Issue - meetings

Buckinghamshire Council is required to have an enforcement policy. This report recommends the adoption of an overarching enforcement policy for the new authority. The policy at Appendix 1 to this report should ensure that any enforcement action taken, or advice given by the new authority is fair to persons and businesses affected by it.

RESOLVED:  To agree the enforcement policy which is an overarching policy covering all enforcement activities where prosecution is an available remedy.

Isobel Darby introduced the report and stated that the Council tried to assist residents and businesses to comply with the regulations but there were occasions when enforcement action had to be taken and end up in prosecution.  Jacqui Bromilow, Operations Manager (Regulatory Services), advised that the Buckinghamshire Council Enforcement Policy was the overarching policy; however, each service would have its own policies and/or procedures to support the overarching policy.  Buckinghamshire Council wanted to support businesses and individuals and, where appropriate, would offer advice on a tiered approach but would take more serious action if appropriate.

Members of the Shadow Executive raised the following points in discussion:

• In response to being asked whether sufficient resources were available to carry out necessary enforcement; J Bromilow stated that she was not in a position to answer as the policy covered a number of services.
• A member of the committee commented that, recently, a very successful campaign had been carried out to enforce the proper use of Blue Badges which had resulted in the confiscation of a number of badges and deterred misuse; he was supportive of this type of enforcement continuing.

RESOLVED:  The Shadow Executive Committee AGREED the enforcement policy which was an overarching policy covering all enforcement activities where prosecution was an available remedy.