We Will Work with Landowners and Developers to Ensure That at Least
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ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN 2007/08 SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENT B Achievements against the ‘WE WILL’ statements B1 This report details how Crawley Borough Council has performed against the WE WILL statements as set within its Corporate Plan 2004 to 2008 ‘The Route to First Rate.’ We Will work with landowners and developers to ensure that at least 25% of all new homes in developments of over 15 dwellings are for subsidised housing and working over time with developers towards a further 10% for low cost market housing (AH1) There are presently six S106 schemes on site which have been successfully negotiated and are due for completion soon, there are a further six S106 Agreements which are in the process of being negotiated, and a further five schemes beginning negotiations. In every instance we have negotiated on the basis of 25% affordable housing and 5% low-cost, while endeavouring to achieve a 70/30 tenure split between affordable rental and shared-ownership respectively. This has been achieved where grant funding has been successfully secured. The future Local Development Framework (LDF) will be seeking 40% affordable housing gains (without any further reference to low-cost market housing), and the 70/30 tenure split is likely to remain as the targeted mix of tenures. We Will press the Government to release land for development in the North East Sector at the earliest opportunity and work with partners to bring about development of land to the west of Crawley. (AH2) The Council has been consulted over the Appeal currently underway on the North East Sector, and is becoming more active in the West of Crawley discussions. In both instances, HSS are supportive of such large-scale Greenfield developments which become necessary to sustain the current momentum in the Affordable Housing Development Programme. We Will increase the supply of temporary accommodation available to reduce dependence upon bed and breakfast for homeless people. (AH3) Expansion of the Private Sector Leasing scheme (PSL) has allowed us to achieve this target. We Will continue to improve our Housing Benefits service to provide prompt, efficient service to prevent social exclusion (AH4) We have ensured that we offer a fast track Housing Benefit service to people accessing the Rent Deposit Scheme and temporary accommodation. A monthly set of liaison meetings to monitor this service have been established between our Housing Strategic Services and the Benefits team. The options team manager attends a review board which decides the way that discretionary Housing benefit payments will be made to prevent homelessness and help sustain tenancies. We Will develop a Community Warden service that will carry out high visibility uniform patrols in hot spot locations to increase public reassurance, tackle issues of litter, abandoned vehicles, anti-social behaviour, vandalism and graffiti and at the same time help reduce the fear of crime (CS1) The Community Warden service has proved to be an important element in helping to tackle anti-social behaviour within the town. Through undertaking joint patrolling with local Police Community Support Officers in hotspots areas within the town, this has provided to the public reassurance and helped to reduce the fear of crime on the streets. The Wardens have also been working with the Council’s street cleansing B2 teams to catch fly tippers. The Wardens issued 94 fixed penalty notices for littering and dog fouling, in 2006 alone. As part of the ‘Operation Crackdown’ on abandoned vehicles, our Community Wardens are now investigating almost 90% of reported abandoned vehicles within 24 hours (86% in 2005), with 84% now being removed within 24 hours of receiving the go-ahead from Sussex Police. We Will tackle anti-social behaviour in a variety of other ways, such as by using our tenancy agreements to enforce standards of behaviour, using our leisure services to divert young or other vulnerable people away from crime and by the use of anti-social behaviour contracts to enforce standards of behaviour. (CS2) During the year under review, the efforts of community safety partners in tackling anti-social behaviour have been aimed at prevention, intervention and enforcement activity. A multi-agency action group has been formed to bring about a more holistic approach to dealing with issues that can blight the lives of individuals and whole communities and which are of real concern to Crawley residents. As part of this work, Interim Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) were obtained against two adults and 18 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) were agreed involving 5 adults and 13 young people. A total of 148 warning letters we sent to young people advising them to modify their behaviour whilst in public places. A number of young people were referred to positive activity programmes run by both the Council and County Council to divert or direct their behaviour into more purposeful and constructive activities. New reporting mechanisms