Billy Dickson Email & Phone Number

Rothesay, Isle Of Bute

As Area Building Standards Surveyor I assist my Team Leader and Building Standards Manager in all aspects of Building Standards functions in accordance with the statutory requirements. I deputised for the team Leader in his absence, reporting to Heads of Service and Cabinet Members as required. I ensure that the staff within both area offices carry out their duties and responsibilities regarding Building (Scotland Act) and related legislation. I also personally trained and mentored the teams Assistant Surveyor taking him from infancy until full RABE membership and he is now a very efficient Surveyor. I assisted the Manager in the development and implementation of office procedures, prepared Risk Assessments and report on budget issues including debt recovery upon consultation with the Local Authorities Legal Department. I also assist in the development of staff and assistants with in-house seminars and training days. I also process more complex Applications for our team, including numerous projects which involved Fire Engineering Solutions for bespoke designs in terms of means of escape and layouts of the Buildings, working closely with the independent Fire Engineers and The Fire and Rescue Services in order to ensure an alternative solution to compliance with the standards whilst ensuring a safe environment for the end users and also reducing overall build costs. I am part of the "Properties at Risk Group" monitoring and reporting on derelict properties within the area. I am part of the Customer Service Excellence Team and the Technical Group responsible for reporting to the Council and BSD on interpretation and other related matters. I have extensive dangerous building knowledge with my area easily surpassing the combined total of all other areas for number of dangerous buildings, primarily due to the poor economy of the Island. I am the "Responsible Person" for my building, under Health & Safety Legislation, with responsibility for over 20 staff, .

Burns Statue Square, Ayr

I was part of a 14 man strong team and was given the Town Centre area to deal with. This area covered not only the town centre but also the central housing belt extending from the river Ayr in the North to Burn's Cottage in the South. Again I dealt with the normal building control matters however, being in the town centre, dangerous buildings were very complicated and involved a very high degree of public safety and protection issues. The area also contained the majority of retail outlets in the District and I dealt with numerous new build and shop fit projects for retail, office and commercial units. I dealt with the application for the Kyle Shopping Centre and carried out all site visits. This application involved several fire safety issues, smoke retention, perforations in floors, escalators etc. I also dealt with one of the first indoor markets in Scotland, which was similar to a mini shopping mall.

Rothesay, Isle Of Bute

As the area officer for the Island, I was responsible for the day to day running of the Building Control Office. My senior was based in Lochgilphead and, because of the remote nature of the Island, I was left to operate independently. Although the post was Island based I covered a very large geographical area extending from Dunoon to the Cowal Peninsula, Ardlamont and St. Catherine’s some 705 miles². As well as carrying out the normal building control function plan vetting, site visits, dangerous buildings etc I was heavily involved with the Fire Brigade and Police and was on call for all emergency situations. During my stay on Bute I commuted to Glasgow College of Building & Printing (now known as the Glasgow Metropolitan College.) to gain qualifications in the Institute of Building Control

Area Office, Lamlash, Isle Of Arran

The post of assistant was based on the Island of Arran and the responsibilities the post carried were very diverse. My duties extended to;• Assisting the area officer with the day to day running of the area office. There were 5 staff in the building and as assistant I deputised for the area officer in all his duties and responsibilities which included all staffing matters, holiday leave, sick leave, allocation of work etc. • Due to the remote nature of Arran the Area Officer and I represented every department of the Council on the Island.• I was responsible for the cyclic and routine maintenance of all Council housing stock and Council owned public buildings. This included issuing work orders to various trades for repairs and dealing with complaints from tenants.• I was responsible for the grounds maintenance staff and met with the 20 or so staff each morning to allocate their days work including grass verge maintenance, floral displays, road sweeping, street lighting etc. I dealt with all staff matters including disciplinary matters. • We had one of the first dedicated travelling people sites and I regularly met with them to discuss their needs, hear complaints and to empty the electricity meters and bank the cash.• Because of my background in Building Control I was given the additional responsibility of dealing with all warrant applications for the Island and acting as liaison in all planning matters including the appeals process.

Cunningham House, Irvine

I commenced training as a Building Control Officer. At that time it was common for tradesmen to fill Building Control posts, so I was one of the first non-trade based Building Control Trainee's in Scotland. My duties extended to;• Shadowing the other officers as they went about their day-to-day business.• Dealing with smaller projects, garages extensions etc.• Dealing with applications for road opening permits and liaising closely with the area roads engineer on such applications. • At the age of 19 I was given control of the project to vet and carry out site visits for 356 new houses at the Girdle Toll in Irvine. • I also dealt with licensing work and was responsible to the licensing board for committee reports etc.• The area I worked in was very densely populated and I dealt with numerous dangerous building matters which included ordering road closures and dealing with the Police and Fire Brigade. During this period I continued my studies towards my HNC and I was soon operating on my own initiative and with minimum supervision. As my experience grew I was given more interesting projects including;• Irvine Shopping Centre – various shop fitting applications and 2-storey nightclub.• Hunterston B Nuclear Power Station facility – office complex and staff facilities.• Roche Pharmaceuticals in Dalry – new production building and underground development.• The Papermill at Loans – new office complex and factory upgrade.• Rockware Glass Factory – office complex.• Beechams Factory – new vitamin ‘c’ plant.• Demolition of the former I.C.I plant in Stevenson and the conversion of the remaining buildings into commercial units.• The conversion to form a new office complex at the Volvo factory.At this time I held membership of IBCO

Cunninghame House, Irvine

Based in Irvine, I was employed as a machine operator which was a created post to permit a trainee within the architects section of the Council because they were not permitted to advertise for a trainee architect at that time. So, I was expected to shadow the senior architect, Mr Matt Marshall, in the daily routine of the office. My main duties extended to;• Assisting the architects and Quantity Surveyors in plan preparation for new build and renovation/upgrading schemes, mainly doing detail drawings for various elements of construction and in Bill of Quantity preparation.• I was also expected to operate the print machine and take prints for both the architects and quantity surveyors. • I dealt with the Ardrossan, Saltcoats & Stevenston rehabilitation project which involved surveying and plan preparation for over 2000 houses.• I dealt with the Largs housing project, which involved an extensive levelling survey.• I designed the ice rink boarding system and cafeteria floor arrangement together with partnering the senior architect on the Magnum Leisure Centre project in Irvine.At this time I commenced studies at Ayr Technical College towards an ONC in building. I required this for acceptance into the School of Architecture in Glasgow. It was at this time that I gained my supplementary certificate in Quantity Surveying.

Institute Of Building Control Officers Professional Exams

Education record

Education record