Local Forums Notes 25 May 2016, Seven Kings High School

At Local Forums the Question Time section is approximately one and a half hours and is designed to allow a discussion of the topics raised by members of the public. The questions have been ordered by theme and do not represent the order the questions were asked at the meeting. The notes present a summary of the key topics covered at the meeting. To hear the full discussions please join us at a future Local Forum.

Panel Members Cllr Elaine Norman (Chair) – Deputy Leader of the Council, Labour Cllr Canal – Leader of the Conservative Party Cllr Dev Sharma – Newbury Ward, Labour Andy Donald – Chief Executive

Question Answer

Street Scene

Mattresses make up a large proportion of Mark Benbow, lead officer for Community Safety, Transformation and Enforcement, flytipping in the Borough, the majority of which confirmed that last year the Council had applied for a Borough wide property come from HMOs (Houses of Multiple licensing scheme which would have seen landlords agree to meet certain standards Occupancy). What steps are the Council taking of operation and a minimum level of conduct. The application was ultimately to address this issue and take enforcement unsuccessful but moving forward the Council is reapplying to the secretary of State 1 action against landlords? for Communities and Local Government for a trail scheme which would apply to 60 per cent of the Borough. Measures would be in place to ensure landlords address the problem of flytipping from their HMO properties.

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Question Answer One in three cases of flytipping involves household items and the majority of cases come from the rented sector. Landlords have a responsibility to address this issue Has the Council produced any research on the and can make good use of the services provided by the Council which include a individuals who carry out flytipping (eg age, weekly refuse collection and free bulky waste collection. The emphasis is on ethnicity)? If so, is there a narrow band of individuals to take action but the Council will continue to tackle fly tipping and people committing the offence which the hold landlords to account if they fail to prevent incidents occurring. Enforcement Council can target and take action against? officers can issue property owners letters informing them to clear their untidy front gardens, taking further action if necessary and the Council can serve notices to the individuals in question.

There are around 120 HMOs in the Borough and these need to be managed effectively to ensure that incidents of flytipping do not occur. A wider scheme to monitor HMOs will be in operation by October of this year. The Council currently operates a selective licensing of HMO landlords (around 20 per cent of the private rented sector in the Borough) and there is a good case being made include the rest of the landlords into the scheme, subject to approval from the Secretary of State. Landlords will have to pay £500 to register, costs which will support the running and monitoring of the scheme by housing officers.

The Council does not hold research on individuals who fly tip and does not believe one specific community or group of people are responsible for recorded incidents. Fly tipping is a Borough wide problem which requires a Borough wide solution with input from both the Council and residents.

Individuals have been seen dumping trolleys Plain clothes enforcement officers are currently working night shifts outside the 2 full of rubbish from their properties into front standard 9-5 working day and are having continued success in catching those fly gardens and on street pavements. This occurs tipping. An enforcement officer working in Newbury ward who was present at the

Local Forums Notes 25 May 2016, Seven Kings High School

Question Answer frequently at night when there is no police Local Forum confirmed officers are working until 3am in flytipping hotspots, both presence to catch them. What action is the in uniform and in plain clothes. Recent patrols in Ilford Town Centre have caught Council taking to address this problem? two vehicles unloading rubbish and flytipping, each being issued a £300 fine. The officer acknowledged that the process for prosecuting individuals who fly tip is a long and often complex one which involves examining refuse, collecting evidence, interviewing suspects and obtaining a confession. This is why it is so important that residents continue to report incidents of flytipping to the Council which can help lead to successful prosecutions.

Civic Pride and Anti-social behaviour

A member of the Newbury Ward Police Panel who was present at the forum There have been ongoing parking and other acknowledged that these issues were ongoing problems affecting residents seven days a week. At one stage 74 vehicles registered to the business were present in the issues with Redbridge Cars for the last two ward and the police are aware of the problems they are causing; they have the years and residents have reported the issues power to remove cars with immediate effect should the situation require it. The numerous times to the Council and no action individual in question has been given a substantial fine and issued a summons to 3 has been taken. Can the Council provide an court. Matters are progressing in this case and the Council will ensure that residents acknowledgement to residents that action is are kept closely informed on the outcome. Enforcement officers who are assigned being taken to address these continued to Newbury ward will speak to the residents who raised this issue on their concerns? involvement in this case.

