Agenda item

The report provides a briefing of the Government’s draft Anti-social Behaviour Bill and the rationale behind this. 

The Panel will receive a presentation on the new proposals and will set out what this means for Bath and North East Somerset Council and the Community Safety Partnership.

There will be an opportunity to hear about the latest outcomes from the recent Home Office ‘Community Remedy’ consultation – which closed 7 March 2013.

The Panel will be invited to an open question and answer session at the end of the presentation.

The Chairman invited David Redgewell to address the Panel.

David Redgewell said that there is a vast amount of graffiti at Keynsham and Oldfield Park station which cost tax payers quite a lot of money.  Also, these stations were the last stations not having the CCTV in Avon area.  David Redgewell pointed out that the Council, together with the newly appointed Police and Crime Commissioner and British Transport Police, should look into providing the CCTV on those two stations.  The Anti-Social Behaviour Bill will enable closer co-operation between Local Authorities and the Police forces. 

The Chairman invited Sue Dicks (Community Manager for Partnership Delivery) to give the presentation.

Sue Dicks replied to points raised in David Redgewell’s statement by saying that the Council has already had the discussion with the British Transport Police on the areas to fit the CCTV and the outcomes are quite positive.  Sue Dicks also informed the Panel that the Council are leading on this matter.

Sue Dicks than gave the presentation where she highlighted the following:

• Landscape of reform for Anti-Social Behaviour
• Why is reducing anti-social behaviour a government priority?
• Reasons behind Government’s commitment
• What did the Government do so far?
• What did the White Paper say?
• Current ASB Tools and Powers
• ASB proposed bill
• Part one – Crime Prevention Injunction
• Part two – Criminal Behaviour Order
• Part three – Police Dispersal Power
• Part four – Community Protection Notice
• Community Protection Order (Public Space)
• Tackling Environmental ASB
• Part five – recovery of possession of dwelling houses: ASB Grounds
• Part six – Empowering communities ‘Community Trigger’ – A new right to victims and communities
• Empowering victims
• Next steps

A full copy of the presentation is available on the Minute Book in Democratic Services.

The Panel made the following points:

Some Members of the Panel found part 3 of the Bill (Police dispersal power) most useful and asked if the consultation would slow down the process.

Sue Dicks responded that no advance consultation would be required, so it wouldn’t slow down the process.

The Panel asked if the part five of the Bill (Recovery of possession of dwelling-houses: ASB grounds) would speed up the process particularly in the areas with the high density of student accommodation/houses considering that currently it takes 6 months to ratify noise or other disturbance in those areas.

Sue Dicks replied that there is no reason why landlords could not sort these issues straight away now though part five of the Bill will make these cases easier to manage.

The Panel asked if the part six of the Bill (Community Trigger) could be used maliciously and should elected Members be involved more in the actual provision of the Act (once it gets Royal Ascent in 2014).

Sue Dicks responded that part of the Local Government Association’s concerns was part six of the Bill and the Police now will have a system identifying vulnerability of victims of anti-social behaviour and people who make regular complaints.  The evidence from the community trigger pilots will be important in assessing the value and reach of the community trigger proposal.  Sue Dicks also said that it would be excellent ‘best practice’ if elected Members get involved in the provision of the Act.

It was RESOLVED to note the report and presentation.