Bracknell Forest and West Berkshire Councils want your say on our new Draft Nuisance Policy.
The Public Protection Partnership (PPP) is a shared service delivering Environmental Health, Licensing and Trading Standards across Bracknell Forest Council and West Berkshire Councils. Dealing with nuisance is a core function of the PPP and the purpose of this new policy is to ensure a consistent approach on a range of nuisance issues. It also sets out expectations for residents, businesses, elected members, partner organisations and officers in dealing with nuisance.
The draft policy explains what service residents and businesses can expect when they complain about nuisance matters or are the alleged source, where the PPP has powers to investigate a complaint, what does and does not constitute a statutory nuisance and the options available to the PPP in dealing with nuisance complaints.
Noise is the single biggest cause for nuisance complaints received by the PPP. Between the 01 April 2023 and the 31 March 2024 the PPP received 973 service requests in relation to noise (329 commercial and 644 non-commercial) and 173 service requests in relation to bonfires. This is in addition to a number of ‘other nuisances’ service requests.
For the issue to count as a statutory nuisance, it must:
- unreasonably and substantially interfere with the use or enjoyment of a home or other premises, or
- injure health or be likely to injure health.
Some household noises are not considered to be a statutory nuisance and cannot be investigated. These include the sound of footsteps, slamming doors and furniture being moved, children and babies crying, talking or laughing coming from a garden and the reasonable use of garden equipment and household appliances.
The draft document also describes preventative action that is taken by the PPP in conjunction with partner organisations including the police and fire service and colleagues in emergency planning, public health, highways, and planning teams.
Councillor Iskandar Jefferies, Chairman of the Joint Public Protection Committee said ‘We would really appreciate your views on our draft policy. It's by hearing from local people that we can make the changes needed to ensure our policy is fit for purpose and reflective of the needs in our local area.”
The consultation which can be found here: www.westberks.gov.uk/draft-nuisance-policy will run from the 08 July to 19 August 2024.
Your feedback will be used to inform the final policy before it is submitted for consideration by elected members at the Joint Public Protection Committee on Monday, 7 October 2024. Once approved, the final strategy will be published on our website here. Key policies and documents - PPP (publicprotectionpartnership.org.uk)
For more information on how to get help if your concerned with your neighbourhood concerns, please visit our website here. Neighbourhood concerns - PPP (publicprotectionpartnership.org.uk)
