Decision details
Corporate Enforcement Policy
Decision Maker: Executive
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
To consider and approve the reviewed / updated
Corporate Enforcement Policy
Decisions:
Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council, presented the item, the purpose of which was to present the Executive with a revised Corporate Enforcement Policy (‘The Policy’) for approval and adoption.
West Oxfordshire District Council (‘the Council’) was required to have an effective Corporate Enforcement Policy that enabled Officers to investigate and take action to ensure individuals and businesses complied with the law. The Policy set out the legislative framework and principles the Council would abide by when undertaking investigations to mitigate the risk of legal challenge in Court. The Policy demonstrated the Council’s consideration of necessity, proportionality and public interest when deciding on enforcement action and demonstrated openness and transparency for residents, Councillors and employees.
Councillor Graham noted that the policy had been reviewed by the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit who had consulted with the enforcement lead officers across the Council. The policy was overarching and acted as the Council’s prosecution policy however various service areas who had responsibility for enforcement had much more detailed enforcement policies and procedures relating to their areas legislation and approach. Councillor Graham noted that only minor changes to most of the policy were needed with the more significant amendments in the service area sections which included more detail.
Councillor Graham proposed accepting the recommendations made in the report.
The report noted that there were no alternative options available to the Executive in this case.
Councillor Duncan Enright, Deputy Leader of the Council, praised the Council for having a lean approach to enforcement, which included the Audit and Governance Committee and the teams that supported this, including the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit.
Councillor Alaric Smith, Executive Member for Finance, seconded the proposal and noted that this was a key policy to ensure that the Council could undertake necessary enforcement action.
This was voted on and agreed unanimously.
The Executive resolved to:
- Approve and adopt the Corporate Enforcement Policy attached to this report as Annex A.
- Delegate authority to the Director of Governance and Regulatory Services to approve future minor amendments to the Policy, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, Head of Service Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit, Relevant Heads of Service and the Head of Legal Services.
Report author: Emma Cathcart
Publication date: 13/03/2026
Date of decision: 11/03/2026
Decided at meeting: 11/03/2026 - Executive
Accompanying Documents:
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