Agenda item

Report ES18046

The Head of Service Food, Health and Safety and Licensing highlighted the main points of the Enforcement Activity Update report.

It was noted that under the Control of Pollution Act 1960, 64 notices had been served over the last financial year. These notices related to dust and noise emanating from construction sites. Notices had been issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 with respect to noise emanating from both residential and commercial premises. A noise App had been developed to assist with this.

Members noted the significant number of enforcement notices issued by virtue of the Housing Act 2004. Previously enforcement was only applied with respect to properties comprising of three storeys. This element had now been removed under new legislation, and enforcement action could now be applied to single storey buildings.

Members were referred to the table of Licensing Hearings which detailed the type of licensing application and the outcome. It was noted that the licence for ‘Two Ten’ in Beckenham High Street had been revoked, and that the premises had now closed.

A Member highlighted the number of new HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupation) that had been served with notices under the Housing Act 2004 (Part 2) where it was deemed that the fire precautions were inadequate. He asked if follow up work was undertaken regularly on the notices that had been served. The answer to this was yes. In the report it was noted that 12 premises had been served with these notices, and they had all complied.

A Member asked what was involved with respect to the cleansing of alleyways under the Public Health Act 1936. It was noted that 23 notices had been served, and the notices had been served due to problems with rats and mice.

It was noted that ASBOs had now been replaced with Criminal Behaviour Orders.

The Interim Head of Service--Shared Parking Services provided an update on parking enforcement activity. It was noticeable that under the new contract with APCOA, the number of PCNs issued had dropped significantly and this was being looked into. Compliance with the terms of the contract needed to improve. Management action and the application of KPI penalties had mitigated the loss to the Council. A Member stated that in many cases the CEOs (Civil Enforcement Officers) were turning up at the wrong time, which was an indication of poor intelligence. The Interim Head of Service Shared Parking Services said that this was a matter that would be taken up with the contractor. 

A Member asked if LBB could have a ‘FAQ’ section on the parking website. The response to this from the Interim Head of Service Shared Parking Services was positive, and it was stated that this was something that was being considered.

The Chairman said that he had tried calling the out of hours parking enforcement number, but had not manged to get a response. It was confirmed that this was a number that should be answered at all times, and this was another matter that the Interim Head of Service--Shared Parking Services would take up with the contractor.

RESOLVED that

1) The Committee receives an annual report on the service areas identified in the report

2) The Interim Head of Service--Shared Parking Services would contact APCOA to investigate why the out of hours parking enforcement number was not being answered

3) The Interim Head of Service--Shared Parking Services would contact APCOA to investigate why Civil Enforcement Officers were in some cases turning up to undertake enforcement work at the wrong time.