Enforcement

The Council is concerned that development should not be undertaken without planning permission first being granted and that conditions attached to permissions are fully complied with. Enforcement Officers are employed in the Development Control section to investigate complaints of unauthorised development and non-compliance with conditions. In most cases they are able to discuss problems with developers and resolve them without recourse to formal action. The decision whether to take enforcement action and, if so, what action is best suited to a particular circumstance, is at the local authorities discretion. Each case has to be considered on its merits and the "expediency" of taking action evaluated. The Council always tries to negotiate before resorting to legal action.