Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the last meeting were approved as an accurate record.

Committee members to declare an interest in any particular agenda item where applicable.

There were no declarations of interest.

Report of Strategic Director Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities

The Committee received a report with an overview of the Council’s current building safety and compliance position.

The Committee was informed that the Council is required to prepare a building safety case and apply for a building assessment certificate for each high-rise block, on the request of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).  It was noted that there are 24 domestic high-rise blocks managed by the Council’s construction service and that the first two applications were submitted in June 2024.  Due to the volume of applications with the BSR, the return date is unknown. The Council have a scheme in place to complete risk assessments and servicing of equipment for the key size areas of compliance, fire, water, asbestos, electric, gas and mechanical.

The planned fire risk assessment programme for high rise blocks is up to date and the 2025 programme commenced on the 8^th January 2025.  It was noted that a quarterly inspection program of communal fire doors is in place and all and any fire issues are reported to the Tyne and Wear Fire Service (TWFRS).

It has been noted there are two high rise blocks with window panels that do not meet current standards. Both blocks are in the process of being decommissioned and have mitigations in place with the TWFRS.

A new compliance software platform called C365 was implemented in Summer 2024 and all the compliance data is uploaded to the new system with live dashboards and reporting.

The Committee raised concerns regarding safety measures for residents who do not allow access to the property for repairs. It was advised that officers will continue to engage with the private tenants and our own tenants, if required the team can use a warrant to gain access to Council properties but these are only used for emergencies. The team appointed a co-ordinator to work with residents to understand why residents do not allow workers to enter the property on arrival for gas/electric repairs, chairlifts still pose as a problem for access to repair. The co-ordinator has helped improve the communication and relationship between the Council and residents. The aim is to appoint another co-ordinator to help with other repair issues.

It was highlighted that electrical items are not repaired at point of inspection but are assessed and triaged. It was noted that there are some instances where tenants have installed their own electrical equipment that is non-compliant with regulations, therefore, properties need more work done than originally planned.

RESOLVED:

i.                 That the Committee note the report.

Report of Strategic Director Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities

The Committee received a report and presentation on the work to date on the delivery of the vision and aims set out in the  Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2022-27 and the key priorities for the next 12 months.

The strategy  set out the following four strategic aims:

Aim 1: Make homelessness a rare occurrence

Aim 2: Where homelessness occurs, there will be positive outcomes for people

Aim 3: No-one sleeping rough or in unsuitable accommodation

Aim 4: Homelessness is a one-off occurrence

Data was presented to Committee showing the number of approaches to the Council for advice.  Whilst this has increased over the last four years,  the number of homelessness cases have reduced, demonstrating the level of front door support and advice available. The data further showed the reasons for loss of settled homes, with domestic abuse still the biggest contributor.

In relation to prevention duty outcomes, over the last year the team have seen a slight decrease in the number of people who ended a prevention duty successfully. This follows a year-on-year decline in the % of people whose homelessness has been prevented through enabling then to maintain their existing accommodation or assisting the person to move to alternative accommodation.  In 23/24 only 5% of cases where a prevention duty had ended remained in their own home.

The Committee was informed that there has been increased pressure on demand for temporary accommodation places. In 2024, a plan was put in place to address the pressures by;

-        Increasing the supply of available temporary accommodation

-        Increasing move on options

-        Reviewing arrangements with suppliers

-        Work already underway on our recommissioning pathways for supported accommodation

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In 2024 there was a reduction in the use and cost of bed and breakfast alongside an increase in use of dispersed temporary accommodation as a more suitable and cost-effective alternative to meeting ongoing high levels of demand. The continued work improvements will continue into 25/26.

New contracts were awarded in November 2024 for accommodation to support adults with multiple and complex needs.  It was also noted that successful funding bids had been made to the following programmes: Next Steps Accommodation Programme, Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme and Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme. Through various schemes, a total of 49 additional units of accommodation will be available for this group.

The Accommodation for Ex Offenders Programme has shown to be a success in 2024/25 by securing 24 tenancies, with a high comparative sustainment rate of 67%. The program has been extended for a further 3 years.

Supported accommodation for young people has seen new contracts awarded with the plan now being mobilised.

The Council was successful in funding for the supported housing improvement programme 22/25. Following the success of the funding a plan was created which was outlined in the reported.

It was noted that there is a perception of people who are homeless, and this can cause barriers to accessing support and advice within the community. Yet, there can be a number of  ...  view the full minutes text for item CPL30

Report of Director of Public Health

The Committee received a report on the key activities that have taken place over the last 12 months to address the strategic priorities outline in the Safer Gateshead Partnership Plan 2024/26.  The Committee were invited to identify any key areas or issues that they wish to scrutinise in detail at a future meeting.

The Community Safety Partnership is a standalone statutory partnership made up of Responsible Authorities. The agencies work together to protect local communities from crime and disorder and help people feel safe. The Partnership has a statutory duty to produce an annual intelligence-led Strategic Assessment as well as a Partnership Plan.

The latest strategic assessment was produced in 2023 where the strategic priorities were revised, and four priorities were identified. After consultation with the public a fifth priority was identified and was agreed by the Community Safety Board for the 2024-26 strategic plan. The five priorities identified are Reducing serious violent crime, Reducing domestic abuse, Reducing drug and alcohol-related offending, Preventing violent extremism and Reducing anti-social behaviour.

The report listed the crime performance for Gateshead from April through December 2024 with a comparison to previous data. In the last year recorded crim has fallen by 3%, with violent offences continue to account for the highest proportion of crime. A 2% fall in number of deliberate secondary fires, anti-social behaviour has fallen by 17% and youth related anti-social behaviour fell by 33%.

The Safer Communities Survey is used to help capture resident perceptions and feelings of safety across Northumbria in relation to crime and disorder.  The latest results (covering Apr-Sep24) shows that residents’ perceptions have improved in Gateshead in the last 12 months. 

Councillors raised concerns on the drug crime increase over the last year.

In relation to reducing domestic abuse, it was noted that the Domestic Abuse Board, a multi-agency board, are in the final stages of producing a domestic abuse strategy for Gateshead.  As identified by the Committee during its consideration of the homelessness update, it was highlighted that there is a link between  fleeing domestic violence and homelessness, which the strategy will look to address. The Committee was informed that the Council offers an in-house Domestic Abuse Service, providing specialist support to victims/survivors of any gender, and their children. Preventative work is also done by schools to break generation patterns and there is a Behaviour Change Service available which provides 1:1 intervention with perpetrators of domestic abuse.

A number of activities have taken place across the year to improve the key priorities, those updates are:

Reducing serious crime;

• Project Shield – funding was received from the home office to take ASB and serious violence in hotspot areas. Increased patrols and problem-solving activities have been implemented in the hotspot areas.
• Community safety partnership has continued to deliver initiatives aimed at addressing seasonal violence.
• Youth Justice Service has developed animation highlighting the impact of one punch attacks.
• The Violence Reduction Unit has developed a serious violence charter.

Reducing Domestic Abuse;

• A Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment has been produced  ...  view the full minutes text for item CPL31

Joint report of the Chief Executive and the Strategic Director of Corporate Services & Governance.

The Committee reviewed the completion of the 24/25 work programme.

It was noted that the Councillors have requested a report further reports on domestic abuse, knife crime, bike crime and prevent training.

RESOLVED:

i.                 The Committee made recommendations for additional items on the work programme.

ii.                The Committee noted the report.