Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Housing Services Manager. The Housing Service is required to have an anti-social behaviour (ASB) policy and procedures and these should be revised from time to time.

Please note: The Government Guidance attached to this report also applies to the Harrassment and Domestic Abuse policies. Please bear this in mind when considering these items on the agenda.

The Group had before it a report * from the Housing Services Manager setting out the revised anti-social behaviour (ASB) policy and procedures. Having introduced herself and having listed the areas of the Housing Service which fell under her remit she outlined the contents of the report. She emphasised the fact that the Housing Service was regulated by the Homes and Communities Agency which requires registered providers of social housing to have in place policies setting out how they will tackle anti-social behaviour. She also stated that having policies is important so that everybody knows where they stand and to provide transparency. In addition to this, she said that housing complaints were investigated by the Housing Ombudsman Service and that their starting point was to always ask for a copy of the Council’s policy on the area being complained about.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         The options open to the Council and tenants in the treatment of noise nuisance. It was explained that the Housing Service could not work in isolation but needed to liaise closely with Environmental Health. Noise monitoring equipment could be deployed but a regular pattern of disturbance needed to be detected first.

·         Neighbours talking to each other was strongly encouraged as a means of coming to an agreement.

·         Out of hours telephone calls were logged. In addition, all incidents are recorded on an incident management system and followed up wherever possible. This system could detect a trend in particular issues.

·         A pragmatic approach needed to be employed wherever possible such as with smells from barbecues.

·         Housing Officers offered mediation as a way forward where there is low level nuisance or a neighbour dispute.

·         There were data protection processes in place. The Council had to have the express permission of a complainant before forwarding information to Ward Members.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the revised Housing Services anti-social behaviour policy and procedures be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr Mrs E M Andrews and seconded by Cllr R Evans)

Note: * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes.