Agenda item - Field Officer Update

35.1           Annie Sparks, the Regulatory Services Manager, introduced the briefing of the new Field Officer roles. The Field Officer would work cross-service and seek community collaboration by attending Area Housing Panels, Leaseholder Action Groups and reporting to the Neighbourhoods, Inclusion, Communities & Equalities Committee. These Field Officers were from a variety of backgrounds with a range of experience and operated seven days per week with a flexible working pattern for fast effective enforcement towards service referral. The team was currently live; however it would be in full operation from early December 2018.

35.2           In response to residents, officers stated that in the event of reporting obstruction to pavements, Field Officers could use an iPad to gather quick evidence and forward this to the Highways team. Officers added that Field Officers were not replacing other services and that the Housing Office was still a point of contact.

35.3           Officers stated that there was currently a review on estate inspections and as it stood Field officers were the right people to take on that inspection role because they were on the ground familiarising themselves with communities and building relationships. Officers added that Field Officers had annualised contracts which allowed them to hotspot on particular issues and mould the service against need.

35.4           Councillor Barnet stated that for several weeks the council had passed reports on to Field officers, but now they were not being rolled out until December and there were already many issues. She added that the Field Officers should be invited to this Panel in order to speak to herself and the Resident Involvement Officers because they knew the local issues.

35.5           In response to residents, officers stated that they could gather evidence of anti-social behaviour; however more serious incidences should be reported to the police as criminal behaviour.  Officers added that the benefits of the Field Officer role was the out of office hours support which meant in incidences of anti-social behaviour they could collect fast evidence and pass on that information to the police or appropriate colleagues.

35.6           The Chair noted that a Field Officer provided a more holistic point of contact and she looked for forward to meeting them.