To receive a verbal update from the Enforcement Service Manager.

The Chairman welcomed Jo Parker, Enforcement Service Manager and Councillor Tom Ashton as Portfolio Holder for Planning to provide Members with an update on Planning Enforcement.

The Enforcement Service Manager advised Members of the previous queries raised by the Committee following the Meeting on 23rd January 2024 where a review of the use of planning conditions was undertaken. 

The following responses were provided:

·       Members were informed that the Planning Enforcement Service was tasked with 1000 planning enforcement cases a year on average and that fluctuations were observed during the summer months when there was an increase in people staying in holiday accommodation and more people were spending time outdoors.

·       Members were informed that the individual caseload of Enforcement officers was not restricted to set geographical areas and that set areas were utilised when possible for efficiency of travelling and conducting site inspections.

·       The Enforcement Service Manager advised Members that the caseload for Planning Enforcement Officers averaged between 30 and 80 cases per officer.

·       The Enforcement Service Manager further informed Members that the Enforcement team consisted of other components in addition to planning, including caravan licensing and tree officers.

The Chairman provided clarification on the queries that had been identified following the caravan enforcement scrutiny and whether the enforcement department had capacity to address unauthorised occupancy of caravans and the unauthorised running of businesses on caravan parks.

Further to a discussion, it was agreed that the update in relation to caravan enforcement from the Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Tracker be brought forward for the current item (as below).

To explore the issues surrounding caravan licensing and enforcement.

Members were referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Tracker, pages 78 to 85 of the Agenda refer.

The Enforcement Service Manager assured Members that work was underway and that the proposal being put forward to Executive Board later in 2024 aimed to identify the best way forward to address the unauthorised occupancy on caravan parks to be managed in light of the current lack of resources.  The Enforcement Service Manager informed Members that the report was a comprehensive undertaking and required consultation with other service areas which included the Well-being and Housing teams. 

In relation to the 18 caravan scrutiny recommendations, Members were advised that work was being deferred until the service review had taken place and financial information had been obtained at the request of the new Assistant Director for Planning and Strategic Infrastructure.

The Enforcement Service Manager confirmed that considerable work had been undertaken in relation to the recommendations that were not being deferred, including improved liaison with the Council Tax Team and Customer Services, and work in relation to emergency planning which included updating the Council’s mapping system to enhance contact databases for use in emergencies in relation to flooding, pages 81 to 82 and page 84 of the Agenda refer.  The Enforcement Service Manager further advised that that the number of caravan sites in East Lindsey was approximately 300 with 36,812 caravans to inspect and that handover of information for emergency planning services was nearing completion.

Councillor Tom Ashton as Portfolio Holder for Planning advised Members that he shared Members’ determination for the report to be presented to the Executive Board with urgency and understood the need for a service review.

Members were invited to put their comments and questions forward.

·       A Member queried the number of retrospective planning applications submitted by the unauthorised occupants of caravans.  In response, the Planning Enforcement Service Manager advised that the number of submitted applications was generally small and confirmed that 22 approved caravan sites were fully residential in East Lindsey out of approximately 300 caravan sites overall.  

·       A Member commented that Members had not previously been informed that a service review was being undertaken and strongly recognised and supported that there were wider social issues that urgently needed addressing in the East Lindsey district.

·       A Member offered thanks to the work and efforts being undertaken by the Enforcement Service Team and welcomed future investment in the service area.

·       The Portfolio Holder for Planning reiterated the importance of the report being presented to the Executive Board later this year and gave his commitment to providing an update at the October 2024 Meeting.  

·       A Member commented that the work undertaken by the caravan team would greatly benefit from being shared through a press release to keep others informed and to promote the team’s good work.

·       In reference to the statistics provided on officer caseload, a Member queried if the planning enforcement team was adequately resourced.  In response, the Enforcement Service Manager informed Members that the 1000 cases per year average varied depending on how many complaints were received and that an individual case load of 80 was considered as high.  The Enforcement Service Manager further advised Members that officers were currently involved with the delivery of the replacement of the corporate computer system and that consultants had been utilised to assist with capacity.  The Enforcement Service Manager concluded that a request had been made for the establishment of a Principal Enforcement Officer which would be examined through the service review.

·       The Portfolio Holder for Planning highlighted his appreciation for the work of the Enforcement Team and supported the need for additional resources.

·       A Member queried whether the Enforcement team was only assigned to East Lindsey’s geographical area.  In response, the Enforcement Service Manager confirmed that the team was only responsible for East Lindsey and that the team no longer served Boston as South Holland District Council had taken on that role.

No further comments or questions were received. The Chairman thanked the Enforcement Service Manager and Portfolio Holder for Planning for attending the meeting and providing an informative update.

N.B. The Enforcement Service Manager left the Meeting at 10.39am.