Agenda item

(i)              Joint Report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships and the Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services

(ii)             Presentation by the Senior Environmental Health Officer

The Committee considered the joint report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships and the Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services which provided Members with an update on the work of the Council’s Community Action Team (CAT) and the use of targeted interventions (for copy of report, see file of minutes).

Members received a presentation from the Senior Environmental Health Officer (for copy see file of minutes) which provided an update on the 2015-17 work and future work.

The Senior Environmental Health Officer confirmed that cases increased by 103% in 2016/17 compared to the 2015/16 Programme.  There were approximately another 200 incidents to add which would take the number of cases to almost 1000.

In response to a question from Councillor May, the Senior Environmental Health Officer confirmed that both Eldon Lane and Grange Villa still showed signs of improvement on the revisit, however within the county there are areas with wider issues where work done made improvements for a short period of time only.  These were usually areas of deprivation, with a wider problem of absentee landlords and empty properties as a result of the introduction of the under occupancy charge.  Bin theft in some areas could add to the problem as the Council charged a replacement fee for which many people could not afford to pay.

In response to a question from Councillor Jewell regarding the identification of project locations, the Senior Environmental Health Officer confirmed that they would first consider the deprivation index and areas within the top 10% were included in the programme .  In addition, the team would also consider intelligence from the police, fire service and anti-social behaviour teams.  Councillor Jewell continued by querying whether the team worked in conjunction with the Councils Enforcement Team and the Senior Environmental Health Officer confirmed that an initial evidence gathering meeting would take place which would involve input from various internal and external teams, including Enforcement.

Councillor Clare queried which areas had been identified for the 2017-18 Programme and the Senior Environmental Health Officer confirmed that four areas had been selected, however one area was still undecided and was something which members could assist in identifying.  The areas which had been identified were;

·       New Kyo

·       Wheatley Hill

·       Dawdon

·       CLS Central (revisit)

Councillor Liversedge queried whether more flexible opening hours of Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) would decrease the risk of fly-tipping, noting some centres that closed at 3.30pm and were not open on Fridays during winter.  He continued that he had reported 13 fly-tipping incidents in his division in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  Councillor Armstrong referred to the Councils Waste Strategy, which had been developed over several years and had been scrutinised by Members.  The strategy had been formulated on the availability of finances to run the whole service and there was no additional funding that could be accessed.  Councillor Stradling added that Members had been successful in keeping the site at Thornley open as it was being considered for closure.  He confirmed that there were cases where waste had been dumped by the road after driving past the HWRC in Horden with a blatant disregard for it and he did not envisage that longer opening hours would assist in reducing the number of incidents.  Councillor Armstrong suggested that the issue was referred to the Service Grouping for a response.

Councillor Milburn welcomed the news that New Kyo had been included in the programme for 2017/18 as although it was a small area, it affected surrounding areas such as Annfield Plain and the scheme would of great benefit to the area.

Mr Bolton queried whether the CRM was used to monitor the performance of the programme, noting the number of incidents prior to and then following the programme.  The Public Health & Housing Manager confirmed that the CRM was used to identify areas for the programme, however the main source of monitoring was undertaken during walkabouts which were undertaken 6, 9 and 12 months after the initial programme.

The Chairman confirmed that it was encouraging to see the CAT liaising with schools and young children as education was crucial if a long-term solution to the problem was to be sought.

Resolved

That the report and presentation be noted and the Committee receive a further update on the work of the Community Action Team at a future meeting.