The role of the enforcement section at the Planning Authority

Abstract

The overall mission of the Planning Authority is set out successfully in the Authority's Mission Statement as: "to provide a planning service to improve the quality of life through achieving the best balance between improving social well-being, improving economic well-being and protecting the environment". Legally, the Authority's functions are the promotion of proper land development and the control of such development in accordance with approved policies and plans. This is achieved through a number of mechanisms and functions. The most important of all are: + The Structure Plan which sets out a series of policies and proposals for safeguarding the improving the environment and for guiding the way in which, and where development takes place; + Local Plans which elaborate upon the policies of the Structure Plan for specific areas or regions; + Development Briefs and other policy documents; + Development Control - The determination of applications for development permission in accordance with adopted policies and standards to ensure that the aims and objectives of the Structure Plan and of Local Plans are met. The Enforcement Unit has direct contact with the public and it is the role of this unit to see that the developers are obeying the conditions imposed on them. What is the use of the Structure Plan, Local Plans and other issues where no Enforcement exists. In other words, the Enforcement Unit is playing a very important role in the Planning Authority and is said to be the focus. If the Enforcement Unit improves, then the Planning Authority improves since the former is always presenting the Authority and it is always trying to instruct all developers to carry out work according to approved plans and conditions. The Enforcement Unit is always improving and it is important to continue improving so that it will succeed in providing a planning service to improve the quality of life. [...]