BlackThorne Building

London Building Contractors - Considerate Contractor Building Works Scheme (City of London)

The Considerate Contractor building works Scheme (CCBWS) and Considerate Contractor Steelworks Scheme (CCSS) applys to building and steework contractors working witin an area controlled by the City of London. This schemes were launchd to deal with untidy and unsafe roadworks.

A combination of codes of good practices, regular inspections by the City of London officers, annual judging and telephone hotline enabling the public to comment on the scheme, on sites and participating contractors.

Annual awards are presented by the Lord Mayor and awards and winners are posted on the City of London Website.

The success of the schemes has encouraged good practices by contractors, carrying out building works in a safe and considerate manner, paying particular attention to public safety.

To register on the CCS schemes, email City of London

Further Information

Considerate Contractor Scheme - City of London

As a participating member of the Considerate Contractor Scheme, we undertake, in addition to legal obligations, to ensure that site personnel are educated to observe the following points of considerate conduct. We also undertake to put right quickly any statutory infringements or breaches in the code of good practice, and understand that continual justifiable complaints by the public or the Corporation will lead to our expulsion from the scheme. The City of London expects a member of the scheme to abide by the following principles.

All work will be carried out safely and in such a way that it will not inconvenience pedestrians or other road users. Special care will be taken to make sure that pedestrians with sight, hearing or mobility difficulties are not inconvenienced or endangered and that access is maintained for those in wheelchairs or pushing prams.

Footways and carriageways affected by works are to be kept in a tidy and safe condition. Hoardings, scaffolds, warning lights and other features are to be kept clean and neat.

As far as possible, works are to be carried out in such a way that noise and dust are kept to a minimum, and at times which will minimise the effect on City workers, residents and visitors.

The main contractor is to ensure that sub-contractors, suppliers and others working on or near the site maintain the standards of the code of practice.

further reading (Barnet London Borough)

Article published by London Builders, Blackthorne Building Contractors. We are very interested in your comments and feedback.

Share your experiences and advice in relation to rogue and cowboy builders, with the London Builders Blog audience.

The domestic building trades are trashed by cowboy builders, sceptical clients and negative press. Help to clear the mist and offer your fresh up to date views on the current situation.

Help others and let us know how you controlled and managed your crisis.

Further reading …

Cowboy Builders Working Group

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The Cowboy Builders Working Group Est 1999

A Cowboy Builders Working Group formed, with Construction Minister Nick Raynsford asking it to come up with a scheme to tackle problems with rogue builders. The group is chaired by Anthony Merricks with support from the construction industry, local government, consumer and insurance interests.

The group was asked to develop a set of criteria for a quality mark scheme covering both development of an approved list of certified constructors and improving consumer education.

To achieve this it was split into four subgroups, each with a specific area to look at:

1. Accreditation of trade associations.
2. Accreditation of individual constructors.
3. Approved lists and consumer education.
4. Warranties, dispute resolution and disciplinary procedures.

The subsequent consultation paper on the interim report of the cowboy builders working group points out that a voluntary scheme for policing the building industry would be more effective if the level of VAT on RMI work was cut, and urged the Government to consider it.

Interim report states:

“This would help condition the market by providing a more level playing field and act as an incentive to builders to join the quality mark. The threshold level of VAT should be reduced to £20,000 to reduce the cost advantages currently enjoyed by many of the cowboys.”

The Quality Mark Scheme

The working group also develop the quality mark scheme, which is mindful of accreditation cost and the costs or commercial benefits associated with owning the mark. However, three options have been put forward:

1. Setting up a joint Government/industry management body supervised by the CIB to set standards and operate the quality mark.
2. Establishing an independent body, appointed by Government, with representation from consumer and industry concerns, giving it ownership and management responsibility for the mark.
3. In either case setting up an interim body to ensure a smooth transition from working group to management body.

UKAS - the United Kingdom Accreditation Service - is recommended to accredit certification bodies. These bodies, including trade association - will be accredited to relevant European standards to assess individual firms.

Added the report: “It is expected that bodies linked to trade associations will be the main certification bodies.”

Costs associated with developing a quality mark scheme have been discussed, but nothing concrete set. Firms may even find the scheme subsidised when it is first launched. However, by the end of next month it is anticipated that the scheme will be finalised, with the first phase developed on a regional basis later this year.

The Importance Of Public Education

Educating the public is seen as a vital part of combating cowboy builders. Said the report:

“Research indicates that, in a culture of low expectations on the part of both consumers and builders, many consumers are poorly informed about the real costs of a proper long-term maintenance strategy for their property. It is also evident that many frequently use methods that favour the cowboys. The research also confirms the view that many consumers are reluctant to undertake repair and maintenance work because of a legitimate fear that they will be ripped off.

“A high profile publicity campaign is suggested to encourage customers to use quality marked builders and chose the right builder for the job. The message must be that the quality mark will make consumers’ lives much easier but that they use non-quality marked constructors at their peril.”

Training is also discussed, although it does not fall within the groups remit, with recommendations including expanding the number of operatives in the CSCS and similar schemes; refining the NVQ/SVQ system to bolster site experience and developing a business competence training module.

The group also discussed the role of Fair Trading legislation and concluded that the most effective way of dealing with unscrupulous builders would be through a strengthening of the Fair Trading Act 1973 and Trade Descriptions Act 1968 Competent operatives are seen as giving the campaign a sound footing, and they must be able to demonstrate technical skills AND customer management skills.

References www.fmb.org.uk : 1 June 1999

Further reading …

Report Cowboy Builders

Article published by London Builders, Blackthorne Building Contractors. We are very interested in your comments and feedback.

Article published October 2008

1000 homes may be built in Canvey, Essex. This housing plan also proposes building on floodplains.

In Hemel Hempstead, 12,000 homes are planned for Greenbelt land around the town of Dacoram.

In total, 83,200 new homes are proposed in the South East.

Comments from Councillor Martin Tett:

“I have major concerns not only about the number of additional houses proposed for the Region, but also that the Government are imposing ‘stealth targets’ upon us. All figures mentioned in the Government’s Proposed Changes are now expressed as the minimum number of houses that we must build. This, combined with Eco-Towns on our borders, and the inability to count the houses built on so-called ‘windfall’ sites means that the actual number of new houses that will be shoe-horned into the South East over the next twenty years is actually much larger than it first appears.

Further reading …

www.echo-news.co.uk
www.egovmonitor.com

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www.BlackthorneBuilding.co.uk

Contact us for a free quote (London Builders):

www.BlackthorneBuilding.co.uk/contacts.html

One of London’s premier London Building Contractors dedicated to quality services and workmanship.

Services; bathroom installations, kitchen fitting, refurbishments, painting and decorating, commercial refurbishments

Why choose London Building Contractors, Blackthorne Building Contractors?

RECOMMENDED LONDON BUILDERS

Take a look at our recommendations and testimonials to see how we have helped people over the years. http://www.blackthornebuilding.co.uk/testimonials.html

QUALITY ASSURANCE

Our workforce abide by strict company policies and all work is overseen by a site manager or quality control officer. Qualified and skilled people are contracted by Blackthorne Building Contractors, only the highest quality workmanship is tolerated.

We are a recommened building company included in the acclaimed Problem Solved and Trusted Trader sites.

www.problemsolved.co.uk/blackthorne_building

COMPANY POLICIES

* Leave all premises in a clean and orderly state
* Employees will conduct themselves with respect and integrity at all times
* Keep customers well informed of timescales and progress of works
* Provide customers with value for money and keep costs and prices to a minimum
* Always turn up on time and complete intended works within the given timeframe
DO WE COVER YOUR AREA?

EAST LONDON AREA COVERAGE: Barking, Barkingside, Beckton, Bethnal Green, Bow, Broxbourne, Chadwell Heath, Cheshunt, Chingford, Collier Row, Dagenham, East Ham, Epping, Emerson Park, Gants Hill, Hackney, Harold Hill, Hainault, Hornchurch, Ilford, Isle of Dogs, Leyton, Leytonstone, London Riverside, Loughton, Poplar, Rainham, Romford, Rush Green, South Woodford, Stratford, Upminster, Walthamstow, Wanstead, West Ham, Wapping, Woodford, Whitechapel

Whilst waiting for the first official article, please feel free to browse through the services and policies of East London Builders, Blackthorne Building Contractors Ltd

Benefit from the considerable cost savings of cheap web hosting in the United States.

SIGN UP WITH HOSTGATOR

Hostgator are the web hosting choice for London Builders, Blackthorne Building Contractors. This selection was made on the basis of trials.

Originally, there were concerns about hosting a UK site in the United States due to potential latency. However, after successful trials, we have found their services is reliable, fast with excellent technical support.

We found that the “Baby” hosting packag suited the requirements for www.blackthornebuilding.co.uk rather than the “Hatchling” and “Business”. The “Baby” package includes unlimited domains and 600GB disk space.

Technical Support

24/7 round the clock support provide quick responses helping to identify and resolving issues as quickly as possible. Their friendly and personal technical support service immediately helped to identify an issue with image display on our web site. This was caused by a web administration error with the file naming convention.

Domain Name Registration | Telivo

To register domain names, we have found the Telivo control panel one of the most userfriendly applications for DNS changes. Their registration prices are competitive from only £5.00.

http://www.telivo.com/

Article published by London Builders, Blackthorne Building Contractors. We are very interested in your comments and feedback

Please feel free to browse through Blackthorne Building Contractors Ltd services and policies:

www.BlackthorneBuilding.co.uk | Contact Us

Benefit from the considerable cost savings of cheap web hosting in the United States.

SIGN UP WITH HOSTGATOR

Hostgator are the web hosting choice for London Builders, Blackthorne Building Contractors. This selection was made on the basis of trials.

Originally, there were concerns about hosting a UK site in the United States due to potential latency. However, after successful trials, we have found their services is reliable, fast with excellent technical support.

We found that the “Baby” hosting packag suited the requirements for www.blackthornebuilding.co.uk rather than the “Hatchling” and “Business”. The “Baby” package includes unlimited domains and 600GB disk space.

Technical Support

24/7 round the clock support provide quick responses helping to identify and resolving issues as quickly as possible. Their friendly and personal technical support service immediately helped to identify an issue with image display on our web site. This was caused by a web administration error with the file naming convention.

Domain Name Registration | Telivo

To register domain names, we have found the Telivo control panel one of the most userfriendly applications for DNS changes. Their registration prices are competitive from only £5.00.

http://www.telivo.com/

Article published by London Builders, Blackthorne Building Contractors. We are very interested in your comments and feedback

Please feel free to browse through Blackthorne Building Contractors Ltd services and policies:

www.BlackthorneBuilding.co.uk | Contact Us

Article published by London Builders, Blackthorne Building Contractors. We are very interested in your comments and feedback

For 2012 London Olympics Construction contracts register your company information on the following site:

www.supplylondon.co.uk/register.aspx

Supply London offer business consulting services to help small businesses access Olympic 2012 contracts and funding.

Key focus areas include; health and safety, contract applications, financial health.

The grant for the current Supply London programme comes to an end in September 2008. However a new programme will commence from October 2008, which we are currently planning for. This means that the programme will only commence new registrations from the 1^st of October 2008.

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