Building standards verification services - national performance and workforce: annual report 2023-2024
This report provides an overview of the performance of building standards verification services across Scotland and information on the professional workforce employed by local authorities to provide verification services.
2. Background
2.1.The building standards system in Scotland is established by the Building (Scotland) Act 2003. The Act gives Scottish Ministers powers to appoint verifiers and approve certification schemes.
2.2.All 32 local authorities are currently appointed as verifiers for their own geographical area for a period of six years until 30 April 2029.
2.3.The remit of the building standards system is to protect the public interest by setting the standards to be met when new building work or a conversion takes place and providing a system for independent checking.
2.4.Verification is the independent checking of projects against building regulations during the design phase (prior to granting a building warrant) and the construction phase (prior to acceptance of a completion certificate).
2.5.Certification is the recognition of suitably qualified and experienced persons as competent to self-certify specific aspects of development at design or construction stage as building regulation compliant.
2.6.Local authorities are also responsible for the enforcement role under the 2003 Act, which includes building regulations and defective and dangerous buildings.
2.7.Verifiers are appointed on the basis that they can meet conditions set out in:
2.8.Scottish Government officials proactively monitor and engage with all verifiers over the term of appointment to satisfy Scottish Ministers that they continue to meet performance measures. The national engagement strategy provides tailored support to address performance and business continuity issues.
2.9.The workforce strategy for the building standards verification service was published by Scottish Government in October 2020 and was delivered over three years. The strategy identified a need to support development of the workforce based on the projected loss of expertise by 2025.
2.10.All 32 local authority verifiers are committed to providing an annual return as part of the workforce data collection exercise. This data is used to track and monitor the impact of actions to support workforce development.
2.11.Following the closure of the workforce strategy, the data is now our primary evidence base that illustrates how resourcing of job roles and a focus on raising competency across the profession are contributing to the performance of verifiers.
Contact
Email: buildingstandards@gov.scot