Issue - meetings

That the draft policy is approved.

The Cabinet Member for Housing introduced the report which sought agreement for the Housing Service’s proposed Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Policy. 

The policy aimed to describe the strategic context in which it sat both within the Council, but also within the wider national context.  The paper highlighted key policy issues and changes and any potential challenges faced by the Council.  The policy was predominantly aimed at Council tenants and the Council’s role as a landlord.

The approach to anti-social behaviour by the Neighbourhood Management Team was closely linked to the work of the Council’s Community Safety Team and the policy had been developed alongside the draft ‘Community Safety Strategy’ for the Council in order that they should complement each other.

The Cabinet Member for Housing said that anti-social behaviour meant different things to different people and it could range from serious criminal activity, such as drug dealing, to less serious types of nuisance such as litter or pet related nuisance.  The Cabinet Member highlighted the proposed key changes to the policy and added that the policy attempted to recognise the frustrations felt by many residents who witnessed some tenants repeatedly breaching the terms of their tenancy agreement and causing nuisance and annoyance to others.  She said when such tenants were witnessed to have new bathrooms or kitchens, sometimes ahead of those tenants who had an impeccable tenancy record, it caused frustration.  The Council had a duty however to meet its repairing obligations and to invest in its stock which were assets of the Council.  However, the draft policy contained a proposal to increase priority for planned improvement works for those tenants with clear tenancy records, whilst reducing priority for those tenants with a history of serious or persistent anti-social behaviour.

All Members welcomed the proposed changes to the draft Policy, in particular the increased priority for tenants with clear tenancy records for planned improvement works.

RESOLVED:

That the draft Policy be approved.