You are an employee at a regional Council as a Compliance Enforcement Officer. As part of your Position Description, your responsibilities include:

• Detect and investigate matters of law enforcement with a focus in companion animals and stock control; swimming pools; parking; litter control; illegal dumping; environmental incidents; derelict vehicles/articles; overgrown premises and protection of/illegal uses of Councils property/assets; development compliance
• Respond to all relevant complaints, service requests and instruction, including: allegations of land clearing; environmental issues; pollution events; water sampling; field inspections; signposting and matters relating to Compliance Enforcement Officer duties
• Provide community guidance/education and enforcement in these matters. Assist in design/implementation of community safety plans with local police, education of animal owners and polluters, and swimming pool owners
• Enforce compliance with relevant legislation, local plans and procedures. Report breaches, issue orders, notices and Penalty Infringement Notices as appropriate. Represent Council in Court as a witness where required
• Actively participate in a Team to ensure delivery of Ranger/Compliance Enforcement Services according to Council's Delivery and Operational Plans and Policies
• Maintain own health and safety and that of other people at the workplace or those who may be affected by the work being carried out

Choose one of the following scenarios,or use an actual example you have dealt with, or are familiar with from your workplace. Your choices can cover animal, parking, or other relevant compliance issues.

Scenario re compliance with swimming pools: A government study of swimming pools in NSW found that three quarters of those investigated had one or more defects that allowed children to enter the pool; most involved gates and latches, broken palings and fences that failed to meet minimum height requirements. The Department of Local Government has reminded councils that pools capable of holding just 30 centimetres of water must have fencing, gates and resuscitation signage in accordance with the Australian standard. On the spot Penalty Notice fines which can be issued by council rangers have been increased.There are specific requirements for investigating complaints about pool safety.

Detail how you would deal this situation where there have been both verbal (informal) and written (formal) complaints to council from separate neighbours about a person who has an unkempt pool with a very old and dilapidated fence and a yard described as "a bit of a cesspit" and were concerned about a local small child who has no idea of the risk to themselves and the gravity of a possible injury if they were able to access the yard and pool.

Scenario re animal issue:You received a report from council's After Hours service of an elderly man having been bitten by a dog. The report was made by his daughter who provided her contact details. On contacting her, you discovered she was not actually present when the attack occurred, but found out about it when talking to her mother. Several dogs had apparently entered her parents' back yard; it appeared they had gained entry in a section of the fence where a sheet of iron had been pushed ajar, giving sufficient room for dogs to enter/exit. One had bitten her father. She was unaware if the dogs were still there.

You are required to answer all questions below, regarding your chosen scenario:

1. Identification of possible breaches

1. a How the breach/breaches were identified

Answer:

2.a What information you gathered about the breach/breaches

Answer:

2.b The process you took to notify and schedule an inspection related to the breach

Answer:

2.c Assessment of information gathered against relevant legislation to determine if the complaint was an actual breach

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2.d The process undertaken to advise the complainant of the investigation outcomes

Answer:

2.e The council requirements for informing concerned parties of their rights

Answer:

3.a The consultation process conducted with the alleged offending party and any resolution reached

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3.b The identified list of options for actions

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3.c List of other persons or authorities relevant to the breach

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4.a Notices issued and recommended actions to achieve compliance

Answer:

4.b Council reporting requirements for recommendations including the process for submission

Answer:

4.c A timeline with action points for the entire process

Answer: