A copy of the presentation is attached.

The Committee received a presentation from Councillor Asma Begum (Deputy Mayor & Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Equalities); Ann Corbett (Divisional Director, Community Safety); and Calvin Mclean

(Head of Neighbourhood Operations). In addition, the Chair informed the meeting that Chris Weavers (Chair of Safer Neighbourhood Board – SNB))

was in attendanceto share the Boards perspective on the effectiveness of partnership response and the quality of service. The main points of the discussion maybe summarised as follows:

The Committee:

v  Commented that it seemed be confusing for tenants and residents as to who they should report anything causing a nuisance or annoyance e.g. their Registered Social Landlord or the Council?

v  Noted that through the Tower Hamlets Housing Forum (THHF) which is a partnership between housing associations (registered providers) and the Council has worked hard to make reporting of ASB as straightforward as possible with an online portal Report anti-social behaviour - Tower Hamlets Homes which has meant Tower Hamlets appears second in the list of London boroughs with the highest rate of reported anti-social behaviour (ASB).  With the information the Council and its partners now have there is increased confidence in reporting which in turn encourages others to report ASB and therefore Tower Hamlets is getting an increasing number of reports of ASB e.g. between April and December last year there were 9k incidents of ASB were reported.

v  Indicated that they wanted anti-social behaviour tackled and to reduce the harm that it causes. Commented that all residents have the right to feel safe in their homes and the community, including businesses and visitors to the Borough, which is why it is important that reducing anti-social behaviour needs to be  a priority for the Council, the Police and for other members of the Tower Hamlets Community Safety Partnership.

v  Expressed concern at the apparent use of motor transport to bring people to locations to in the Borough; drift driving and apparently many drivers/passengers are not Tower Hamlets residents? Noted that Tower Hamlets has introduced the Liveable Streets programme which aims to improve the look and feel of public spaces in neighbourhoods across the Borough and to design out issues such as vehicle-borne anti-social behaviour.

v  Wanted to know what is being done to address the illegal use of nitrous oxide for its psychoactive effect? Noted that whilst there is currently no penalty for possession nitrous oxide it is such a big issue for residents and features in a lot of residence complaints and around rowdy inconsiderate behaviour.  Therefore, there is currently a consultation on the introduction of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).   The PSPO can be introduced in a specific public area where the Council is satisfied on reasonable grounds that certain conditions have been met e.g. The first test concerns the nature activities that have taken place have had a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality, or it is likely that activities will take place and that they will have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7