Councils retain building standards role
Published Monday 16th January 2012
The Scottish Government has decided local authorities will continue to deliver the verification of building work.
The move, which has been welcomed by the council means that its Building Standards officers will continue in their role as the only government appointed verifiers for new homes and buildings in South Lanarkshire.
The move follows a recent Government consultation on a proposal to partially move the verifiers' role to the private sector.
However, more than 200 responses were lodged by the construction and development sector - with the majority overwhelmingly in favour of councils continuing to deliver this vital service.
Councillor Graham Scott, the chair of the council's Planning Committee said: "This is an endorsement of the expertise and experience of our building standards services.
"It is also an acknowledgment of the work undertaken by all local authority building standards services in embracing a culture of continuous improvement.
"Councils have more than 40 years' knowledge of building regulations - that experience is respected by architects, developers and the construction industry and is invaluable to the public."
Building Standards Team Leader, Alan McAulay, is also the current President of the Scottish Association of Building Standards Managers, and is delighted at the decision.
He said: "We have always believed that our officers are best placed to protect the public interest and I am happy that common sense has prevailed. It is clear that the work and approach of the association, and its members, in recent years has gained the confidence of Scottish Ministers.
"We hope this decision will lead to a period of stability in verification delivery that will allow local authorities to meet the aims of the Scottish Government of providing a Building Standards system which remains one of the most successful in Europe."
