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An internal audit of Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s planning enforcement has given it a “Limited” rating for how well its controls work, the lowest rating in the council’s latest audit progress report. The finding is from a draft report and could still change before it’s finalised. The progress report goes to the Audit and Standards Committee on Monday 9 November.
Planning enforcement is the team that investigates building work and changes of use carried out without planning permission, or not in line with the approved plans, and can take action to put them right. The progress report gives the draft rating but not the auditors’ findings, which should follow when the audit is finished.
Housing register rating corrected
The same report corrects an earlier one. The audit of the housing register and how council homes are allocated was reported to councillors as “Substantial” assurance, but the report says that was an error: the rating was “Moderate”.
Other audits this year did better. Leisure management got the top rating, “Full”, and business continuity (how the council keeps services running in an emergency) got “Substantial”. Audits of land charges, housing benefits, business rates, cash collection and procurement are under way. The audits are carried out by Warwickshire County Council’s internal audit team, which expects this year’s plan to be largely finished by the end of March.
How to report a possible planning breach
The council adopted a new Local Enforcement Plan on 1 June 2026, setting out how it monitors planning permissions and investigates complaints. You can report building work or a change of use you think doesn’t have permission on the council’s planning enforcement page. The council can’t get involved in private disputes such as boundaries or private rights of way.
Alex Harrington
Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.
