Skip navigation
Council and Democracy Part of Durham County Council's coat of arms
Also See
Durham County Council Information Service
County Hall

Compliance with the Enforcement Concordat

In 1998, the Government introduced the Concordat as a blueprint for fair, practical and consistent enforcement, by all Local Authorities, across the Country. Since that time, it has been adopted and introduced across the Authority. In 2005, a cross-authority, thematic audit, was completed on the full Concordat, which demonstrated a 98% compliance. During 2006 this has increased to an authority wide score of 98.6%.

Enforcement Concordat Compliance

The 2006 audit was carried out by audit teams made up of officers from all the Services involved, namely Trading Standards Service (Environment), Education Welfare Service (Children and Young Peoples Services), Rights of Way and Highways (Environment) and the Planning Service (Environment). Officers did not audit their own services.

Enforcement Concordat - Thematic Cross Service Audit 2006

1.0 Standards

Environment
Children and Young People Services
Concordat RequirementsTrading StandardsHighwaysCountry SidePlanningEducation Welfare
1.1 Consultation on standardsCCCPC
1.2 Clear standardsCCCCC
1.3 Publish standardsCCCCC
1.4 Measure performance against standardsCCCPC
1.5 Standards to be made availableCPPCC
1.6 Results publishedCCCPC

2.0 Openess

Environment
Children and Young People Services
Concordat RequirementsTrading StandardsHighwaysCountry SidePlanningEducation Welfare
2.1 Provide information on rulesCCCCC
2.2 Evidence of disseminationCCCCC
2.3 Open about workCCCCC
2.4 Open about charges (i) Consult businessesCCCCC
2.4 Open about charges (ii) Consult charitiesCCCCN/A
2.4 Open about charges (iii) Consult consumersCCCCC
2.4 Open about charges (iv) Consult workforceCCCCC
2.5 Discuss problemsCCCCC

3.0 Helpfulness

Environment
Children and Young People Services
Concordat RequirementsTrading StandardsHighwaysCountry SidePlanningEducation Welfare
3.1 Prevention better than cureCCCCC
3.2 Work with businessCCCCC
3.3 CourtesyCCCCC
3.4 NamesCCCCC
3.5 Contact detailsCCCCC
3.6 Business encouraged to give adviceCCCCC
3.7 Efficient licensingCCCCC
3.8 Co-ordinationCCCCC

4.0 Complaints

Environment
Children and Young People Services
Concordat RequirementsTrading StandardsHighwaysCountry SidePlanningEducation Welfare
4.1 Have complaints (i) Publicised procedureCCCCC
4.1 Have complaints (ii) Employee procedureCCCCC
4.2 Appeals explainedCCCCC

5.0 Proportionality

Environment
Children and Young People Services
Concordat RequirementsTrading StandardsHighwaysCountry SidePlanningEducation Welfare
5.1 Action proportionate to riskCCCCC
5.2 Circumstances taken into accountCCCCC
5.3 Take care with small businessesCCCCC

6.0 Consistency

Environment
Children and Young People Services
Concordat RequirementsTrading StandardsHighwaysCountry SidePlanningEducation Welfare
6.1 Carry out duties fairly/equitablyCCCCC
6.2 Arrangements to promote consistencyCCCCC
6.3 Effective liasion with other bodiesCCCCC

7.0 Procedures

Environment
Children and Young People Services
Concordat RequirementsTrading StandardsHighwaysCountry SidePlanningEducation Welfare
7.1 Advice in writing (if requested)CCCCC
7.2 Legal distinguished from Best Practice adviceCCCCC
7.3 Opportunities for explanationsCCCCC
7.4 Written explanation for immediate action givenCCCCN/A
7.5 Officers explain need for immediate actionCCCCN/A
7.6 Rights of appeal given in writingCCCCN/A


Total Percentage Compliance

Environment
Children and Young People Services
Trading StandardsHighwaysCountry SidePlanningEducation Welfare
Total Percentage Compliance100%98.6%98.6%95.9%100%
  • Authority compliance with whole Concordat 2006 - 98.6%
  • Authority compliance with whole Concordat 2005 - 98%
  • Authority compliance with whole Concordat 2004 - 98%
  • Authority compliance with whole Concordat 2003 - 96%

KEY : N/A - Not applicable, P - Partially comply, C - Comply, NC - Do not comply.