Service Improvement Group Meeting

2 October 2015

Minutes

Attendees:

Apologies:

Item / Action
Minutes from last meeting / Distributed – no issues / Distribute papers for consideration 10 days prior to next meeting
Guest speaker / Alan Freeman works for Neighbourhood Services as a Clean Neighbourhood Officer dealing with Environmental Crime such as abandoned vehicles, fly tipping, littering and dog fouling. The new legislation ASB Crime & Policing Act 2014 has assisted him in his job. The introduction of CPN’s (Community Protection Notices) and CPW’s (Community Protection Warnings) means he can deal with most issues causing harassment, alarm or distress including gardens. He has already served some CPW’s and is having positive outcomes. He notes that Rugby council have issued 390 CPW’s and have had compliance with 370 without having to take further action so they are showing real success. Route of escalation would be CPW, CPN then FPN (Fixed Penalty Notice) or prosecution. There has to be a complainant to sign a witness and impact statement. CPW’s ie for gardens give 14 days to comply. For CPN’s there is a right of appeal to the magistrates’ court.
Changes to ways of working include – Dog Control Orders will be replaced by PSPO’s (Public Spaces Protection Orders). In effect, PSPO’s are like by-laws and one can be introduced for a set issue around the whole borough for example no parking on grass verges, fly posting, selling vehicles. Consequences of breaching PSPO’s would be a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) or prosecution at magistrates’ court.
For noise nuisance, a CPW can be served based on 3rd party evidence. However, direct evidence would be required in order to serve a CPN. All actions will be added to a database and weekly meetings will take place with partner agencies to discuss actions. / Suggestions for next meeting include PC Ellie Sewell (Vulnerability Officer) or Debra Castledine (ASB Victim & Witness Support Champion)
Factsheets / Distributed new factsheet on Community Areas as the request of GC. Recent training has highlighted some issues that could be used for future factsheets. / FGM and Cyber Crime?
Mystery Shop / The group agreed it would be beneficial to interview Tenancy Sustainment Officers about ASB case management system. / To be looked at for Mystery Shop 2016
Review of ASB Policy and Procedure / LH confirmed that the policy can be distributed once it has been approved at Cabinet / Awaiting Cabinet approval for ASB policy
Terms of Reference / The group felt the Methodology is now easier to read and was agreed. / This agenda item can now be removed.
Accreditation / Self assessment currently being completed as current accreditation ends November 2015. Members of the group confirmed they are happy to be interviewed by the Housemark assessor / Keep the group up to date
Performance (end of year) / 2nd quarter not completed at time of meeting so performance to be brought to the next meeting. / JG to provide 2nd quarter performance
AP survey and risk assessment / New risk assessments and surveys now entered into the CAS ASB case management system. The group queried initial questions around having an appropriate adult. JG confirmed that an appropriate adult would normally be a friend or family member or a support worker not in terms of the adults used by the police. / Forms agreed – remove item from agenda
Training / The group advised that they have not been approached about any training around the new ASB legislation. A further request has been sent to Tenant Involvement and the Tenancy Sustainment Co-ordinator to pursue this / JG emailed LA and LH re training opportunities for tenant members
Victim Support packages / JG advised that due to the variety of packages, they would be too wide for us to stock. In terms of VFM, it would be more appropriate for us to look at accessing current target hardening budgets for high risk cases and look to fund smaller items from the ASB budget. Most housing providers are producing Witness Support charters and maybe we should consider this route. / JG to look at producing a witness support charter.
Focus Groups / JG confirmed that nobody attended the last focus group. Around 12 customers were invited. Repeat again in 6 months time
Date and time of next meeting: / To be arranged

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