Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do the Planning Enforcement team do?
The team investigates allegations of breaches of planning control including: unauthorised development, or uses; unauthorised works to a listed building - both internal and external works; unauthorised display of advertisements; non-compliance with conditions of planning permissions; and, untidy sites where these are considered detrimental to local amenity unauthorised work to trees which are protected or are located in conservation areas N.B Works to trees which are protected or are located in conservation areas without the consent of the local planning authority is an offence.

What is the extent of planning controls?
Planning controls relate to any development. The definition of ''development'' for the purposes of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is considered to include "carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operation in on or under land or the making of a material change of use of any building or other land". (N.B all mining and waste planning issues are dealt with by the County Council).

Do you require planning permission for all development?
No, many minor developments are exempt from the need for planning permission by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. You should always contact the local planning authority to find out if you need planning permission before commencing any development

Is it an offence to undertake development without permission?
No, under the Act it is not considered to be an offence to fail to comply with planning controls, although you are advised to contact the local planning authority prior to carrying out works which might require approval. Should a local planning authority consider it expedient to issue an enforcement notice against a development which is unauthorised then non-compliance with this notice is an offence, for which the maximum fine is £20,000.

What happens if a condition on a planning permission is not complied with?
The local planning authority has the power to issue a breach of condition notice against which there is no right of appeal. It is an offence not to comply with such a notice. This offence maybe prosecuted in the magistrates court with a maximum fine of £1,000.

Is it an offence to undertake works to a listed building?
Yes, if these works are considered to affect the character and integrity of the building.

Is it an offence to display an advertisement without consent
Some advertisements are exempt from the need for express advertisement consent. Advertisements which do not require consent are those which enjoy deemed consent under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Adverts) Regulations 2007. Booklets and advice can be obtained from the Local Planning Authority.

What information is required for an alleged breach to be investigated?
Address of land or building where breach alleged Details of alleged breach Complainant contact name and address and telephone number. Any additional relevant information/other interested parties

How do I report an alleged breach?
by completing and submitting a Complaint Form which can be found on this page on the website. http://www.fareham.gov.uk/council/departments/devcontrol/complaint.asp. Please note that you will be required to provide your name, address and telephone number for any complaint to be investigated. Your details will be kept confidential. Complaints can also be made in writing to the address shown below. Department of Development Control Fareham Borough Council Civic Offices Civic Way Fareham PO16 7TT

What are the stages of an investigation?
Complaint registered and acknowledged - 4 days First site visit made - 10 days Complainant will be kept informed of progress with investigations.

What action may be taken where a breach of planning controls is found to be occurring?
Once a complaint has been investigated and a breach identified, depending on the severity of the breach a number of things may happen: negotiate a satisfactory solution seek a retrospective planning application if no application is forthcoming or the breach is serious then an enforcement notice may be issued In the case where significant harm is being caused by the breach it may be appropriate to issue a stop notice in conjunction with an enforcement notice or seek a legal injunction to stop the unauthorised activities. It is important to note that the enforcement of Planning Control is a discretionary power and in some circumstances it may not be expedient to take action

Is there a right of appeal?
On an enforcement notice, listed building enforcement notice and an advert discontinuance notice, there is a right of appeal. The appeal is made to the Planning Inspectorate. .

Is there a period after which development becomes immune from enforcement action?
Yes, The period within which planning enforcement action can be taken is limited to: 4 years for operational development and change of use to any building for use as a single dwelling house 10 years for all other changes of use and breaches of conditions If you wish to confirm that development is immune from planning enforcement action, you are advised to make an application for a Certificate of Lawfulness.

What is Community Inclusion?
‘Community inclusion’ is simply a short-hand way to describe something that Fareham Borough Council has been striving to achieve for many years. It means working to ensure that everyone - regardless of who they are or their individual circumstances - is able to find out about, use and have a say about the services they need. It also means building communities which support people and that people contribute to.

Why does community inclusion matter?
The Government and many other organisations often talk about “social exclusion” or “socially excluded groups”. Social exclusion arises where people are being treated unfairly because of real or imagined differences from the majority based on poverty and/or social factors such as: Social class Ethnicity Gender Sexuality Religion Disability Age

What is discrimination?
This can result in discrimination. Individuals and institutions can discriminate, either deliberately or unwittingly, by treating a person less favourably than another is treated in similar circumstances - often on the basis of a single factor such as race, disability or age.

What is disadvantage?
It can also result in disadvantage. That is, people have significant difficulties in obtaining information, goods or services per se or cannot do so on the same basis as other individuals or groups because of the circumstances they find themselves in. These might include: being unemployed or on a low income, where people live, having a chronic or long-term illness (including mental illness), not having a car or being able to use public transport, poor literacy and numeracy skills, or no access to the Internet. Often, it is a combination of difficult circumstances that produces disadvantage.

What is the Equality Standard for Local Government?
The Equality Standard for Local Government was the result of a partnership between the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) Disability Rights Commission (DRC) Equal Opportunities Commission (EOP) and the Employers'' Organisation (EO) for local government. The Audit Commission also supported the work.

What is "Equality Impact Assessment"?
Impact assessment is a way of systematically assessing the effects that a proposed policy or service is likely to have on people from different customer groups including different ethnic groups. The assessment may also include monitoring the actual effects of the policy or service when it is put into practice and being alert to any concerns about the way it is (or is not) working. It will also require gathering data about the Council’s customers – using appropriate monitoring of services and the ‘channels’* via which customers access services and information about services, policies and plans - and on the make-up of the local population. The main purpose of impact assessment is to (a) ensure that existing services, policies and strategies are not discriminating against or disadvantaging any customer groups and (b) pre-empt the possibility that a proposed new or changed policy, service could affect some customer groups unfavourably. The 5-stage process works as follows: Stage 1: involves screening existing policies and services to see if they are relevant to race equality. (Subsequently, any new policies and services that are proposed will be automatically screened, as will any significant changes to existing policies and services.) Stage 2: involves prioritising the impact assessment – if one is needed. Stage 3: involves a detailed assessment of policies and services where discrimination or disadvantage is or may be taking place. Stage 4: involves identifying and planning improvements. Stage 5: involves first validating and then publishing the results of the process.

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