The officers work year round to tackle problematic planning issues, which could potentially have serious ramifications for health and safety, or for the environment.
More than half of the cases identified recently have been resolved without the council having to take formal action, by the submission of a planning application or by informal negotiation. But enforcement notices have also been served, and other cases are still being investigated by the planning department.
Many of the cases looked at by planning officers are of a relatively minor nature and are often related to work carried out on domestic properties.
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Some require no action, but others require detailed attention, surveillance, and strict enforcement of planning laws to resolve.
Some examples of the work undertaken include the investigation of allegations of the unauthorised business use of a domestic West End property, action taken to have a projecting sign, which was erected without listed building consent being given, removed from a listed building and the issuing of an enforcement notice on a Union Street shop because the signage and shop front do not accord with the plans which were approved
Breaches of planning permission, and other complaints are generally dealt with by negotiation or the submission of retrospective planning applications, which are then considered by the Planning Committee, but formal enforcement action is taken when necessary.
If serious breaches of planning control are not dealt with, it could encourage other developments to be undertaken without complying with planning legislation, and this could have consequential impacts on the environment and amenities.
Planning committee convener Scott Cassie said: "The council as planning authority takes planning breaches very seriously indeed. Many are innocent mistakes arising from ignorance whilst others are blatantly flouting the rules.
"The council will continue to rigorously enforce these breaches and is building a dedicated team of officers to carry out this work."
(GK/JM)