The Council previously served an Enforcement Notice to cease the use of the land for car sales and not an eviction notice. This notice was appealed and subsequently dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate. After the notice compliance date, site visits

Local Forums Notes 25 May 2016, Seven Kings High School

Question Answer were carried out and the site was cleared. However, car sales at the site have recommenced and due to this and additional evidence being gathered, prosecution papers have been prepared.

The appeal against the Enforcement Notice delayed any further in relation to the breach until the appeal was decided. Such appeals are dealt with by the Planning Inspectorate which is an external agency.

The Redbridge Enforcement Team is working closely with the police and the Ilford Town Centre Police Team to tackle the issues raised by targeting offenders and clamping down on anti-social activity in the area. A comprehensive action plan has There are gangs and groups of youths loitering been developed that addresses necessary action, including working with local in Ilford Town Centre and outside Ilford train businesses, targeting premises that are linked to the offenders, improving street lighting and extra police work to disrupt criminal behaviour and arrest offenders. station in the evening and behaving anti- Current anti-social behaviour orders are also being issued and criminal injunctions socially, drinking and taking drugs. Residents are being taken out against individuals; the Council is working closely with the are intimidated and feel unsafe walking in police to intervene and stop potential problems. Ilford in the evening and late at night. This is 4 not a great first impression of the area, The Panel acknowledged that York Road is a hotspot for trouble and there are plans considering all the investment that is going into for increased intervention and enforcement activity in the area. Officers are Ilford. What steps are the Council taking to patrolling here daily and 77 arrests have been made in the last six weeks. In address these problems? addition a four week initiative is taking place in Ilford Town Centre led by enforcement officers in which community protection notices are being issued to individuals causing trouble. Residents should not be afraid in their own communities and ought to feel safe at any time of the day. Residents can assist in helping to make Ilford Town Centre a safer place by calling the Redbridge Enforcement Hotline on 0208 468 4679 to report incidents of anti-social and nuisance behaviour.

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Question Answer

The Council has an Anti-Social Behaviour hotline 0208 478 4679 open until 1am Loud music can be heard playing in Newbury which residents can call to report incidences and an enforcement officer will Park and from nearby cars which causes respond to the matter. Officers can warn the individual(s) in question and take 5 distress to local residents. How can the Council appropriate action if necessary by issuing a community protection notice. The help residents with this problem? Panel encouraged residents to contact the Council with any issues of concern and officers will investigate them on their behalf. Further information on reporting anti- social behaviour can be found here

The Enforcement Team as part of their operations in Ilford Town Centre are working to address the problem of rough sleepers near Lynton House. Officers have issued individuals with notices and warnings to vacate the area and have the powers to What action is the Council taking to address the move them and their belongings on should they refuse. Enforcement can be successful in addressing the presence of rough sleepers but the Council has problem of rough sleepers in Ilford? This is a launched a number of outreach programmes to help the individuals in question. particular problem near Lynton House on the

High Road. The Council runs a multi-agency partnership with voluntary and statutory partners

6 called Places of Change. The Group’s Board plan and deliver services to support Certain voluntary groups who work with rough sleepers off the streets and also have an operational sub group where homeless people in Redbridge feel that there individual rough sleeper’s situations are considered and appropriate services has been a lock of engagement from the identified. The Council funds an outreach service that will follow up on reports of Council with them to address this growing rough sleepers and will try to work with the individuals to provide them with problem. advice, support and services. The Council also funds other services in the Borough that provide day services and support such as those delivered at the Welcome Centre. Supported housing accommodation is also provided in the Borough which is prioritised for rough sleepers and the Council also provides supports where possible by offering support to access private rented accommodation and where

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Question Answer appropriate social housing or temporary accommodation.

