Council staff cuts blamed for lack of planning breach enforcement

A lack of enforcement staff is being blamed for a huge rise in planning breaches in West Berkshire.

In 2021, 618 cases were reported to West Berkshire’s Council but only two enforcement notices were served.

A total of 634 complaints relating to unauthorised development or breaches of planning permission were raised between January 2021 and 2222.

Developers in the area are successfully arguing that, in planning terms, putting hedgerows and trees on housing estates increases biodiversity.

Meanwhile, retrospective applications for extensions, out buildings and other small developments are on the increase in the district.

“The ongoing cuts to staffing and budgets has been long touted as not impacting frontline services,” said councillor Steve Masters (Green, Newbury Speen).

“This is clearly untrue – planning, planning enforcement and democratic services have been very badly impacted in terms of staff levels and the ability to function satisfactorily.”

Sue Halliwell, the head of the Place Directorate at the council, is rumoured to be overhauling the planning enforcement operation.

The council refused to comment on whether staffing levels are responsible for the low enforcement numbers.

“I look forward to improved arrangements with planning enforcement, which are long overdue,” said councillor Tony Vickers (Lib Dem, Wash Common).

There are also concerns for the lack of enforcement for rural infringements.

Hundreds of metres of hedgerows are being chopped down in the Compton area.

“We have been told this is just bad land management,” said councillor Carolyne Culver (Green, Ridgeway).

“It is a concern because we are losing more and more hedgerows. We often see them cut down during nesting season. This one was removed last year and there is another one near the village being cut down too.

“It isn’t clear what land owners are doing to ensure those hedgerows are replaced and that ultimately there is a net increase in biodiversity when we make planning decisions.

“We are planting so many trees at the council but meanwhile we are losing hedgerows.”