create additional perceived risk to the project, incurring higher costs over time. 136 We heard this is particularly true with modern methods of construction (MMC), where the warranty market is...
Matched on
terms: project
Committee recommendation
53match
#187 - 2nd Report - The impact of environmental regulations on development
The parallel approval approach for permits and planning applications used for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects should be expanded to all brownfield and housing developments significant enough to justify an Environmental Impact Assessment. Post-permission approvals
Matched on
terms: project
Committee recommendation
53match
#60 - 2nd Report - The impact of environmental regulations on development
The parallel approval approach for permits and planning applications used for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects should be expanded to all brownfield and housing developments significant enough to justify an Environmental Impact Assessment.
Matched on
terms: project
Committee recommendation
53match
#54 - 2nd Report - The impact of environmental regulations on development
The Planning Inspectorate’s work to introduce data standards for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects should be expanded to all projects of the scale which requires an Environmental Impact Assessment and should be suitably adapted for smaller housing developments.
Matched on
terms: project
Committee recommendation
53match
#5 - 2nd Report - Research and development tax relief, HMRC data requirements, promoters of tax avoidance and...
It is disappointing that the Government did not carry out a public consultation on the R&D intensive scheme, but instead appears to have chosen to consult on a confidential basis with selected stakeholders. We acknowledge that a formal consultation would have taken more time, but this might have avoided the need to make significant changes to the scheme...
Matched on
terms: public
Committee recommendation
53match
#71 - 1st Report - High Streets: Life beyond retail?
Former Government programmes, such as the New Deal for Communities, incorporated this approach by establishing a number of local partnerships to oversee local regeneration projects. 145 The Long-Term Plan for Towns, established by the previous Government, also sought to actively involve local communities and business in project oversight through the establishment of Town Boards. 146 Town Boards are...
Matched on
terms: project
Committee recommendation
53match
#10 - 1st Report - High Streets: Life beyond retail?
Ensuring that local businesses support and are involved in high street regeneration projects is vital. Local authorities should empower and enable local business leaders to drive forward high street regeneration projects .
Matched on
terms: project
Committee recommendation
53match
#39 - 1st Report - Methane: keep up the momentum
The Government should provide its assessment of whether the number of anaerobic digestion facilities is on track to keep pace with the mandatory food waste collection target date, and put this information into the public domain.
Matched on
terms: public
Committee recommendation
53match
#33 - 2nd Report – UK International Climate Finance: Sustaining Commitments and Impact Amid a Shrinking Aid Budget
The government should commit, as part of the FCDO’s new strategic MEL programme, to publish an annual report setting out its full ICF portfolio. The report should include disaggregated project-level data, alongside any relevant information on financial cost, linked to ICF key performance indicators. At the minimum, disaggregation should cover delivery channel, funding instrument, geography and demographic characteristics...
Matched on
terms: project
HSSIB recommendation
52match
Management of chronic asthma in children aged 16 years and under
Stakeholder groups contributed to the verification and design of the improvement recommendations. This was achieved by NHS England and NHS Improvement, NHSX, Health Education England, British Paediatric Respiratory Society, British Thoracic Society and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, NHS Digital, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Royal College of Nursing, and Public Health England.
Matched on
terms: public
NAO recommendation
52match
Transforming health assessments for disability benefits
DWP should: a review the Programme plan and produce an updated business case, incorporating the white paper reforms, including: demonstrating it has effective assurance and control over development of the Programme?s digital architecture, including how the Programme will fit with DWP?s other departmental digital initiatives, using oversight independent of the Programme;
Matched on
terms: assurance
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
LGO / SPSO decision
51match
24-001-693 - Dover District Council
Summary: X complained the Council failed to use its powers to ensure a project aimed at providing a public benefit to the area. The Council accepted there was fault, as it cannot now explain why it did not require improvements to the land as it had once intended. It has also agreed it needs to review its practice...
Matched on
terms: project, public
Committee recommendation
49match
#59 - 1st Report - High Streets: Life beyond retail?
Business Improvement Districts are a useful tool for coordinating business involvement in their local areas. The Government should support Business Improvement Districts , but they should not be mandated. Landlords, property owners and developers
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
49match
#11 - 1st Report - High Streets: Life beyond retail?
Business Improvement Districts are a useful tool for coordinating business involvement in their local areas. The Government should support Business Improvement Districts, but they should not be mandated.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
48match
RHI-29 - Departmental Finance Functions
The finance function within a Department should exert the necessary authority and capability to fulfil the requirements of 'Managing Public Money Northern Ireland', namely to retain a firm grasp of the organisation's financial position and performance. The Inquiry recommends that the Department of Finance take action to review and, if necessary, strengthen the leadership of and support for...
Matched on
terms: 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
Local audit finding
48match
Statutory Recommendation: Woking Borough Council
Five statutory recommendations under section 24 and Schedule 7, made within the auditor's Report in the Public Interest, covering past governance arrangements, investment decisions and financial strategy.
Matched on
terms: public
Local audit finding
48match
Section 114 Notice: Slough Borough Council
Notice issued by the section 151 officer citing incorrect Minimum Revenue Provision calculations since 2016/17, borrowing that had risen from about £180m to £760m, effectively no unallocated general reserves and a projected negative General Fund balance of £159m by March 2025.
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