To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor BA Durkin and PJ McCaull.

To receive details any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

There were no named substitutes present at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 15th November 2011.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 15th November, 2011 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the adoption of a Single Enforcement and Prosecution Policy for all relevant activities undertaken by Herefordshire Council.

A report was presented by the Regulatory Services Programme Manager about proposals for the introduction of a single enforcement and prosecution policy for all relevant activities undertaken by the Council. He thanked the Democratic Services Officer who had helped to prepare the policy.

The Regulatory Services Programme Manager said that the Policy set out the general principles to be followed by the Council in relation to regulation, enforcement and prosecution. It focused on what businesses, individuals and the community could expect from the Council’s regulatory services and its enforcement/investigation officers. The main function of the Council’s regulatory and enforcement work was to protect the public, public funds, the environment and groups such as consumers, residents and tenants, workers and businesses. A single policy would enable all enforcement to be undertaken in a clear, consistent, equitable and practical manner for the benefit of those who needed to comply.  He explained the extensive process that had been used to develop the policy, the different stages that had been gone through and the consultations that had been undertaken.  He also explained the legislation and guidance that had been taken into consideration in preparing the policy, together with the policies and best practice developed by other councils.

Members discussed the proposals and asked a number of questions. It was also noted that The Committee still had an important roll to play in monitoring the performance of officers and the effectiveness of the policy.  The Regulatory Services Programme Manager advised that the report would next be submitted to the Planning Committee and then to Cabinet in late March/early April.  The Committee welcomed the proposals set out in the policy and thanked the officers for all the work that had been undertaken to prepare it.

RESOLVED

THAT:

(a)        the principle of a Single Enforcement and Prosecution Policy is supported;

(b)       the detail contained within a Single Enforcement and Prosecution Policy is supported.

To note that the next meeting is likely to be on Tuesday 8th May, 2012.

To be arranged.