Issue - meetings

The update was provided by Mr Jim McGowan, Head of Environmental Services.

The Committee was given a general outline of the scope of the Service, and it was also explained which services were contracted out. It was noted that the Stray and Abandoned Dogs Services, along with Pest Control, were in the process of being re-tendered.

An organisational chart for Environmental Services was tabled. This highlighted the six main sections that Environmental Services was divided into:

·  CCTV

·  Housing Improvement

·  Housing Enforcement

·  Public Health, Nuisance and Noise

·  Stray Dogs, Drainage and Pest Control

·  Coroner and Mortuary Service

There were two sub sections of Public Health, Nuisance and Noise, and these were Scientific Services and Systems Support.

It was noted that the CCTV Room had recently been refurbished and that a visit would be arranged soon for members of the PDS Committee. The CCTV Room was currently located in the St Blaise Building, but would need to be re-sited as the St Blaise Building was going to be demolished.

The Committee heard that ‘Housing Enforcement’ was primarily associated with the private sector, and a Private Sector Team existed to investigate complaints. Sometimes the complaints related to rogue landlords, and in certain cases the Council would take action and prosecutions. The Team was also responsible for checking hygiene and health conditions in HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupation).

It was explained that ‘public health nuisance’ extended to dealing with vermin. The current contract provided a discount for pest control services to those on benefits. The biggest source of complaints the Council had to deal with was noise complaints. These averaged around 4000 complaints annually.  Initially, conflict resolution was attempted, but Notices were served when this failed. It was noted that LBB Environmental Services were statutory consultees for licensing issues, and were members of the Biggin Hill Noise and Safety Board.

Members were informed that staff worked out-of-hours to investigate complaints and that 60% of complaints were out-of-hours.

‘Scientific Services’ were concerned with the following areas:

·  Water Quality

·  Planning Liaison

·  Air Quality

·  Contaminated Land

The Coroner and Mortuary Service was a consortium contract between LBB, LB Bexley, LB Sutton and LB Croydon. The Coroner was previously based at St Blaise but was now based at Croydon. The costs of inquests were shared among the consortium.

A Member queried why the CCTV room had to be moved, given the fact that it had recently been refurbished. The Executive Director for Environmental and Community Services explained that the demolition of the St Blaise Building was part of the wider Civic Centre Project. It was noted that although this was the case, the CCTV control room equipment was transferable. A CCTV Options Report would be presented to the next meeting of the Committee.

A Member asked if the Pest Control services extended to squirrels, and the answer to this was affirmative.

RESOLVED that a CCTV Options report would be presented to the next meeting of the Committee.