Committee Regulatory
Planning Committee
Date 18 October 2023
Report by Director of Communities, Economy and Transport
Subject Development Management Update
Purpose To inform Members about matters relating to enforcement and site monitoring, undertaken under delegated powers, for the period between 1 July 2023 and 30 September 2023.
Contact Officer: Sarah Iles – 01273 481631
Local Members: All
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Committee is recommended to note the report.
CONSIDERATION BY DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITIES, ECONOMY AND TRANSPORT
1. Enforcement
1.1 In the period between 1 July 2023 and 30 September 2023, inclusive, there were eight new complaints about alleged breaches of planning control. All of the new cases relate to “County Matter” sites. Of the new cases, four were dealt with and completed within the reporting period and 13 older cases were also resolved. Accordingly, the number of sites being investigated or subject to formal action at the end of September was 32. This represents a decrease of nine in the number of cases that were outstanding at the end of the previously reported period (1 January 2023 – 30 June 2023).
1.2 A decrease in the number of outstanding cases is very encouraging, particularly as there remain vacancies within the Planning Policy and Development Management Team, which impacts on the support available for the enforcement function. However, as can be noted from the decrease in outstanding cases and the details of cases and actions in Appendix 1 of this report, the enforcement service continues to be effective and provided proactively.
1.3 As can often be the case, there are certain sites which require more time to be spent on them, whether due to the scale and complexity of the case or particular circumstances or sensitivities surrounding a case. This can be said for several of the cases listed in Appendix 1. However, despite some cases being intensive in terms of officer time and involvement, the benefits of this should not be underestimated. In dealing with breaches of planning control, officers continually strive to achieve the best outcomes, and often this is achieved by investing time to reach satisfactory solutions, rather than always resorting to formal enforcement action, which can be resource intensive in itself.
1.4 Appendix 1 of this report provides details of cases resolved and received within the period 1 July 2023 and 30 September 2023, together with details of the statuses of all current cases. Additional details and information on these cases can be obtained from the relevant officers listed at the end of this report.
2. Site Monitoring
2.1 The resumption of the site monitoring regime has progressed really well and in the last quarter 17 formal site monitoring visits were carried out. None of the monitoring visits have raised any significant issues.
2.2 The formal resumption of the Site Monitoring Programme has been incredibly beneficial and positive. It has enabled officers to engage with site operators and establish dialogue with them. A far better understanding of the challenges facing the waste and minerals industry is also being gained, including how unauthorised waste activities are impacting on the viability of established, legitimate waste operations. This reinforces the importance of the enforcement work undertaken by the team in terms of unauthorised waste operations and activities. Overall, the reintroduction of site monitoring has been positively received by the industry.
2.3 Formal site monitoring will be part of an ongoing programme and currently 29 formal visits have been arranged for the next quarter.
3. Contact Officers
3.1 Members with any queries about enforcement or site monitoring matters should contact either Sarah Iles (01273 481631) or Marcus Berrisford (01273 335218).
RUPERT CLUBB
Director of Communities, Economy and Transport
Local Members: All