Building Control Service Standards - Barnsley Council Online

PLANNING & TRANSPORTATIONBUILDING CONTROLO U R C O M M I T M E N T T O Y O UBARNSLEYMetropolitan Borough CouncilO U R C O M M I T M E N T T O Y O U

WHAT WE DO...Whenever new building works are carriedout there is a requirement to comply withthe Building Regulations, however, not allworks are controlled by the Regulations.Building works controlled by theRegulations include the erection and/orextension of any type of building (withcertain exemptions), the installation of newservices such as new drainage and heatingappliances, alterations to the structure of abuilding, work affecting means of escape incase of fire and, in some instances,changing the use of a building.The Building Regulations, and hence theBuilding Control Service, exist to ensure thata minimum standards of health and safetyis provided for the benefit of people in andaround buildings. The Regulations alsocontribute substantially to the conservationof energy and also ensure that there isreasonable provision for access and facilitiesto buildings for disabled persons.The provision of a responsive and proactiveBuilding Control Service to newdevelopments within Barnsley is for theultimate benefit of the people who live inthe Borough. Our customer-focusedapproach to service delivery means that wework alongside developers, builders,architects and householders to assist themthrough the regulatory process.We provide an advice and support servicefrom design through to completion on site,intended to help you meet the requirementsof the Building Regulations and associatedlegislation.We offer free and comprehensive preapplicationadvice on all aspects of yourproposal. Important design provision, suchas fire safety, energy efficiency and accessfor the disabled, can be agreed upon beforeprojects reach tender stage.We can provide a ‘Development Team’approach to new developments, bringingtogether all relevant council services thatmay be involved in the design andconstruction of the project in order toprovide you, as our customer, the best andmost coordinated service possible and helpsort out any problems before they arise.1O U R C O M M I T M E N T T O Y O U

THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE:As well as the Building Regulation function,the Service also carries out the statutoryfunctions of responding to reporteddangerous structures; safety at sports groundsand street naming and property numbering.Applying the Building Regulations• We provide general advice about theBuilding Regulations.• We provide advice on what informationneeds to be included when submitting abuilding regulation application.• We accept the submission ofapplications in electronic format.• We check building plans to see whetherthe proposals meet the technicalrequirements of the BuildingRegulations and, where appropriate,offer design solutions.• We inspect building works on site toensure that they comply with theBuilding Regulations.• We provide advice on any other legalrequirements that may affect thebuilding works.Dangerous Structures• We provide an emergency service todeal with dangerous buildings (thisservice is available 24 hours a day,seven days a week).• We inspect dangerous structures tomake sure that public safety ismaintained and ensure that any dangeris removed or made safe.Safety at Sports Grounds• We provide advice on safety at sportsgrounds.• We ensure that requirements for safetyat sports grounds are followed. Thisincludes fire safety, electrical lighting,access to the site and escape routes.• We consider applications and issuesafety certificates where therequirements for the certificates are met.Street naming and property addressing• We provide advice and guidance onstreet naming and numbering.• We consider applications and issue newstreet names and allocate numbers toproperties following new buildingdevelopment.• We provide a response to reportedunauthorised building work.2O U R C O M M I T M E N T T O Y O U

HOW TO CONTACT US...If you want to arrange a site inspection orrequire advice or information, you cancontact us by:Telephone during office hours(9:00am – 5.00pm) on 01226 772678(an answer phone is available outsidenormal working hours). We aim to answercalls whenever possible within 15 seconds.Fax on 01226 772698.Email on building.control@barnsley.gov.ukWe aim to send you an acknowledgementwithin 24 hours of receipt of your e-mailand a full response within 10 working days.Writing toBuilding Control, Planning & Transportation,P.O. Box 604, Barnsley, S70 9FE.We aim to formally respond within 20working days. If we can’t, we aim toacknowledge your letters within 5 workingdays.or visit us at a Barnsley Connects ServiceCentre.A Building Control Surveyor is available atthe Civic Hall, Eldon Street, Barnsley dailybetween 9.00am-1.00pm in order to adviseon any technical enquiries.We will make sure that application formsand information is available on our website:www.barnsley.gov.uk/buildingcontroland from the Barnsley Connects ServiceCentre in the Civic Hall, Eldon Street,Barnsley.3O U R C O M M I T M E N T T O Y O U

