Agenda item

- report of the Head of Housing Services

The Anti-Social Behaviour Manager presented a report on the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 (Section 12 introduced a new provision in the Housing Act 1996 (Section 218A)) which required public landlords to prepare a policy in relation to anti-social behaviour and a summary for dealing with occurrences of anti-social behaviour by 30^th December, 2004.

The current anti-social behaviour procedures had been updated and a massive training exercise undertaken for the staff working at ground level as well as Community Constables and Environmental Services.

The proposed policy would also be considered by the ALMO Board.

Discussion ensued on the report with the following issues highlighted:-

·                    Members of the public suffering from anti-social behaviour should report it to their Local Housing Office, Environmental Services, the Police or any of the youth agencies.  Safer Estates meetings were held throughout the Area Assemblies where officers at ground level discussed complaints that had been received and considered the best way to help people.  If the complaint became particularly serious (there were threshold tests), they were referred to the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit.

·                    Anti-Social Behaviour Officers worked outside of normal office hours.

·                    Tenants on Introductory Tenancies were regularly visited.  The Anti-Social Behaviour Manager was hoping to visit as many Tenant and Residents Group as possible to assure them of what action could be taken and not to be afraid to report any incidents of anti-social behaviour. 

·                    There was a 24 hour telephone help line for witnesses together with alarms in their property and dictaphones. 

·                    If someone was evicted for anti-social behaviour it would be backed up with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order.  There was support from the Courts in Rotherham should they be breached.  If there was any intimidation of a witness the perpetrator would be warned by one of the 2 Police Officers in the Unit and possibly arrested.

·                    A bid had been submitted for another Police Officer to join the Unit.

·                    There was a clause in a Right to Buy contract allowing the Council to tackle anti-social behaviour after purchase.

·                    Once an Anti-Social Behaviour Order had come to an end there was nothing to stop the Unit applying to Court for another Order with different prohibitions.

·                    Unless the Authority had a statutory obligation to rehouse someone under the Homeless Act they would not be rehoused if they had been the subject of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order.  The Service would be working with Registered Social Landlords and private landlords with regard to a reciprocal agreement.

·                    The Neighbourhood Wardens had provided much support to the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit.  It was the intention to roll out learning points from the Wardens and pass onto the Neighbourhood Champions.  There were 3 years of external funding remaining for the Wardens at which point it would become mainstreamed.

·                    A meeting had been held with several Registered Social Landlords.  They did not have a specialised unit themselves and were very keen to tap into the Service.  The Unit currently had 3 cases from RSL’s.  A further meeting was to be held together with the Youth Offending Service.

Resolved:-  That the draft policy be noted.