Agenda item

The Technical Services Manager,WRS presented the Planning and Environmental Enforcement Business Case. During the presentation the following was highlighted for Members’ attention:

·       A number of issues had been experienced by the Council in respect of Planning and Environmental enforcement in the past. These included difficulty in the recruitment of experienced and skilled officers. It a considered that WRS Officers had the necessary skills to provide effective enforcement on behalf of the Council. The service would include triaging of enforcement matters, proactive enforcement and legal and administrative support. In addition to this by utilising the expertise of WRS in enforcement matters, it would allow benefit from increased knowledge in areas such as injunctions and more skills in complex enforcement matters when multiple breaches had occurred; such as breaches that included both noise and importation of soil.

·       There was currently a backlog in enforcement cases at the Council and this proposed extra resource would provide a means by which to reduce the backlog over a period of time.

·       There would be an increase in resource allocated to ‘enviro-crimes’ such as fly-tipping and dog fouling, which were two areas of concern for both the Council and residents of the Borough.

In proposing the recommendations, Members stated that this proposal was an opportunity for the Council to enforce in a proactive manner and that the knowledge and skills offered by WRS was a key benefit to accepting these proposals.

Some Members were keen to better understand the process of approval of the report going forward. It was confirmed that this report was due to be considered at the Full Council meeting on 29^th January 2024. It was also due to be considered at a Bromsgrove District Council Cabinet meeting on 17^th February 2024 and then at the Full Council meeting on 24^th January 2024. Following the outcomes of these meetings the report would be considered at the next meeting of the WRS Board where all Member Councils would be asked to endorse the proposals.

RECOMMENDED that

1)    The Business case be pursued with the intention to bring together the enforcement functions within Environmental Services and Planning and associated current budget within the Shared Regulatory Service provided by WRS.

2)    An additional £23,400 annually be agreed to fund the service to meet the level of demand in Planning Enforcement.

3)    An additional £15,260 be agreed to fund 1.6 FTE additional (Grade 6) resource to support the work in tackling the backlog of Planning Enforcement cases each year for the next two years only.

4)    An additional £7,537.50 be agreed to fund 0.25 FTE additional (Grade 4) resource for the customer service resource element of fly-tipping, littering and enviro-crime.

5)    An additional £21,650 be agreed to fund 0.5 FTE additional (Grade 6) resource to support the work on enforcement of fly-tipping, littering and enviro-crime.

(During the consideration of this item, Members discussed matters that necessitated the disclosure of exempt information. It was therefore agreed to move to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that information would be revealed relating to the financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and information relating to consultations and negotiations, including contemplated consultations and negotiations, in respect of labour relations matters. However, there is no exempt information in this minute item).