Overview
Statutory nuisance cases are often legally and technically complex, covering a range of different problems. It is the duty of an environmental health officer to investigate the complaint and decide whether there are grounds for a legal case. However, these duties often overlap with other legal powers and responsibilities, some operated by different parts of the Council, and some by other agencies. Decisions taken by officers can have significant financial effects and can often require the balancing of conflicting interests.
Module three builds on Modules one and two and will explore how issues arising from complex cases can and should be handled. This scenario-based training will draw from case-law and relevant UK Ombudsman reports where Councils have handled things incorrectly.
Please note: those who do not have an up-to-date appreciation of the case-law on statutory nuisance, common law nuisance, on related areas and the associated legislation are unlikely to benefit from doing Module three first. For this reason, attendance will normally be restricted to those who have already attended Module one or Module two.
Objectives
• Learn how to apply the statutory nuisance procedures more effectively to deal with complex problems
• Work with colleagues to consider detailed scenarios drawn from real life cases
• Better understand how their roles need to fit in with those of other agencies
• Better understand how to avoid common traps in using these powers
• Get an update on any recent case-law relevant to those issues
CPD: 2 hours and 30 minutes
