Agenda item

8.1

The Committee received a report of the Challenge for Change Tenant Scrutiny Group containing details of the outcome of a review undertaken by the Group on how effective the Housing Service was in dealing with reports of anti-social behaviour.

8.2

In attendance for this item were Tina Gilbert (Performance and Risk Officer) and Rich Heaton and Jackie Taylor (Members of the Challenge for Change Tenant Scrutiny Group).

8.3

The report was supported by a presentation from Rich Heaton and Jackie Taylor.  Ms Taylor reported on the objectives of the project, which had been to investigate the effectiveness of the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy, to undertake a number of reality checks and to provide conclusions and recommendations on Challenge for Change’s findings.  She reported on the reality checks, which included holding a number of meetings with staff and management; undertaking a review of the Anti-Social Behaviour section on the Council website; reviewing feedback from customers; assessing procedures in place for both employees and reporters of anti-social behaviour; and undertaking a review of all the information received.

8.4

Mr Heaton referred to the conclusions of the project which included, amongst others, a need to review training for customer-facing staff to help build confidence and knowledge in dealing with anti-social behaviour; provide more visibility for the local communities; provide clearer, user-friendly information to reporters of anti-social behaviour; and to conduct further analysis of information gathered from customer satisfaction surveys, and publish the outcomes of improvements made.  He reported on the Group’s recommendations following the review.

8.5

Ms Taylor concluded the presentation by referring to the budget allocated to Challenge for Change in respect of the review, indicating that the Group had been supported well by officers throughout the process, and would be more than happy, if such support was to continue, to look at other issues in the future.

8.6

Tina Gilbert reported that managers in the Housing Service had started work on some of the issues raised, prior to the conclusion of the review. 

8.7

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

(a)      notes the information reported as part of the presentation;

(b)     agrees/concurs with the Group’s recommendations set out in the report; and

(c)      expresses its thanks and appreciation to (i) Rich Heaton and Jackie Taylor for attending the meeting and making the presentation and (ii) all members of the Challenge for Change Tenant Scrutiny Group for the excellent work undertaken by them in respect of the review.