Introduction
Purpose of the Policy
This Policy sets out Cumberland Council's ('the Council') approach to enforcement. It sets out common principles that the council will follow when taking enforcement action to ensure an efficient and effective approach to enforcement that is transparent, accountable, proportionate and consistent which ensures that enforcement is targeted only at cases in which action is needed.
The aim is to improve compliance with legislation whilst minimising the burden on businesses, individuals and organisations. Officers will use this Policy as a guide when making decisions.
This Policy is an overarching policy which sets out the standards that will be applied across the council when acting in its role as a regulator and enforcement body. Specific service policies, procedures, codes and guidance may also exist which detail the processes that officers operating within that service area will follow when carrying out enforcement activity.
In drawing up this overarching enforcement policy the Council has had regard to The Regulators' Code (April 2014) and the principles of regulatory functions and activities outlined in the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006. The Council fully supports the principles in the 2006 Act and the Regulators Code and has had due regard to the code in developing this policy.
Links to The Cumberland Plan
The Cumberland Council Plan 2023–2027 highlights a commitment to delivery of excellent public services. We aim to be compassionate, innovative, empowering, ambitious and collaborative in everything that we do. The Council recognises that most people, businesses and organisations want to comply with law. As such the Council will provide advice where possible to ensure compliance with law, but in the event advice or guidance is not followed it will consider taking enforcement action if appropriate.