Agenda item

Councillor Jonathan Lytle, Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee outlined the committee’s concerns in relation to the Council’s Planning Enforcement function and in particular levels of resources to address the range of enforcement issues.

The Regulatory Portfolio Holder acknowledged the concerns, highlighting enforcement after instruction. He noted that he was already working with officers to achieve improvements and recognised that whilst increasing resources will not always improve perception, the recent steps to involve both the Corporate Fraud Team and the Contact Centre would need time to bed in. The key was to find more effective measures and use of powers.

Resolved, that

(i)            The reference from the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee on the previous performance of the Planning Enforcement function and its contribution going forward, be noted;

(ii)          Measures to improve the service, going forward and in particular the new involvement of the Corporate Enforcement Team and Contact Centre be noted; and

(iii)         A further review of the performance of the service be scheduled after 12 months operation with the new measures in place.