FOI request (FOIR-736584366)

Planning Enforcement Department reports

Requested Mon 04 August 2025
Responded Wed 03 September 2025

1. Could you please supply copies of the Enforcement Warning Notices issued to date alongside he accompanying report(s) or case records which led to each notice being issued. In particular, please include in the accompanying records expediency assessments and/or rationales for serving each notice.

2. Could you please also supply any further reports or case officer assessments associated with the same cases, for example if further enforcement action was taken subsequent to an Enforcement Warning Notice, or if the case has been closed, or the notice withdrawn. Please provide copies of reports or assessments associated with those subsequent decisions or recommendations.

3. Please provide the references of planning applications submitted in response to an Enforcement Warning Notice.

4. Please provide copies of any internal procedures, guidance or direction associated with issuing Enforcement Warning Notices.

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Response

6x Enforcement Warning Notices have been served and can be viewed on our Public Register:

https://publicaccess.hastings.gov.uk/online-applications/refineSearch.do?action=refine

1. 21 White Rock - EN/25/00010

2. 22 White Rock - EN/25/00011

3. 23 White Rock - EN/25/00012, Associated Enforcement case - ENF/24/00103

4. 24 White Rock – EN/25/00023, Associated Enforcement case - ENF/23/00050

5. Former The St Leonards Academy Darwell Campus, Darwell Close, St Leonards-on-sea – EN/25/00008, Associated Enforcement case - ENF/24/00022

6. The Stade Family Amusement Park, The Stade, Hastings, TN34 3AR – EN/25/00018, Associated Enforcement case - ENF/23/00155

NOTICE OF REFUSAL

Under Environmental Information Regulations the information you have requested relating to reports, internal notes and respective correspondence for Enforcement Warning Notices is being refused under Exception 12(5)(b) ‘The course of justice and inquiries’.

'The course of justice' has a wide meaning which includes material covered by law enforcement, investigations and proceedings.

This exception are subject to a Public Interest Test. This means that a public authority can refuse to disclose information under these exceptions if in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Factors for disclosure:

a. Transparency and accountability.

Factors against disclosure:

a. All 6 cases are currently live and we are therefore protecting information that has been acquired during investigations.

b. Correspondence contains confidential information.

c. The significance and sensitivity of the information.

d. Consideration of options and the exchange of views within a ‘safe space’.

e. Maintaining the confidentiality of discussions in the interest of good governance and the perceived threat to candour and boldness in the giving of advise.