|
Area in city |
Central |
|
Star rating |
3 star City wide issue |
|
Date question raised |
16th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
25th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
Thursday 22nd February |
|
Name of officer responding |
Hannah Barker |
|
Officer job title |
Senior Community Engagement Officer |
|
Contact Details |
hannah.barker@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
|
Issue |
At the December Area Panel it was agreed that there would be a trial run of a new process for reporting on-going problems with rubbish and recycling collections raised at Resident Only (RO) meetings. Persistent complaints taken to RO meetings will be written up on a standard form and will be directed to CityClean weekly meetings to review and resolve. The forms can be filled out with support from the Resource Centre after RO meetings, or taken by residents in attendance at the meeting to fill out and return to the Resource Centre or Community Engagement Team. It is hoped that this will get better results than the current system and will be evaluated and assessed after it’s been in operation for a while. CityClean will not be attending Area Panel meetings in the future and complaints about CityClean cannot be raised directly at Area Panels. The following points were raised: · This new process should have been discussed with the Resident Only Chairs/Chairs of the Area Panel before being introduced. When it was taken to Central Area Panel the form was not available, so residents couldn’t see the detail of the new system. · The definition of a ‘persistent issue’ on the form would not have been agreed by Central Residents if they’d seen the form in advance. · Residents in high rise blocks do not have a scheduled collection day for their rubbish, so it is not possible to say how many times the collection has been missed – the form does not work for them. It is problematic if failures in the service provided by CityClean cannot come up at Area Panels. CityClean needs to be held accountable for the service they provide and at the very minimum they should attend on-line to answer issues raised by residents.
|
|
Background |
N/A
|
|
Request or Question |
It was agreed to give the new system a trial run with the following provisos: · feed-back the problems with the form to the Community Engagement Team and ask for further consultation on this. · Ask for CityClean to attend Area Panels, at a minimum an on-line presence for residents’ issues. · Ask for a date at which the trial period will end, and for a meeting to be held with Resident Only / Area Panel resident chairs to evaluate the new process at the end of this period.
|
|
Response |
|
As requested, on 5th March, a meeting is scheduled for Jonathan Pyle (Environmental Services Manager, City Environment (CityClean & CityParks) to meet with Co-Chair of Central Housing Area Panel and Chair of the Resident Only meeting, Emma Salcombe.
Agenda for this meeting: - ‘Feed-back the problems with the form’, share concerns and suggestions regarding the new process. - Hear directly from City Clean regarding attendance at area panels - Hear about how else residents and residents’ groups can communicate with the City Environment Department - Talk about how the process will be reviewed, and whether there is an ‘end date’.
This date is after these papers go to print, but an update can be given at Central Area Panel at the end of March. -- (From Jonathan Pyle, ref late January) We received 2 separate City Clean cases via PDF on 17th Jan 2024 for investigation as a result of the recent West Residents Only meeting.
I forwarded these to the relevant Operations Managers and included Melissa Francis, Head of Operations in the email to ensure they were thoroughly investigated, and a timely response sent back to me so that I could respond directly to both customers. For one of these cases, I have agreed to conduct a site visit next Wed (it was due to be done today but the Ops Manager needed to reschedule) and the other case is in the process of being responded to, with Melissa helping co-ordinate the responses. I plan to contact/update both residents by the end of this week via whichever method of contact they have stated as their preference.
The progress/success of this will be monitored on an ongoing basis.
|
|
Action |
Meeting 5th March as above Feedback to area panel meeting (week of 25th March) |
|
Start date |
5th March |
|
End date |
25th March |
|
Area in city |
Central |
|
Star rating |
3 star City wide issue |
|
Date question raised |
16th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
25th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
Thursday 22nd February |
|
Name of officer responding |
Sandra Cooke |
|
Officer job title |
Project Manager |
|
Contact Details |
sandra.cooke@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
|
Issue |
Residents consider it essential that there is a regular, scheduled programme of maintenance for drains and gutters. This provides value for money as it prevents future expensive repairs. |
|
Background |
At the Central Area Panel in December 2023 a Residents’ Question (C3.2) about the maintenance of drains and gutters was raised. At present the Council only responds to reported repairs and does not do regular maintenance work. The response to the Area Panel (from Sandra Cooke, Projects Manager) was that ‘we are currently looking at options for introducing a programme of cyclical gutter clearance’. Central Residents considered this to be too vague a response given the importance of the issue and wanted a firmer commitment to a maintenance programme.
|
|
Request or Question |
Return this item to Area Panel, asking for a firm commitment to a maintenance programme for drains and gutters.
|
|
Response |
|
We are in the process of planning a gutter clearance programme for the City commencing April 2024.
In addition to this planned programme, we have already completed over 900 gutter clears in this financial year.
There is not a planned drain clearance programme. Any drainage issues should be reported as a repair to the repairs help desk. |
|
Action |
As stated in the response above |
|
Start date |
N/A |
|
End date |
N/A |
|
Area in city |
Central |
|
Star rating |
3 star City wide issue |
|
Date question raised |
16th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
25th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
Thursday 22nd February |
|
Name of officer responding |
Chloe McLaughlin |
|
Officer job title |
Estates Services Manager |
|
Contact Details |
|
Issue |
The bulk rubbish rooms in high rise blocks are not emptied frequently enough, with overflowing rubbish encouraging vermin and posing a health risk. |
|
Background |
At Essex Place residents regularly have to complain because the bulk rubbish room is overflowing. They have to wait 10 days for removal following a complaint, unless it is considered a health and safety risk or there is a fire, in which case it is 24 hours. They have been told that there is only one truck available for these collections in the whole of Brighton & Hove.
|
|
Request or Question |
Regular clearance and maintenance of the bulk rubbish rooms in tower blocks should happen as a matter of course, as part of the provision of a decent service. If this is not happening because of a shortage of collection trucks, the company should provide more vehicles.
|
|
Response |
|
Target times for bulk clearance is 10 days or 24 hours if an item is blocking an entrance or an exit.
Bulk rooms are used only for Housing Estates staff to place items left in common ways whilst they await removal. Residents should not have access to this room, the lock will be changed.
Residents should not be leaving bulk waste in common ways as this is a health and safety risk.
If residents need bulk waste removed from their homes, they can contact City Clean on 01273 290798. There is a charge for this service. Getting rid of large and electrical household items (brighton-hove.gov.uk)
The Estates Service Team will remove items of furniture that can be recycled and reused for other tenants. The team can be contacted on 01273 293030 to arrange collection. |
|
Action |
N/A |
|
Start date |
N/A |
|
End date |
N/A |
|
Area in city |
Central |
|
Star rating |
3 star City wide issue |
|
Date question raised |
16th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
25th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
Thursday 22nd February |
|
Name of officer responding |
Grant Ritchie |
|
Officer job title |
Head of Housing Repairs and Maintenance |
|
Contact Details |
grant.ritchie@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
|
Issue |
If an individual raises a repair for a communal area, they are not kept updated on progress with the repair, told if the repair has been delayed, or asked for feedback about the repair. |
|
Background |
Individuals need to be kept informed about the progress of communal repairs they have reported, not just individual repairs. Sometimes they are also needed to enable the repair to happen (eg access to a garage/storage space) and further delays and inconvenience are caused.
|
|
Request or Question |
N/A
|
|
Response |
|
Thank you for your question. Communal repairs are managed in a similar way to repairs to people's homes. If a resident has requested a repair to a communal area, they can always contact us to check on progress or monitor progress through Housing online. I agree that how and what we communicate with residents could always improve, and we will be looking at this going forward.
|
|
Action |
As stated above. |
|
Start date |
N/A |
|
End date |
N/A |
|
Area in city |
East |
|
Star rating |
3 Star - City wide issue |
|
Date question raised |
9th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
18th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
22nd February 2024 |
|
Name of officer responding |
Jenny Mitchell |
|
Officer job title |
Parking Customer Services Manager |
|
Contact Details |
jenny.mitchell@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
|
Issue |
Officers were going to conduct a review of visitor parking permits but residents have not heard the outcome of this review yet or seen any changes.
|
|
Background |
The issue and questions about visitors parking permits was first raised as a 3-star item at the Resident Only meeting 29th June 2023, leading into the Area Panel meeting 4th September 2023. The response from Paul Nicholls, Parking Strategy & Contracts manager, was: “The visitor parking permit purchase process is being reviewed with a view to streamlining the process. This is a technical piece of work but work has started on this.” The problems still persist, and the visitor parking permit costs, structure and criteria for eligibility need to be reviewed. The problems raised were: · Parking permits are too expensive · The limit of 50 permits per person needs review · Community assets, such as community centres, are currently not eligible to purchase parking permits · Parking permits are being re-sold at profit, e.g. to those going to the Amex stadium on football match days |
|
Request or Question |
It was agreed to raise this at all Area Panels. · Residents request details about the review, and want to be informed about what changes are being proposed and/or implemented. · What are the councils plans to mitigate instances of tenants selling their permits for profit
|
|
Response |
|
A parking review is due to take place spring 2024, we will review this point at that time.
