Neighbourhood HitSquad Project

Mark Baxter and David Szlamp

Private Sector Housing

Neighbourhood Hit Squad Project

HousingConditions

Three Cornered Holistic Approach

CommunityConcerns

EnvironmentalIssues

Make a Difference

The Ultimate Aim Is To

Pilot project area

New Deal forCommunitiesarea (NDC)

Project Overview• This multi agency project started July 2009. • Its simplicity is to focus on a manageable area for six

months (About 300 houses) • Statistical data collated to street level identifies areas• Monthly proactive themes organised by other partner

agencies resolve specific issues in that community. • Rubbish, ● Energy efficiency• Anti social behaviour ● Health issues• Crime ● General environment • Housing disrepair ● Fire Safety, • Access to employment

• Two areas have been completed Hyde Park & Hexthorpe• Last pilot area Lower Wheatley / Netherhall started 1st

September. • Second Hit Squad team started in Edlington 1 October

Objectives• To assess the general housing conditions• Undertake internal house inspections to HHSRS

criteria• To address all Cat 1 and Cat 2(D) hazards• To return empty properties back into use• Improve energy efficiency• Tackle environmental and rubbish issues• Tackle Anti Social Behaviour issues • Offer help and advice by direct intervention or

referral to our partner agencies• Improve the general community well-being

Meeting StructureSteering group composition (monthly)• Assistant Director of Housing (Chair)• Assistant Director of Stronger Sustainable Communities• Assistant Director Intervention, Prevention & Support• Assistant Director of Public Health NHS Doncaster• Area Neighbourhood Manager • Area Police Inspector• Project Officer

Stakeholder Group (monthly)• Community Groups• Councillors• Key Partners• Key Council Department Partners• Any other agencies or groups that add value to the project

Key Partners Working with DMBC

 

Key partners within DMBC

• Public Health

• Private Sector Housing

• Planning

• Energy Team

• Neighbourhood Team

• Neighbourhood Enforcement Team

• Resource Recovery

• Corporate Policy Performance and Change Team

• Grants Team

• Asylum Seeker Team

• Adult Services

• Communications Team

• Families First Team

Communicating the Project• Multi agency launch event

• Promotional material

• Contacted Landlords and residents• Community consultation and involvement

• Attended Community Groups

• Monthly Stakeholder Partnership meetings• Developed an effective referral network• Walkabouts• Enforcement Procedures

Project Network

• Invitations to attend a number of groups has improved the project profile, assisted other projects targets or joint aims.• Acquisitive Crime Group• Neighbourhood Theme Managers Group• Doncaster Safer Partnership Committee• Acceptance by landlords at the Landlords Forum• Domestic Violence Group• Partners and Community Together meetings

• The stakeholder group has become an excellent problem solving group

• Producing quick solutions to problems through group discussion using the expertise within the team

Neighbourhood Network Model Structure

Local Neighbourhood

Area

AdviceInformationGuidanceSupport

Neighbourhood Services

Sensitivenetworking

Active Community

Local Enforcement

Neighbourhood Network Model

Agencies that continually

communicate with residents.

Access to advice,information, guidance &

support

A culture of shared

responsibility

Hexthorpe Outcome Information

Area 2 Hyde Park Outcomes

Questionnaires

Pre and Post Consultation results

Edlington   Hexthorpe   Hyde Park   Wheatley

Average Point Score

Average Point Score

Average Point Score

Average Point Score

Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post

Question 1 - How satisfied are you with your area? 4.12     5.10 4.69 6.05 5.15  

Question 2 - How would you rate the following elements of your community?                

Housing Conditions 4.18    Improved

5.52% 5.29 5.48 5.33  

General Environment 4.14    Improved

6.36% 4.24 5.2 4.67  

Street Cleanliness 3.96    Improved

12.79% 3.52 4.55 4.69  

Anti- Social Behaviour 3.04    Improved

9.41% 4.80 5.32 4.79  

Hyde Park Consultation Results

Pre and Post Questionnaire Percentage Spread to the Question:- How Satsisfied are you currently with your area?

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Pre Questionaire Results Post Questionaire Results

Mean Average Pre Questionnaire Result 4.69

Mean Average Post Questionnaire Result 6.05

Pre and Post Percentage Satisfaction Spread to the Question. How would you rate the following elements of your community?

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Pre Housing conditions Post Housing conditions Pre General Environment Post General Environment

Pre Street Cleanliness Post Street Cleanliness Pre ASB Post ASB

Hyde Park Consultation Results

Housing conditions

General Environment

Street Cleanliness ASB

Mean Average Pre Questionnaire Result 5.29 4.24 3.52 4.80

Mean Average Post Questionnaire Result 5.48 5.20 4.55 5.32

Current EvaluationEffective• External ranking system• Positive perception of project by residents, landlords and

partner agencies• Monthly theme leads• Develop a pre and post questionnaire

• To better evaluate the projects effectiveness • Establish the views and problems of the residents prior to entering a

new project area

Difficult• Achieving the Internal inspection target to achieve greater

property improvement• Continual Project promotion over six months

• Promotion of the partnership work and its achievements through monthly updates is essential

• Attend residents meetings

Current EvaluationAchievements• Starting a second HIT Squad team for Edlinton • A robust co-ordinated rubbish enforcement strategy• Designing a pictorial recycling information leaflet• 2 spin off projects• Wheelie Bin Watch• Trap Houses

Areas to develop• Formalise the selection criteria for new areas across the

borough • Link with other agencies to assist vulnerable residents more

directly• Access additional funding sources because of the projects

wide remit• Contact GP surgeries and other front-line health services

Wheelie Bin Watch

• Multi Agency

• Advice and information

• Etch onto bin house number and post code

• Enforcement on bin presentation

Aim

• Reduce bin thefts

• Reduce bin fires

• Reduce replacement costs

• Improve community well being

Pictorial Recycle Leaflet

• Multi Agency

• Delivered by Neighbourhood team

• Designed by resource recovery

• Paid for by NDC

Aim

• To help all nationalities to understand the recycling procedure

• Reduce domestic waste tonnages

Retailer Training

The Future……to roll out Neighbourhood Hit Squad borough-wide!

To target other problem neighbourhoods

Any QuestionsAny questions?

Neighbourhood Hit Squad

Workshop

Neighbourhood Hit Squad Project

General Three Cornered Holistic Approach

Housing

Conditions

Housing Conditions

Environmental Issues

Community Concerns

Workshop

•We would like each table of delegates to think of Proactive Projects

Enforcement Teams or

Support agencies

they are aware of that could be utilised to improve communities

• Note them down on separate post-it notes

• Place the post-it notes under the most appropriate heading

Thank you for coming enjoy the rest of your day….