Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the enforcement tracker report which provided the status of enforcement cases where formal notices had been served. The report also included a table showing Quarter 1 received / closed / live cases for 2021 and 2022 comparison and a chart showing Quarter 1 formal notices for 2021 and 2022 comparison. Officers were congratulated on the number of completed cases.

The Committee raised concerns around surface water draining into foul water networks, which caused a strain on the infrastructure and led to a higher risk of flooding and pollution in the Borough. The strength of enforcement actions brought against those who converted soft landscaped areas to impervious hard surfaces was questioned, and it was suggested that this should be referred to the appropriate Committee or Lead Member to investigate further.

The Head of Planning and Development suggested that it could be considered for incorporation into the Design and Sustainability Development Plan Document (DPD) to enable stronger enforcement action against unapproved hard surfacing.

RESOLVED: That the increasing occurrence of hard surfacing of commercial and residential land (and their impact on drainage) be reviewed by considering enforcement options and looking at planning policy (in particular looking at design parameters in the proposed Design and Sustainability DPD) and delegation to officers to refer via the most appropriate route.