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU...When you contact us we will:• Listen carefully, speak clearly; be helpfuland courteous; and endeavour to assistyou in the purpose of your call.• Give you the best possible advice andassistance, by ensuring that the trainingand development of our staff is acontinual and important process.• Ensure our staff provide you with theirnames and if unable to answer yourquery immediately, endeavour to providean answer within one working day.If you are concerned about un-authorisedbuilding work, or want to report adangerous structure, phone us during officehours. Out of office hours dangerousstructures should be reported via emergencyservices.We are committed to provide a positive,independent and responsive customerfocused service, which is cost effective.We have a pro-active approach to thedelivery of the highest possible qualityservice.Processing applicationsWe ensure that Building Regulationapproval is given quickly and preferablybefore work starts. By working closelytogether early in the project you will beconfident that aspects such as fire safetyand facilities for disabled people, forexample, have been suitably designed forat an early stage.We accept the submission ofapplications on disk, electronically by e-mail or via ‘Submit-a-Plan’.We register all applications, assess thecharges and acknowledge their receiptby letter within five working days.We confirm acceptance of your buildingnotice within five working days ofreceipt and request any furtherinformation necessary as soon asapparent.If your application is missing anyinformation, we let you know within fiveworking days of receipt.We provide you the name andtelephone number of the BuildingControl Surveyor dealing with yourapplication, enquiry or other matter.4O U R C O M M I T M E N T T O Y O U

We provide a full technical appraisal of‘full plans’ applications and advise you ofany necessary amendments to yourapplication to enable approval by themeans you prefer (letter, e-mail, fax ortelephone), offering design solutionswhere appropriate.We check your application as speedily aspossible, encourage dialogue with you oryour agent throughout the process, andrespond to all domestic and commercialapplications within a maximum of threeand five weeks respectively.If required, we accept phased plan depositto suit your arrangements.We encourage the full use of conditionalapproval where appropriate or whereminor information is missing, or stageapproval.By partnering with us, we can provide youwith a single point of contact for theapproval of your building regulationapplications anywhere in England andWales. We provide consistency in theinterpretation of the requirements of theRegulations, whilst you still benefit fromaccess to all the local knowledge, goodliaison with other services and a highquality local inspection service.We provide an in-house SAP energy ratingservice for new dwellings.We can visit your offices to discuss majorprojects.We issue a formal approval noticetogether with a copy of the ‘stampedapproved’ drawings within five days ofmaking the decision.We offer advice if you wish to adopt anon-standard design.We issue nationally accepted house typeapprovals for building/house types underthe LABC Registered Building TypesScheme (formerly known as ‘LANTACBuilding Type Approval’) which areaccepted by all local authority buildingcontrol departments in England andWales.5O U R C O M M I T M E N T T O Y O U

Site Inspection of Building WorksWhether you submit a ‘Full Plans’application or a ‘Building Notice’, work onsite will be inspected at various stages byone of our Building Control Surveyors tocheck for compliance with the BuildingRegulations. There is a legal requirementfor persons carrying out building work tonotify the Council once they have reachedvarious key stages.We provide a prompt and efficient servicefor the inspection of works.We offer a same-day inspection service ifyou request an inspection before 12 noon- requests received after this time will beaccommodated subject to resources.We undertake all AM inspection requestsreceived before 9:30am.We inspect key elements of work andcarry out additional inspections as agreed.If the work is found to be unsatisfactory,where possible, a surveyor will suggest howyou can bring the work up to standard.We tailor our inspection service to meetyour specific needs.We provide on site a record book ofinspections carried out (largecommercial/housing projects).6We issue a completion certificate uponsatisfactory completion of your scheme.We deliver a dependable, independent,confidential and value for money service.Enforcement of Building RegulationsThe Council is required to enforce buildingregulations by Acts of Parliament and canprosecute in cases of non-compliance.Through mutual working, we guide youthrough the regulatory process to ensuresuccessful and regulatory compliantcompletion of your scheme.We provide an inspection service thatidentifies non-complying building worksat an early stage.We carry out our enforcementresponsibilities in a fair, equitable,independent and consistent manner inaccordance with our proceduralguidelines.We work proactively with our customersto provide practical advice on how noncompliancewith the Regulations can bestbe resolved.Although we have a right to instigatelegal proceedings, we only do so as amatter of last resort.O U R C O M M I T M E N T T O Y O U

