Issue - meetings

Report No: EXC/SA/19/004

Shadow Executive (Cabinet) Members: Susan Glossop and Lance Stanbury

Lead Officer: David Collinson

RESOLVED:

That the West Suffolk Council Enforcement Policy, as contained in Appendix A to Report No: EXC/SA/19/004, be adopted to take effect from 1 April 2019.

The Shadow Executive (Cabinet) considered the above report, which sought approval for an overarching Enforcement Policy for West Suffolk Council.

Members noted the background to the West Suffolk Councils currently operating as regulator and enforcement agency for a wide range of legal duties and powers in order to protect the public, individuals and the environment.

The Enforcement Policy was one of a number of policies that were being reviewed and harmonised in advance of the creation of West Suffolk Council on 1 April 2019.   The new policy detailed overarching enforcement actions across services with enforcement duties.

Councillor Lance Stanbury, Shadow Executive (Cabinet) Member with the responsibility for Planning and Growth, drew relevant issues to the attention of the Shadow Executive, including that the proposed new policy for West Suffolk Council, which was attached as Appendix A to the report, aimed to align the key principles across West Suffolk, as outlined in paragraphs 1.1.4 and 1.1.5,  and included similar principles to those of the current Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury policies.

Members acknowledged the good practice covered within the proposed policy, which included reducing the regulatory burden, risk-led enforcement and supporting the local economy. The policy proposed to follow a new structure which aimed to guide the reader through the key principles and enforcement actions where consistency was desired to all council services. This included the omission some details summarised in paragraph 1.3.3, alongside the rationale.

The draft policy, which had been subject to consultation, details of which were provided in Section 2 and Appendix B, was supported by the Shadow Executive (Cabinet) for adoption.

RESOLVED:

That the West Suffolk Council Enforcement Policy, as contained in Appendix A to Report No: EXC/SA/19/004, be adopted to take effect from 1 April 2019.