Complaints about how the Council handled a planning application, or dealt with any other planning matter, can in some cases be made to the Local Government Ombudsman.

 

However, the Ombudsman cannot investigate a complaint about a planning decision just because the applicant and the local authority do not agree about it he will normally only consider the way in which it was made and whether the correct procedures were followed.

 

Normally, the Ombudsman would expect the complainant to have first pursued the complaint through the Council's own Complaints Procedure before agreeing to investigate it further. The Ombudsman has no power to alter the decision even if the Ombudsman finds mal-administration in the way the Council made the decision.

 

Planning Enforcement within the Legal and Planning and Public Protection Directorate deals with planning related complaints.

 

Planning Enforcement deal with people who have contravened the regulations and

for people who request that alleged contraventions be investigated.

 

We will investigate complaints about planning problems including unauthorised changes of use of properties or land, checking to ensure that conditions imposed on the grant of planning permission are complied with, untidy land or properties, and unauthorised developments

 

If you write or e mail us about an alleged contravention we will investigate it.  Our enforcement resources will be targeted primarily on activities giving the most serious rise to the environment, health and safety of the public. Anonymous enquiries will be given the lowest priority.

 

We will treat your enquiry in confidence until such time as any evidence which

you have provided needs to be presented in legal proceedings in order to achieve a successful outcome.

 

Your complaint, to include as much detail as possible should be e mailed to l.macdonald@sstaffs.gov.uk Or by post to Customer Services, Legal Services and Public Health Protection, South Staffordshire Council, Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, South Staffordshire WV8 1PX.

 

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