Hart Borough Council Development Management Enforcement Sub-Committee Meeting

The minutes of the Planning Enforcement Sub-Committee meeting held on 26 June 2023 were agreed as a correct record and were signed by the Chairman.

Proposed by: Cllr Southern; Seconded by: Cllr Makepeace-Browne.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman welcomed two new members of staff: Mark Berry (Interim Development Management and Building Control Manager), who would be post while Ms Stephanie Baker was on maternity leave; and, Kathy Long who had recently joined the Committee Services team. 

The Chairman advised the Committee that Victoria Goldberg would be leaving Hart District Council to join the Planning Inspectorate.  He thanked Ms Goldberg for her service to the Council and extended the Sub-Committee’s best wishes for the future.

The Planning Enforcement Team Leader gave an update on the following notable planning enforcement cases, as outlined in the paper circulated with the agenda pack. During discussion on the enforcement notice in connection with Granary Court, South Warnborough, the Ward Councillor (Cllr Kennett) advised that he would raise the vehicular access issue with Hampshire County Council.

The Sub-Committee was advised that there were currently 190 live cases pending consideration and 45 cases where notices had been issued (inclusive of Planning Contravention Notices (PCNs)).  During the previous six months, the Planning Enforcement Team had issued: five PCNs; one Section 215 Notice; and three enforcement notices.  A four-day public inquiry had been held in December 2023 regarding an appeal against an enforcement notice, where the Planning Inspector had found in favour of the Council.  It was further noted that there were an additional seven live appeals in relation to enforcement notices. 

The Planning Enforcement Team Leader advised the Sub-Committee that there had been an error in a report to the Sub-Committee at the June 2023 meeting relating to No. 7 Castle Bridge Cottages, Hook Road, North Warnborough, where it had been stated that the Planning Enforcement Team had been unable to get a response from the owner regarding a site visit.  Subsequently, the owner had contacted the Planning Enforcement Team to state that they had replied by email to the Officer’s contact. The Sub-Committee agreed to note this correction.

The Planning Enforcement Team Leader stated that she was working with the Executive Director - Place to update the Planning Enforcement Policy to ensure that the most serious issues of planning control were prioritised by the Planning Enforcement Team to make sure that the Team had the capacity to deal with the most harmful instances as a priority.  This approach received the support of the Sub-Committee.

Members raised questions regarding updates on other sites not listed in the report, which were answered by the Planning Enforcement Team Leader. 

DECISION

The Sub-Committee noted the updates on notable cases of planning enforcement, as set out in the report.