Dangerous StructuresThe Council is legally obliged to respond tosituations where people are considered tobe at risk. These risks include dangerous ordefective buildings or structures andpremises that are unsecured from entry.We operate an emergency call out serviceon a 24 hour/365 days-a-year basis.We respond within two hours to allbuildings and structures reported as beingimminently dangerous.We investigate any reported unsecuredpremises.We ensure immediate remedial action isundertaken to remove any danger.Safety at Sports GroundsThe Council has a legal requirement toensure public safety at specified sportingvenues. This is achieved by issuing safetycertificates for regulated stands and sportsgrounds.We issue and have in effect safetycertificates for all designated sportsgrounds and regulated stands.Street Naming and Property AddressingIt is the Council’s responsibility to allocateproperty numbers and issue new roadnames in a logical manner to newdevelopments, including propertyconversions, and to notify the Royal Mail toallow them to register the newly createdproperties and to thereby issue postcodes.We do so, with a view to ensuring, amongstother things, the effective delivery of mailand that emergency service vehicles areable to find any address to which they aresummoned.We provide an effective postal addressservice (excluding postcodes - which aresupplied by Royal Mail).We take into consideration the views ofothers by use of the Council’s consultativeprocesses.We issue the address to utility providersand statutory bodies, including theemergency services.We allocate new addresses without unduedelay and will write to you to confirmmatters.To ensure the effectiveness of each safetycertificate, we continually carry outinspection and, where necessary, instigatenecessary actions to ensure public safety.7O U R C O M M I T M E N T T O Y O U

Provision of InformationIn order to help you through the BuildingControl process we may be able to provideyou with detailed information relating tolocal conditions and building histories.We maintain an archive of all buildingregulation applications deposited in thelast 15 years (as a minimum).We can provide access to and copies ofplans with the written permission of theperson or company who produced them.We provide copies of completioncertificates and approval notices tocustomers.Clear InformationWe use plain English and give clearinformation and advice, making sure weexplain any technical terms.For those whose first language is notEnglish, we provide an interpreter, if youneed one.We provide clear information to thosewith a visual impairment by providing theinformation in large print.We monitor applications to ensure we areproviding an equally high standard ofservice to all applicants whatever theirethnic background, gender or disabilitystatus.We treat all personal information aboutyou in confidence. It will only be passedon with your written agreement or wherelegally necessary.8O U R C O M M I T M E N T T O Y O U

HOW YOU CAN HELP US...The quality and responsiveness of ourservice relies on you playing your part. Weneed you to help us by supplying allnecessary information. Without your cooperation,we may not be able to meet thehigh standards we have set ourselves.Listening to your views• We welcome your views on our service;they can help shape our future plans.• We ask residents and other service userswhat they think about the service weprovide through customer feedbackquestionnaire and regular surveys.• We use customer feedback andcomplaints to help us improve ourservices.Monitoring of StandardsThe standards set out in this document arecontinually monitored and displayed on ourwebsite www.barnsley.gov.uk/buildingcontroland within our newsletter.ComplaintsIf you feel that the standards in this charterare not being met or have any complaintsabout the way we have handled anapplication, etc. please let us know so thatwe can put things right.• In the first instance, the best way to getyour complaint dealt with quickly is tosee the member of staff you have beendealing with• If you are unhappy with the response,ask for your compliant to be reviewedby Tim Cliffe the Building ControlManager. Tel: 01226 772678, Fax:01226 772698, Email:timcliffe@barnsley.gov.uk. Alternativelyyou may wish to write to Tim Cliffe at:Building Control, Planning andTransportation, PO Box 604, BarnsleyS70 9FE.• If you are still not satisfied, the Councilalso has a well-established formalprocedure for dealing with complaints,which makes sure all complaints aredealt with quickly, consistently andhelpfully.• To make a formal complaint, ask amember of staff for a leaflet‘Complaints against the Council’. Thisleaflet explains the Council’s complaintsprocedure and contains a complaintform. Copies of this publication arealso available at the Council’s librariesand Barnsley Connects Service Centres.9O U R C O M M I T M E N T T O Y O U

OTHER USEFUL CONTACTSwww.planning portal.gov.uk – National Government website including advice andaccess to the Approved Documents.Online Building Regulation application submission can be made at:www.submitaplan.comInformation relating to our Development Management Service can be found at:www.barnsley.gov.uk/bguk/development/planningInformation relating to the LABC Services, who represent Local Authority BuildingControl departments in England and Wales can be found at: www.labc.uk.com10O U R C O M M I T M E N T T O Y O U

If you need help understanding this documentplease contact us on 01226 775656BARNSLEYMetropolitan Borough CouncilO U R C O M M I T M E N T T O Y O U