Agenda item

Nicholas presented this enforcement policy stating it’s aimed at shadowing the Regulators code and outlines as an authority how we would go about carrying out an enforcement activity, it doesn’t replace any specific departmental enforcement policies what it does do is gives the overarching approach and prevents the need to put this in every policy.

Nicholas was happy to take questions from members.

Cllr Imarni said there are some things that are unclear, you say you will do things but no indication how, she believed that the policy was very vague. Example 4.6.3.

Chris said the answer of how is in each specific departmental policy, the initial of how it’s done is elsewhere.

Cllr Mahmood asked if they will be adding an appendix so they can see that there are further detail policies.

Nicholas said that as it’s only an overarching policy the others would sit as an appendix and he doesn’t know each specific department policy as there is rather a lot and most departments have several and this is stated in the policy 4.7.1 and they expect each department to add it in there.

Cllr Hearn referred to page 23, 4.24. How will this be achieved?

Nicholas said training is undertaken and a certain number of CPD hours must be achieved, they also go out with staff and check consistency.

Cllr Howard asked if there is a formal record of training that the individuals have done.

Nicholas said within Regulatory services yes there was a record, they keep all records and as Environmental Health Officers they have to do a minimum of 20 hours CPD non-chartered and 30hours if they are chartered and it’s also audited. Their hours are made up of core and non-core hours which they have to do as part of their CPD.

Cllr Wyatt-Lowe added, should policies like this include naming and shaming as part of the enforcement process and if they were appropriate to go to other scrutiny’s how would they know that. There needs to be a reference to every policy that exists.

Cllr Conway said that she called for an inspection and didn’t get any feedback on this.

Nicholas said he couldn’t comment as he doesn’t know about specific case in other departments and Cllr Conway should chase them up and ask for feedback directly.

Cllr Harden had highlighted that the Portfolio Holders names were correct on the front page but not correct in the report.

He also stated that he feels there should be a link not necessarily an appendix to refer people to other policies, all the policies that are affected by our enforcement policy.

Nicholas said it’s quite complicated and will look into the visibility of doing this.

Cllr Mahmood asked if we had a head of enforcement?

Nicholas replied that there is no overall person; they should go to the Group Manager that has enforcement activity underneath their area.

Chris added to that explaining that we do have an Enforcement Group, and all the key Team Leaders and Group Managers sit on that group.

Cllr Mahmood asked if this report would be going to all committees as it seems to cover other areas.

Nicholas said it’s planned just to go to Housing and Community Overview and Scrutiny and Cabinet.

Cllr Mahmood added to that saying he thought it was very therapeutic and it follows through and asked if there was a list when prosecuting, it doesn’t state our policy on it as a general, and if he was a member of the public reading this he wouldn’t know where to go next.

Nicholas explained that it’s for the individual departmental enforcement policies as the enforcement options available are different depending on the legislation. Nicholas to look at adding links within this policy to refer people to other detailed policies. 

Cllr Conway questioned how they would know who is in charge of each different enforcement.

Nicholas said that if they were to call the call centre the list is held there.

Action:  Nicholas to look at the viability of linking the policy to other policies before going to cabinet (see above for details)

Outcome: Report was noted.