Decision details

The Community Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

She stated that the Council had a statutory duty to enforce a wide range of legislation, with regulatory functions being delivered by a number of service areas across the Council. She advised Members that the adoption of an enforcement policy was essential to ensure consistency in enforcement was achieved. She highlighted, that the purpose of the Policy was to simplify the enforcement framework by revoking the Environment Directorate Enforcement Policy and that, if approved, the policy would replace the current General Enforcement Policy adopted by Executive Board in May 2006. She went on to add that the General Enforcement Policy was a generic policy covering a range of regulatory functions, but it did not deal with service specific enforcement options as these were contained within service specific enforcement policies and operational procedures. She informed Members that these specific policies were likely to need frequent amendments as legislation changed and therefore it was appropriate that their approval be delegated to the relevant Head of Service, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to remove the need to keep referring back to Cabinet.

It was moved by Councillor A V Smith, seconded by Councillor R D Bayliss and

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The content of the General Enforcement Policy be approved and adopted by the Authority

2. The Head of Service, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder be delegated authority to approve service specific enforcement policies, in line with the Councils general policy

3. The relevant Director be authorised to make minor changes to the General Enforcement Policy

4.  The Environment Directorate Enforcement Policy adopted in 2006 be revoked

Reason for decision:The Council has a statutory duty to enforce a wide range of legislation, with regulatory functions being delivered by a number of service areas across the Council. The adoption of an enforcement policy is essential to ensure consistency in enforcement is achieved.