The Panel acknowledged that the problem of rough sleepers is not an easy issue to solve; the parties involved are dealing with individuals who have complex issues and problems and a number of persistent rough sleepers who do not want to engage with offers of help.

Economy

A great deal of money is going to be invested in The Panel agreed that first impressions of Ilford are not good for visitors to the area. Ilford over the next five to ten years; as part of The Council is starting a conversation with businesses and residents about what this investment can the Council use the money Ilford should look like and what further investment should help to regenerate the 7 collected from business rates to bring interest area. This is an ongoing process which will take place alongside the announced into the town centre by encouraging businesses investment into Ilford over the coming years. Further information on this can be to locate in the empty shop spaces? found here

Council Information

It can be frustrating for residents that details cannot be given of ongoing cases but Residents continue to report incidents of Mark Benbow confirmed that the Council will publish the work being undertaken flytipping but are not being kept informed. Can by the Enforcement Team on the Council’s website. Since the Enforcement Team 8 the Council be more open and publish the began last year officers have issued 1,300 untidy front garden letters to home results of action taken against individuals on owners and 350 Fixed Penalty Notices. The enforcement officer present confirmed Redbridge i? that letters which are sent out to homeowners informing them of their untidy front gardens have proven an effective way of getting them to clear rubbish and refuse.

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Question Answer Officers will return to a property after ten days to check properties and if rubbish has not been cleared then further steps can be taken.

Currently there are only 16 officers who are dealing with up to 50 service user requests so it is a challenge to provide all this detailed information online. Hiring more officers will allow the team to be able to provide more information which can be made available online. The Council will look to publish the performance of enforcement officers on the Council’s website so residents can see how active they are.

The Panel confirmed that the Council are currently in the process of redesigning its website to include information that is more targeted to the needs and concerns of residents. The communications team are working on this and the website will be more effective in displaying information on successful prosecutions for flytipping. Most recently a case has been made publicised on the Council’s website and the Council’s Social Media channels of an individual being fined £850 for flytipping in the Borough. Further information can be found here

The Panel confirmed that a Council Tax officer would call the resident who raised Residents are concerned that they are no longer this issue and find a payment option that worked for them. Further information for able to pay their council tax by cheque and feel residents on council tax, and how they can pay it, can be found here that the Council is forcing them to pay by direct

debit. When attempts are made to contact the 9 The Panel agreed that it is not acceptable that phones are not being answered Council to discuss the matter the phones go when residents ring the Council to report incidents or to enquire about particular unanswered, despite more than one number issues. The Panel made clear that improving customer contact response rates was a being called. top priority for the Council and work is underway to address this issue. The Panel

recognised the importance of responding to residents’ concerns, will look into

alternative ways residents can pay their Council Tax and ensure that they can easily

Local Forums Notes 25 May 2016, Seven Kings High School

Question Answer contact the council, particularly by telephone.

The questioner is correct that a discretionary fund was available for each area committee to fund projects. In response to the question please see below activities undertaken raised by the resident;

Landlord and Managing Agents scheme – The funding allocated was not for a Landlord Registration Scheme. Instead, the funding allocated by three Area Committees was paid to the Council’s Cleansing Team to liaise with Landlords and During the 2013-14 period the previously held Managing Agents to arrange for the removal of bulky waste items from the untidy Area Committees issued funds to a number of front gardens of rented properties. projects. There was an obligation to fulfil certain proposals and these have not been Living Streets – Although Living Streets applied for up to £20k to deliver projects carried out. For example the charity Living within Area 6, the funding awarded by the Area 6 Committee was £3,000 to 10 Streets was given £7,000 but no visible projects improve the local environment and encourage more people to walk. This funding have been completed. Can the Council provide was used to help to develop the pocket park next to Winston Way roundabout as a information on what projects have/have not joint project with the Council. been fulfilled, what money is still outstanding, recovered or written off? Area 6 approved funding of £1,845 to Cannabis Skunk Sense (CanSS), a registered charity raising awareness of the dangers of cannabis use. CanSS held a drugs awareness seminar in Area 6 in March 2012.

