Agenda item

To consider the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Member Working Group (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Working Group (the Working Group) updating Members on the scrutiny watching brief item relating to Planning Enforcement.

It was noted that the Working Group had continued to receive regular updates from Officers on this watching brief item and wished to bring to the attention of the Committee issues of concern around performance which had been directly affected by on-going staff difficulties. All Members had been sent an email by the Assistant Director – Planning and Implementation in July 2025 briefing them on the present position with regards to the Planning Enforcement Team to ensure they were aware of the challenges. The report provided detailed information on the number of open cases and those assigned to an Officer; current staff and the impact this had on performance and the expanding duties required of the Team.

During the discussion that followed and in response to questions / comments raised, the Head of Service: Planning Policy and Implementation outlined the ongoing problems faced recruiting into staff vacancies within the Enforcement team and the various unsuccessful local and nationwide recruitment campaigns that had been undertaken. Members were informed that a contractor was currently in place for a period of three months and working to get notices that need serving up to date.  Following discussions, the Assistant Director provided further detail and advised that whilst agency cover was a last resort due to the cost, this may need to become a more permanent way of resourcing enforcement, if the Council was minded to consider this, in a similar way to the current arrangement in place for the Development Management team. He explained that whilst investigation of a potential breach was a legal requirement, taking action to resolve the breach was not.

Following further discussion, the Chairperson moved the recommendation set out in the report and suggested an additional recommendation to suspend the watching brief on Planning Enforcement by this Committee, viewing it as a performance issue with the review of performance moving to the Performance, Governance and Audit Committee (PGA). Members discussed this proposal, and the Chairperson then changed his proposal recommending that Officers be asked to prepare a report to the Council regarding Planning Enforcement.

In response to the suggestion that the PGA monitor enforcement, the Assistant Director – Programmes, Performance and Governance advised that the Committee could make a recommendation to the PGA that it continue to review enforcement as part of the performance monitoring suite.

The Committee discussed the suggested report to the Council and its content regarding Planning Enforcement and in response to questions Officers provided further information relating to the current backlog of cases. The Assistant Director – Planning and Implementation suggested that, if agreed, the report detail the challenges faced, what an alternative future could look like along with the policy updates that the team would like to bring forward.

The Chairperson then revised his earlier proposition and moved that the Committee retained a watching briefing on Planning Enforcement; Officers be asked to prepare a report to the Council regarding increasing resources relating to Planning Enforcement, and recommend to the PGA that it start to review performance in relation to the Planning Enforcement team. This was duly seconded and agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)             that the Committee received and considered the Working Group’s report;

(ii)            that the Committee continues to have a watching brief in relation to the Planning Enforcement Team;

(iii)           that Officers prepare a report to the Council outlining the operational issues currently experienced by the Planning Enforcement Team and options for future resourcing of the team;

(iv)           that the Performance, Governance and Audit Committee consider reviewing Planning Enforcement as part of its performance monitoring.