ENFORCEMENT action against breaches of planning permission will be speeded up if St Albans district councillors agree to a new system. The council s cabinet has passed a proposal which eradicates the need for planning committees to decide if enforcement a
ENFORCEMENT action against breaches of planning permission will be speeded up if St Albans district councillors agree to a new system.
The council's cabinet has passed a proposal which eradicates the need for planning committees to decide if enforcement action should be taken and passes delegated powers over to the planning department.
Cllr Chris Brazier, planning portfolio holder, and the head of planning will decide if action is needed, instead of waiting for a committee to meet to make the decision.
The proposals will now need to be ratified by full council in March.
Cllr Brazier said: "It will speed up the whole enforcement process because at the moment we have to wait to go to committee, which can take up to three weeks, and then wait for the enforcement officer to visit the site. This way, if we decide there has been a breach we can start the legal process. Ward councillors who are involved will be kept up to date.
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