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Question Answer

Housing and Planning

The opening of a second swimming pool in Redbridge remains a top priority for the current administration and the contract for Mayfield swimming pool is currently going to tender, with plans to open the pool by the end of 2017/early 2018. All the Is the Council planning to replace the Ilford necessary plans and consultations have been approved and the Council is working Baths swimming pool with another facility on hard to ensure that the pool is open to the public as soon as possible. the High Road? The Panel confirmed that no final decision has been made on Oakfield Playing By the time the swimming pool at Mayfield Fields within the Local Plan. The plan has followed a proper process that has taken School is open to the public Redbridge will have into account the potential loss of the playing fields. The Leader has made it clear 11 been without a second pool for nearly ten that the new swimming pool is important to the Borough and that the Council years. There are plans to build housing on the needs to accelerate the build. Oakfield Playing Fields which would deprive residents of open spaces for sport and The Council encourages all residents to keep fit and healthy and provides a range of recreational activity. The Borough has already services and activities to facilitate this. Residents can continue to use the swimming lost a swimming pool and could potentially lose facilities at Fulwell Cross and Ilford County High School and a pool will be open at Oakfield too. Loxford School of Science and Technology for the public to use after school hours. Further information all sport, health and fitness activities available to residents in Redbridge, many of which are free, can be found on the Vision website here

Local Forums Notes 25 May 2016, Seven Kings High School

Question Answer

Health

In March of this year a proposal was put forward to the Council to reinstate 29 acute The resident who raised this question has previously had a response from the beds at King George Hospital. The loss of beds leader and the cabinet member for Health and Social Care on the issue of acute has put additional pressure on Queens and beds at King George Hospital and the Panel felt that no further additional Whipps Hospitals which are failing to meet A & information could be added to the response already provided. The Panel agreed E targets. Does the Council support this that there needs to be a positive conversation on the health economy in Redbridge. 12 proposal? BHRUT (Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospital Trust) has made

progress but healthcare in the Borough remains a challenge. Health outcomes are

important and engagement is needed to ensure work is carried out that ensures

Redbridge has the healthcare it needs and one which residents deserve and have

access to.

Parking

Can the Council consider painting double yellow lines on the junction of Ashurst Drive and Glenham Drive? Cars and vans continue to The resident who raised this issue was advised to leave their details with Cliff 13 park on the corner of the junction which are Woolnoth, the Council’s Head of Engineering, who would look into the matter. potential traffic hazards for other motorists.

Local Forums Notes 25 May 2016, Seven Kings High School

Question Answer

Questions Submitted Online

The Police, Council and wider Community Safety Partnership (a statutory group of organisations who are committed to making the Borough safer) in Redbridge see reducing burglary as one of its top priorities. Considerable police efforts, as well as various Council funded projects have had a positive impact in reducing burglary in recent years. This has included:

• gating of alleys that have provided access to burglars in the past • property marking schemes

I am really concerned about the increased • handy van scheme to secure homes of particularly vulnerable residents number of burglaries being reported in • significant awareness to residents on how they can protect their homes Redbridge. What can you do about it as a 14 Council? It is making me feel frightened to The Council also coordinates a multi-agency group to help tackle burglary in the leave home. Borough that is chaired by a Police Chief Inspector responsible for investigating burglaries locally. This group has a small budget and significant task able resource (people and schemes) to make an impact. The result of this significant partnership work is that burglary in Redbridge has reduced by over 4 per cent in the last four years, which equates to more than 1,500 burglaries less per year. This is one of the best reductions in the whole of London. The deterrent is working but the Council, police and residents cannot be complacent and must continue the vigilant work to tackle and reduce burglary in the Borough.

