The Cabinet Member for Planning introduced the report which presented the revised draft Planning Enforcement Strategy and Charter following the undertaking of a formal eight week public consultation process in May and June 2021.  The Cabinet Member considered that the revised document provided a clearer and more comprehensible strategy in dealing with alleged planning breaches.   It also encouraged Members and Parish Councils to use the online reporting tool to ensure complaints were properly logged.  The Cabinet Member considered that the updated Strategy was a “big step forward” and would not only assist Members and the public but also officers.

The Development Manager advised that all responses and the Council’s reply were set-out at Appendix IV to the report.  The Development Manager reported that the enforcement team would be increased to 4.8 full-time enforcement officers, and he hoped that two full-time officers would be in post by October 2021.  He advised that annually over 800 allegations about breaches of planning control were received, and to assist officers in handling these cases, a priority-based list based on the seriousness of the breach was included within the Strategy.

The Cabinet Member for Planning proposed the recommendations which were seconded by the Cabinet Member for Community.

Resolved:

(1)      That the Planning Enforcement Strategy and Charter set-out in Appendix I to the report be agreed.