Issue - meetings

Report of the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing

The Homes Policy Development Group recommended to the Cabinet that the updated Anti-Social Behaviour Policy, Statement, Procedures and Equality Impact Assessment contained in Annexes A,B,C & D respectively be adopted.

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing. Under the Neighbourhood and Community Standard, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) required all registered providers to publish a policy setting out, how, in consultation with their tenants, they would maintain and improve the neighbourhood’s associated with their homes. Registered suppliers were required to publish a policy on how they work with relevant partners and tackle Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB).

The contents of the report were briefly outlined by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services who made reference to the requirements of the Housing Regulator and the considerable work that had gone on to formulise a revised policy including the involvement of a Member Working Group. He also highlighted the fact that the team responsible for dealing with ASB had recently won a national award. Congratulations were extended from the Cabinet to the team.

Discussion took place with regard to:

·       The lessons that could be learnt from the award winning team and whether these could be utilised in other areas of the Council. A lot of effort had been given to working with tenants face to face. An online tool kit was available which helped to provide quality evidence. Multi agency working with the Police, social services and others had been key providing joined up face to face engagement on all sides.

·       The Council understood ASB better as a result of wider tenant engagement work. The team were proactively trying to assist tenants at an earlier stage so that the impact was lessoned on all those involved in the long run.

·       The Cabinet Member stated that there had been an impressive improvement since he was last portfolio holder for this area and suggested that other local authorities would be looking to see how Mid Devon had achieved this.

RESOLVED that the updated Anti-Social Behaviour Policy, Statement, Procedures and Equality Impact Assessment contained in Annexes A,B,C & D respectively be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr S Clist and seconded by Cllr D Wulff)

Reason for the decision

The Council was required, under Section 12 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, to prepare a policy and procedure on ASB and to publish the following documents:

·       Statement of policy on ASB;

·       Statement of procedure on ASB;

·       Summary statement of current policy and procedures on ASB

Note: * Report previously circulated.

To receive a report from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing. Under the Neighbourhood and Community Standard, The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) requires all registered providers to publish a policy setting out, how in consultation with their tenants, they will maintain and improve the neighbourhood’s associated with their homes.  Registered suppliers are required to publish a policy on how they work with relevant partners to prevent and tackle Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB). An updated, draft policy on ASB within the Council’s housing stock is presented to Members.

The Group had before it a report * from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing. Under the Neighbourhood and Community Standard, The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) requires all registered providers to publish a policy setting out, how in consultation with their tenants, they will maintain and improve the neighbourhood’s associated with their homes.  Registered suppliers are required to publish a policy on how they work with relevant partners to prevent and tackle Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB).

The contents of the report were outlined and the following highlighted:

·         This was a refreshed policy which set out how MDH worked with partners.

·         Representatives from this Policy Development Group had joined with the Community PDG working group on ASB in 2022, and the housing team had worked hard with this group together with consulting tenants and key partners in updating the policy.

·         There were challenging issues around, drug trafficking, county lines and the targeting of vulnerable individuals.

·         There had been revised guidance from the Housing Ombudsman and a new Tenant Satisfaction Measure for TSM defining what ASB is and how it should be measure taken account in the updated report. An example being how a neighbourhood boundary dispute is no longer classified as ASB. 

Discussion took place with regard to:

• The Housing officers and previous working group were thanked for the work they had undertaken to produce such a detailed and important piece of work.
• Currently there were enough powers and tools to enable officers to deal with anti-social behaviour on Council housing estates but this ability relied heavily on being able to liaise closely with other agencies such as the Police.
• There would always be some anti-social behaviour and it was important to remember that there were complex issues involved.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the updated Anti-Social Behaviour Policy, Statement, Procedures and Equality Impact Assessment contained in Annexes A,B,C & D respectively be adopted.

(Proposed by Cllr F Letch and seconded by Cllr S Robinson)

Reason for the decision

The Council is required, under Section 12 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, to prepare a policy and procedure on ASB and to publish the following documents:

·         Statement of policy on ASB;

·         Statement of procedure on ASB;

·         Summary statement of current policy and procedures on ASB

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