Issue - meetings

The updated Local Planning Enforcement Plan, set out at Annexe 1, sets out how the Council intends to respond to individual complaints about breaches of planning control, the process for investigating and recording complaints and the timescales involves.  The overarching principle of this Plan is that the Council will provide a fair, proportionate, and consistent enforcement service to protect the environment of the Borough and the amenities of the people who live and work in Waverley. 

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive, after considering the comments made by the Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee, agree to adopt the updated Local Planning Enforcement Plan.

The Executive RESOLVED to adopt the updated Local Planning Enforcement Plan.

Reason: To comply with good practice as set  out in Paragraph 59 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021:

“Effective enforcement is important to maintain public confidence in the planning system. Enforcement action is discretionary, and local planning authorities should act proportionately in responding to suspected breaches of planning control. They should consider publishing a local enforcement plan to manage enforcement proactively, in a way that is appropriate to their area. This should set out how they will monitor the implementation of planning permission, investigate alleged cases of unauthorised development, and take action where appropriate.”

[This matter has already been considered by Services O&S Committee.]

Cllr MacLeod introduced the revised Local Planning Enforcement Plan, which would replace the current plan that had been adopted in 2013. It was good practice to have a Local Planning Enforcement Plan which set out how the Council would respond to individual complaints about breaches of planning control, the process for investigating and recording complaints and the timescales involved. The revised Plan reflected changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, adoption of Local Plan Part 1, Waverley’s Corporate Strategy, and declaration of a climate emergency.

The revised Plan also aimed to provide more detailed information about the Council’s enforcement procedures to better manage the public’s high expectations of what the planning enforcement function was able to deliver, and the timeframes associated with certain types of enforcement action.

The Executive RESOLVED to adopt the updated Local Planning Enforcement Plan.

Reason: To comply with good practice as set  out in Paragraph 59 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021:

“Effective enforcement is important to maintain public confidence in the planning system. Enforcement action is discretionary, and local planning authorities should act proportionately in responding to suspected breaches of planning control. They should consider publishing a local enforcement plan to manage enforcement proactively, in a way that is appropriate to their area. This should set out how they will monitor the implementation of planning permission, investigate alleged cases of unauthorised development, and take action where appropriate.”