Planning Enforcement and Monitoring Plan

5.1 All valid reports of breaches of planning control will be logged on the Council’s database, acknowledged and investigated to an appropriate level.

5.2 The below matters will be considered as a priority and visited within 2 working days:

• unauthorised works to listed buildings
• unauthorised works to protected trees or hedgerows
• breaches of planning control that could cause serious or irreversible harm, including significant harm to amenity, living conditions, trees, wildlife, ecology, archaeology, or heritage assets

Once the priority site visit undertaken, the investigation will then follow the same timeline detailed below.

5.3 Cases follow a staged approach, which may include the processes detailed below.

5.4 Whilst we can't give an accurate date when we can expect investigations to have been fully concluded, and any breach resolved, we will provide an update within 100 days of us opening an investigation.

5.5 For the avoidance of doubt, the investigation may remain open after this 100-day period if action (either informal or formal) is being taken. We will confirm this within our update.

5.6 It is generally good practice for planning enforcement site visits not to be attended by members of the public or local Members for several important reasons:

1) Preserving Impartiality and Objectivity

Enforcement officers must assess the site solely on planning grounds, without influence from public opinion or political pressure. The presence of interested parties could unintentionally bias the assessment or create a perception of partiality.

2) Avoiding Conflict or Confrontation

Site visits can be sensitive, especially if the property owner is unaware of the visit or disputes the alleged breach. Having members of the public or councillors present could escalate tensions, leading to confrontation or distress for those involved.

3) Protecting Privacy and Legal Rights

Officers may be entering private land or premises, and their access is governed by legal powers under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The presence of third parties could compromise privacy rights or breach data protection regulations.

4) Ensuring Efficiency and Focus

Site visits are often technical and require officers to focus on measuring, photographing, and assessing specific planning elements. Additional attendees may distract from the purpose of the visit or slow down the process.

5) Avoiding Misinterpretation of Roles

Councillors have a strategic and representational role, not an operational one. Their presence could be misinterpreted as interference in enforcement decisions, which must be based on planning law and policy.

6) Maintaining Legal Integrity

Evidence gathered during site visits may be used in enforcement proceedings. It’s important that the process is legally robust and defensible, which could be undermined by non-official attendees.

5.7 Sometimes, a reported breach of planning control may involve issues that also fall within the responsibility of other council departments or public bodies, such as Environmental Health, Building Control, Housing, or the Environment Agency. In these cases, the Planning Enforcement service will work closely with the relevant teams to ensure the matter is addressed appropriately.

5.8 Where it is more effective or expedient to take action under other legislation—rather than using planning enforcement powers—we may support or refer the case to those services. In situations where responsibilities overlap, we aim to take a coordinated approach with other agencies to resolve the issue efficiently and in the public interest.

5.9 We will communicate planning enforcement successes via several communication channels. We may seek to use our relationships with Members, Town and Parish Councils and Community Boards to advertise where the team has successfully resolved breaches of planning control as well as using local press releases and social media platforms when appropriate.