Issue - meetings

(a)       That the new tools and powers available to social landlords and amendments to the Anti-Social Behaviour Policy be supported; and

(b)       That the Council’s continued approach of dealing with each complaint of Anti-Social Behaviour on a case by case basis, and only taking legal enforcement action when it is reasonable and proportionate to do so be supported.

The Senior Manager Council Housing Services introduced a report on the changes made by the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 as they effected housing management.  He explained that to utilise the new tools and powers made available by the new legislation it had been necessary to revise the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Policy. The revised Anti-Social Behaviour Policy was appended to the report for Members’ consideration.

                        The Senior Manager Council Housing Services provided background information and referred to the new powers introduced by the above Act which were available to social landlords such as the Council’s Housing Team.

            Councillor Paul Shotton commented on the use of 48 hour Dispersal Notices and asked how often it had been used.    The Team Leader, Neighbourhood Housing Management, explained that this Notice was issued by the Police and agreed to provide information about the Notice to the Committee following the meeting.

Councillor Ron Davies commented on his experience as a Magistrate and said that in the consideration of cases of tenants who had vandalised their properties the values of compensation were not being provided by the Council.  The Senior Manager Council Housing Services explained that the re-charge value was based on the labour and material rate but would seek further information on this to ensure the amounts were being presented to the Courts.

Councillor Paul Cunningham suggested that the number of Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) cases addressed should be better publicised in the media.  He also suggested that the Committee received quarterly update reports on the number of ASB cases dealt with.  The Chief Officer (Community and Enterprise) agreed that this information would be included in future quarterly performance reports.

Councillor Paul Shotton asked what support was provided to witnesses of incidents of ASB.  The Team Leader, Neighbourhood Housing Management explained that witnesses were supported by Officers throughout the process and that the Authority had signed up to PROTEC.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the new tools and powers available to social landlords and amendments to the Anti-Social Behaviour Policy be supported; and

(b)       That the Council’s continued approach of dealing with each complaint of Anti-Social Behaviour on a case by case basis, and only taking legal enforcement action when it is reasonable and proportionate to do so be supported.