Most of those in attendance last night came along to report incidents of criminal damage, mainly to cars and other vehicles, in a number of streets over the past few weeks. Incidents reported included deliberate scratching of vehicle paintwork, damage to car parts such as wing mirrors, an incident of slashed vehicle tyres and even a reported incident of vehicle theft.
Police assured residents that all those incidents reported would be logged and followed up in due course. As ever, the main message from the police is to report each and every incident. Even if officers aren't able to call out immediately, an accumulation of reports in a particular location raises its profile for police attention.
Once again concerns were raised about the increasing number of crime and anti-social behaviour incidents which appear to be associated with people who are new to our village. Residents were keen to know whether the police or the council had any direct influence over private sector tenancies. It was noted that there were similar concerns raised a year ago when there had been an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour in parts of Blackhall. Residents expressed concern that currently a private sector landlord, often absent and with no connection to our village, is allowed to let a property to a prospective tenant without first having to ask for a reference or require a bond.
I advised that, partly as a consequence of concerns raised last year, the council was currently collating evidence in preparation to submit a bid to the Secretary of State to introduce a Selective Licensing Scheme across the county. Amongst other things a Selective Licensing Scheme requires all private sector landlords to hold a license before they are allowed to offer a prospective tenancy. It enables the authorities to quickly identify and contact landlords or agents in the event there are any issues associated with their tenants. It also gives the authorities some leverage in holding irresponsible landlords and agents to account. In addition it offers certain benefits to property renters while giving added protection to tenants of unscrupulous landlords. It has proved to be successful in other parts of the country, most notably in Liverpool and the London Borough of Newham. The scheme is expected to be in place later this year or early next, as soon as the Secretary of State gives the go-ahead (please see post dated Thursday 11 October 2018 for additional details).
Finally, residents enquired about several different rumours circulating the village that The Trust Hotel was about to be passed over to new owners and reopened as a bail hostel (there are several other rumours about its potential use, but far too many to mention here). I advised that I had contacted the planning department at the council to ask if any enquiries had been made with them about "change of use" consent, which is normally required when an owner wishes to change the use of his or her property. The planning office confirmed that as of last week no such enquiries had been received. This doesn't necessarily mean that nothing will now happen of course, it simply means that there has been no formal approach made to the council's planning department and therefore everything at the moment is pure speculation.
I have asked to be notified if or when any such approach is made because under most circumstances an application to the planning section triggers a statutory period of public consultation during which local residents and businesses will have the opportunity to comment on any proposals put forward. Watch this space.
