• Enforcement Policy prepared top guide decision-making on enforcement issues and to provide greater awareness and understanding of enforcement process. 2
The Meeting will be open to the Press and Public during consideration of
the items set out in Part 1 of this Agenda.
1 DECLARATION OF INTEREST
Members are invited to declare any interest they may have in any of the items included on the agenda for this Meeting.
[Note: Any Member wishing to seek clarification as to whether it may be appropriate to declare an interest in respect of any item on this agenda should seek advice from the Chief Executive or Borough Solicitor at least one working day before the Meeting].
2 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE HELD ON TUESDAY 5TH OCTOBER 2004
• Enforcement Policy prepared top guide decision-making on enforcement issues and to provide greater awareness and understanding of enforcement process.
Purpose
To seek the approval of the planning committee for the draft enforcement policy, with a view to adoption as the Council’s formal policy on enforcement procedure.
Report
As Members will be aware, the Council has, since the appointment of the Planning Compliance Officer some eighteen months ago, been able to become more thorough and proactive in its approach toward planning enforcement.
In so doing, it has been recognised that there is a need to produce a formal policy on how the Council carries out its statutory obligations in respect of enforcement. The benefits of this are three-fold: Firstly, it is intended to formally guide the decision-making process in relation to enforcement. Second, it provides the opportunity to raise the profile of the enforcement element of the planning service, and in so doing, will hopefully instil a greater awareness and understanding of the process. Thirdly, by having a formal policy, the opportunity for challenging decisions to take enforcement action should be minimised.
*** Members are thus asked to consider the attached report, appearing as Appendix 1, which sets out the draft policy. The policy, as it appears, draws upon good practice, current guidance and legislation, and upon the experience of other authorities elsewhere in the country. In the event that Members are able to endorse the policy, it is recommended that it would then be referred to the Policy (Corporate Services and Regeneration) Committee for formal ratification. It is proposed that prior to its consideration by Policy Committee a limited consultation exercise be undertaken to seek the views of the Government Office for the North East and other bodies deemed appropriate.
Implications:
Local Agenda 21:
None.
Equal Opportunities:
None.
Crime and Disorder:
The policy is intended to encourage a greater awareness of breaches of planning control and offences in relation to listed buildings, and is thus an opportunity to seek to reduce such breaches taking place.
Best Value and Best Practice:
The establishment of a formal policy on enforcement is intended to clarify working practices, and would thus accord directly with the principles of Best Value and Best Practice.
Financial/Legal/Personnel:
None arising specifically from the policy, although it is intended that the policy should improve the understanding of practices and procedures for those involved in the process.
Recommendations: (i) To endorse the Draft Enforcement Policy, and to recommend to the Policy (Corporate Services and Regeneration) Committee that it be adopted as the Council’s formal policy on Enforcement of Planning Matters. (ii) To agree that prior to the referral agreed under (i) above, consultation with Government Office and any other consultees deemed appropriate, is undertaken.
4 DEVELOPMENT CONTROL
*** To consider those applications for planning permissions on the enclosed list and such further planning applications as the Chairman may deem urgent.
Members are reminded of their responsibility to sign the Attendance Sheet in compliance with the Rules of Procedure.
