Agenda item

The Board is requested to discuss and ask questions to the Managers present today using the findings from the inquiry on the Anti-Social Behaviour Service.

The Chair introduced Harvinder Saimbhi and Jeff Clarke back before the Board. The Chair gave a brief update explaining what has been carried out during the current inquiry.

He then went and asked if there have been any work carried out since their previous appearance which may be of use for the Board to know.

HS explained there had been changes in staffing. A supervisor in the West area of Leeds and a Service Delivery Manager working across the three areas of Leeds have been recruited. Enhanced CCTV in some blocks have provided better imagery, and patrols of some of the blocks has reduced incidents within them through having a visual presence.

The Chair asked how many staff are working in the team. HS replied there was 86, which includes partners such as Victim Support and the Police. It was noted by a Board member that the survey and officer evidence revealed frustration around the length of time for support agencies to provide support before further action could be taken by LASBT. JC explained there was some delays and this was down to the number of inquiries the various support agencies are receiving.  However, in these instances, dialogue should be taking place between the Case Officer with the customer to make them aware of the current status and activity.

JC explained training has been carried out since meeting the Board previously. This training was explained as important given the natural turnover of staff and in response to the STAR satisfaction survey. 189 staff were trained in total and further training was provided in November when a number of new recruits were inducted into the service. JC explained as background that in the past new recruits may not have received training on ASB for a long period when coming into post and having to pick a lot of it up while on the job.

A question was asked about when things change in ASB how quickly is this relayed as training to staff? JC explained this is an ongoing debate as to whether training is annually or more frequent, as it has a significant impact to the service to take 200 staff out into training. HS spoke about training can give confidence to some staff to help them deal with cases better. Case audits are carried out by Housing Managers to ensure that cases are being processed correctly.

A question was asked by a Board Member around the length of time to contact a complainant – JC explained this is 20 days as a minimum but this can vary depending on the individual circumstances and is only a guide. The standard is 10 days for a LASBT case and this is because usually these would be more serious cases. A question was asked around the length of time to contact a complainant and if this wasn’t achieved could this be down to the Hosing Officer having too much to do? JC noted that this is a difficult question to answer because in some cases an issue can be dealt with immediately because the Officer is out on the estate, has the local knowledge and may know the history and context to the complaint. This needs to be balanced against the fact that Housing Officers do undertake a range of duties and there are competing demands on their time.

A question was asked where there have been multiple instances of ASB carried out which normally would be deemed low level should these not be referred to LASBT to pick up? JC explained this can happen if appropriate and also the Officer can ask LASBT for further advice in order to resolve the issue.

The Chair asked if Housing Officers were trained to spot where mediation could be successful?  JC explained that whilst they can look out for where it might work, they are not trained mediators and wouldn’t act directly. The Chair asked if mediation is not taken up because they are not aware of the service available. JC explained it can be difficult getting parties to come round a table to discuss and this is something we cannot force on people to do. HS explained that in some cases the issue has gone on too long for this to be a viable solution.

A question was asked about complainants being moved away as a solution to ASB. JC explained this is seen as a failure and not something we would want to do, however in some cases, such as hate crime it may be an appropriate option if a person feels they can no longer live in the area.

SB asked about security in blocks, especially those without adequate CCTV. An example was given about non-residents being able to enter tower blocks, these were sometimes especially in the blocks nearer the City Centre and tended to be homeless people seeking shelter.

HS explained some of the measures such as injunctions are used to try and stop this happening in blocks, but HS explained that by 2020 all CCTV cameras will be updated. The Chair noted that during the inquiry it was noted that fibre would be one option to connect the cameras to the main base, but would be expensive, compared to using signals from the top of tower block roofs to accomplish the same task, and could the signals type of set-up be used as an interim measure until fibre can be used. HS explained this is a complex issue – and that the service has to be more cost effective and this will be used by having one fibre link into a block but this can then be linked up to other cameras in the area which is the most efficient solution in the long term for the quality of coverage received.

A question was asked about hate crime, and given it seemed this was something which is under reported could be the reason for that especially where the victim is an asylum seeker and would this affect their chances of remaining in the UK. HS explained that this wouldn’t and perhaps communication by LASBT needs to be better to provide reassurance to them.

Noise has been an issue throughout the inquiry and a question was asked if there is enough being discussed on the Annual Home Visit, around flooring especially given the situation when children are being rehoused in blocks? JC noted that this is something which could be discussed further at the visit, and at the new home visit where the tenant is new into the property. Simple advice such as requesting to put down rugs etc could be given.

The inquiry has also discovered issues with the IT system being used for ASB and that it is often ‘clunky’ and inflexible. A member explained that the Board were also told the system does not distinguish between private and council owned properties. JC explained the system was introduced initially as a temporary measure but over time has been adapted to meet our needs. However the new Housing Management system which is currently being introduced has a module for ASB which should be more flexible to use.  Staff are being involved in the development of this system and the service looks forward to its adoption.

In closing, the Chair on behalf of the Board wanted to thank HS and JC for their attendance today and also for their help in arranging Officers to attend the Board previously and information that was provided throughout the inquiry. The Chair explained that at the next TSB meeting there would be a draft of the report for approval by the Board, which will then be passed to Housing Leeds for reply, and it was hoped the ASB team would find the report useful.