The Environmental Health Services Enforcement Policy was approved by Executive Board on 17th November 2004.  The policy has recently been relaunched to staff at a series of workshops.

A short, more user friendly version of the policy is also available.

Introduction

1.1 Leeds City Council signed up to the Enforcement Concordat on 22nd August 2001 confirming its commitment to the principles of good enforcement. Environmental Health Services is a public authority for the purposes of the Human Rights Act 1998. Environmental Health staff apply the principles of the European Convention of Human Rights in accordance with the Act.

1.2 The purpose of this document is to set out the Enforcement Policy by which Environmental Health Services on behalf of the Council, ensures compliance with housing and environmental health legislation. The purpose of the policy is to ensure that enforcement decisions are always consistent, balanced, fair, targeted, accountable, transparent, proportional and relates to common standards to ensure the public is adequately protected.

1.3 Each case is unique and must be considered on its own merits. There are however general principles that apply in the way each situation must be approached. This document sets out the factors to be taken into account when considering the type of enforcement action to be taken. The policy must be followed except in exceptional circumstances

1.4 Officers are authorised to take action, and are required to follow the policy and the lines of responsibility in terms of decision-making, as laid down in Departmental documents.

1.5 The possible outcomes of an inspection or investigation are: -

1. take no action

2. take informal action

3. use statutory notices, equipment seized, premises closed

4. refusal/revocation of licence/approval/authorisation/permit

5. fixed penalty

6. work in default

7. use simple caution

8. prosecute

9. injunction

It may be that one are more of these outcomes are appropriate in any given case.

Contacts