Ref

What

Who

When

Progress

1A

A review will be undertaken against the existing Programme Management Office (PMO) and project delivery management resource and skills contained within it in order to produce a gap analysis, undertaken with reference to existing deliverables for the scheme, and wider planned capital programme.

CF / LC

April 2026

We have reviewed PM resources on the YSG scheme, and in projects delivery team in general. Officers are currently recruiting a number of PMs and Senior Engineer. Next phase to recruit to assistant PM role. Whole team to have additional experienced resource, rely less on contract / consultant support and to have more training in project management & delivery.

 

The design of the new structures is in the early stages. A role has been created for a Head of Capital PMO, the interim Head is in the process of identifying what existing resource is available, and what additional resource is required.

 

1B

A report will set out recommendations for project management structures from Director level down, following the review of the existing function, leadership, experience, and knowledge. This report will make recommendations on capacity, structure and expertise in relation to the planned capital programme and will include cost implications. It will include recommendations around Construction/Commercial Contract management functions and Programme Management Office functions.

JB/BM

June 2026

GT / LC prepared and gave a presentation to scrutiny committee (4th December) on recommendations for establishing a PMO and strengthening both resources and processes.

 

JB / BM – future report to include proposals for structure to deliver the planned capital programme.

1C

Project management resources will be restructured and, as there are pockets of excellence that currently exist, opportunities explored to create a supportive network sharing knowledge more effectively throughout the function rather than within departments and directorates.

All heads of service

July 2026

Teams within City development have started working more closely together and sharing best practice. (eg: learning relating to Treasury Green Book). The establishment of a capital PMO will further enhance this collaboration and sharing of best practice.

 

Following the recruitment exercises to ensure efficient onboarding and training for new staff. And update for existing staff.

1D

As part of the resource review, dedicated Construction/Commercial Contract management capacity will be established to oversee Construction Projects, through experienced construction delivery practitioner resource. Consideration will also be given during the recruitment process to replacing a Qualified Quantity Surveyor (QS) post within the City Development Directorate (CDD) in order to provide specific costing rigour to schemes pre & post tender, through the life of the projects and embedding the managing and recording compensation events, using a professionally qualified staff resource

GT

July 2026

Officers currently recruiting to senior engineer role.

Discussion at DMT requiring contract management training across the CDD (basic NEC training, with some more detailed training for smaller number of PMs).

 

QS Role not yet out to recruitment. To be in project delivery team (somewhere). More action required.

 

To follow on from recruitment to senior level role.

1E

To better retain and grow talent and experience, creation of a career pathway within project management functions will be explored, with a career graded structure, supporting learning through knowledge transfer and upskilling through training (for example, NEC contract and project management) as well as working with others, which should help to avoid the loss of excellent staff due to isolation or lack of career progression.

BM /JB

June 2026

Work ongoing for some months to create Assistant Project Manager Job Descriptions (JDs) (career grade). This has met with some complexity in gaining approval within the current HR provisions.

 

However, we are recruiting 4 Project Manager’s within the highways a& transport major projects team.

 

Two team members taking on the degree apprenticeship training through YSJ university and supported by JS & LC.

 

1F

Once existing resources are of the right size and alignment, a period of recruitment will be undertaken to bring in additional skilled resources where needed across the capital programme.

BM/JB

 October 2026

Some recruitment ongoing (see above). More is planned. To consider what additional resource will be needed more widely across the CDD. Then further training for Project Managers to follow.

1G

A report will be prepared setting out proposed improvements to the PMO processes and function, commensurate with the complexity and scale of the planned capital programme, integrated with, and driving governance improvements as above, and to be applied consistently across the CDD (and wider as appropriate) Capital Programme.

CF / GT

March 2026

GT / LC prepared and gave a presentation to scrutiny committee (4th December) on recommendations for establishing a PMO and strengthening both resources and processes.

 

 

1H

Training requirements for key staff involved in construction project delivery will be agreed and delivered.

CF / BM

July 2026 and ongoing as new staff are recruited

CF (held by Exec Assistant) have a list of training requirements. Specific emphasis on NEC contract management, project management and Green Book (part delivered)

 

 

 

 

 

2A

Commercial issues, budget monitoring and funding approval processes will be undertaken by experienced and senior officers at a project level, with support of finance colleagues. PMO processes will be reviewed (per earlier actions) to ensure fitness for purpose and accurate and appropriate corporate financial reporting. Consideration will be given during the recruitment process to establishing a Qualified Quantity Surveyor post within the CDD in order to provide specific costing rigour to schemes pre & post tender, through the life of the projects.

GT

July/ Aug 2026

 

QS role not yet out to recruitment. To be in project delivery team. More action required.

 

To follow on from recruitment to senior level role.