The Council had forwarded this complaint on to the organisation that administers the local Police ‘Safer Neighbourhood Board’ (RCVS), whose remit it is to hold the local police to account, and we have requested that it is raised with the Police

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Question Answer Borough Commander for response. In the future the Council would encourage members of the public to raise these issues directly with the Police at the various public engagement mechanisms that are in place, such as Safer Neighbourhood ward Panels or the Safer Neighbourhood Board so that an immediate response can be provided. Further information can be found here

In November 2011 the London Borough of Redbridge implemented a Designated Public Place Order for an area covering the wards of Loxford, Mayfield and Cranbrook, Seven Kings High Road and Goodmayes Park. Signs were installed at entry points to these areas making this known and the order allowed officers to confiscate alcohol being consumed by individuals.

There should be a non-alcohol policy on the In October 2014 the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 replaced whole of the Commonwealth Estate as used Designated Public Place Orders with the Public Protection Order. Police powers cans are littered everywhere and drunks are have remained the same but in the case of this Borough, Redbridge Enforcement found wondering the streets, or lying on the officers can also confiscate alcohol under their police accredited powers. As a result 15 floor. Similar signs on Perth Road and outside of this change in order, some of the old signs currently in place need to be taken the Ilford Exchange need to be added in and down, revised or remounted. This is a process that will need to be considered at a around the area. Borough level.

If Public Place Protection Order zones are to be extended to include additional

areas then evidence would need to be gathered of anti-social behaviour and drink related activity. The Council would encourage residents to call the Redbridge Enforcement Hotline on 0208 478 4679 or the 101 non-emergency police number to report such activities. In doing so the Council can start to build up a detailed local picture of offences and alcohol related anti-social behaviour.

Local Forums Notes 25 May 2016, Seven Kings High School

Question Answer

The Council is committed to ensuring that all roads in Redbridge are free of rubbish and litter and provides a weekly collection of household waste and free bulky waste collection to address the problem of fly tipping. It is disappointing when residents do not make use of these services and continue to fly tip. ‘No dumping’ notices have been placed in Brisbane Road and enforcement officers can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice of £80 should an individual be caught fly tipping. CCTV can be used in an attempt to catch fly tippers and should the Council be successful in capturing the images of offenders, they can be place on Redbridge i in the hope that residents may be able to identify the persons concerned.

At the Local Forum meeting Russell Ward, the Council’s Head of Environmental There are unsightly dumped black bags, boxes Services, said that when the Council’s Cleansing Team gets a report of flytipping and various other rubbish on Brisbane Road, from a member of the public a mobile team is dispatched to remove the rubbish. between the junctions of Ley Street, Thorold, The Cleansing Team check for evidence in the refuse and witnesses who may have 16 Balfour and Wellesley Roads. This seems to be a seen the crime being committed in order to gather a case against those who fly tip. common occurrence on the roads mentioned. Flytipping is removed within 24 hours as it is dangerous, unsightly and a blight

throughout Redbridge and tackling flytipping remains a top priority for the Council.

Mark Benbow added that catching individuals who carry out flytipping is an enforcement process which the new Enforcement Team are working hard to do. For example officers recently caught individuals in the act of flytipping through plain clothes investigation. Enforcement officers can use CCTV in their work but this often displaces rather than detects those flytipping; patrols by officers are much more effective and residents are encouraged to report incidents of flytipping as this can help with the team’s intelligence.

Residents can report incidents of flytipping here

Local Forums Notes 25 May 2016, Seven Kings High School

Question Answer

At present there are a number of competing proposals to introduce road calming There needs to be a road calming measure measures and address traffic concerns within the Borough which are being around the junction between Ley street and the considered by the Council. The funds available to the Council to address these junction with the Shell petrol station. I find it issues have to be directed appropriately and the budget for this work has already 17 takes some time to cross the road here with been committed to for this financial year. Ley Street is a key route for emergency heavy traffic. There could possibly be an island services so the installation of road calming measures is not allowed. The Council’s similar to the one on the other side of the road. engineering department will look into improving the junction at Perth Road and assess the feasibility of future proposals for inclusion in next year’s programme of work.

