Karl Melville, the council’s assistant director of highways and transport, told members: “Building control has had its difficulties regards staffing levels.” He said they had recruited a building services manager and three other members of staff were due to transfer to the Building Control Service. Mr Melville said that, despite the staffing issues, every aspect of building control, both statutory and non-statutory, was being delivered and they had secured significant contracts with developers such as Story as well as Sellafield. When committee chairwoman councillor Carni McCarron-Holmes (Maryport North, Labour) asked if he would return with an update in six months Mr Melville said he would be more than happy to do so. “Trainees will have a resource at Local Authority Building Control (LABC) to support them throughout their learning/employment.