 

PMO intends to set up a Delivery Support Board (ToR available in draft). This to be a panel of experienced council officers and heads of service who are able to advise and guide project and programme managers through the development and delivery of capital projects. To include procurement, legal, major projects etc.

 

2B

The professional team will be involved in all aspects of the tender evaluation process and will be fully aware of the outcome of commercial elements at financial close, together with any changes that are made to the risk share profile.

GT / JB / BM

June 2026

Closer work with Procurement team to ensure PM’s / design team are fully aware of negotiations during contract clarification period and take ownership of the contract risk apportionment process.

 

In the future PM’s will have the ability to request guidance from the Project Delivery Support Board (which includes procurement & legal)

 

2C

RAG ratings will be better expressed to take account of projects being delivered over multiple phases, which will assist to contextualise the position.

GT / All Heads of Service

September 2026

The PMO will be able to support this and to have templates etc, also to facilitate risk workshops. Intend to be included in the design of any digital PM system.

 

Existing transport PMO does provide support on RAID logs through discovery workshops.

 

2D

The scheme risks must be understood and managed at Director level and below by experienced staff who fully understand Construction Project management. A Construction/Commercial Contract Management function will be established, and the Project Management Organisation function will be restructured, and process redesigned to ensure fitness for purpose.

GT / All heads of service

September 2026

We will get better at risk management and highlight reporting. Response as above.

2E

A review will be undertaken of council-wide project management resources, as proposed in detailed finding 1 above. This is to ensure that large contracts with complex construction, multiple partners from diverse sectors, and with potentially conflicting priorities are managed with a level of experience and expertise so that swift, decisive decision making and a consistent approach is achieved.

GT

July 2026

A new Head of Major Projects appointed, and better management of the capital programme are already in place.

 

JS currently recruiting to senior engineer role.

Discussion at DMT requiring contract management training across the CDD (basic NEC training, with some more detailed training for smaller number of PMs).

 

QS Role not yet out to recruitment. To be in project delivery team (somewhere). More action required.

 

To follow on from recruitment to a further senior level role.

2F

Where there are gaps in expertise or knowledge, a recruitment process will be undertaken to bring in additional skilled resources and commence a training programme for existing staff to improve contract and project management skills.

GT

July 2026

Some Regeneration posts filled with new PM resource. Current recruitment for PMs in Highways & Transport, and more planned for APM or career grades roles.

Further recruitment required to the Capital Delivery team.

 

 

 

 

 

3A

As with Finding 1 York Station gateway (above) A review will be undertaken against the existing PMO and project delivery management resource and skills contained within it in order to produce a gap analysis, undertaken with reference to existing deliverables for the scheme, and wider planned capital programme. Changes will be made to the council’s project management framework, giving guidance to project managers on de-risking at the project brief stage and ensuring the correctly qualified project delivery staff ensure that all due diligence has been performed prior to the tendering process.

GT / PS

July/August 2026

Discussions taking place between Director of Housing and Director of City Development. More information to follow.

3B

Once existing resources are of the right size and alignment, a period of recruitment will be undertaken to bring in additional skilled resources where needed. A career pathway will be created within project management functions, with a career graded structure, supporting learning through knowledge transfer and upskilling through training (for example, NEC contract and project management) as well as working with others, which should help to avoid the loss of excellent staff due to isolation or lack of career progression.

GT / PS

September 2026

Recruitment outlined above. (3A)

 

 

 

 

 

4A

A discussion will be held about adopting the NEC approach to managing and recording compensation events, using the NEC approach as a template for project managers to follow. A consistent approach will be taken across the capital programme as far as is practicable.

GT / CF

June 2026 but to be extended as new staff recruited.

NEC pm training is a priority. (CF to investigate). This may be delivered at differing levels, so all PM’s have basic knowledge, but some roles require greater depth.

YSG team already uses NEC approach to managing compensation events. (professional team T&T)

4B

Consideration will be given during the recruitment process to replacing a Qualified Quantity Surveyor post within the CDD in order to provide specific costing rigour to schemes pre & post tender, through the life of the projects and embedding the managing and recording compensation events, using a professionally qualified staff resource.

GT

July 2026

QS Role not yet out to recruitment. To be in project delivery team (somewhere). More action required.

 

To follow on from recruitment to a further senior level role.

4C

As part of the review of the Construction/Commercial Contract Management function, a feasibility review will be undertaken on investing in a contract management system. This would require contractors to use the council’s system, as well as also containing a range of other features to help with contract management and may be linked to the Project Management Organisation improvements (see agreed action under detailed finding 1).

GT

October 2026

New function with input from Procurement & legal as a method of registering and managing contracts. To include KPI’s / milestones and Compensation Events (CE’s). (potential addition of links to financial management system)