We are currently in the process of exploring virtual visitor permits whilst still offering physical scratch cards.
Visitor permits are issued to residents who meet the criteria, they must reside at the property 5 nights a week or more. They must be able to supply proof of address dated within the last 3 months, we are also able to check council tax records to confirm they are a resident of the property they are requesting permits for.
Whilst we are using physical permits it is difficult to stop people reselling them, if we are informed that reselling is happening then we investigate further.
|
|
Action |
As stated in response above. |
|
Start date |
Spring 2024 |
|
End date |
|
|
Area in city |
East |
|
Star rating |
3 Star - City wide issue |
|
Date question raised |
9th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
18th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
Thursday 22nd February 2024 |
|
Name of officer responding |
Mikila Beck |
|
Officer job title |
Operations Manager |
|
Contact Details |
|
Issue |
Residents haven’t received updates or information about when they can expect their kitchens/bathrooms to be brought back to a decent standard.
|
|
Background |
The resident rep sought an update 6 months ago as to when kitchen and bathroom improvements were due to happen in Bristol Estate. He was told there was a backlog due to Covid, and hasn’t had further updates on the situation. The issue of residents not having access to planned maintenance schedules and not having sufficient information about planned maintenance in their areas was raised at the RO meeting of 22nd June 2022 as a 3-star item.
|
|
Request or Question |
It was agreed to raise this at all Area Panels. · Residents request an update on progress with the maintenance schedule. · When can residents expect improvements to their kitchen and bathrooms
|
|
Response |
|
The team have been working hard to catch up with the programme and have now completed the 2020 programme.
All tenants who live in properties where a kitchen/bathroom was due for replacement in 2021, 2022 and 2023 programmes have been contacted asking for them to return a choice form (selecting a kitchen or bathroom replacement).
The 2021 Programme have all had 3 letters regarding being on the programme, most have responded with a choice or have opted out.
The last letters were sent in January, and this will be the last requesting confirmation of choice. Anyone that does not respond to this letter will be added to the waived list, this will allow us to move on to the following years programmes.
The 2022 and 2023 programmes have both now had 2 letters (sent out in January 2024) requesting confirmation of choice or to opt out.
The kitchen/bathroom programmes do not run by areas, instead has individual fail address based on previous stock condition surveys. If people have specific enquiries about when their kitchen or bathroom is due for replacement, they should email PlannedKitchensBathrooms@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call 01273 290338.
If a kitchen requires repair, then tenants should call the repairs helpdesk on 0800 052 6140.
With the additional installation resources, we are now in a position to increase the installation rate and aim to be ahead of the programme again within 2 years.
|
|
Action |
As detailed above. |
|
Start date |
N/A |
|
End date |
N/A |
|
Area in city |
East |
|
Star rating |
3 Star - City wide issue |
|
Date question raised |
9th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
18th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
Thursday 22nd February 2024 |
|
Name of officer responding |
Grant Ritchie |
|
Officer job title |
Head of Housing Repairs and Maintenance |
|
Contact Details |
grant.ritchie@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
|
Issue |
It’s not clear to residents what system the Council uses to class repairs as an emergency or a non-emergency.
|
|
Background |
Residents have very different experiences of reporting emergency repairs. For example, one resident reported that it took 3 weeks for their toilet to be fixed; another resident, who has mobility issues, reported a leak under the sink, which still hasn’t been fixed. Residents said that individuals needed to know which prompts and words to use when reporting a repair in order to get it escalated to ‘emergency’ status – e.g. to mention that you’re at risk or vulnerable, have a disability or that it’s a security risk. However, not all tenants know that they need to do this in order to have their repair classed as an emergency. They also reported far speedier response times when calling the Repairs desk out of hours. It is understood that any repairs to do with electrics, water, or entry safety (insecure doors & windows), are currently classed as an ‘emergency’. However, residents’ experience of wait times for such repairs does not reflect this.
|
|
Request or Question |
· What system does the Repairs team use when classifying a repair as an emergency or not? · How are decisions made about what repairs get prioritised? · What is classed as an emergency repair?
|
|
Response |
|
Thank you for your question and I’m sorry that you are not receiving consistent responses to repair requests. We use a process known as repair finder which prompts colleagues to ask a range of questions intended to ensure that we have enough information to respond to the request. We do consider tenant vulnerability when setting priorities however a vulnerability alone would not make a repair an emergency. When something is classed as an emergency, it is more dependent on the nature of the repair and its impact on the property's tenants. The following repairs are identified by “The Secure Tenants of Local Housing Authorities (Right to Repair) Regulations 1994 as requiring an urgent response.
