Issue - items at meetings - Increasing Security at High Rise Blocks

Report of the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

73.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Environment, Development and Housing which provided information on the steps already taken to manage and reduce unwanted visitors accessing both high and low rise blocks of flats in the city. Recommendations were provided on how the issue could be managed in the future, including taking a more sustainable approach opposed to reactive measures.  The report was presented by the Head of Tenancy Services.

73.2    The Head of Tenancy Services reported that since the report had been written, officers were looking at other low cost measures to improve security.  A visit would be made to Islington where work was being carried out on this issue. 

73.3    Councillor Meadows considered that steel doors were an excellent idea and understood why residents had asked for this action.  However, she was concerned that residents would feel more isolated and would miss out on personal contact.  For example, community newsletters and leaflets would not be delivered.  Councillor Meadows mentioned a situation in Camden where blocks had a special lock.  It had been discovered that keys for these blocks could be bought on eBay.  Councillor Meadows noted that different age groups held different points of view about this issue. 

73.4    Councillor Wilson concurred with Councillor Meadows.  She noted that 18 people responded in Essex Place and that 14 out of 107 people had said that they wanted this action to take place.  Councillor Wilson felt that 12 months was a long time for a review to take place, if the pilot did not work.  Councillor Wilson suggested that recommendations 2.2 and 2.5 should be amended. 

73.5    Councillor Peltzer Dunn referred to paragraph 6.2 which stated that the idea was well received by the majority attending Area Panel meetings. He stated that two people out of three had voted against the proposals. Councillor Pelzer Dunn felt that officers should listen to the Tenants’/ Residents’ Associations.  He was very disappointed with the final part of recommendation 2.2 which stated “….and if successful, continue with prioritising the low rise blocks that could benefit.”  Councillor Peltzer Dunn asked for these words to be deleted.  If the action was successful, a future Housing Committee should consider whether to include low rise blocks.

73.6    The Head of Tenancy Services stressed that there would be a consultation with every block. Officers would not roll out the proposals without consultation and had no interest in forcing something onto tenants.   

73.7    The Interim Head of Housing stated that he was happy to accept the deletion requested by Councillor Peltzer Dunn in relation to recommendation 2.2.

73.8    Councillor Mears referred to paragraph 4.7 in relation to the Concierge Service.  She suggested that housing benefit could pay for a 24 hour concierge service in sheltered blocks.  This could be carried out as a pilot project.  The Head of Tenancy Services replied that officers were already thinking about this suggestion and it was in the business plan for investigation in 2015/16.

73.9    Councillor Wilson asked for the recommendations to be amended as suggested for 2.2.  Recommendation 2.3 should be deleted and 2.5 should be altered to state ‘To carry out a review, 6 months after the trades button has been switched off.’   These changes were agreed.

73.10  RESOLVED – That the following recommendations be approved:

(i)              To disable the trades button facility at all high rise blocks of flats city wide where agreed after consultation with residents. Provide Royal Mail with fobs for access to continue with postal deliveries.

(ii)             To install Multi Steel doors or doors that are Secure by Design as the main front door of a block of flats as standard, as part of the existing capital investment door replacement programme. This would be a change from using timber style doors, which are vulnerable to damage and require more maintenance.

(iii)           To carry out a review, 6 months after the trade’s button has been switched off.