Enhanced policy further strengthens Wiltshire Council's commitment to enforcement

Wiltshire Council's cabinet has endorsed a revised policy that further strengthens its commitment to enforcement, ensuring that businesses' and individuals' activities comply with legislation and statutory requirements.

The new Wiltshire Council Enforcement Policy, which will now be considered by full council on 15 October, sets out the common principles that the council will follow when taking enforcement action, so its approach is consistent, transparent, accountable, proportionate and targeted.

The aim of the council's assertive stance on enforcement is to increase compliance, prevent further infringements and deter other offenders. It will shape all areas of enforcement, including fly-tipping, trading standards, planning, fly-posting, littering, public protection, highways and parking.

The revised policy has been developed with legal advice and follows recent consultation with councillors, parish councils and other enforcement agencies. The policy has been generally welcomed during this process. New service-specific policies have been revised in line with the new approach and an overall performance monitoring framework.

Previously, Cabinet agreed to an additional £300,000 of funding for enforcement activities in 2023/24 and £520,000 of funding in 2024/25. Proposals for this have been developed and agreed through the council's dedicated enforcement management group, which ensures a 'one-council' approach to enforcement.

In recent months, the council has carried out enforcement action across a range of areas, including through its award-winning We're Targeting Fly-tippers campaign, littering, planning and public protection.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: As a council we simply do not accept a flagrant disregard for law and legislation, which are in place to protect our county and its residents. This enhanced policy underlines our commitment to being a council that takes decisive and strong action when it comes to enforcement. We have seen the outcomes of our work on this over a number of months, with successful enforcement action taking place across a variety of areas - from fly-tipping to rogue traders. But we want to do even more in this area, and this enhanced policy ensures we can.

This policy, and the work it underpins, supports our huge focus on this and ensures there is resource to support it. I look forward to it being discussed at Full Council.