Building standards: performance framework for verifiers - 1 April 2026

3. National Performance Reporting

Key Performance Outcomes (KPOs) are designed to support the building standards system and be adopted by verifiers. They have been developed to embed a culture of continuous improvement underpinned by a greater focus on peer review, benchmarking and sharing of best practice.

Professional Competency and Operational Processes

KPO1

Commit to ensuring first reports, building warrants and amendment to warrants are issued within target timescales

KPO3

Commit to investing fee income into the workforce to meet performance targets

Quality Customer Experience

KPO4

Understand and respond to the customer experience

Financial Integrity

KPO5

Maintain financial governance

KPO6

Commit to objectives outlined in the Building Standards Annual Report

Scottish Government National Data Returns

The national performance framework and associated data returns have been developed through a partnership between local and national government, aligning with the principles set out in the New deal for local government – Verity House Agreement. This ensures clear aims and values are embedded and reporting does not place unnecessary burdens on local authorities.

Performance should be assessed against targets for the relevant KPOs. Issues should be identified and actioned on an ongoing basis and may trigger targeted interventions such as audit or peer review.

Performance which is below national targets should be addressed proactively through an improvement plan with clear actions and timescales.

Verifiers should have systems in place to support the accurate and timely collection of data. They should report accurate and evidence based information on workforce and performance to Scottish Government via the ScotXEd web platform.

KPO2 Increase quality of compliance assessment during the construction processes’ was removed from the national data collection from 1 April 2026 to allow a full scale review following the publication of the Scottish Government’s response to the Grenfell Phase 2 report and commitment to introduce legislative change for the Compliance Plan approach. Verifiers are still required to issue Construction Compliance and Notification Plans (CCNP) in accordance with the nationally agreed VDC guidance with all building warrants issued. A Compliance Plan is considered as a CCNP in this requirement, and VDC guidance is amended and augmented by the delivery of VDC guidance for High Risk Buildings

National reporting

The national framework includes reporting criteria and performance targets. These measure service delivery and can be used to highlight ‘good verification’, prioritising areas for improvement and informing Scottish Ministers, customers and the wider public.

Reports demonstrate local and national levels of performance to allow analysis of trends over time. Frequency varies between KPOs e.g. quarterly or annual. Scottish Government publishes an annual report, presenting aggregated information for Scotland.

Performance measures

The framework links performance assessment to improvement actions through the Building Standards Annual Report, customer views, continuous improvement plans and national data returns. It allows the assessment of performance outcomes over key national objectives which include:

• Certainty of timescales in respect of decision making
• Reasonable inquiry of compliance during construction
• Management and assessment of building warrants and completion certificates
• Sharing of best practice
• Clear communication, provision of advice and open engagement
• Understanding of customer needs and ‘open for business’ attitude

To support the consistent reporting of trends and insights, Key Performance Outcome (KPO) targets include defined criteria to clearly identify performance levels using the following traffic light system (RAG):

• Red
• Amber
• Green

In addition to the RAG system, a scoring and weighting methodology is applied to consolidate performance data across all relevant KPO targets for each verifier. This is detailed within the KPO and ensures overall performance can be assessed fairly, improving transparency of the evidence-base used for appointing verifiers.

Continuous improvement

Continuous improvement refers to the dynamic and ongoing effort to improve services and processes, respond better to customer needs and adapt in a changing business environment.

Services should embed a culture of learning and improvement to evolve, become more effective and ensure business outcomes continue to be achieved.

Continuous improvement is a critical success factor in raising the bar for consistency and full compliance, looking towards:

• Delivery (customer valued) processes which are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility
• Changes to and demands from the business environment e.g. in the delivery of online services
• Incremental or breakthrough improvements, focusing on the changing business environment
• Peer review, benchmarking and sharing best practice
• Working collaboratively with and recognise the services and support provided by Scottish Building Standards Hub
• Commitment to digital services and transformation to improve the customer journey and deliver high quality services