· Total loss of electric power · Unsafe power or lighting socket, or electrical fitting · Total loss of water supply · Total or partial loss of gas supply · Blocked flue to open fire or boiler · Total or partial loss of space or water heating between 31st October and 1st May · Blocked or leaking foul drain, soil stack, or (where there is no other working toilet in the dwelling-house) toilet pan · Toilet not flushing (where there is no other working toilet in the dwelling-house) · Un-containable leak from water or heating pipe, tank or cistern · Insecure external window, door or lock |
|
Action |
N/A |
|
Start date |
N/A |
|
End date |
N/A |
|
Area in city |
East |
|
Star rating |
3 Star - City wide issue |
|
Date question raised |
9th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
18th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
Thursday 22nd February |
|
Name of officer responding |
Richard Jordan |
|
Officer job title |
Housing Manager |
|
Contact Details |
richard.jordan@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
|
Issue |
Evictions resulting from anti-social behaviour seem very low.
|
|
Background |
It was noted that, in the Housing reports presented at the end of 2023, there was a figure quoted of 700 reports of anti-social behaviour for Brighton & Hove, and 1-2 evictions resulting from ASB. Given the high number of reports of ASB, the eviction rate seems to be very low. This doesn’t make sense, given Council housing is in high demand. In addition, residents’ lived experiences of ASB in their neighbourhoods is that of persistent behaviour and repeated offences – which should normally result in evictions.
|
|
Request or Question |
Residents would like to know why the eviction rate is so low, given the high number of reports of anti-social behaviour.
|
|
Response |
|
A commitment following the Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) review was to improve data collection and reporting on the types of enforcement action we use to address ASB. This includes, Community Protection Notices, Community Protection Warnings, Notices Seeking Possession, civil injunctions, Closure Orders, possession action. We expect to have a full quarter data at the end of June 2024.
Our priorities are to stop the ASB at the earliest opportunity, to protect victims and the community and to seek to change behaviour by tackling its root causes. We use enforcement actions as a measured response to ASB which enable us to take effective action to protect individuals and to end an unacceptable situation. We use them carefully and deliberately throughout a case where they are appropriate.
Early intervention actions taken by social landlords can be highly effective at resolving anti-social behaviour and actions including one to one visits, warning letters, and mediation, prove to be successful in resolving the majority of cases. Only a small number of cases require formal legal interventions. Where situations do not improve, we will take legal action to apply to close the address or to end the tenancy where it is necessary. |
|
Action |
N/A |
|
Start date |
N/A |
|
End date |
N/A |
|
Area in city |
East |
|
Star rating |
3 Star - City wide issue |
|
Date question raised |
9th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
18th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
Thursday 22nd February |
|
Name of officer responding |
Janet Dowdell |
|
Officer job title |
Tenancy Services Operations Manager |
|
Contact Details |
|
Issue |
It is not clear to residents what qualifies as a sensitive let, and what the tenancy conditions of a sensitive let are.
|
|
Background |
N/A |
|
Request or Question |
· Residents would like to know exactly what constitutes a sensitive let. · Are tenants of sensitive lets given licensee agreements or tenancy agreements? |
|
Response |
|
· Residents would like to know exactly what constitutes a sensitive let.
Sensitive lets are used in exceptional cases, for housing management reasons. In most instances if a property requires a sensitive let the Homemove Team are notified before it is advertised. If the property has been advertised, we may not be in a position to offer the property to the person at the top of a shortlist. When this happens, the applicant is contacted by the landlord in writing with the reasons for this decision.
As well as those that have been responsible for causing anti-social behaviour (ASB) and are refused, there may also be times when there are persons considered vulnerable and at higher risk than others to cope in an environment where there are known incidents of ASB.
Officers contact any applicants on the shortlist that they feel are not suitable and explain that for housing management reasons they are being rejected from the shortlist for this property.
It is not possible for us to request sensitive lets for all situations where there has been or is ongoing ASB and the process is designed for very exceptional situations.
