Issue - items at meetings - Neighbourhood Enforcement Teams

Report of the Director of Public Health (copy attached).

11.1    The Committee considered a report of the Assistant Chief Executive in relation to Neighbourhood Enforcement Teams. The report sought to launch the process of reviewing the enforcement functions of the Council with the intention of making them more neighbourhood focussed. The Chair added that many of these types of issues were those Ward Councillors dealt with on a daily basis; the report was seeking any views and general support from the Committee.

11.2    Councillor Simson noted that the concept was still in its infancy, but she stated that there were already projects in her own Ward that attempted to achieve this, and she highlighted the previous role of neighbourhood wardens. In response to a query the Head of Community Safety clarified that the first task would be to facilitate discussions with all key partners and understand what was enforceable; Councillor Simson asked for more information on how communities could become involved as the work progressed.

11.3    Nev Kemp (Sussex Police) added that there was real opportunity to greater efficiency, but noted that this required a lot of upfront funding where it had been tried in places such as Nottingham.

11.4    Councillor Littman welcomed this work; in particular more intelligent ways of working. Co-locating services was also a means to achieve closer working.

11.5    In response to queries from the representative from Community Works the Chair highlighted that the vision was redesign Council services around communities and neighbourhoods; it was hoped that focusing on priorities could help achieve better relationships and outcomes.

11.6    The Chair put the recommendations to the vote:

11.       RESOLVED – That the Committee:

1)        Undertake a review of existing enforcement functions across the council.

2)        Allows Officers to progress work to draw up options for reconfiguring enforcement functions to be more efficient with a neighbourhood focus utilising officers who are already in neighbourhoods and communities, and a report be brought back to the Committee for consideration.