Search Legislation

Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes over time for: Cross Heading: Fixed penalties

 Help about opening options

Changes to legislation:

There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, Cross Heading: Fixed penalties. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.

Fixed penaltiesN.I.

Fixed penalty notice where enforcement notice not complied withN.I.

153—(1) Where on any occasion an authorised officer of a council has reason to believe that a person has committed an offence under section 147 in the district of that council, the officer may give that person a notice offering the person the opportunity of discharging any liability to conviction for that offence by payment of a fixed penalty to the council.

(2) Where a person is given a notice under this section in respect of an offence—

(a)no proceedings may be instituted for that offence before the expiration of the period of 28 days following the date of the notice; and

(b)the person shall not be convicted of that offence if the person pays the fixed penalty before the expiration of that period.

(3) A notice under this section must specify—

(a)the step specified, under subsection (3) of section 140, in the enforcement notice which has not been taken; or

(b)the activity so specified which has not ceased.

(4) A notice under this section must also state—

(a)the period during which, by virtue of subsection (2), proceedings will not be taken for the offence;

(b)the amount of the fixed penalty; and

(c)the person to whom and the address at which the fixed penalty may be paid.

(5) The council must not serve more than one notice under this section in relation to a particular step or activity.

(6) Without prejudice to payment by any other method, payment of the fixed penalty may be made by pre-paying and posting a letter containing the amount of the penalty (in cash or otherwise) to the person mentioned in subsection (4)(c) at the address so mentioned.

(7) Where a letter is sent in accordance with subsection (6) payment is to be regarded as having been made at the time at which that letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.

(8) The form of a notice under this section shall be such as the Department may prescribe.

(9) The fixed penalty payable to the council under this section is such amount as may be prescribed.

(10) But if payment is made within the first 14 days of the period mentioned in subsection (2) the amount payable is reduced by 25%.

(11) In any proceedings a certificate which—

(a)purports to be signed on behalf of the clerk of the council, and

(b)states that payment of a fixed penalty was or was not received by a date specified in the certificate,

is evidence of the facts stated.

(12) In this section “authorised officer”, in relation to a council, means an employee of a council who is authorised in writing by the council for the purpose of giving notices under this section.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2Pt. 5 (except ss. 157-163) applied with modification(s) (1.4.2015) by The Planning General Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (S.R. 2015/39), regs. 1(1), 2 (with regs. 3-10)

Commencement Information

I1S. 153 in operation at 13.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/49, art. 2, Sch. 1

I2S. 153 in operation at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2015/49, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2) (as amended (16.3.2016) by S.R. 2016/159, art. 2)

Fixed penalty notice where breach of condition notice not complied withN.I.

154—(1) Where on any occasion an authorised officer of a council has reason to believe that a person has committed an offence under subsection (9) of section 152 in the district of that council, the officer may give that person a notice offering the person the opportunity of discharging any liability to conviction for that offence by payment of a fixed penalty to the council.

(2) Where a person is given a notice under this section in respect of an offence—

(a)no proceedings may be instituted for that offence before the expiration of the period of 28 days following the date of the notice; and

(b)the person shall not be convicted of that offence if the person pays the fixed penalty before the expiration of that period.

(3) A notice under this section must—

(a)specify the step specified under subsection (5) of section 152 in the breach of condition notice which has not been taken; or

(b)the activity so specified which has not ceased.

(4) A notice under this section must also state—

(a)the period during which, by virtue of subsection (2), proceedings will not be taken for the offence;

(b)the amount of the fixed penalty; and

(c)the person to whom and the address at which the fixed penalty may be paid.

(5) The council must not serve more than one notice under this section in relation to a particular step or activity.

(6) Without prejudice to payment by any other method, payment of the fixed penalty may be made by pre-paying and posting a letter containing the amount of the penalty (in cash or otherwise) to the person mentioned in subsection (4)(c) at the address so mentioned.

(7) Where a letter is sent in accordance with subsection (6) payment is to be regarded as having been made at the time at which that letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.

(8) The form of a notice under this section shall be such as the Department may prescribe.

(9) The fixed penalty payable to the council under this section is such amount as may be prescribed.

(10) But if payment is made within the first 14 days of the period mentioned in subsection (2) the amount payable is reduced by 25%.

(11) In any proceedings a certificate which—

(a)purports to be signed on behalf of the clerk of the council, and

(b)states that payment of a fixed penalty was or was not received by a date specified in the certificate,

is evidence of the facts stated.

(12) In this section “authorised officer”, in relation to a council, means an employee of a council who is authorised in writing by the council for the purpose of giving notices under this section.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Commencement Information

I3S. 154 in operation at 13.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/49, art. 2, Sch. 1

I4S. 154 in operation at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2015/49, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2) (as amended (16.3.2016) by S.R. 2016/159, art. 2)

Use of fixed penalty receiptsN.I.

155—(1) This section applies in relation to amounts paid to a council in pursuance of notices under section 153 or 154 (its “fixed penalty receipts”).

(2) A council may use its fixed penalty receipts only for the purposes of—

(a)its functions under this Part;

(b)such other of its functions as may be specified in regulations made by the Department.

(3) Regulations under subsection (2)(b) may, in particular, have the effect that a council may use its fixed penalty receipts for the purposes of any of its functions.

(4) A council must supply the Department with such information relating to its use of its fixed penalty receipts as the Department may require.

(5) The Department may by regulations—

(a)make provision for what a council is to do with its fixed penalty receipts—

(i)pending their being used for the purposes of functions of the council referred to in subsection (2);

(ii)if they are not so used before such time after their receipt as may be specified by the regulations;

(b)make provision for accounting arrangements in respect of a council's fixed penalty receipts.

(6) The provision that may be made under subsection (5)(a)(ii) includes, in particular, provision for the payment of sums to a person (including the Department) other than the council.

(7) Before making regulations under this section, the Department shall consult—

(a)councils;

(b)such other persons as the Department thinks fit.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Commencement Information

I5S. 155 in operation at 13.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/49, art. 2, Sch. 1

I6S. 155 in operation at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2015/49, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2) (as amended (16.3.2016) by S.R. 2016/159, art. 2)

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules as a PDF

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the Northern Ireland Assembly department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes accompany all Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources