{"id":97041,"date":"2021-07-29T13:32:13","date_gmt":"2021-07-29T12:32:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=97041"},"modified":"2021-07-29T13:32:13","modified_gmt":"2021-07-29T12:32:13","slug":"scottish-retention-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/planning-construction-news\/scottish-retention-practice\/97041\/","title":{"rendered":"Working group unveils Scottish retention reform plans"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Scottish Government<\/a>\u2019s short life working group has set out plans to bring an end to the practice of withheld retention payments and deliver \u201can essential financial lifeline\u201d for contractors<\/h2>\n

Among its many practical proposals submitted to the Scottish Government, the new report<\/a> recommends a retention deposit scheme, the introduction of best practice policy and automatic release of retentions as early as possible.<\/p>\n

It also says that the government should work with industry to ensure retention best practice is reflected in standard construction contracts<\/a>, including dispute resolution and conflict avoidance procedures.<\/p>\n

\u2018A potential game-changer\u2019<\/h3>\n

Scotland\u2019s construction trade association, SELECT<\/a>, has hailed the new report on cash retentions as \u201ca potential game-changer\u201d \u2013 and says its recommendations could lead to greater reinvestment in the industry.<\/p>\n

SELECT president Donald W Orr said: \u201cThe issue of retentions is one that has blighted the industry for many years, and this report makes it clear that there is a widely-held belief that change is long overdue.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe welcome its recommendations and, if implemented, believe they could provide an essential financial lifeline that could save many businesses thousands of pounds every year.<\/p>\n

\u201cRetention monies could be reinvested by businesses in employing more apprentices, upskilling operatives or investing in new technology \u2013 bringing benefits to the wider industry and helping the whole construction sector build a stronger and more sustainable future.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe therefore hope that the powers-that-be heed the advice in this report and have the courage to adopt what could be a potential game-changer for contractors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Engineering services sector body Actuate UK has welcomed the recommendations, Steve Bratt, CEO of ECA<\/a> and lead on Actuate UK\u2019s policy group on business practices, commented: \u201cWe welcome the recommendations from the working group in Scotland. Retentions abuse<\/a> is still widespread across the UK and one of Actuate UK\u2019s aims is to achieve full abolition of the practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, we recognise that certain steps should be taken towards this and we are therefore really pleased that the working group\u2019s recommendations provide a clear framework for action and we look forward to industry and Scottish Government moving quickly to implement them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Scottish Government\u2019s short life working group has set out plans to bring an end to the practice of withheld retention payments and deliver \u201can essential financial lifeline\u201d for contractors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[304],"tags":[24813,88176,283],"stakeholder_rel_tag":[],"contributor_rel_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-97041","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-planning-construction-news","7":"tag-building-contracts","8":"tag-construction-disputes","9":"tag-finance"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWorking group unveils Scottish retention reform plans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" 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