More planning enforcement notices were issued in Swale than any other borough in Kent last year.

A total of 18 were handed out by the council, followed by 11 in Medway, eight in Tunbridge Wells and seven each in Ashford and Thanet.

Swale also topped the list of the number of stop notices issued with Ashford, which each had two.

A total of two temporary stop notices, one breach of condition notice and six planning contravention notices were also served by Swale over the same period.

Notices are issued for a variety of reasons, including breaches of planning permission and traveller-related matters.

The figures were revealed following a question by Queenborough and Halfway councillor Cameron Beart (Con) at a meeting last Wednesday.

Cllr Gerry Lewin, cabinet member for planning, said: “It is a fact that Swale processes a higher number of enforcement than other local authorities in Kent.”

He said the high amount of holiday homes and the unsettled community give rise to a large number of cases but added the reason for the high figures is, “a question that’s puzzled me”.

He added: “Some of it must be related to the vigour of the staff that we have and I suspect that we’ll find that our authority processes a higher number of enforcement notices per person employed to do it than others in the Kent area.”

Cllr Lewin also said a review of the planning enforcement service was due to report on its findings on July 23.