The Planning Enforcement Customer Charter sets out the service standards that you can expect from the Council’s Planning Enforcement Team. The Customer Charter can be downloaded.
The following are the standards that the service seeks to achieve in the handling of all enforcement cases:-
• All properly made* enquiries for enforcement investigation will be registered and acknowledged in writing within 3 working days of receipt and your personal details will be held confidentially. The Local Ward Councillor(s) will be informed of the complaint location and alleged breach.
• An initial site inspection will be carried out, if necessary, within 10 working days of receipt of the enforcement enquiry, and the case will be assessed against the planning history, planning policy and the Council’s risk-based criteria for establishing enforcement priorities.
• In cases where NO action is necessary, a substantive response will be made to the enquirer, within 20 working days of receipt of the enforcement enquiry setting out the Council’s decision and the reasons.
• In cases where action is necessary, a substantive response will be made both to the enquirer and the owner(s) of the site under investigation, within 20 working days of receipt of the enforcement enquiry, setting out the Council’s decision and proposed further action if a breach has been found to have occurred.
Progress up-dates will be given to the enquirer and any other party with a legitimate interest in the issue (such as Ward Councillors and Parish Councils), at not less than 6 weekly intervals on longer running cases.
For reference - a working day is classed as Monday – Friday (not Bank Holidays)
Prioritising the Work
When dealing with planning enforcement cases we will seek to prioritise those cases which require immediate action:-
High Priority:
Development in breach of planning control that has a clearly unacceptable effect on public amenity (causes clear harm); and which requires the issue of IMMEDIATE formal enforcement action including cessation of works. (Possible examples: works to listed building or development in the Green Belt)
Medium Priority:
Development in breach of planning control that has a clearly unacceptable effect on public amenity (causes clear harm); and which requires the issue of formal enforcement action. (Possible examples: serious breach of condition, substantial works which are unlikely to be granted planning permission, a change of use causing serious harm or nuisance)
Low Priority
Development in breach of planning control that has an unacceptable effect on public amenity (causes some harm), however could likely be remedied through negotiation on specific matters.
* When we receive a complaint if the required information is not submitted we will request this from you as part of the registration process before we can investigate the complaint.