Enforcement Officers at South Hams District Council are responsible for:

• The investigation of alleged breaches of planning and listed building control and contraventions of the Control of Advertisement Regulations.
• The preparation of reports to the Council’s Planning Committee in the event of a failure to resolve outstanding issues through negotiation.
• The instruction of the Council’s Legal Services Group for service of enforcement notices, Injunctive relief or commencement of prosecution proceedings where appropriate.
• The preparation of the Council’s responses to appeals against the issue of enforcement notices.
• The taking of statements and subsequent preparation of the Council’s case in prosecution proceedings for offences under planning legislation.
• Attendance at Court and appeal hearings to give evidence.
• Investigating and prosecuting offenders involved in fly tipping, littering and other waste offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and related legislation.
• Investigating reports of abandoned vehicles where offenders may be prosecuted or issued with a fixed penalty notice under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 as amended.
• Investigating complaints of dog fouling where offenders may be issued with a fixed penalty notice under the Dog Fouling of Land Act 1996

Planning Policy Guidance 18: Enforcing Planning Control