Issue - meetings

That Members note planning enforcement’s progress in maintaining service delivery 2009-2010.

TO FOLLOW

The Committee considered a report on Planning Enforcement’s progress in maintaining service delivery 2009-10.

The Committee suggested that there should be Member involvement in complex and challenging enforcement cases, and it was agreed that this would be looked into further. The Committee asked whether landlords involved in breaches at more than one property were identified in the course of enforcement investigations. Marc Dorfman advised that a task force had been established to look into the issue of fraudulent applications and that this work included looking at the commonality of applicants. It was reported that Internal Audit had been requested to look at the department’s processes and systems in relation to applications, and that officers were grateful to Members for flagging such issues up.

The Committee suggested that the reasons for cases being closed because enforcement action was not expedient needed to be explained in greater detail to residents. It was reported that the basis of such decisions was covered in letters to residents and that officers were encouraged to add further explanation, but feedback had indicated that the quality of communication could be improved further and the department would work to address this issue in the coming year.

The Committee asked about the information held on the different types of cases. It was reported that the recording system had been updated to include 12 distinct categories of cases. Once further data had been captured, it was anticipated that the breakdown of case types could be reported to the Committee on a quarterly basis.

In response to a question from the Committee regarding enforcement notices withdrawn by the Council, it was reported that there had been evidence that some cases were out of time, and that work was needed to ensure that timescales were realistic in order to reduce the number of notices withdrawn.

The Committee asked about lessons learned in relation to enforcement action at Tower Gardens, in response to which it was reported that a comprehensive survey undertaken in 2004 had enabled officers to have a good understanding of the enforcement issues and to prioritise cases. This improved information had resulted in enforcement action being undertaken on a sound basis, and few appeals being lodged.

RESOLVED

That the content of the report be noted.