Customer Charters

Building Standards

Who Are We?

The Department of Development and Environment covers a range of services that influences the way we live, work and play.

Most functions within the Department have a regulatory role, which is designed to ensure that the environment in which we live is as safe as it can be.

Building Standards has been in existence for many years and was previously known as Building Control. The primary role known as Building Standards Service is to protect and improve the health, safety and convenience of people using buildings. This is achieved by promoting compliance with specific legislation relating to buildings.

Services Provided

• Process Building Warrant Applications
• Inspect Construction Work relating to Building Warrants
• Process requests for alternative solutions to meet Building Standards
• Carry Out Enforcement of Building Standards
• Process Housing Grant Applications
• Inspect and Assess Dangerous Buildings
• Provide Licensing Consultations
• Assess and Inspect Certifiable Sports Grounds and Regulated Stands
• Provide Flood Appraisal of Watercourses
• Provide Guidance on Disablement Issues
• Maintain Street Nameplates, Street Naming and Numbering
• Issue Property Enquiry Information

We have a team of courteous and experienced staff who will be happy to offer advice and assistance with any enquiries you may have.

Service Standards

When you contact us either in writing or by e-mail we will aim to:

• Give you the name and direct dial telephone number of the staff dealing with your enquiry
• Provide you with a full reply with as much information as possible.
• Deal with general correspondence within 10 working days of receipt

When You Contact Us By Telephone:

• We will give our name and Section when answering the telephone
• We will try to deal with your telephone enquiry at the time or pass you to staff who can
• If the person you need to speak to is not available, you can choose to speak to someone else who can help. If you leave a message we will get back to you within 1 working day.

You can expect us to:

• Be courteous and professional at all times
• Give you as much information and immediate advice as possible
• Observe privacy and confidentially, when appropriate
• Monitor and evaluate our performance
• Give you a quality service at all times
• Endeavour to provide clean, accessible public offices that ensure privacy, comply with occupational and safety standards and facilitate access for disabled people and people with additional support needs

Specific Service Standards

We will endeavour to:

• Provide a response to your Building Warrant Application within 4 weeks
• Respond to requests for drain tests within 24 hours (Monday to Friday)
• Provide a response to your request to accept a Certificate of Completion within 2 weeks
• Respond immediately to reports of Dangerous Buildings
• Respond within one working day to requests for 'one stop' property enquiries
• Have staff available who can deal with your enquiry
• Explain how and why a decision was reached

Building Standards staff are always available during office hours (8.45am - 4.45pm Monday to Thursday, 8.45am - 4.00pm on Friday) to provide general information and advice. The advice given will be objective and as helpful as possible without prejudice to the formal consideration of an Application by the Council

When You Ask For An Appointment

If you wish to meet staff to discuss any aspect of the Service please contact (01292) 616253 to arrange a mutually convenient appointment.

Identification Of Staff

All Council staff are issued with identification cards, which they are expected to display prominently. The cards give the name, position and department of the cardholder and they also include a photograph.

If Council staff are calling at your home or place of business, you are entitled to ask to see their identity card so you can satisfy yourself that they represent the Council. The details on the identification card can be verified by contacting the telephone number printed on the identification card.

Treating Everyone Fairly

Development and Environment is committed to promoting equal opportunities for the community it serves

What You Can Do To Help

• Keep us informed of any changes in your personal circumstances that may affect any service that we provide to you.
• Attend any appointment on time, or let us know if you cannot do so
• Behave in a considerate and polite way so we can give you and other customers the standard of service you would expect.
• Provide the information we ask for when we ask for it. This will help speed up the process.
• Read information sent to you carefully and follow any instructions given.
• Ensure that you read all information that we provide for you, it is to your benefit.
• Please be patient as there will be times when we are exceptionally busy. We will however, make every effort to keep waiting times to a minimum.

What If I Am Not Satisfied?

If you are unhappy with any aspect of our service, please contact us and we will try to resolve any problems quickly, and explain what we have done and why.

If we do not respond satisfactorily, you can take your complaint further by using the South Ayrshire Council's feedback procedure. You can get a leaflet titled 'Help Us to Get it Right' directly from ourselves or from any South Ayrshire Council Office. Alternatively you can phone 0300 123 0900 or e-mail cst@south-ayrshire.gov.uk you can also use this procedure for comments, suggestions and complaints about other Council Services.

Any Suggestions?

We hope you will find this information helpful and that we continue to meet the standards we have set. Please let us know what you think by using the Council's feedback procedure or by contacting us directly at the address below.

How And When You Can Phone Or Visit Us

We are based at Burns House, Burns Statue Square, Ayr, KA7 1UT.

Opening Hours: 8.45am - 4.45pm Monday to Thursday, 8.45am - 4.00pm on Friday.
Telephone Number (01292) 616253.
E-Mail: building.standards@south-ayrshire.gov.uk