Building and Fire Safety Working Group minutes: 25 September 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Cabinet Secretary for Housing
• Minister for Victims and Community Safety
• Alan Johnston, Cladding - Policy and Programme
• Andrew Gunn, Building Standards Division
• Andy Dailly, Education -  Workforce, Infrastructure and Digital 
• Benny Rooney, Building Standards Division
• Bill Connolly, NHS Assure
• Charles Willis, Better Homes Division
• Chris Booth, Safer Communities - Fire and Rescue
• Chris Getty, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Chris Inverarity, Ministerial Private Office
• Frank Doherty, Building Standards Division
• Lisa Goldie, Property and Construction Division
• Lisel Porch, Safer Communities - Fire and Rescue
• Mhairi McCowan, Civil Contingencies Division
• Neil Mitchell, Building Standards Division
• Ralph Throp, Civil Contingencies Division
• Sandy Robinson, Planning, Architecture and Regeneration
• Stephen Garvin, Building Standards Division
• Stuart Morrison, Building Standards Division

Items and actions

Item 1 - Welcome and Review of Previous Actions

The Chair welcomed attendees to the 27th meeting and acknowledged recent developments, including the launch of the Housing Emergency Action Plan.

Updates on actions from the previous meeting were provided:

AP1: Revised Terms of Reference submitted for Ministerial approval. The chair indicated contentment with inviting His Majesty’s Fire Service Inspectorate in Scotland (HMFSI) to join the Group.

AP2: Fire safety consultation analysis published; options under review.

AP3: Engagement with Simon Midgley’s mother ongoing with a meeting planned between Ms Midgley and the Cabinet Secretary & Minister for October.

AP4: RAAC remediation cost data provided, ranging from £200–£4,100/sqm depending on work required and complexity.

 

Item 2 - Cladding Remediation Programme

Alan Johnston provided an update on recent progress, noting:

• significant progress is being made in cladding remediation, with statutory powers now in place and assessments accelerating across Scotland
• the Single Open Call has received over 1,000 Expressions of Interest, with nearly 500 grant offers issued, and Stage 2 now open for remediation support
• Scottish Government-led assessments for 12 pilot buildings are complete and will serve as pathfinder projects for Stage 2 remediation
• a comprehensive national record of affected buildings is being developed, with milestones including monthly progress reports and a public update in November

 

Item 3 - Grenfell Inquiry – Response Overview

Stephen Garvin outlined the Scottish Government’s response to the Phase 2 Grenfell Inquiry Report, with the following points noted:

• a Programme Management Office (PMO) has been established
• all 58 recommendations accepted (in whole or principle)
• quarterly progress tracker to be published from Q1 2026
• annual updates to begin September 2026

 

Item 4 - Grenfell Inquiry – Update Paper

The following key points were noted in respect of:

Compliance Plan:

• the Compliance Plan Approach, developed under the Building Standards Futures Board, is being implemented to address Grenfell Inquiry recommendations, with guidance for local authority verifiers due by December 2025 and industry guidance by March 2026
• legislative change to the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 is required for full implementation, with an Early Adopters phase launched in April 2024 to support gradual rollout and manage capacity challenges
• work is ongoing to clarify the definition and scope of High-Risk Buildings (HRBs) and align terminology between Scottish and UK Governments, especially regarding existing buildings
• engagement is underway on contractor licensing, including collaboration with MHCLG and the Federation of Master Builders, alongside a Fundamental Review of Certification to inform future policy and stakeholder engagement

Written updates were provided on:

Fire Safety Review – Call for Evidence

• the review aims to improve fire safety standards in Scotland by revisiting Section 2 (Fire) of the Technical Handbooks, informed by stakeholder input and lessons from the Grenfell Inquiry
• the upcoming consultation will explore usability, clarity, performance vs. prescriptive guidance, and identify outdated references or omissions, inviting evidence-based suggestions from respondents
• the consultation is expected to launch by end of 2025 for a 12-week period, with analysis of responses planned for late Spring 2026

Appointment of Chief Construction Advisor

• an independent options appraisal and policy mapping exercise will be conducted to explore the feasibility of appointing a Chief Construction Advisor in Scotland, with consultation and planning expected by mid to late 2027 and implementation in 2028, subject to budget and Ministerial approval
• the project faces budget uncertainty, with partial funding identified for 2025/26 but no allocations yet for future years, causing a six-month delay in starting the work
• blanket bans on companies are not permitted under current procurement law, but specific exclusions are allowed; the Scottish Government is maintaining a watching brief on UK Government developments in this area

Civil Contingencies

• the Scottish Government accepts 12 of the 13 Civil Contingencies recommendations, with the remaining one (action 56) accepted by the National Police Chiefs Council, which SG works closely with
• the recommendations focus on strengthening humanitarian and Care for People aspects of emergency response, with SG actively supporting Category 1 responders through training, exercises, and partnership working
• the Scottish Government is conducting a thorough review of the Preparing Scotland Guidance and engaging with UK Government consultations to enhance collaboration between statutory responders and the voluntary sector; 4 recommendations are complete, 8 are in progress, and 1 is reserved.

 

Item 5 - RAAC in Housing

The Chair highlighted recent engagement with affected residents, including the recent ‘Town Hall’ event in Dundee.

Andrew Gunn provided an overview of recent activity with regards to RAAC in housing. Key points include:

• the RAAC in Housing Leadership Group (RHLG) has been formed, with its first meeting held on 4 September, involving leaders from affected councils and housing associations.
• Officials are engaging with UK Finance, ABI, and IStructE to support development and understanding of housing-specific RAAC guidance
• work is underway to address challenges in privately owned and mixed tenure properties, including exploring council powers where access for surveys or remediation is refused
• the Citizens Participation and Public Petitions Committee continues to consider Petition PE2113, with emphasis on Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords ensuring effective communication with RAAC-affected residents and further engagement with the UK Government on

 

Item 6 - Any Other Business

Stephen Garvin provided a brief update on Large Panel Systems (LPS):

• historical risks associated with gas explosions (e.g., Ronan Point)
• recent disconnection of gas supply in Glasgow blocks
• the potential issues with LPS buildings was the subject of the recent Cross Sector Building Safety Forum meeting. Those with responsibility for LPS buildings are encouraged to use BRE and IStructE guidance

 

Item 7 - Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for December 2025 (date TBC).

The Chair thanked all attendees for their contributions, particularly those who provided updates.