3 Ps in a Pod

Partnerships Bulletin recently revealed the amount of money one NHS trust spent on legal fees related to its PFI battle. The team delve into the question of what this means for future disputes and relationships in PFI and PPP contracts. But first, they take a quick look at the new players in Prime Minister Andy BUrnham’s Cabinet.The team consider:What the new Cabinet appointments mean for PPP - 48 secondsWhat an Andy Burnham infrastructure programme might look like - 4:03Legal fees in PFI disputes - 10:22The role of NISTA’s Conflict Avoidance Forum - 14:12

The UK continues to see struggles with operational PFI projects, and with more heading towards handback in the years to come, it is likely that more conflicts will emerge as hard negotiations get underway. With this in mind - and with NISTA developing its Conflict Avoidance Forum (CAF) to potentially catch problems before they turn into full-blown disputes - Partnerships Bulletin editor Paul Jarvis recently chaired a roundtable in association with the CIOB to take stock of how things have progressed and whether the learnings from industry touchstones such as DLA Piper’s Project Autumn and the government-commissioned White Fraiser Report have been put into practice.The team consider:Views on NISTA’s Conflict Avoidance Forum - 2:25The future of human resources within FM - 9:46How new contracts can learn the lessons of the PFI experience - 12:49To read our full write-up of the roundtable, click herehttps://www.partnershipsbulletin.com/article/1964306/roundtable-handling-expiry-tacking-behaviours-pfi-contracts

The UK’s Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has promised to take a “partnership” approach, working with the private sector to deliver the infrastructure needed. However, details on the exact role and nature of private finance remain scant.The team pick through the DIP and ask what it might mean for the industry. They consider:How an Andy Burnham leadership could impact future investment in defence and beyond - 8:35How the DIP could create new PPP opportunities in space - 11:48Using private finance to deliver a combination of both military and civilian projects - 16:00What comes next? - 17:52

Anton Steshenko, an academic at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, at the University of Maryland, explains the thinking behind his latest paper, advocating a new approach to small scale infrastructure initiatives that could unlock significant private capital by aggregating projects.Speaking to editor Paul Jarvis, he discusses:The theory behind the ‘Hybrid Institutional Capital Model’Learnings from the Connecticut Green Bank, Montgomery County Green Bank, and the UK Green Investment Bank - 6:46The sectors that could benefit from an aggregated approach - 10:29The difficulties facing successful aggregation - 18:43

James Stewart joins 3Ps in a Pod for a discussion around some of the key learnings for the PPP market in the UK. He picks out some main points from his review into HS2, before going on to consider how major projects and a future PPP programme might avoid the pitfalls of the past.He also explores:Tackling gold-plating on public projects - 4:53Tackling negative behaviours in operational contracts - 11:07The prospect for new PPP projects in the UK - 15:20What is needed to deliver a new programme of PPPs - 18:06

After years of waiting, UK infrastructure agency NISTA looks set to establish a Conflict Avoidance Forum. But what will the industry think? Is it too late, and will parties want to engage with the process at this stage?The team also cover progress on the development of a new model for the UK market.

Lord Heseltine tells the story of the birth of the European Space Agency. Why post-Apollo, when the US was spending £1.2 billion a year on space, the whole of Europe was spending just £200 million. Why the birth of ESA was driven by the self-interest of three major countries. Why the US general with a $29 billion budget for the Star Wars project wanted to invest in Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Why, the idea that Britain could compete alone with the technologies that were accumulated and available to the American capitalist system was “simply laughable”. Why “being European is not selling out British interests”. And why Margaret Thatcher told him: “If you want to get on and put your budget into this, you can, but you're not getting any of mine." Join Alice and Lord Heseltine as they pick apart the negotiating contrivances and the wheeling and dealing to circumnavigate “turkeys not voting for Christmas” that ultimately put European space on the map.Contributors:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Lord Heseltine, Member of the House of LordsKey topics covered:Creation of the European Space Agency (ESA)US "Star Wars" program and brain drainGeopolitical case for European R&D collaborationImpact of Brexit on science and technology

As the national media warn of the 'return of PFI', the team take a look at what's happening behind the scenes and how the narrative can be countered.They consider:Has the government finally kicked into action? - 2:15The potential for defence PPPs - 3:50Whether UK national and regional governments have a strategy for PPP - 7:06

IML chief executive Steve Cooper speaks to Paul Jarvis about his first 18 months in the role and reflects on the threats and opportunities in the current UK market.He discusses:IML’s experience of handback of PFI contracts - 3:20What’s next for IML? - 9:41Energy transition opportunities - 12:25The emphasis on community impact and engagement - 16:40