Some behaviours, although annoying to residents, may not meet the threshold or are persistent enough for investigation as anti-social behaviour (ASB).
It is important that residents feel that they can enjoy their own home and the surrounding areas, and some noise disturbance and other minor annoyances are to be expected when living close to other people.
As part of showing consideration for neighbours and the wider community, we recommend informing neighbours if there is going to be a one-off event, such as a party or celebration.
Our good neighbourhood management policy outlines our approach we take when our council tenants and leaseholders experience upset or frustration resulting from a person’s behaviour or actions that are not considered to be ASB or a tenancy breach.
We will not normally investigate the following types of behaviour unless there is evidence that the behaviour is deliberately intended to cause damage, intimidate or is taking place between 11pm and 7am:
- children playing in the street, communal areas or our parks and greenspaces
- young people gathering socially
- being unable to park outside your own home
- businesses having the correct licenses for events/parties/changes to their operations and ensuring they are up to date as required by the Licensing Act 2003 - see our statement of licensing policy to see what we expect from licensees
- a one-off party or event – this excludes events in our parks and greenspaces where permission must be applied for
- general living noise
Those who are rough sleeping and who need additional support will receive a warm welcome at Mulberry Junction, our dedicated resource centre for single people affected by homelessness.
People who engage in street-based sex work may experience multiple and intersecting disadvantage and stigmatisation, which puts them at increased risk. They are also frequently the victims of violence.
Sex work is not in itself either ASB or a criminal offence, so we aim to support people engaged in this work. However soliciting or other activities that sex workers do to contact a client are criminal.
Where behaviour linked to either sex work or rough sleeping causes ASB, (for example, through public indecency, associated acts of harassment, misuse of drugs or alcohol, threats or littering), we will take a robust line about enforcing.