Agenda item

(a)       Assisted Garden Service - that the Committee support low level intervention by garden operatives and that any proposals for high level intervention would require further information including costings;

(b)       Assisted Garden Service - that the Committee support the collection of grass cuttings at a small charge, with the use of brown bins to minimise cost;

(c)        That the Committee support in principle charging for the Garden Service;

(d)       Environmental Visual Audits - that Members support the EVAs in helping to identify local issues;

(e)       Garage Review - that Members of the Committee consider the future use of private garages on Council owned plots within their wards;

(f)        Allotments (Housing land) - that the Committee support the transfer of management of the Dobshill site to Leisure Services, the increase in rent for allotments situated on Housing land, the introduction of standardised rental agreements and a Council Tenant Preference Group for allotments situated on Housing Service owned land;

(g)       Maintenance of Housing Land (Street Scene) - that the Committee support in principle the early proposals to transfer the management of HRA land maintenance to Street Scene with a view to improving the customer experience; and

(h)       Estate Caretaker Review - that the considerations be noted.

The Neighbourhood Housing Manager (South) presented an update report on proposals to develop Estate Management services and sought views from Members on a number of areas.

Assisted Garden Service

Views were sought on the consideration of low level intervention by gardeners in carrying out a ‘good neighbour’ check at tenants’ properties whilst undertaking work and whether this option or high level intervention should be considered as part of the tender process.  Members were also asked to consider options for the collection of grass cuttings.

Councillor P.J. Curtis agreed with the need for low level intervention but said that clarity would be required on the level of responsibility included in the job description of gardeners.  The Head of Housing confirmed that this would be included in the contract of employment and that employees would only need to be as observant as a member of the public in reporting any concerns.

Councillor A.M. Halford thanked officers for the report but expressed concern that garden operatives may be expected to carry out tasks conflicting with that of trained officers in Social Services.  The Director of Community Services explained that low level intervention would be an expectation for the operative to show a level of awareness of a good neighbour in which no special skills would be required.  On the question of cost, he added that this would depend on which level of intervention that Members supported and that a higher level would require further development.

Councillor R. Dolphin also agreed with the proposal for low level intervention but said that consideration of a higher level would need costings provided.  On grass cutting, she suggested that brown bins be utilised and that tenants should be asked if they required this service as opposed to blanket provision, with a small nominal fee applied.  On the qualifying criteria, she felt that the proposed disqualification of ‘able bodied relatives living in Flintshire’ should be removed as some residents in need of the service may not be in contact with their local relatives.

On the proposal to amend the age criteria to tenants over the age of 65, Councillor H.G. Roberts suggested that this could be further extended to those aged 70+ as many may be able to carry out tasks.

Following a comment made by Councillor J.E. Falshaw on the benefits of mulching, it was explained that mulching mowers were not currently used but that this could be a future consideration.  The Chairman commented on a number of complaints made about grass cutting in sheltered accommodation.

Environmental Visual Audits (EVAs)

The Neighbourhood Housing Manager (South) provided background to EVAs and thanked the Cabinet Member for Housing for championing these.  She sought support from Members for EVAs in working with the Housing team, North Wales Police and Neighbourhood Watch to help identify local issues.

Councillor Dolphin commented that the details of forthcoming EVAs did not include any in the Holywell area and asked what could be done in relation to tenants who did not maintain their gardens.  Councillor G.D. Diskin referred to a recent EVA in her ward and said that letters sent out had helped encourage tenants to attend to their gardens.  The Neighbourhood Housing Manager (South) said that where tenants repeatedly failed to maintain their gardens, contractors had been utilised to tidy up and the tenant recharged.  She added that Members may wish to consider more frequent use of this.  The Cabinet Member for Housing added that this had been incorporated in the tenants’ contracts.  Councillor H.G. Roberts asked if this could be legally enforced if the tenant refused to pay to which officers replied that the Corporate Debt Policy would be used.

Garage Review

The Neighbourhood Housing Manager (South) reported on a review of private garages built on Council owned plots and asked Members to consider future use of any within their wards.

In relation to queries raised by Councillor A.M. Halford, the Neighbourhood Housing Manager (South) said that Housing officers were in discussion with the Legal section on giving notice to tenants.  On clarity of information in the report, she spoke of the difficulty in collating data from different sources and offered to show Members the locations of private garage plots within their wards if requested.

Allotments (Housing Land)

Councillor Dolphin spoke in support of the increase in rent of the Dobshill allotment in line with others and also felt that the current standard ground rent of plots managed by Leisure Services could be increased.

Councillor Halford agreed, commenting that it was difficult to acquire sites for allotments and that they could be a valuable asset.  The Neighbourhood Housing Manager (South) said that discussion was needed with Leisure Services on whether the ground rent amount was sufficient to cover maintenance.  Councillor Halford referred to the renting out of garages.  The Head of Housing said that this report was focussing on private garages built on Council owned land and that a review of Council owned garages was ongoing.

Councillor Falshaw remarked that some Council owned garages may be being used for storage.  The Neighbourhood Housing Manager (South) said that this may be the case as some were so old, they may not be capable of accommodating modern larger vehicles.

Estate Caretaker Review

Members of the Committee commented on the excellent job undertaken by the Estates Caretakers.

RESOLVED:

(a)       Assisted Garden Service - that the Committee support low level intervention by garden operatives and that any proposals for high level intervention would require further information including costings;

(b)       Assisted Garden Service - that the Committee support the collection of grass cuttings at a small charge, with the use of brown bins to minimise cost;

(c)        That the Committee support in principle charging for the Garden Service;

(d)       Environmental Visual Audits - that Members support the EVAs in helping to identify local issues;

(e)       Garage Review - that Members of the Committee consider the future use of private garages on Council owned plots within their wards;

(f)        Allotments (Housing land) - that the Committee support the transfer of management of the Dobshill site to Leisure Services, the increase in rent for allotments situated on Housing land, the introduction of standardised rental agreements and a Council Tenant Preference Group for allotments situated on Housing Service owned land;

(g)       Maintenance of Housing Land (Street Scene) - that the Committee support in principle the early proposals to transfer the management of HRA land maintenance to Street Scene with a view to improving the customer experience; and

(h)       Estate Caretaker Review - that the considerations be noted.