16.—(1) Where a person to whom an enforcement notice or a prohibition notice is addressed has failed to take the action required by it within such time as may be specified in it or, in default of any time being specified, within a reasonable time of service of that notice, and such a notice has not been withdrawn, the Secretary of State may himself undertake any action required and the cost of so doing shall be recoverable from the person on whom the notice was served.
(2) The person to whom such a notice as is referred to in paragraph (1) above has been addressed shall afford such assistance as the Secretary of State may reasonably require for the purpose of facilitating the exercise of any powers conferred on the Secretary of State by that paragraph.
(3) The exercise by the Secretary of State of any power conferred on him by paragraph (1) above shall be without prejudice to any consequences that may arise in respect of any non-compliance with an enforcement notice or a prohibition notice.