To approve the revised single overarching enforcement and prosecution policy for all regulatory activities undertaken by or on behalf of Herefordshire Council, together with specific supplementary policies.

The cabinet member transport and regulatory services introduced the report. It was noted that:

·         the overarching policy would cover all regulatory activities;

·         the policy replaced the one adopted in 2012, taking account of changes in regulations and good practice;

·         partner organisations such as Balfour Beatty Living Places would also use this policy;

·         the appendices to the policy set out the detailed guidance for each subject area, the policies on parking and environmental enforcement were new and the others were updated versions of existing policies.

In response to a query from the cabinet member infrastructure it was confirmed that all conditions applied needed to be enforceable and that there was a dispensations policy which allowed for exemptions, for example where a tradesman needed to park close to a property to work on it. Enforcement officers had to issue penalty notices if they observed a contravention but there was an appeal process which would consider individual circumstances.

The leader of the Independents asked how many blue badges had been issued. It was clarified that these badges were not issued by the parking team but that the figure would be sought and supplied after the meeting.

The leader of the Its Our County group welcomed the update. He asked that the adopted policies be clearly visible and accessible on the council website. In response to a query it was confirmed that the neighbour noise evening hotline which had run in the summer had been well received. The hotline had been financed by the police and crime commissioner and the council was looking to put in a bid for funding again this year. The bid included a request for additional funds so that the service could be expanded. It was also confirmed that officers were confident the statutory requirements could be delivered, with staff redeployed as necessary to enforce policies.

In response to a query from the cabinet member finance, housing and corporate services it was confirmed that the policy was written in such a way that external changes could be incorporated and that the main focus was on overarching principles, with detail in the appended documents. 

The cabinet member contracts and assets left the meeting at 4:18.

That:

(a)  the single overarching enforcement and prosecution policy (attached at appendix 1) and the following policies forming appendices to that policy (attached at appendices A to F) be approved and implemented with immediate effect:

i.             Parking Supplementary Enforcement & Appeals Policy,

ii.            Building Control Supplementary Enforcement Policy,

iii.           Planning Supplementary Enforcement Policy,

iv.           Environmental Health (Housing) Supplementary Enforcement Policy,

v.            Code of Conduct for Issuing Penalty Notices for Child Absenteeism, and

vi.           Environmental Enforcement– Fixed Penalty Notice Operational Policy.