Agenda item

Paula Burton, Housing Strategy & Investment Manager:

1. presented Housing Scrutiny Sub Committee with an update on the management of anti-social behaviour across introductory and secure tenancies

2. added that the Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) Crime and Policing Act (2014) gave local authorities increased powers and tools to deal with ASB. Tenancy Services worked closely with the Public Protection & Anti-Social Behaviour (PPASB) and Legal Teams to combat ASB and ensure the robust and proportionate management of cases

3. confirmed that there were 72 open ASB cases within Tenancy Services as at the end of June 2023

d.     reported that there were 53 ASB cases open for noise nuisance which equated to 74% of all open ASB cases. Most of the complaints received were noise related. Ten cases (14%) were currently open for verbal abuse/harassment/intimidation and/or threating behaviour. Four cases (6%) were open for other general tenancy breaches. Two cases (2.8%) were open for pet nuisance. One case (1.4%) was open for physical violence. One case (1.4%) was open for drug related activity and one case (1.4%) was open for litter/fly-tipping

e.     added that there were six notable cases as outlined in 3.4.1 of the report

6. highlighted that Tenancy Services were undergoing a review of its ASB management with the purpose of obtaining the HQN ASB Accreditation. The review was almost finalised with a decision due within the next month

7. invited comments and questions from Members of the Committee.

Members discussed the content of the report, commented, asked questions and received relevant responses from Officers as follows:

Question: How far back did the figures go?

Response: Figures contained within the report were indicative of the number of cases at June.

Comment from Donald Nannestad, Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing: It would be useful to include cases that concerned non-council properties to provide a useful comparison. Figures to demonstrate the comparison between private housing compared to Council housing.

Response: A comparison between both housing sectors would be provided in numerical format to Members, further to the meeting.

Comment: The information at paragraph 3.2 of the report was the total number of open ASB cases. It was possible that there could be ten complainants to one case. The data demonstrated the cases, not necessarily the resources that had gone into it.

Question: Were figures for ASB contained within the Lincoln City Profile?

Response: Information on ASB was held by the Public Protection & Anti-Social Behaviour (PPASB) Team.

Question: How were non-Council tenant complaints about a Council tenant resolved?

Response: The report contained information about Council tenants. Non-Council tenant complaints would be included within figures from the PPASB Team that went to Performance Scrutiny Committee.

Question: ASB cases concerning pets and animals seemed low. Was it the case that people had not reported them?

Response: Yes. Individuals may not have reported ASB complaints about pets and animals.

Comment: Information contained within the report were ASB issues. It may be that there were complaints that weren’t ASB complaints. The report highlighted issues that had been reported to the Council, not necessarily the Police.

Comment: Officers took time to identify the data. Consideration was given to common themes and particular areas. Data consideration may result in the identification of a reason for a common theme, e.g. a new tenant. The Council used the data to try and improve services.

Comment: Individuals affected by ASB were required to record a diary of events. Had consideration been given to methods of recording incidents by way of diary, online?

Response: Officers would investigate and provide feedback to Members, further to the meeting.

Comment from Donald Nannestad, Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing: An Officer from the PPASB team responsible for the investigation of a complaint/s, collected diaries every two weeks.

Comment: Consideration of people’s use of CCTV camera equipment was useful. It may also be beneficial to consider tenants’ use of CCTV equipment within the communal areas policy.

RESOLVED that:

1.     Additional information be provided by Officers in relation to:

·        A comparison between ASB cases relating to non-Council tenants and Council tenants to be circulated, in numerical format, to Members.

2.     The content of the report be noted.