THE JACK RUSSELL COLUMN

Updated 2 January 2007 – see “Contents.

Introduction

Scroll down for practical advice on contractual and commercial problems, in the form of articles from the “Jack Russell” column which appeared in the “Electrical Times” between July 1994 and February 2001.

Since March 2001, the format has changed to a bi-monthly column of greater depth. The “Jack Russell” terrier logo has now lapsed, but the “STREETWISE” ethos continues –

PRACTICAL GUIDANCE TO SUB-CONTRACTORS THROUGH THE CONTRACTS JUNGLE !

This section will be regularly updated. We certainly have plenty of “columns” to go at, after eleven years! So check back regularly.

Contents

The contents of this current section of the web site are as follows. Click on the underlined hyperlink to go direct to the item of interest.

Column Title	Comments
“JACK RUSSELL” COLUMN – JULY 1994 TO JAN 2001
Premature occupation	Act fast to protect your entitlements when the Client moves in early
Alligators	Don’t lose sight of the big picture
Provisional Sums	“Defined” or “Undefined”? Make sure you know the difference!
Just a Minute	Check the minutes for accuracy and completeness
Falling in love	Beware falling in love with your Main Contractor!
A good notice?	What makes a good delay notice?
Two different worlds	A big boss tells Jack Russell what he thinks of him. Is Jack really a “dinosaur”?
Angry reactions	Prepare the ground early to avoid bad reactions from the builder or client.
Onerous conditions	Identify the risks at tender stage – a check list.
Delays to programme	Uncle Jack gives practical advice to a worried Engineer.
Written in stone	Beware the perils of enforced acceleration of your progress!
Variations problems	Practical advice from Uncle Jack. Don’t work for free!
Don’t start the clock	Make sure your commencement date is recorded in writing.
The Swimming pool	Be proactive! Face up to your problems as they arise!
Marketing madness	Don’t oversell yourself – you’ll regret it later.
Out of sync!	Keep an eye on the main contractor’s programme
Head office headaches	How to claim back your head office staff costs.
See you later, Adjudicator!	Uncle Jack advises a worried engineer on getting paid for variations.
Cash flow – everybody’s problem.	Don’t leave cash flow just to one person.
Brave new world - or con trick?	Have things really changed for the better?
Happy New Century	Uncle Jack suggests some New Century Resolutions for Subbies!
CONTRACT LAW ARTICLES Feb 2001 onwards
Tendering pitfalls	Identify those onerous clauses – a useful check list.
Check that order	Letter of intent and the order – the pitfalls explained.
Programme pitfalls	A sub-contract without a baseline programme is based on “shifting sand”!
Extension of time	Essential protection against damages and Main Contractor’s set off.
Extension of time – some questions answered.	Practical advice to help the sub-contractor in the real world.
Variations	An outline of the contractual principles on getting paid for variations.
More on Variations	Advice on Provisional Sums and Premature Occupation by the Client.
Claims for loss and expense	How to get your money back – a basic introduction to this tricky area.
Recovering prolongation costs	Advice on calculating loss and expense due to prolongation
Prolongation costs check list	A useful check list of weekly costs of site “preliminaries” when claiming loss and expense.
Loss and expense – your questions answered!	Answers to some common problems.
Acceleration – Beware unpaid acceleration!	Practical advice to help you spot impending acceleration of programme and to protect your financial entitlements.
Delay and disruption – the new Protocol	Key features of the new Protocol – ignore at your peril.
Delay and disruption – a closer look (Part 1)	A closer look at the new Protocol – Part 1.
Delay and disruption – more details (Part 2)	The detailed commentary on the new Protocol continues.
Delay and disruption – More details (Part 3)	This article deals with head office overheads.
Delay and disruption – More details (Part 4)	A close look at “disruption”.
Delay and disruption More details (Part 5)	Programme and progress monitoring
Delay and disruption More details (Part 6)	Glossary of key terms used in protocol.
Delay and disruption More details (Part 7)	Some key questions answered!
PFE change management supplement	What does this new document mean to you? Read this brief guide!
JCT standard form of sub-subcontract	Read about this new form of sub-subcontract for use with Dom/1.
Construction Act – Government review	Summary of key Latham recommendations for reform of the Construction Act.
Claims for loss and expense	Submit prompt applications or lose your entitlements!!
Why work for free?	Simple check lists to make sure you get properly paid for variations and extras.
Construction Act – DTI releases consultation paper.	Summary of Government (DTI) proposals for general consultation.
Don’t stick your NEC out!	NEC contract – key warnings to the unprepared!
Beware starting the clock	The importance of those start and finish dates!
NEC3 – so what’s new?	Summary of the main changes in the new third edition of NEC.
Protect your entitlements!	Simple steps to protect the subcontractor’s contractual entitlements.
Programme problems	The contractual significance of a baseline programme.
Getting paid in the contracts jungle!	Check out this practical guide to getting paid!
Beware those design responsibilities!	Some of the pitfalls which await the sub-contractor who becomes involved in “design”.
Extensions of Time – answers to common questions.	Some common problems dealt with in a down to earth manner.

Back to Contents

John Russell

Contracts & Training Consultant

Cheshire CW4 7DP

Tel: 07770 986444

Email: swsubbie@globalnet.co.uk

Website: jrc0nsultant.co.uk

Back to top

Back to home page

END OF “JACK RUSSELL COLUMN”