Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Approve a consultation with stakeholders to be undertaken in respect of the General Enforcement Policy to inform a review.

2. Note that a refreshed Policy will then be presented to Cabinet in May 2026 following the consultation.

Consideration was given to the report which asked Cabinet to approve a period of consultation with stakeholders to be undertaken in respect of the General Enforcement Policy. The Council was required by statutory guidance to have in place mechanisms to engage those they regulate, residents, businesses, and others to offer views and contribute to the development of their policies. A review of the Council’s General Enforcement Policy is an opportunity to ensure that stakeholders are engaged and consulted in relation to policy development and to identify if there should be any amendments to the Policy. The Policy had to be reviewed at regular intervals and the last review was in May 2023.

The General Enforcement Policy set out Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council’s approach to regulatory compliance and enforcement, aiming to protect the public, support businesses, and safeguard the environment. The Policy emphasised transparency, consistency, proportionality, and accountability in all enforcement actions, ensuring that resources were targeted at the highest risks and that advice and support were prioritised to encourage compliance. It outlined the conduct of investigations, decision-making processes for enforcement actions, and the importance of fairness, confidentiality, and feedback. The Policy also detailed the range of enforcement actions available, from advice and voluntary undertakings to prosecution and licence revocation, and highlighted the Council’s commitment to working with partners, adhering to relevant legislation and codes of practice, and regularly reviewing its approach to ensure effectiveness and public trust. The Policy set out the principles of transparency, consistency and proportionality to which the Council would adhere to in its discharge of enforcement and regulatory functions.

The Consultation Plan was provided in Appendix 2. The consultation would take place between 1 December 2025 and 27 February 2026. Following completion of the consultation, a revised Policy would be presented to Cabinet in May 2026 for adoption.

The report was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB) who advised that the recommendations be supported. Discussions at OSMB had focussed on how enforcement should focus on education and support and on how the consultation should be conducted. Councillor Alam and the Leader agreed that hard-to-reach groups needed to be included in the consultation and asked elected Members to inform them when this was not being done.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approve a period of consultation with stakeholders to be undertaken in respect of the General Enforcement Policy to inform a review.

2.    Note that a refreshed Policy will then be presented to Cabinet in May 2026 following the consultation.