4.11. The Branch is responsible for the preparation of estimates, bills of quantities, contract documents, valuations for interim payments and final accounts for all Architectural Office projects. It is also responsible for arranging contracts and checking accounts for the maintenance of Government buildings and British Armed Forces buildings, including the checking of the measurement of all works orders exceeding $1,600 in value.
4.12. The Branch is staffed by 42 Quantity Surveyors and professional assistants; supporting technical staff is engaged on preparation of contract documents for minor works, 'working-up', site measurement, checking accounts and similar duties.
4.13. The number of professional staff on the present establishment is insufficient to deal with the current building programme but further posts have not been recommended due to the extreme difficulty in recruiting staff at this level. The situation is further aggravated by the increasing number and complexity of claims submitted by contractors and it has been necessary to employ the services of five private firms of quantity surveyors for some 25% of the output of the Branch for the year under review.
4.14. During the year under review 196 contracts were placed to a total value of $178 million and some 7,826 accounts were checked for work executed under the Maintenance Contracts to a total value of $29.75 million.
4.15. Building costs throughout the year show an average increase of about 30% over the previous year. It would therefore appear that the actual output of the Architectural Office has been reduced with no reduction in staff. This is accounted for by the following factors:
(a) Increasingly difficult sites, particularly for low cost housing;
(b) Deferment of projects after receipt of tenders;
(c) Delay in proceeding with projects due to applications for revision of estimates;
(d) Acute shortage of labour in the building industry causing a slowing up in the rate of progress of building.
4.16. The Branch has, in addition, been responsible for the collation of statistical and cost advisory information relating to buildings and building materials, maintenance of the library, and for providing advice to other departments on grant-in-aid schools to the total value of some $16 million and on co-operative housing schemes.
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