|
Building
control - applications
|
|
The council is responsible for ensuring that
buildings are properly designed and constructed so as
to ensure the health, safety, welfare and convenience
of people using them. All buildings should comply
with the current Building Regulations (issued in
1991) . The local authority inspect plans for new
buildings to check compliance with regulations and
periodically inspect the site during construction to
ensure approved plans are adhered to. In Scotland the
local authority is responsible for ensuring that the
construction, alteration, extension, demolition and
conversion of buildings are conducted so as to ensure
the health, safety, welfare and convenience of
citizens. The requirements are set by the Building
(Scotland) Regulations 2004 (as amended 2006). The
local authority will inspect plans for new buildings
to check compliance with regulations and periodically
inspect sites during construction to ensure approved
plans are adhered to. When the local authority is
satisfied that with the plans they will issue a
Building Warrant the legal permission to commence.
|
|
Building
warrants
|
|
The design and construction of buildings is
controlled by ensuring Building Warrant applications
comply with Building Regulations for most classes and
types of building, whether public or private and
includes houses, shops, leisure facilities,
factories, warehouses etc. A Building Warrant
application is required for the erection, change of
use, alteration or extension of a building and is
also necessary for the demolition of a property. It
is valid for three years and construction work cannot
begin before the Building Warrant has been approved.
A statutory register of all building warrants must be
maintained.
|
|
Dangerous
structures and public safety
|
|
The local authority has a responsibility to deal with
buildings which have become dangerous due to old age,
deterioration or settlement, or by more dramatic
causes.
|
|
Demolition -
control and advice
|
|
Owners wishing to demolish a building must give
notice to the local authority under Section 80 of The
Building Act 1984 and if all is satisfactory Building
Control will issue a consent notice with a schedule
of requirements including termination of services.
When demolition has taken place the site should be
cleared and made safe.
|
|
Demolition -
enforcement
|
|
The council deal with incidents of nuisance being
caused as a result of demolition work. This includes
noise, smoke and obstruction/damage to pavements and
verges.
|
|
Derelict
properties - public safety
|
|
Ensuring that long-term empty properties are secure
and do not pose any risk to the public. In some
circumstances the council may compulsorily purchase
such properties for renovation or demolition.
|
|
Energy
- efficiency advice and assessment
|
|
The council will provide advice on energy efficiency
and carry out an assessment of a property. The SAP is
the Government's recommended system for energy rating
of dwellings. The Standard Assessment Procedure is
used for calculating the SAP rating, on a scale from
1 to 120, based on the annual energy costs for space
and water heating and also for calculating the Carbon
Index, on a scale of 0.0 to 10.0, based on the annual
CO2 emissions associated with space and water
heating. The SAP rating is used to fulfil
requirements of the Building Regulations to notify
and display an energy rating in new dwellings.
|
|
Health
and safety - construction regulations
|
|
The construction of domestic, commercial and
industrial buildings are bound by fire safety
requirements including safe means of escape,
internal/external stability, accessibility for fire
equipment, containment of smoke/fire. The local fire
service inspect premises to ensure compliance with
all legislation.
|
|
Licence -
building materials
|
|
A licence is required for placing building materials
on any part of a highway. Licences are only issued in
exceptional circumstances for any duration up to a
month. The applicant can extend this before the
granted license expires. In Scotland if you propose
to occupy or open part of a road (i.e.. carriageway,
footway, footpath or cycle path etc), there is a
requirement under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to
obtain permission from the local Roads Authority.
This is done by applying for the relevant permit.
|
|
Licence -
scaffolding and hoarding
|
|
Any scaffold or hoarding which encroaches or projects
over the Highway requires a scaffold permit. These
permits are only issued to the scaffolding company.
In Scotland if you propose to occupy or open part of
a road (i.e.. carriageway, footway, footpath or cycle
path etc), there is a requirement under the Roads
(Scotland) Act 1984 to obtain permission from the
local Roads Authority. This is done by applying for
the relevant permit.
|
|
Property
demolition - assessment
|
|
The local authority will continually review and
assess housing conditions in the area to help
determine which properties are unfit for occupancy or
are abandoned.
|
|
Property
demolition - council tenants alternative housing
|
|
Where the demolition of nearby property may pose a
risk to tenants in council property the authority may
offer the tenant alternative housing either
temporarily or on a permanent basis.
|
|
Property
demolition - council tenants disturbance
allowance
|
|
Where the demolition of nearby property causes
disturbance to tenants in council property the
authority may pay a disturbance allowance in
compensation for the disruption while the demolition
work is taking place.
|
|
Property
demolition - council tenants reibilities
|
|
The tenant is responsible for arranging for meter
reading and disconnecting of supplies of
gas/electricity and for handing in the keys of
vacated property. The council provide advice and
support in these circumstances.
|
|
Street
naming and numbering register
|
|
Sections 64 and 65 of the Towns Improvement Clauses
Act 1847, and Sections 17, 18 and 19 of the Public
Health Act of 1925 (in England and Wales) or Section
97 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982
empowers the council to allocate statutory addresses.
The council may, in relation to any street or road to
which the public have access: (a) give such name to
it as they think fit; (b) after advertising in a
newspaper circulating in their area any proposal to
alter its name and taking into account any
representations thereupon made to them within 28 days
after the date of the first publication of the
advertisement, alter any such name; (c) affix, paint
or mark its name on any premises, fence, lamp post,
pole or other structure in it so as to be readily
legible to members of the public there, and erect
poles or other structures there for that purpose; (d)
give each of the premises in it such distinguishing
number as they think fit; alter that number when
necessary; and require the owner of each of the
premises, by notice served on him, to affix or paint
that number on his premises so that it is readily
legible from the nearest part of the public place
giving access to the premises. Once statutory
addresses have been allocated, Royal Mail Address
Management Centre is notified for allocation of
postcodes and emergency and other services are
notified.
|
