- Key changes
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This policy covers a range of regulatory services.
We have consulted with business and the wider community and incorporated their views into the policy. We will continue to review it, in the light of feedback from any part of the community.
We have considered the cost, effectiveness, and likely perception of fairness resulting from this policy. We have also considered the impact our enforcement actions may have on small regulated entities (businesses or voluntary organisations), and try to ensure that the burdens of our interventions are fair and proportionate.
We will carry out risk assessments to ensure that our regulatory efforts and resources are targeted where they would be most effective. Inspections and other visits will be in accordance with the risk assessment, except where visits are requested, or we are required to investigate.
We will co-ordinate our work and share data with other regulators, when there are planned inspections of the same business. This is to avoid duplication and to minimise burdens on the business where practical, beneficial and cost effective.
If you have any views on how this revised enforcement policy will affect you, or require this document in a different format (such as large text, or Braille), please contact us.
- Introduction
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We have a responsibility to protect the communities we serve, using the legislative tools delegated by national government. Councils implement, administer and enforce a raft of legislation designed to protect health, local economies and the environment. In doing this, we have flexibility to determine the most appropriate methods for enforcement, to suit local needs and ensure value for money.
As part of the Community Strategy, ‘Pride in our Place’, our vision for the borough is: "Basingstoke and Deane will become famous for social justice, well-being, and prosperity for all: alert to its heritage and its responsibility to improve the built and natural environment..."
Consistent and fair application of our enforcement powers is critical in our delivery of this vision.
This policy and its appendices are based on the following reports and legislation:
- The Statutory Code of Practice for Regulators (‘the Code’)
- The Hampton Review and the Macrory Review
- Advice from government departments and agencies
- The Local Authorities Co-ordinators on Regulatory Services
- Existing legislation, such as the Human Rights Act 1998 and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
- Existing corporate policies, such as the Complaints Policy and Regulation of Investigations Policy
- Best practice and ‘The Code for Crown Prosecutors’.
- Aims
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General enforcement
We aim to ensure our enforcement actions are:
- fair and accountable - Officers employed by the council must comply with the principles set out in this enforcement policy. They are accountable to the public for their actions and decisions.
- consistent - the same approach will be adopted to achieve similar ends under similar circumstances.
- transparent - the council will help individuals, organisations or businesses to understand what is expected of them and what they should expect from us. We will also ensure that everyone can distinguish advice from legal obligations. Requirements and recommendations will be put in writing if requested.
Methodology
Enforcement should be:
- an effective use of resources through a risk based methodology - our resources will be targeted primarily on activities by the individuals, organisations or businesses giving rise to the most serious risks to health and safety, the environment or statutory nuisance to the public.
- proportionate - the enforcement action will relate to the risks to health and safety, the environment or the extent of nuisance to the public. Enforcement actions must be proportional to any risks, or to the seriousness of any breach. Care will be taken to ensure that no unnecessary costs are incurred.
Involving the community and improving protection:
This will:
- improve protection for the community and businesses - we will target our resources to those who deliberately,or persistently, breach the law.
- reduce the regulatory burden on businesses - risk assessments and joint working will reduce the inspection burden on compliant businesses.
- reviews - we will actively involve both businesses and the community in the creation and review of the policy.
- Scope
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This policy applies to the enforcement activities prescribed in the Regulators Code:
- environmental health
- community safety
- licensing
- parking
- building control
- planning enforcement
- dog warden; and
- waste management
- private sector housing management.
We must adhere to these principles to be complaint with the aims of this policy. This applies not only when carrying out the enforcement, but also when setting policies, principles, and standards, and providing guidance relating to enforcement activities. We must, therefore, combine this methodology into both the processes and culture of the our enforcement. This will be achieved through:
- the Compliance Forum which allows the liaison of internal and external enforcing authorities to support joint working, and consistency. It also allows the sharing of information, where this is practicable, and will reduce the burden on businesses
- the induction and ongoing training and coaching of staff
- ensuring staff are appropriately qualified, possess suitable experience, and are authorised to take the relevant action.
