Agenda item

The Head of Development Management updated the Committee regarding the work of the Minerals Team who had served an enforcement notice at Stoke Hall Quarry regarding the importation of stone for processing following the withdrawal of a planning application. An appeal had been received against the enforcement notice.

Members agreed that more frequent reporting on the Minerals & Waste Team work would be good and Officers confirmed that this would be actioned once a Team Manager had been appointed.

The Monitoring & Enforcement Team Manager introduced the report and updated Committee regarding the formal notice issued regarding a track at Cartledge Flat/Rushy Flat Dike.  He informed Committee that it was understood an appeal would be made against the notice.

In response to a query from Members, the Officer updated Committee regarding the proposed enforcement  action against a track on Midhope Moor. No date was set for the issuing of the enforcement notice but it was being treated as a priority case.  The Director of Conservation & Planning reported that the landowner had written to the Chief Executive requesting a meeting.

The Monitoring & Enforcement Team Manager drew attention to paragraph 3.4 of the report which showed that performance figures were currently above target.  He also referred to the significant increase in enquiries received compared to the same quarter in the previous year.

He then showed some ‘before and after’ photos of cases that had been resolved and reported that an initiative to remove posters and placards from the National Park that do not have advertisement consent had recently commenced.  In some cases it was necessary to give 48 hours notice  before enforced removal.  However, around 80 posters and placards had already been removed.  Advertisements for local, non-commercial events are allowed.

In response to a query from Members, the Officer explained that directional signs are allowed for certain events.  He referred to ongoing work  with organisers of the annual Eroica Britannia event to reduce the number of signs they erect.  Members also felt that these signs were erected too far in advance of the event.

In response to a query from Members, the Officer explained the 4 year and 10 year immunity periods for enforcement action.

Members congratulated the team on its output and the marked improvement in performance over the last four or five years but the reported increase in enquiries also raised questions about team resources.  The Head of Development Management explained that although a lot of good work took place in negotiating solutions, the difficult part of enforcement was where negotiations had failed and formal action needed to be taken.  She mentioned that some finance was available and Officers shared Members’ aspirations to address the resource issue.

Members raised some concerns about taking formal action too close to the end of the relevant immunity period.  They also commented that although it was good to see evidence of completed cases there also needed to be a report on outstanding cases if Members were to properly scrutinise the team’s work. 

A motion to note the report was moved, seconded, put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.