· Are tenants of sensitive lets given license agreements or tenancy agreements? Tenants are given a tenancy agreement in the usual way. This is a non-secure or Assured Shorthold tenancy agreement for temporary accommodation tenants, and an introductory tenancy for council tenants. |
|
Action |
N/A |
|
Start date |
N/A |
|
End date |
N/A |
|
Area in city |
West |
|
Star rating |
3 Star/ City wide issue |
|
Date question raised |
11th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
25th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
Thursday 22nd February |
|
Name of officer responding |
Janet Dowdell |
|
Officer job title |
Tenancy Services Operations Manager |
|
Contact Details |
janet.dowdell@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
|
Issue |
Foxes are growing in numbers and while many people like them, they can also cause a nuisance.
|
|
Background |
At Ingram Crescent, as in other parts of the city, there are a lot of foxes. Some residents are feeding them and the foxes have become quite fearless and persistent. There have been some attacks by foxes on dogs. Notices have been put up asking people not to feed the foxes, but this hasn’t stopped the problem.
|
|
Request or Question |
Does the Council have any policy or proposals about how to make sure the growing and increasingly fearless fox population does not become a problem? |
|
Response |
|
It would be difficult to achieve anything specific around relocating foxes from an area as foxes will return to the original area and it would only provide a temporary solution. We don’t currently take this approach in the city.
We do not have a specific policy for dealing with free roaming foxes on our estate. However, the area housing team would approach this as an issue which is potentially causing a nuisance to neighbours and would in the first instance, write to all residents asking them to stop feeding or encouraging foxes by leaving food out on the estate grounds.
If we receive reports identifying who is feeding the foxes, the housing team would make direct contact with them and discuss the issue.
We have not received any reports of dog attacks by foxes on the Ingram Estate.
Please forward any concerns about the behaviour of a resident to our customer service team on 01273 293030 housing.customerservices@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
|
Action |
N/A |
|
Start date |
N/A |
|
End date |
N/A |
|
Area in city |
West |
|
Star rating |
3 Star/ City wide issue |
|
Date question raised |
11th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
25th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
Thursday 22nd February |
|
Name of officer responding |
Robert Mabey |
|
Officer job title |
Mechanical and Electrical Manager |
|
Contact Details |
robert.mabey@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
|
Issue |
There is concern that the heating contractors, PH Jones, are not providing emergency services to vulnerable residents when their heating breaks down.
|
|
Background |
A resident at Clarendon & Ellen was left without heating for over 7 days across the Christmas period. When she reported this to PH Jones she was told it was not classed as an emergency, as she had hot water. She made her situation clear - she is a wheelchair user, has COPD, uses a nebuliser, had been in hospital twice with pneumonia. The operator was rude and offered no help. Her flat was so cold she had to spend days in bed, fully clothed. It was a significant risk to her health. The resident involved has made a complaint and is following up her individual case. West residents raised city-wide concerns about how many other people this is happening to, who PH Jones considers to be vulnerable and eligible for emergency help, and what the Council will do to ensure other residents are not put at risk.
|
|
Request or Question |
It was agreed to ask the Council: · What criteria is used to decide who is vulnerable when determining eligibility for emergency heating repairs? · Who decides this, the Council or PH Jones? · What training are Council and PH Jones operators receiving so they understand how to respond to vulnerable people? · Is there anything in PH Jones’s contract about their commitments and required response to vulnerable people? · What sanctions are there on a contractor if they are not carrying out the terms of their contract? Has the Council used these?
|
|
Response |
|
· What criteria is used to decide who is vulnerable when determining eligibility for emergency heating repairs? Vulnerability is determined on a case by case basis by BHCC staff and can happen at any point in the tenancy for a number of reasons such as illness, age or complex needs. Vulnerability includes people over 70 years of age, people who are registered disabled, and seniors housing tenants, as well as tenants with complex needs (including mental health, learning difficulties and substance misuse). Vulnerabilities are logged on our database, NECH which then feeds through to PH Jones’ system automatically overnight. To log a vulnerability, please speak to our Housing Customer Services Team on 01273 293030 or email Housing.customerservices@brighton-hove.gov.uk. · Who decides this, the Council or PH Jones? BHCC has the capacity to add vulnerabilities to properties held on our database, NECH. PH Jones can suggest additions to this after their visits to properties if based on specific observations rather than speculative opinions. (E.g. Presence of oxygen breathing equipment observed at the property or similar).
· What training are Council and PH Jones operators receiving so they understand how to respond to vulnerable people? PH Jones’ Call centre staff have their own specific training to cover this. PH Jones are one of the bigger Social Housing Heating Contractors in the UK and have extensive experience in this field. From my experience, they are swift to deal with poor customer service experiences.
· Is there anything in PH Jones’s contract about their commitments and required response to vulnerable people? The contract states that the supplier must make reasonable adjustments for resident vulnerabilities. The specific wording is: “We also have equalities duties which means that even where someone is challenging to work with we need to ascertain whether they are vulnerable or whether there may be any underlying cause, for example mental health issues, which may be influencing their behaviour and this should be taken into account when deciding what action to take in response to their behaviour. If this is the case reasonable adjustment should be made in terms of their contact with the council.”
