Agenda item

To receive verbal feedback on the Queensgate Review Group.

The Head of Housing and Development Control provided a verbal update on the Queensgate Review Group.

He explained that the work had started with a Task and Finish Group approach, with Councillor Birtwistle and former Councillor Royle, himself and a representative from Streetscene meeting with two resident representatives from the Burnley Lane Residents Group.

The residents had highlighted the concerns that were being expressed by residents of Queensgate and a number of actions were taken promptly as a result:

Rubbish and littering – The area was added to Kingdom’s list of areas to patrol in order to catch and deter litter offenders. The Council’s Enforcement/Education Officer had targeted a small number of properties where black bags were being left out in the street.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) – the Police were asked to add the area to their patrol schedule but the group agreed that if gangs of young men and women congregating represented lawful behaviour and no offence or ASB was taking place, there was little that could be done. Residents were encouraged to report specific incidents of concern to ensure that the police had a formal record of them.

Empty properties – concern was expressed about a number of empty properties in the area. These had been reported to the Council’s Empty Homes Team for review and action, and three were now being dealt with as part of the Empty Homes Programme.

The Head of Housing and Development Control said he was aware that there were still some ongoing concerns and work was ongoing with the Police, Calico and others in relation to ASB and crime.

As a member of the review group, Councillor Birtwistle made the following observations:

The review had started due to concerns about the deteriorating quality of housing in that part of Burnley and the increase in ASB, including youths driving cars at high speed and drug activity. Crime levels were high and residents felt that they had nowhere to turn to. He had visited the area on a couple of occasions with the Leader.

The situation was no better than it was. Briercliffe Road and Colne Road would benefit from speed cameras but he understood that funding had been allocated elsewhere in the county. The number of properties in a poor condition was increasing and that in itself bred a lack of respect. He commended the Head of Housing and Development Control for all of the work that he and other officers were doing but said that the area desperately needed significant investment. He acknowledged that there were a number of landlords who were keeping rents below market value in order to help their tenants during difficult times but also acknowledged that there were a lot of landlords that were not known to the Council.

Other members of the committee made a number of observations as follows:

The Council was doing an awful lot of work and, under the Selective Licensing scheme, landlords could get interest free loans to carry out improvements.

In relation to ASB and speeding, the Council could take preventative and reactive actions but not solve the issue.

Local Councillors should be a central port of call for their residents and it was disgraceful that residents had felt the need to come to Full Council for a third time.

The issues experienced in Queensgate were shared in areas across the country and the challenge was to secure sufficient levels of funding from the government.

Ward Councillors’ relationships with their local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) were very important and it would be helpful if Councillors could be invited to their local PACT meetings.

Councillors needed to take their responsibilities seriously and work with other Councillors for the benefit of their residents.

None of the Queensgate members were in attendance this evening so it was not appropriate to comment on their relationship with their local residents.

Local Housing Allowance Rates meant that the most vulnerable people were being priced out of accommodation.

As Executive Member for Housing and Leisure, Councillor Harbour made a number of observations as follows:

The problem in Burnley was not unique to Queensgate. Many millions of pounds’ worth of funding for the regeneration of the town had been cut in the last 13 years. The government needed to recognise the issues that the borough faced.

The Head of Housing and Development Control confirmed that there were challenges in a number of areas but the Queensgate Review Group had been set up because the area had been raised at Scrutiny Committee. There was  a particular focus on Queensgate again now because local residents had attended Full Council in September to speak about their local area.

The Chief Operating Officer made a number of comments as follows:

Officers had a further programme of hotspot work in the area and there was work ongoing to address the longer term challenges in the area including youth work and speeding.

The Council was disappointed not to have secured any fixed speed cameras on Colne Road but it was hoped that we would be in a position to secure a Speed Indicator Device (SPIDs) at either end of Colne Road in the hope of building up some data that would evidence the need for Colne Road to be moved higher up the priority list for fixed cameras.

RESOLVED, that the verbal report and observations thereon be noted.