- monitoring and reviewing performance
- accounting and reporting on enforcement
- the regular involvement of the community and business sector in the review and improvement of our enforcement.
This policy is robust, due to the consultation, monitoring, management and review processes. However, in some cases, we may decide that a provision of this policy is irrelevant, or outweighed by another provision. We will ensure any decision to depart from this policy will be properly reasoned, based on material evidence, and documented. In these situations, the head of service must approve the enforcement action.
- Methodology
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We always strive to use advice and persuasion as the main methods to ensure businesses and the wider community comply with legal requirements. We give talks to community and business groups, and provide a variety of leaflets. We also offer free advice on a wide range of subjects via telephone, personal visit or on our website. We aim to respond within three working days to phone messages and five working days to letters or e-mails. Complex matters may take longer, and we will give a full reply or a progress report within 15 days.
You can expect our staff to:
- be courteous and helpful
- identify themselves by name and provide a contact point for further dealings
- give clear and simple advice
- confirm in writing, if requested, explaining what you must do to comply with the law, and the recommended best practice
- minimise the cost of compliance wherever possible
- give you a reasonable time to comply (unless immediate action is necessary in the interest of health, safety, the environment or to prevent evidence being lost)
- maintain confidentiality, except where we have a legal obligation to disclose information.
Our aim is to ensure that any necessary enforcement action is in line with the recent findings of the Macrory Review of Regulatory Penalties. These actions should:
- change the behaviour of the offender
- eliminate any financial gain or benefit from a non-compliance (where possible)
- be responsive, and consider what is appropriate for the particular offender and regulatory issue.
- be proportionate to the nature of the offence and the harm caused
- restore the harm caused by regulatory non-compliance, where appropriate
- deter future non-compliance
In doing so, we will measure improvements, restoration of harm, and the number of enforcement actions taken. Following the initial publication of the enforcement policy, we will provide stakeholders with an annual report outlining the enforcement outcomes.
To ensure we take proportionate action and targeted at cases requiring action, the following factors will be taken into consideration:
- the seriousness of any alleged offence
- the previous history of the individual, group or business and confidence in management (if relevant)
- any action taken by the responsible person/organisation, to resolve the situation
- the course of action that will best serve the community, and protect them or the environment.
- Business and community involvement
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This policy aims to improve protection for the community and businesses. It is, therefore, important to actively involve them. We will do this by consulting:
- the Local Business Partnership (LBP), which represents both businesses and enforcing authorities in the borough
- via the internet
- current users via postal survey
- potential users/the voluntary sector and the wider community.
- Review
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To ensure this policy continues to be suitable for business and community of the borough, it will be necessary to review this and its effectiveness, periodically. It is essential to gain feedback from those who have been subject to enforcement action and where appropriate, the business or community affected by an infringement. Ongoing feedback shall be used and complaints data will be collated. Feedback will be sought from the wider community, and from businesses through the LBP. Awareness of the policy, within the business community, will be assessed as part of this feedback process.
As a corporate policy, the Overview Committee will periodically review the policy, feedback, complaints and awareness data, to ensure it continues to meet the needs of all stakeholders. You can appeal against our action, for certain forms of enforcement, such as statutory notice and prosecution. We will advise you, if you can appeal and the timescale in which you must make it.
- Complaints
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If you are concerned that any enforcement action taken by us is not in accordance with this policy, you can complain. It will be dealt with in line with the council’s Complaints Policy. Your complaint will be passed to the manager responsible for the service to which it relates, to investigate the matter.
Make a complaint
If you are unhappy with our final response, you can contact:
The Local Government Ombudsman
PO Box 4771
Coventry
CV4 0EH
Telephone: 0300 061 0614
www.lgo.org.uk/