· What sanctions are there on a contractor if they are not carrying out the terms of their contract? Has the Council used these? The council’s Contract Manager monitors many KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) as well as complaints and general performance issues to do with the contract. As we are still in the first seven months of a new contract, we would focus on “Learning lessons” from undesirable situations with a view to ensure they do not happen again, but we can insist the contractor delivers an Emergency Action Plan to improve behaviours if they fall short. This Action Plan can lead to termination of the contract if improvement is not observed within set timescales. The specific incident that lead to this enquiry has been investigated as part of a Complaint and strong recommendations have been made about the conduct of the individual who handled that particular call. (It was an out-of-hours third party provider to PH Jones).
We have not put this contract onto an Emergency Plan at present. We have used it on other contracts which have ended in termination of those contracts.
|
|
Action |
We will continue to monitor this contractor with weekly catch ups, Monthly meetings and Quarterly overview sessions by core group members to ensure robust systems are in place to prevent incidents like the one that lead to this complaint from happening again.
|
|
Start date |
Start of contract 28th June 2023 |
|
End date |
27th June 2028 |
|
Area in city |
West |
|
Star rating |
3 Star/ City wide issue |
|
Date question raised |
11th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
25th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
Thursday 22nd February |
|
Name of officer responding |
Chloe McLaughlin |
|
Officer job title |
Housing Estates Manager |
|
Contact Details |
|
Issue |
Routine maintenance is not carried out on overgrown hedges on Council land. Work only gets done when these become obstructions and residents complain.
|
|
Background |
The example given was the hedge in Stonery Close. This needs trimming back as routine maintenance at least once a year, otherwise it obstructs garages and makes it difficult to park. This is never done until it becomes a nuisance and is chased up by residents. Jobs like this should be on a regular maintenance programme.
|
|
Request or Question |
West residents would like regular maintenance of hedges and bushes on Council land to be an integral part of the Council’s services. Residents pay for this in taxes and service charges. |
|
Response |
|
This is not on the current City Parks’ contract. Originally these hedges belonged to the gardens of the houses, but they have now been fenced off. Going forwards, this will be looked at as part of the planned maintenance next year.
|
|
Action |
To add to the City Parks maintenance contract from next year. |
|
Start date |
01.01.2024 |
|
End date |
N/A |
|
Area in city |
West |
|
Star rating |
3 Star/ City wide issue |
|
Date question raised |
11th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
25th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
Thursday 22nd February |
|
Name of officer responding |
Benjamin Tedder |
|
Officer job title |
Car Parks and Garages Manager |
|
Contact Details |
benjamin.tedder@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
|
Issue |
Prices for garages have gone up, and regulations have changed, without consultation or prior communication with residents.
|
|
Background |
Regulations have changed so you can no longer have a garage unless you have a fully road-worthy vehicle in it. A Knoll resident was sent a letter saying that the MOT on her bike had run out 2 weeks ago, and if it wasn’t updated within a specified time the garage would be taken away from her. She had received no previous notification about this change in regulations or warning that this would happen. There were also a number of complaints about the steep increase in charges to lease a garage.
|
|
Request or Question |
Request information on new regulations and charges and an explanation as to why there was no consultation or communication with people currently leasing garages.
|
|
Response |
|
The terms of the car parking and garage licence agreement states that garages and car parking spaces must be used for the daily storage of a vehicle which is in a roadworthy condition, this includes that the vehicle is taxed, insured and holds a current MOT. This condition has been included in the licence since 2007, when the Car Parks & Garages allocations policy was agreed, and has not changed since that time.
There is a limited number of garages that we can offer to residents who want to park their vehicles and if residents suspect that garages are not being used correctly, or have any questions, they can contact the Housing Customer Services Team at housing.customerservices@brighton-hove.gov.uk or on 01273 293030.
The increase of 7.7% was applied to keep it consistent with the rent uplifts recommended to Committee.
|
|
Action |
No further action
|
|
Start date |
N/A |
|
End date |
N/A |
|
Area in city |
North |
|
Star rating |
2 star - Local area issue |
|
Date question raised |
4th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
18th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
22nd February 2024 |
|
Name of officer responding |
Sam Crick |
|
Officer job title |
Operations Manager |
|
Contact Details |
sam.crick@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
|
Issue |
The Youth Club in Coldean has been waiting for structural repair work to happen for a long time. |
|
Background |
The Youth Club in Coldean has structural damage, which is awaiting repair. In the meantime, the space is sitting empty, and cannot be utilised by the community. Coldean residents have very few community spaces available to them. Resident reps have been chasing various officers at the Council regarding progress on this. They were told by Grant Ritchie that the works were on a list, and waiting for a suitable contractor. |
|
Request or Question |
Residents would like to know: · When will the repair work start on the Youth Club? · Have the Council found a contractor?
