Issue - meetings

To consider the updated Corporate Enforcement Policy.

Tracey Bettaney, Head of Regulatory Services advised the Committee that the Corporate Enforcement Policy was reviewed every 3-years collaboratively with all relevant services.

The report highlighted the changes that included the adoption of the 4 E’s approach as a standard approach to enforcement; Engage, Educate, Encourage and Enforce.

For future reviews which will be undertaken every 3 years, only significant changes will be brought for consideration by the Committee.  The Committee were given assurances that the decision on what would equate to a minor amendment would be discussed with legal services prior to any decision being made.

The Committee raised some concern about the level of formal enforcement action taken by the Council.  The Head of Regulatory Services noted that there was always scope to be more targeted, particularly around local issues.  Within Cheshire East there is generally a high-level of compliance but also high-levels of complaints of perceived noncompliance, all of which require investigating.

The Committee noted the need to communicate the enforcement policy to parish councils and residents and that enforcement advice was not easy to find on the Cheshire East website.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

That the updated Cheshire East Council Corporate Enforcement Policy be approved.