Why build a network?
Within a local authority and also externally, there will be many people gathering information on properties and streets; from council tax inspectors conducting site visits, refuse crews collecting waste, building control inspections, through to planning applications being submitted and requests for services being made by residents.
Building relationships with key individuals within these departments can provide a significant support resource, assisting with address and street queries by sharing what they know from the change intelligence they encounter.
Who to consider including in a network
The following list contains departments you may wish to include in your network for any address / streets queries:
Department / organisation | Reason |
|---|---|
Asset management | The Asset Management team identify and protect the council’s assets, such as buried apparatus, street lighting, traffic signals and loops, trees, gullies, structures and culverts. They have a view on "what", "where" and the current "state" of each asset which is typically logged against a street. |
Revenues & benefits | The Revenues and Benefits team collect council tax and business rates from properties within the local authority. They (inspectors) perform site visits to verify address changes and eligibility for both residential and commercial properties. They will also be engaging with residents, business owners and developers. |
Electoral registration | The Electoral Registration team will be engaging with existing and new residents. They will perform site visits through their checks and canvassing. |
Planning | Planning will be engaging with owners and developers on existing properties and new development sites as part of the site and property lifecycle. They are also responsible for updating the adoption status of streets and reviewing changes to road layouts, including new assets such as pedestrian crossings. |
Planning - enforcement | The Planning Enforcement team will be investigating and visiting properties where there is a suspected breach of planning permission or unlawful existence. |
Building control | Building control officers and inspectors will be engaging with residents and developers on existing developments ranging from the commencement stage all the way through to completion via site visits. |
Highways maintenance and inspections | This team will have an up-to-date view on the street condition within the authority, allocating defects and handling work permits. |
Environmental health / licensing | The environmental health team perform a wide range of engagement and premises site visits for food hygiene and health & safety inspections. This also includes engaging with businesses and residents seeking to obtain a range of premise licence types such as HMOs or the sale of alcohol. This will involve site visits and inspections. |
Customer services | The customer service team are the gateway into an authority for anyone requiring a service or a query. They will be continually engaging with residents and businesses on a variety of topics. |
Housing | The housing team will be engaging with existing and new occupants in social housing. They will also be working with the various businesses who will be providing and maintaining the premises. |
Land charges | The team will be performing land and property searches, and will be engaging with existing and new land and property owners. |
Refuse collection | These teams regularly visit both residential and commercial properties. They may well be the first to notice a property or street issue or a resource to report on what they have seen during their collections. They may even use cameras / sensors on regularly driven routes to monitor road conditions and record against the USRN. |