Agenda and minutes

There were no members of the public present.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

Presentation by Helen Nixon, Anti-Social Behaviour Manager.

Helen Nixon, Anti-Social Behaviour Manager, submitted a progress report against the 15 point action plan produced in relation to housing related anti-social behaviour.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Unit had now moved into office accommodation at Eastwood Depot.  There had been many changes within the Unit including:-

-           The team consisted of Manager, seconded Police Officer, 4 Anti-Social Behaviour Officers and 2 admin assistant

-           Work across all tenure

-           Outside of normal office working hours

-           Close work with Registered Social Landlords

-           Work on Landlord Accreditation Scheme

Discussion ensued on the report with the following points raised:-

-           The Unit was currently working on approximately 30 cases

-           There were 6 Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) in Rotherham

-           Funding had been secured for a Youth Liaison Officer (starting in June, 2004)

-           Work was currently being undertaken on behalf of Northern Counties Housing Association for a fixed fee on a case by case basis

-           The Unit were currently working on a 50/50 basis with the public/private sectors

-           The Private Rented Sector Landlord Accreditation Scheme was to be submitted to the Cabinet Member for Housing and Environmental Services on 24^th May

Mrs. Nixon reported that if cases were serious enough they were referred to the Anti-Social Behaviour Case Panel; it did not matter which area of Rotherham they lived.  The target in relation to ASBOs was laid down by the Safer Rotherham Partnership and would be reviewed by the Anti-Social Behaviour Task Group. There were approximately 150 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) in Rotherham which had to be monitored very carefully.  If the person breached their ABC it would be referred to the Case Panel for consideration of an ASBO together with other alternatives dependent upon their age.  Once a youth had signed an ABC, the newly appointed Youth Liaison Worker would take the case on board and look at remedies to get the youth away from the criminal system.

Inspector Lavin stated that the Police had recently gained a new power which meant that they could apply for an ASBO when a person appeared at Court.  There was a national success rate of 90+% for ABCs.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the proposals for sustainable actions on tackling anti-social behaviour in Rotherham be noted.

(2)  That the Private Rented Sector Landlord Accreditation Scheme report be submitted to the next meeting of this Scrutiny Panel.

(3)  That a joint meeting be held of the Democratic Resources and Environment Scrutiny Panels on this issue.

Presentation by Helen Nixon, Anti-Social Behaviour Manager

Helen Nixon, Anti-Social Behaviour Manager, submitted the draft Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy which was currently out for consultation.

There were 4 elements to the Strategy:-

Prevention

-           To reduce the number of children involved in anti-social behaviour

-           Visible uniformed presence in the Borough

-           Co-ordinate and improve physical measures

-           Increase the number of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts throughout the Borough

-           Tenancy Agreements

-           To develop a mediation service across all tenures

Enforcement

-           Tenancy Agreements with appropriate enforcement measures in relation to anti-social behaviour

-           Effective monitoring of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts

-           Utilise all enforcement measures

-           Utilise criminal sanctions where appropriate

-           Working in line with the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003

Rehabilitation

-           Ensure rehabilitation forms an integral part of all anti-social behaviour case work which will guarantee that a multi-agency approach will continue following legal action taken against perpetrators

Communication

-           Internal communications

-           External communications

-           Consultation

The definition of anti-social behaviour was quite difficult due to issues of tolerance and different perceptions of what was anti-social and what was not.  A system developed by Glasgow University separated it into three distinct types of disputes:-

Neighbour Problems – disputes arising between people living in, adjoining or neighbouring properties.

Neighbourhood Problems – complaints concerning more general problems with a neighbourhood such as grafitti.

Crime Problems – House breaking burglary, criminal damage etc.

The Government was also working on a national Tenancy Agreement and it was hoped that next year there would be guidelines/clauses for a standard Tenancy Agreement which all local authorities would have to adopt.

It was a Borough-wide, all housing tenure Strategy that had been written by a multi-agency approach that all the services in Rotherham were involved in tackling.

Resolved:-  That the draft Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy be noted.

Report submitted by Head of Housing Services

The Head of Housing Services submitted a 6 months progress report in relation to housing disrepair claims following implementation of a pro-active management approach.

In recent years Rotherham had experienced a dramatic increase in the number of disrepair claims being submitted on behalf of its tenants by solicitors, some of whom operated from outside the Borough and sub-region.  The Service had decided to take on additional specialist legal assistance in support of a more assertive approach to the solicitors involved whom it was suspected were submitting spurious claims.  It had also been made clear, by way of publicity material, that tenants should submit repairs issues direct to Council staff and that spurious cased that were submitted would be contested with the utmost vigour.

During the last 6 months the number of cases had fallen from 267 to 211 despite 62 new claims having been received.  118 claims had been settled comprising of 34 where payment had been required, 74 cases where no payment had been required and 10 cases where the Authority was to receive costs.  Of the 34 cases where payment was required, £114,928.45 had been paid to 25 cases.  Costs remained to be paid on the remaining 9.

Resolved:-  That the beneficial impact that a dedicated legal resource was having on numbers and outcomes of disrepair claims be noted.

Report of Bronwen Moss, Scrutiny Adviser

Bronwen Moss, Scrutiny Adviser, submitted a report highlighting the Scrutiny Panel’s achievements over the current Municipal Year and suggesting areas for inclusion in the work programme for 2004/05.

During 2003/04 reviews had been completed on housing related anti-social behaviour and air pollution.  Discussion ensued on the suggested quarterly performance monitoring meetings with the remaining meetings being based around a particular focus or theme.  It was felt that, whilst monitoring should take place, there should come a time, if everything was running satisfactorily, when it should be increased to 6 monthly etc. and not every quarter.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the achievements of the Panel, as set out in Appendix 1, be noted and included in the Panel’s submission to the Scrutiny Annual Report.

(2)  That the areas set out in Appendix 2 for future scrutiny be endorsed together with Introductory Tenancies.

(3)  That a position statement be submitted to the Panel on the Laboratory Service.

ANYTHING MORE BRONWEN? – I DIDN’T THINK THEY SAID ANYTHING ABOUT (D)

The Panel noted the decisions made under delegated powers by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Environmental Services held on 19^th and 28^th April and 10^th May, 2004.

The minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 15^th April, 2004, were noted.

It was noted that arrangements had been made for the visit to the Asylum Team on Friday, 21^st May, 2004.

The minutes of the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee held on 12^th and 26^th March, 16^th and 23^rd April, 2004, were noted.

The Panel noted the minutes of the Asylum Seekers Working Party held on 31^st March, 2004, attended by Councillors Sharman (in the Chair), Boyes, Ellis and Robinson.