The leader of Stafford Borough Council has welcomed a fine on the owners of a building that has been an eyesore in the county town for years.  

But Councillor Aidan Godfrey has also called for more powers to help local authorities take quick action to prevent derelict properties being left to rot.  

His comments follow the prosecution of the owners of the former job centre in Stafford which is a blot on the town’s landscape. The owners of Greyfriars House were ordered to pay more than £56,000 for failing to comply with an enforcement notice requiring them to tidy up the property.

Stafford Borough Council issued an enforcement notice on Eaglemount Limited telling them specifically to:

• Repair and make secure all broken and or loose hoardings panels and access gates
• Board up and make secure any external door to prevent unauthorised entry
• Remove all broken glass from windows and any broken detached or semi-detached external window fittings
• Board up windows which have broken glass

They were found guilty at Newcastle Under Lyme Magistrates court after a recent trial (Mon 28 September) for the breach of the enforcement notice and handed a £1,000 fine. They were also fined £100 for every day the notice had not been complied with - which totalled £52,700 - as well as ordered to pay £2,000 costs and a £400 surcharge.

The ‘section 215’ notice was served by the council under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 because they believe the area’s amenity is “adversely affected” by the condition of Greyfriars House.  

Following the case, Councillor Godfrey expressed frustration with the limited powers that councils had to take action.

He said: “I am really pleased we prosecuted this company and that they have been ordered to pay a significant fine. But the legal process has been lengthy, and the outcome does not scratch the surface of addressing the problem - which is the state they have let the property get into.

“We want to work with owners and businesses to make sure this cannot happen but when they disregard notices or neglect their duties we need to be able to take swift action.

“We share the frustration of our residents and businesses who are angry that this building became a terrible eyesore and haven for vandalism. This is why we need the government to intervene and give us the tools to prevent this from happening time and time again.

“Councils would benefit from a stronger package of powers, including enhanced charges on empty properties, greater ability to take ownership of neglected buildings where there is a clear public interest case and fast-tracked compulsory purchase processes to support regeneration. Stronger penalties for non-compliance with existing enforcement powers would also provide an important deterrent."

Press Release No 6334