25th January 2006, 05:38 PM
At a base level monitoring is ensuring that the agreed scheme is upheld - therefore a necessary part of the planning process and I would think that charging would be difficult to uphold (I don't know how those who do charge are able to justify it). Does anyone know if the Council's structural engineers charge to visit sites when they do the foundation checks? That would be an obvious parallel.
But if you are only going to charge some people, on the grounds that they have previously been crap and need babysitting, how do you make that decision? Would necessitate formalised assurance models and so forth - and what County has the time or money to do that? Will not be as simple as finger pointing you will need to provide vetted proof.
And if you charge everyone equally - a flat tax - then in turn they will need to recieve something other than your friendly smile - and you will have to visit each and every phase of work of each and every site. Including negative watching briefs in the nether regions!
Also, this would all have to be set up through planning - and not tied to a contractual unit. Can't see how you would be being punative as the tenders won't necessarily have gone out at that stage....
ML
But if you are only going to charge some people, on the grounds that they have previously been crap and need babysitting, how do you make that decision? Would necessitate formalised assurance models and so forth - and what County has the time or money to do that? Will not be as simple as finger pointing you will need to provide vetted proof.
And if you charge everyone equally - a flat tax - then in turn they will need to recieve something other than your friendly smile - and you will have to visit each and every phase of work of each and every site. Including negative watching briefs in the nether regions!
Also, this would all have to be set up through planning - and not tied to a contractual unit. Can't see how you would be being punative as the tenders won't necessarily have gone out at that stage....
ML