Chris Platts, Private Sector Housing Management Officer, and Cath Fairweather, Community Safety Team Leader, will update Members about the work of this initiative.
Minutes:
Chris Platts, Private Sector Housing Management Officer was welcomed to the meeting to update Members about the North East Area Council’s Private Sector Housing Management Initiative.
Chris explained that his role had changed over the last few months in unexpected ways. Rather than working door to door and carrying out visits he has been working from home and picking up reactive work, using emails, telephone and photographic evidence much more. Inspections have still been necessary (using full PPE) but have been more difficult. Mental health issues have come to the fore during the lockdown, with more than 30 families referred to other organisations and bodies for help and support. The majority of cases have now been sorted. Waste in gardens has been a problem due to people creating more food waste and undertaking DIY and garden projects. The closure of the waste and recycling sites meant that people were unable to dispose of their waste but now the sites have reopened formal enforcement action can recommence. Lots of work has been done with landlords on the waste and recycling issue. Chris has also worked closely with Berneslai Homes. Burning household waste is an offence and some community protection notices have been issued for this. It is likely that issues of disrepair, damp and mould will start to increase once the winter is upon us.
Chris outlined a case study of someone he had been working closely with for a number of months to illustrate the type of work he had been doing. Thankfully the person’s situation was now improving thanks to Chris’s intervention and joint working with other organisations and bodies. Members expressed their thanks to Chris for the valuable work he has done, and continues to do, in the community.
RESOLVED that
(i) Chris be thanked for his attendance and contribution, and
(ii) Members note the update.