have been put in place, and anti-social behaviour can now be reported in writing (Freepost), by telephone and on-line via the Council’s website. We Will secure an efficient, effective and economical public place CCTV system (CS3) We now have a total 37 CCTV cameras located in the town centre and on neighbourhood shopping parades. Three more are currently being installed, one additional camera at Maidenbower Square outside the community centre and two at the new skate park being built at Southgate Playing Fields. This will bring to 40 the number of cameras directly linked to the police monitoring system. CCTV cameras are also being installed at Creasys Drive, Millpond and Waterlea Adventure Playgrounds, similar to that installed at the Cherry Lane Adventure Playground in 2005. The cameras are aimed at increasing the safety of those using the playgrounds and the security of the sites when they are closed. If anything happens, staff are able to view the CCTV recordings for follow-up action or investigation. Arrangements are also in hand to install a standalone CCTV at Milton Mount Gardens to deter criminal damage and other anti-social behaviour. The Crawley Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership has also taken into use a Nuisance Neighbour CCTV system which has been used to monitor problems where particular households have been the target of crime, anti-social behaviour and other nuisance activity. B3 We Will undertake our responsibilities as a liquor licensing authority to prevent crime, disorder and public nuisance. (CS4) The working relationship between Crawley Borough Council and Sussex Police was further strengthened in 2006 with the formation of a new sub group dealing specifically with Violent Public Place Crime involving alcohol. This group coordinated a number of joint operations outside of normal office hours to licensed premises to check for compliance with licensing conditions. A Protocol of understanding was also developed by Crawley Borough Council in 2006 dealing exclusively with the Licensing Act 2003 which is awaiting a formal response. This document clearly defines each organisations role to improve enforcement and communications further. We Will improve our services in relation to Travellers including identifying and maintaining a transit site and employing a Community Liaison Officer with a role to balance enforcement and positive development addressing issues creating by incursions and liaise between different communities where there is conflict, threat of conflict or fear or conflict. (CS5) The Council’s Community Liaison Officer has worked closely with Gypsies and Travellers by signposting them to appropriate services and encouraging their engagement in community activities. Furthermore, the Community Liaison Officer assists with issues around community tension that can sometimes exist between Gypsies and Travellers and the settled community following illegal Traveller encampments. The Council continues to work within the South-East Regional Spatial Strategy to investigate suitable land for the provision of permanent/transient Traveller site(s). We Will work with our partners to reduce dependence upon a small number of business sectors and liaise with BAA Gatwick to ensure the continued success of the airport protecting the high level of employment and prosperity enjoyed in the Town by association. (EC1) Through the emerging planning policies at the local and regional level, the Council working with its Gatwick Diamond partners, have established an approach to economic development based on making best use of existing resources within the town and sub-region to attract quality investment and to exploit opportunities to secure a diversified and sustainable local economy. A study is currently looking at developing an action plan to ensure the successful implementation of the strategy, both in terms of attracting quality investment and to ensure that facilities and services are in place to support such investment. We Will develop and implement a strategy for the Town Centre which enables it to become increasingly attractive as a place to live, work, shop and relax seeking development and improvements that will firmly establish the Town as a regional centre. (EC2) Following the selection of a preferred developer for Town Centre North, the Council has engaged consultants with the task of producing a ‘vision’ for the Town Centre as a whole to ensure the maximum benefits can be secured from the opportunities that Town Centre North will present. This work will inform the production of the Town Centre strategy and Masterplan with the aim of securing the town centre future as a major regional centre. B4 We Will implement a programme to improve and regenerate our neighbourhood parades, enhancing the range of facilities they offer and concentrating on those most in need (EC3) The Council is currently in the process of regenerating both Langley Green and Bewbush parades. There is also a scrutiny review in place examining the rest of the Neighbourhood parades; analysing the facilities, the state of repair of the parades, what the future should be your each and what investment may be required.