|
|
Response |
|
Thank you for your question and I am pleased to confirm that the structural repair works have been completed and were post inspected by us on the 20th February 2024.
|
|
Action |
N/A |
|
Start date |
N/A |
|
End date |
N/A |
|
Area in city |
North |
|
Star rating |
2 star - Local area issue |
|
Date question raised |
4th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
18th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
22nd February 2024 |
|
Name of officer responding |
Mikila Beck |
|
Officer job title |
Operations Manager |
|
Contact Details |
|
Issue |
Drains are blocked in various areas in Hollingdean, which leads to flooding during heavy rains. Not one organisation or agency is taking responsibility for maintenance of the drains. |
|
Background |
26 drains are blocked in various spots in Hollingdean. There are no road sweepers, so the leaves haven’t been cleared on a regular basis. This means that when it rains, certain spots are prone to flooding, causing damage to cars and the road (potholes), and creating major obstructions for pedestrians. Some residents have reportedly fallen over trying to get around the flooded areas. Resident reps have been told to contact Southern Water, City Clean, Highways and Housing in turn – but none of them are claiming to be responsible for maintaining the drains. Reps have been sent from pillar to post in an attempt to get the problem resolved. The meeting agreed that this was a Highways issue and asked whether this had been reported via the website. The rep reported that 14 emails have been sent to Highways, without response. |
|
Request or Question |
Who is responsible for clearing the drain gulleys? |
|
Response |
|
Without specific locations it is hard to confirm responsibility. If any of the 26 drains are on Housing land Repairs and Maintenance would attend. Anything outside of Housing boundaries or on an adopted road would be maintained by Highways colleagues. Repairs and Maintenance currently have no planned programme for maintaining drains and we respond to reported blockages as and when they are reported to us.
We are not aware of any reported issues in Hollingdean. If any particular addresses have called to report flooding or blocked drains then the Repairs Helpdesk would have raised a work order for Drainage engineers to attend. We’re not aware of any reports of street flooding being reported to the Drainage team or the Repairs Helpdesk.
Here is a link from BHCC website - Report a blocked rain gully or drain - https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling-and-streets/streets/report-blocked-rain-gully-or-drain This takes the user to Highways to report any issues.
If we can establish locations we will be in a better position to provide a clearer response however, it appears that it is for highways to attend – not R&M.
We can consult the corporate maps to establish who is responsible for the land where the drains are located. wap-gisportal.admin.brighton-hove.gov.uk
|
|
Action |
N/A |
|
Start date |
N/A |
|
End date |
N/A |
|
Area in city |
North |
|
Star rating |
2 star - Local area issue |
|
Date question raised |
4th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
18th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
22nd February 2024 |
|
Name of officer responding |
Mikila Beck |
|
Officer job title |
Operations Manager |
|
Contact Details |
mikila.beck@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
|
Issue |
The lights in 4 different locations at Sylvan Hall have not been working for over a year. The issue has been reported a number of times but the lights are still not fixed. |
|
Background |
N/A |
|
Request or Question |
· Residents would like the lights at Sylvan Hall to get fixed. · Why have the lights not been fixed in over a year? · Why are these sorts of issues not being picked up on regularly as part of a maintenance schedule?
|
|
Response |
|
We often get reports of lighting not working and are unable to establish the exact locations when our operatives attend to repair, this can result in only partial replacement taking place. This appears to have been the case with Sylvan Hall.
To ensure all of the broken lights were replaced, an inspection of the external lighting on the Sylvan Hall blocks was carried out on 30th January 2024 by our Electrical Supervisor. This has resulted in repairs orders being raised to repair/replace some lights. These works will be completed by the end of March 2024.
|
|
Action |
As action stated above. |
|
Start date |
N/A |
|
End date |
N/A |
|
Area in city |
North |
|
Star rating |
2 star - Local area issue |
|
Date question raised |
4th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
18th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
22nd February 2024 |
|
Name of officer responding |
Mikila Beck |
|
Officer job title |
Operations Manager |
|
Contact Details |
mikila.beck@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
|
Issue |
The drains across Bates Estate are in a bad state of disrepair. While the gutters have been cleared recently, the disrepair of the drains has caused flooding and damp, causing damage to several buildings and the inside of a few flats. |
|
Background |
N/A |
|
Request or Question |
|
|
Response |
|
The Repairs and Maintenance Service are responsible for repairs to drainage systems on Housing land up to the main sewage/drainage systems.
