Bristol City Council is struggling to address illegal building developments and unauthorised property conversions because of a shortage of planning enforcement officers, despite receiving an additional £300,000 in funding.
The authority has been unable to recruit two principal planning enforcement officers, leaving it with a growing backlog of cases involving properties and businesses operating without the necessary planning permission.
Figures show that the number of active enforcement cases has increased from 291 in 2016 to 719 this year. Meanwhile, the number of cases closed annually has fallen.
Recruitment Difficulties Persist Despite Increased Funding
The council received additional funding in February and increased the salary offered for its most senior planning enforcement position.
However, pay for other enforcement staff has remained unchanged, with the authority citing wider fairness considerations.
The recruitment difficulties have continued, leaving two senior positions vacant and limiting the council’s ability to progress cases.
Bristol’s maximum salary offer for a principal planning enforcement officer is £51,928. By comparison, neighbouring Somerset Council is advertising a similar position with a salary of £56,528.
Councillor Questions Council’s Recruitment Strategy
Green councillor Guy Poultney criticised the council’s approach, arguing that its salary offer was insufficient to attract qualified candidates.
He pointed to the difference between Bristol’s pay package and the amount being offered by neighbouring authorities.
Poultney also questioned why the council had maintained its existing recruitment strategy despite continued difficulties filling the vacancies.
“We’ve tried nothing, it’s not worked, so we’re not going to try anything else,” he said.
Planning Appeals Prevent Further Enforcement Action
The staffing shortage has also affected how quickly the council can respond to unauthorised developments.
Under the current process, the authority cannot take further enforcement action against a development while an appeal is being considered by the government’s Planning Inspectorate.
Appeals can take several months to resolve, leaving the council unable to pursue additional measures against affected properties during that period.
One example is Kulture Training Club in Fishponds, which opened without planning permission and received an enforcement notice requiring it to close.
The gym has appealed the notice. The council cannot take further enforcement steps against the site until the Planning Inspectorate reaches a decision, allowing the business to continue operating while the appeal remains unresolved.
Council Chief Planner Says Shortage Is a National Problem
Bristol’s chief planner, Simone Wilding, said the recruitment difficulties reflected a wider national shortage of planning enforcement professionals rather than being caused solely by the council’s salary levels.
She said the authority had used what she described as “innovative ways” to secure one appointment and was also hoping existing employees would take on additional responsibilities.
Wilding described resolving the staffing problem as a “medium to long-term haul”, indicating that the council did not expect an immediate solution.
Ombudsman Warns Councils Are Struggling to Recruit Staff
The Local Government Ombudsman has also highlighted recruitment difficulties across the planning enforcement sector.
According to the Ombudsman, three-quarters of councils are experiencing problems recruiting staff.
High staff turnover can result in evidence being lost and work having to be repeated, further delaying enforcement cases.
The Ombudsman warned that inadequate staffing and resources could undermine the planning system, stating that “development without enforcement is a recipe for planning chaos”.
Unauthorised Developments Continue During Enforcement Delays
The growing backlog has left Bristol Council facing difficulties dealing with unauthorised houses in multiple occupation, gyms and other property conversions.
Where enforcement decisions are appealed, the authority may have to wait several months for the Planning Inspectorate to reach a ruling before it can proceed with further action.
The council’s vacant positions and increasing number of open cases have therefore continued to affect its ability to resolve planning enforcement matters.
