Agenda and minutes

1.1 The Chair updated those in attendance on the meeting etiquette and that the meeting was being recorded and livestreamed.

1.2 Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Pallis and Cllr Sadek.

1.3 Cllr Selma, Cllr Rathbone and Cllr Oszen were in online attendance.

2.2 There were no urgent items, and the order of business was as set out in the agenda.

3.1 There were no declarations of interest.

4.1 The Chair opened the item by explaining that the Commission was keen to hear about how the Council works with partner agencies and communities to ensure multi-agency responses and support in order to prevent, reduce and if necessary enforce against anti-social behaviour on council managed estates and blocks.

4.2 The Commission saw this discussion as timely given the recent refresh of the Community Safety Partnership Plan, and the Government’s recently published Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan which promised new measures to support relevant agencies.

4.3 Anti-social behaviour on council managed estates and blocks was also identified as a concern for residents in the Overview & Scrutiny annual work programme consultation 2023/24.

4.4 As part of the scrutiny process, the Resident Liaison Group carried out a survey to understand the experiences of residents living in council-managed homes in reporting, being kept-up to-date on and resolving anti-social behaviour issues.

4.5 Representing London Borough of Hackney

·  Councillor Susan Fajana-Thomas, Community Safety and Regulatory Services

·  Steve Waddington, Strategic Director Housing Services

·  Helena Stephenson, Assistant Director Tenancy Services

·  Jacqueline Fearon, Operations Director Tenancy and Home Ownership

·  Wayne Hylton, Head of Anti-Social Behaviour & Estate Safety

·  Geeta Subramaniam-Mooney, Director Environment and Climate Change,

·  Gerry McCarthy, Assistant Director Community Safety, Enforcement & Business Regulations

·  Maurice Mason, Community Safety Manager

·  Steven Davison, Enforcement Manager

4.6 External Guests

·  Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, Borough Commander, Met Police Central East Borough Command Unit

·  Steve Webster and Zahra Shoorvazi, Resident Liaison Group Co-Chairs

4.7 The Chair then invited the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Regulatory Services and Council officers to give a verbal presentation. The main points are highlighted below.

4.8 Anti-social behaviour (ASB) plays a major part in whether residents felt happy and safe in their homes, as well as how satisfied they were with the Council as a landlord. This could be true whether the issues were serious, high level crimes or related to issues such as noise, fly-tipping and other nuisance behaviours.

4.9 Housing Services was committed to working with reporters and alleged perpetrators in a holistic way, working towards prevention and behaviour change wherever possible. This was in recognition of the social determinants of ASB, and that many reporters and alleged perpetrators of ASB were vulnerable.

4.10 This involved working in partnership with other teams and partner agencies to tackle the root causes of ASB while providing clear boundaries and expectations around behaviour as required. This included diversionary programmes and community activities, CCTV, property adjustments, mediation and referrals for support.

4.11 This also provided a firm basis for robust enforcement action where efforts to change behaviour did not work, recognising that enforcement was a key tool in a victim-centred approach. This included warning letters, additional patrols and enforcement powers such as Community Protection Warnings, civil injunctions, full or partial closure orders or criminal charges.

4.12 All new tenants were required to sign a Tenancy Agreement which set out the behaviours expected of all tenants. New tenancies would be introductory tenancies unless the person had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.1 The draft minutes of the meeting held on 22nd November 2023 were agreed as an accurate record.

5.2 The draft minutes of the previous meeting held on 11th December 2023 would follow in the next meeting agenda.

6.1 The Chair referred to the Commission’s work programme and highlighted the discussion items planned for the remainder of the municipal year.

6.2 It was explained that, following a request from officers, the community halls discussion which was scheduled for February had been postponed. This would now likely take place early in the new municipal year, although would need to be agreed as part of the 2024/25 work planning process.

7.1 None.