Why we need checks on sub-sub-sub-contractors

Published: 26 February 2010

• I SUPPORT Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks as part of all contracts issued by Islington Council and Homes for Islington (Builders face checks for criminal records, February 12).
Since most main building contractors do not maintain a large dedicated workforce of their own, to carry out the terms of their contractual commitment they simply sub-contract most of the work to smaller contractors, who in turn frequently then sub-contract to even smaller companies, who may then sub-sub-sub-contract.
During the course of this rather dubious process (upon which HfI or the council have no control) each of the participants in the chain will, of course, take a percentage of the contracted price as payment for just passing on the work to the next in line.
The main consequence of this “subbing” procedure is that, although the main contractor has quoted for a job which requires a pound in the pound, by the time the work takes place the sub-sub-sub-contractors may be working to 50p, or less, in the pound. Therefore, it is impossible to complete the work to the standard quoted for, and consequently vast amounts of public monies are irresponsibly squandered on unnecessary management charges.
Since tenants and leaseholders are charged for top-quality work, carried out to top rates of pay, they deserve only the best; however, as we are all aware, while the quality is usually considerably below standard, it is impossible to obtain redress as the sub-contractors habitually disappear without trace.
Most of the problems associated with this form of contracting can be removed if all sub-contractors are required to be CRB checked ­– since by so doing, their details will be officially on record, which means they can be traced, and be held responsible for the quality of the work they purport to have undertaken.
This will ensure the main contractors only employ genuine tradesmen as sub-contractors, which can only be viewed as a major step in the right direction.
Dr BS Potter
Chairman, Federation of Tenants Association/Islington Leaseholders Association