The number of enforcement cases being reported is, by definition, the number of live cases being investigated by a Council at any particular moment in time, regardless of the speed/thoroughness etc. of those investigations. So any talk of a 'hidden backlog' either in the past or the present is nonsense - even if a file is sat on a shelf covered in dust it is still registered on the system as a live investigation.So how come afew years ago the Council had around 700 live investigations, and yet now it has around 1000 ?. That statistic clearly shows that complaints about alleged breaches are being reported quicker than the investigations are being closed. I'm not pointing the finger of blame at anyone, but the facts speak for themselves, and you hit the nail on the head when you talk about under-resourcing of such departments, a comment which is equally applicable to every Council over the last 15 - 20 years.I don't agree with your comment about the culture of the residents being irrelevant. Those residents elect local Councillors to represent them. Those Councillors sit on planning committees making decisions about enforcement action. There's a clear conflict there - on the one hand Councillors know they have a responsibility to their constituents, on the other when making planning decisions that isn't supposed to be relevant. Generally what has happened in H&C, and to a lesser extent in Central Hounslow, over the last 15 years is that some Councillors haven't balanced that conflict properly, many have, but a considerable minority haven't. I don't share your optimism that this will now be addressed, again because I don't think you can discount the culture of the majority of constituents so easily.But no, nor can I suggest a solution, as although I've be minded to say delegated all decisions to Officers (which would speed things up), that reduces the important role played by Councillors and goes about the principles of community involvement, and Officers don't always get it right.
Adam Beamish ● 4419d