The Council has been working with a number of organisations to reduce the impact of on street prostitution in the area of Ilford Lane and to support women involved Should I be concerned to see a jihad flag flying in sex work to leave this way of life. This has involved working closely with Open in Jubilee Gardens off Ilford Lane and that Doors, an NHS organisation providing services to individuals working in the sex Sharia Law promoters patrol the Ilford Lane industry and receiving support from the Mayor of London’s Violence Against 18 roadside declaring they will stamp out Women and Girls Strategy. The Council’s Scrutiny Working Group on prostitution is prostitution? This is not recent but is due to publish its report in the autumn on how further action can be taken to concerning and affects the reputation of Ilford address this problem. and Redbridge The flying of a Jihad flag would be a matter for the police to investigate to establish if any offences had been committed in the Borough. The Council understands that Sharia law patrols took place in Ilford Lane in May 2014 and that there has been no further activity of this sort since 2014.

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Question Answer

Stickers on lamp columns are classified as ‘flyposting’ which means that the Council has a duty to remove them from the street scene. Should the offender, who places Should I be concerned that stickers declaring stickers on the lamp column be caught, a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 will be “do not vote for man-made laws: Shirk” issued. Arrangements were made for all the lamp columns on Grange Road to be 19 are/were displayed on every lamppost on inspected by the street cleansing team and no stickers were found to be on the Grange Road off Ilford Lane? columns at the present time. If residents do see any stickers appear they can report them to the Customer Contact Centre on 0208 554 5000 or online using the Report It form here

The Council can look at introducing one hour restrictions in the free parking bays in

Mundon Gardens which is part of the Ilford Controlled Zone (8:30am to 5:30pm, I find weeks on end the same cars parked and Monday to Saturday). However the Council feels that to introduce this type of left on our limited car parking bays on Mundon parking restriction may adversely affect those residents that wish to use the space Gardens IG1 4AH. Why can’t the Council make as they would be subject to the same limited timescale. This would mean that 20 these bays ‘no parking’ between 11am-12am to residents would have to move their vehicles out of the bay during the restricted prevent this happening, similar to those in time period. Stainsforth Road.

The one hour parking restriction in Stainsforth Road is part of the Newbury Park

commuter zone and does not have all restrictions in place like the Ilford Controlled

Zone.

21 The Council welcomes suggestions from residents on suggested projects from CIL I put in two CIL funding bids in July 2015. One (Community Infrastructure Levy) in Loxford Park which include tree, shrub and

Local Forums Notes 25 May 2016, Seven Kings High School

Question Answer was for trees on Twyford road and the other for flower planting throughout Loxford Ward. Owing to the large number of more flower beds in Loxford Park. I asked for an suggestions received there has been a delay in responding to resident’s requests. update at the February Local Forum. Could I Unfortunately there are currently no funds allocated to Loxford Ward through the please have a decision? Thanks. Neighbourhood CIL fund. This is because there have not been any CIL liable developments coming forward in the ward for which CIL payments have been triggered. The Neighbourhood CIL fund is intended to benefit local communities where CIL liable development has taken place, rather than all the CIL receipts being used for larger infrastructure projects which may be in other parts of the Borough and some distance from the development itself.

The Council can assure residents that all suggestions, together with the other nominated projects for the ward, have been recorded in anticipation of CIL receipts being received from developments within Loxford Ward and allocated to local neighbourhood projects in the future.

The Council is not currently operating a programme of creating new tree planting

positions on the Highway; however, there is a reactive process to create new tree Kindly advised as to why Ley Street has no trees planting positions through direct resident funding. If a resident would like to fund on its footpath. Is Ley Street not a part of the the planting of a tree or trees on the Highway the cost per tree has been estimated London Borough of Redbridge; a greener at £350. The Council’s Planning Department administers a match tree planting Borough to live. I strongly suggest that the 22 fund; under the ‘Pound for Pound’ scheme, Redbridge Council will contribute 50% Council should start doing plantation on Ley to the cost of supplying and planting trees. Applications can be for a single tree or Street without any further delay. Thank you. for larger tree planting schemes. Further information on the scheme can be found

here

Residents who are interested in sponsoring tree planting in Redbridge should complete and return the Pound for Pound application form.