Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to a report which sought the approval of the Council to adopt a Planning Enforcement Policy in order to provide a consistent and uniform approach as a result of the move towards shared services between the Council and Redditch Borough Council.  The Committee was informed that such a policy would effectively be a customer charter for the planning enforcement service.

However, it was explained that the Committee would only be able to comment on the amendments because the final decision in respect of the changes rested with the Council.

In respect of the third item in section 7 of the proposed Planning Enforcement Policy (Council's Commitment to Complainants - "The confidentiality of those reporting incidents will be maintained"), Members expressed concern about how the policy would ensure the confidentiality of a complainant could be maintained, especially in the event of an appeal by anyone who had been served with an Enforcement Notice.  However, the Head of Planning and Regeneration Services confirmed that the addition of an appropriate proviso could be added to ensure confidentiality would not be compromised.

RESOLVED that the Council be recommended to adopt the Planning Enforcement Policy, subject to the deletion of the third item in section 7 of the proposed Enforcement Policy, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, and replacement with the following text:-

§         The confidentiality of those reporting incidents will be maintained and no information will be disclosed to any other party without the written consent of the complainant.