Agenda and minutes

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:

   No exempt items have been identified.

None.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

There were no late items.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Olga Gailite, Rita Ighade, Peter Middleton

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th December 2017.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2017 be approved as a correct record.

Following on from previous Board meetings, the Board requested attendance of Housing Officers who work on Anti-Social Behaviour cases. Two Housing Officers from Housing Leeds have been invited to attend today’s meeting to give the Board their thoughts.

In opening the discussion, the Chair went through the history of the current inquiry, listing who had already been before the Board and a brief outline of what they stated.

ASB OFFICERS

The Chair asked ASB Officers to give a brief overview of their work. They explained cases can come through Contact Centre, Housing Officers, Out of Hours Service, Councillors and Police. In dealing with a case they work with the victim initially to make sure they are safe and then carry out an investigation with the perpetrator. The Chair asked if an area such as Wetherby has ASB issues. It was noted by the ASB Officer that there is ASB there and it is often caused by youths and so is important we work together with Youth Services in order to deal with the problem. It was noted whilst an area may be seen as affluent and there are no problems, that problems do exist. The Officers noted that since budget cuts to services such as the Police, and also within the Council, that this is starting to have a knock on effect.

It was noted by ASB Officers that whilst an incident may be deemed ‘low level’ by some, it could have a much greater impact to someone else, but when investigating it may reveal a whole host of other issues for both the victim and perpetrator which also will need to be resolved by other agencies other than LASBT. However, it was explained these agencies are suffering from lack of resources due in part to budget cuts. The ASB Officers stressed they have to in some cases give support to the perpetrator in order to bring about a lasting solution, and whilst many ask that perpetrators be moved out, that it isn’t so simple to do. The Officers also noted the issue of complainants going to Councillors about ASB but are then reluctant to give statements, which means the ASB carries on and the ASB team then get the blame for not dealing with it. It was noted where Social Services might need to intervene in a case then they require up to 30 days to do an initial assessment which adds to the time to resolve an issue.

The Chair asked if Officers are moved around if there are shortages of staff in other areas of the city. It was explained what usually happens is they take on cases, but this isn’t so much of an issue because although ASB Officers have a defined area, perpetrators can come from anywhere in the City and so their work is cross city.

The Chair asked if PCSOs are being moved around regularly. The ASB Officers explained that like ASB Officers, they work best when they are known in a particular area/community. The ASB Officers also explained that they regularly meet with Housing Officers to discuss cases ongoing, or to arrange joint visits on cases.

SB gave an example about where groups or gangs congregate on public land and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

Following on from previous meetings, the Board requested attendance of Anti-Social Behaviour Officers. Two Officers from the Anti-Social Behaviour Service have been invited to attend today’s meeting to give the Board their thoughts.

Both this item and the previous one were combined together.

As part of the evidence gathering process, the Board is requested to consider the draft survey attached and make any amendments as appropriate. The Board should also agree to whom the survey should be sent out to.

The Chair presented the proposed survey for Anti-Social Behaviour to the Board. The Chair asked that as wide an audience is given for this survey.

RESOLVED – The Board agreed with the proposed survey for Anti-Social Behaviour.

This report highlights amendments which have been made to the workplan for the Board.

The Chair explained that due to the cancellation of one of the previous meeting this has thrown the planned schedule out. The Chair noted that the Board are not tied to other reports like in previous years which are ongoing which the Board wanted to be part of. It was noted that this report into Anti-Social Behaviour would be unlikely to be completed before April.

RESOLVED – The Board agreed with the revised work programme for the Board.

Wednesday 14th February 2018 at 1:15pm.

(pre meeting for all board members at 1:00pm)

Wednesday 14th February 2018 at 1:15pm

(Pre meeting for all Board members at 1:00pm)

THE MEETING CLOSED AT 3:10 PM