19/03/2019 (X09C587) When on the A5 i.e. working, 2 AIW’s in their van were contacted about the incident in Area 9. Why at this date and time is unknown. The times are displayed on their IMF (incident management form) as:
- 16:30 responded
- 18:15 attended i.e. almost 2 hours later, suggesting they were doing other things after 5pm
- 19:05 they departed i.e. they were at the location for 50 minutes
No Daily Time Costing Sheets (timesheets) have been provided for the AIW’s – these are generally only supplied with claims over £10k presented to Highways England.
In this instance, not only is Kier issuing invoices using their post-10/2015 process, when they have apparently told their Public Authority masters (in whose name proceedings are issued) they will not do so, the attendance account does not stack up:
An image supplied by Kier evidencing the damage was taken 19/03/2019 @ 2:32 pm … this is 2 hours before they are said to have been made aware of the incident!
- 14:32 – the AIW’s did not attend until 2 hours later according to the records!
The Daily Allocation Sheet (DAS) reinforces the later, 4:30pm attendance but indicates the vehicle was returned (to depot) at 8pm, not 8:30pm (above):
The DAS states the vehicle left the depot at 4:30pm (16:30 hrs) yet according to the AIW’s record, it/they were on the West-bound carriageway of the A5 at the time:
*VRM anomaly – see below.
The 50-minute attendance has seen a charge for 3.5 hours of £615.95 – to inspect minor barrier damage, whilst on patrol, a week after the incident:
As for the bill …
- £65.75 / hour for an AIW’s (£23.19 / hour + 7.41% to HE)
- £36.91 / hour for their vehicle (£13.20 / hour + 7.41% to HE – see below)
To this add another hour for the AIW’s apparently ‘planning’ the repair. The total for planning adds another £484.81 – a cost that should not appear at all as Area 9 is subject to Appendix A to Annex 23 and ‘planning’ is incorporated in the Third Party Claims Overhead (TPCO) at ‘item d’. But, despite our raising the issue 21/06/2017 in person with Highways England, they have still not ensured Kier Highways comply with the contractually agreed process.
If the contractually agreed process were adopted, the charges to a Third Party would be as follows:
| Base Rate | TPCO | Total | |
| 25.29% | |||
| AIW | £23.19 | £5.86 | £29.05 |
| AIW | £23.19 | £5.86 | £29.05 |
| vehicle | £13.20 | £3.34 | £16.54 |
| £59.58 | £74.65 |
Whereas, a Third Party is charged £166.85 / hour.
The repair involved:
WP14XJF – Traffic Management @ £71.11 / hour. To Highways England, this vehicle is £44.81 / hour + 7.41% uplift.
LX64OVH @ £56.46 / hour
It is of note that the barrier gang started 1/2 hour after TM and completed 1/2 hour before the TM concluded. This agrees with our understanding TM is required to be put out to provide a ‘safety zone’ in which operatives can work. Such differences are not always seen.
Whilst the AIW’s reported 1 beam and 2 posts needed replacing, Kier replaced 2 beams and charged insurers for both.
Plant:
HX14KFN – AIW vehicle on the DAS appears to be a typo as the VRM is that of a 125cc motorcycle. The IMF (above) indicates:
HX14XFN Mercedes-benz Sprinter 313 Cdi
First Registered27 Jun 2014
Former Keepers 0
Taxed – due 01 Jun 2020
MOT – expires 26 Jun 2020
Body Panel Van
Colour White
Fuel Heavy Oil
MoT 12 June 2019 @ 185,702 miles
X10C636 02/07/2018 Plant rates for comparison:
| VRM | Description | Per hour | |
| LX64OVG | 18t Barrier Rig | £40.81 | |
| LX64OVH | 18t Barrier Rig | £40.81 | |
| MXI0DHY | 18t Barrier Rig | £40.81 | |
| HX18XFJ | I8T Combi TM with Cushion | £44.81 | |
| HX18XGH | I8T Combi TM with Cushion | £44.81 | |
| WX12DFK | 18T dedicated IPV | £44.81 | |
| WV13GKA | 18T TM truck sidewell with cushion | £44.81 | |
| HX14VVT | 18T TM truck sidewell with cushion | £44.81 | |
| WP14XHY |
|
£44.81 | |
| WP14XJF | 18T TM truck sidewell with cushion | £44.81 | |
| HX15FWH | 26T tipper and grab | £33.16 | |
| YC18WCU | 3.5T TM van | £13.20 | |
| HJ65FHO | 4×4 AL200 | £19.98 | |
| YR14FNG | General Works 3.5t Ford Transit D/Cab dropside Jon | £13.20 | |
| GN63KJA | General Works 7.5t Tipper | £26.94 | |
| CK14TVA | General Works Mitsubishi Canter 7.5t Tippers | £26.94 | |
| BD14CXF | Mercedes Sprinter Hi-roof Van (ISU Spec) AW Servi | £13.20 | |
| HX14XFN | Mercedes Sprinter Hi-roof Van (ISU Spec) AIW Servi | £13.20 | |
| HX14XFS | Mercedes Sprinter Hi-roof Van (ISIJ Spec) AW Servi | £13.20 | |
| HX14XFT |
|
£13.20 | |
| VN14VKO | Welfare Van 8 seatec Toilet and mess area Welfare Van 8 seater Toilet and mess area | £17.87 | |
| VO14NNT | Welfare Van 8 seatec Toilet and mess area Welfare Van 8 seater Toilet and mess area | £17.87 |
17/07/2019 update – the subject has been raised on the WhatDoTheyKnow web site.
24/07/2019 – lawyers acting for Kier and Highways England in respect of the matter have yet to receive a response from Kier about the issues.