The Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Enforcement introduced the report detailing the update on the shared Enforcement Policy due to regulatory changes and expansion in the council’s role in animal welfare protection/licensing. He advised that this had been presented to all Policy Advisory Committees (PACs) due to the range of areas covered.

In response to queries, the Community & Strategic Partnerships Manager advised that the new neighbourhood policing model introduced last year had seen significant improvement, with the collaborative work being seen as a flagship example to other authorities in Kent.

RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to the CABINET:

1.  To approve the adoption of the Environmental Health, Waste Crime and Community Protection Enforcement Policy 2024 to replace the 2019 policy.

The Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Enforcement introduced the report detailing the update on the shared Enforcement Policy due to regulatory changes and expansion in the council’s role in animal welfare protection/licensing. He advised that this had been presented to all Policy Advisory Committees (PACs) due to the range of areas covered.

The Committee approved of the recommendations with some presentational comments. In response to a query, the Food and Commercial Team Leader advised that Environmental Health kept good contact with those who made reports to the Council.

RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to the CABINET: To approve the adoption of the Environmental Health, Waste Crime and Community Protection Enforcement Policy 2024 to replace the 2019 policy.

The Leader of the Council introduced the report and stated that the two most significant updates to the Environmental Health, Waste Crime and Community Protection Enforcement policy were additional partners to the policy and animal welfare, including animal penalty notices.

In response to questions, the Public Realm Operations Manager stated that bonfires were covered by the policy, that Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) were issued in a measured manner to change behaviour and not issued for profit, and that typographical changes would be made before implementation of the policy.

RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to CABINET: That

1.  The adoption of the Environmental Health, Waste Crime and Community Protection Enforcement Policy 2024, to replace the 2019 policy, be approved.