Recently we have completed/specified the following works on the Bates Estate:
873974/2 – Selsfield Drive BN2 4HH - Drainage - jet moss from soakaway. This was completed on 31st January.
851308/2 – CM, 79-96, Ryelands Drive BN2 4HB – Jet drains and test. This was completed on 31st January.
847360/4 - CM, 127-150 Thorndean Road, Brighton, BN2 4HE - Replace the downpipe, affecting flats 128, 130 and 132. We attended 31st Jan and further works have been raised for a soakaway to be installed. This is booked in for March.
867976/2 - CM, 263-280, Selsfield Drive, Brighton, Brighton, BN2 4HA – Attend to jet and clear moss, ground floor by flat 275. This is booked for 16th February.
Any major works to upgrade drainage systems would be outside the scope of a repair and, if required would need to be considered for future years capital programmes – there are no current plans to upgrade the drainage systems on the Bates Estate.
Any residents being affected by damp or drainage issues should contact the repairs helpdesk on 0800 052 6140 this can be to report concerns for individual addresses or general problems affecting the estate. If reporting repairs for the estate, please be specific about locations to enable our operatives to locate the issue. |
|
Action |
N/A |
|
Start date |
N/A |
|
End date |
N/A |
|
Area in city |
North |
|
Star rating |
2 star - Local area issue |
|
Date question raised |
4th January 2024 |
|
Week of Area Panel |
18th March 2024 |
|
Deadline for officer response |
22nd February 2024 |
|
Name of officer responding |
Keely McDonald |
|
Officer job title |
Community Engagement Officer |
|
Contact Details |
keely.mcdonald@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
|
Issue |
Approved bids/projects take a long time to get started. |
|
Background |
In Coldean, EDB bids for a handrail and steps to be put in at 39 Acres, and for noticeboards to be put up in the area, were approved in October 2022. However, the work has yet to happen, and residents have still not heard to know when these improvement works are due to take place. This was raised as a 3-star item at the North Area RO meeting of 23rd June 2023. The response from the responding officer was: “The Coldean Independents bid to install a handrail, new steps and a bench was approved in October 2022, unfortunately this has not yet been given a start date, but we will inform the independents group as soon as we have an update … In the past few months, the number of projects delayed has increased, this is due to the Delivery Team devoting their resources to reducing the repairs and maintenance backlog. Unfortunately, this has had an impact on the completion of EDB projects, including the Coldean Independents bid for noticeboards, of which the EDB Panel has been made aware and updated on over the past few months. “Suggested solution to help speed up project delivery: “The Community Engagement Team and the Procurement Team are working on a solution to this, which will be a procurement process where small contractors will be offered the EDB works which are outstanding, taking on projects which fall under their speciality, e.g. gardening, painting and decorating, building works, etc. The aim is for these providers to take on all the outstanding bids, ensuring projects are completed as quickly as possible, giving the Delivery Team more capacity to complete urgent repairs and maintenance work.” Coldean Independents raised this again at the December 2023 Area Panel meeting. |
|
Request or Question |
Residents would like to know: · Has the solution proposed by the responding officer been implemented? · What is holding up the works from commencing? · Why haven’t Coldean Independents been kept informed of delays and/or progress? · When can residents expect their EDB project to start?
|
|
Response |
|
The procurement process which was described in the response to the question raised in June 2023 was implemented over the autumn months. Examples of EDB projects were presented and providers were asked to bid giving estimates for delivering the works with the aim of offering the contract to the provider which offered the best value. Unfortunately, when the projects were offered out as part of this process, only one company showed interest in taking on this work. Subsequently we have not been able to progress discussions with this company to agree a way forward. This is not the response which we were hoping for and have had to rethink the approach to ensure the work is taken on by a responsive provider which will provide competitive value for money. I apologise for this disappointing news, however we are still working on a solution and want to reassure those who have been very patient that the works will be completed as quickly as possible.
I apologise that the people waiting on outstanding projects to be completed haven’t been informed of what’s happening with this process, regular updates have been provided to the EDB Panel who review what's happening, but I appreciate that this doesn’t help the groups waiting for information on their projects.
The Community Engagement Team will get in touch with any groups which are waiting to let them know that this is still being developed, unfortunately we can’t offer an estimate of when they will be completed but will provide updates as soon as there is progress with putting a provider in place.
|
|
Action |
Main contacts for outstanding EDB projects will be contacted to update on the procurement process, updates to follow when more information is available. |
|
Start date |
08/03/2024 |
|
End date |
15/03/2024 |