Monitoring and enforcement

Monitoring is an important aspect of the spatial planning system. Firstly, it allows the council to measure how well its development plans are being implemented in practice, and secondly it allows the council to confirm that individual mineral and waste sites are being developed in accordance with the requirements of current planning permissions. The results of these monitoring processes can lead to revisions to planning policies and enforcement action against any unauthorised developments.

Annual Monitoring Report (AMR)
Under the revised planning system each council in the UK is required to prepare an Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) each December. The most recent version of the AMR was submitted to Government Office for the West Midlands in December 2006 and can be downloaded by following the appropriate link on this page. The AMR includes a set of national and local indicators concerning specific waste and mineral issues, along with more general indicators including population trends, employment growth and renewable energy production. The current AMR covers the years 2005 to 2006 and can be viewed by following the relevant link on this page.

Development trends
Other reports also act as useful tools for showing trends and providing evidence. An important source of information is the Development Trends Report. In addition to this a series of information sheets are published on an annual basis, which summarise land use development in Shropshire. Follow the links on this page to view information on both the main report and the information sheets.

To view a range of information on development trends in Shropshire you can also take a look at our facts and figures pages, which you can locate by following the relevant link on this page.

Site monitoring
The County Council's Planning Development Control group monitors all active minerals and waste sites in Shropshire to ensure that the operations comply with the approved plans and conditions. We will aim to inspect mineral and waste sites in the county annually. Where a site is undergoing a more intensive phase of development such as entry into a new working area site inspections may be more frequent in accordance with guidance produced by central government.

Sites will also be inspected in response to complaints from local residents or for specific purposes such as to monitor a quarry blast. Monitoring can also take place in connection with matters raised through local liaison meetings established to report on major mineral and waste sites.

Enforcement
The Planning Development Control group investigates complaints of alleged unauthorised minerals or waste development in Shropshire. Details of fly tipping or reports not related to minerals and waste matters should be addressed to the relevant district or borough council.

Where appropriate we would initially try to resolve breaches of planning control by negotiation and voluntary agreement. The County Council works closely with other statutory bodies such as district or borough councils and the Environment Agency's Waste Regulation team.

Sometimes it is necessary to take formal enforcement action. This may include serving the following;

• Planning Contravention Notice (PCN).
• Enforcement Notice (EN).
• Temporary Stop Notice (TSN).
• Breach of Condition Notice(BCN).

How can I report a possible breach of planning control?
You can report possible breaches of planning control to the County Council's Planning Development Control group in four ways;

• using the online form ( minerals and waste sites unauthorised activity report online)
• email
• by letter
• by phone

A link to the online form is available from this page. Contact details for the Planning Development Control group are available on this page.

What happens once I have reported an alleged breach?
You will receive an acknowledgement of your report and we will respond to your report within 10 working days.

Viewing the online enforcement register
Over the last five years the County Council has issued two enforcement notices. Details of these can be viewed by selecting the link to the online enforcement register. The online enforcement register will be updated with details of any new notices within one working day of the notice being served.