Decision details

The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking approval for proposed changes to the Council’s establishment in respect of planning and licensing enforcement.

Members were reminded that the Council has 1.5 FTE Enforcement Officers who deal with both planning and licensing enforcement.  This is made up of one full-time FTE and one part-time FTE.  The part-time officer left the Council at the end of May this year.

The report highlighted the increasing and unprecedented volume of planning and licensing enforcement work the Council is engaged in and as a consequence has struggled and will continue to struggle to maintain effective enforcement based on the current capacity of 1.5 FTE.

The report noted that:

·         The Ribble Valley currently has 316 licensed premises and that the routine inspection of these premises has not been carried out for some time.

·         In addition, 157 planning complaints were received in the first quarter of 2021. 

·         It is the Council’s duty as a planning authority to provide adequate resources to ensure that planning enforcement is carried out effectively.

·         The financial cost of increasing the hours of an Enforcement Officer from part-time to full-time will be £16,350 per annum (including on costs).

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approved a change to the Establishment to increase the post of Part Time Enforcement Officer (C94) to a full-time post with the title Enforcement Officer.