Agenda item - Field Officer Update

36.1           Annie Sparks, the Regulatory Services Manager, introduced a briefing on the new Field Officer roles. The Field Officer would work cross-service and seek community collaboration by attending Area Housing Panels, Leaseholder Action Groups (LAGs) and report to the Neighbourhoods, Inclusion, Communities & Equalities Committee (NICE). These Field Officers were chosen from a variety of backgrounds with a range of experience to operate seven days per week on a flexible working pattern for fast effective enforcement towards service referral. The team was currently live; however would be working in full force from December 2018.

36.2           Residents asked if Field Officers would be given the task of estate inspections and stated that they should work closely with the tenant representatives as they were familiar with particular household situations, the continuing issues of the area and the areas that needed extra attention because they lacked tenant representatives.

36.3           Officers responded that the new inspection structure was not yet defined but would involve Field Officers and there would be further consultations about the role of residents and partners.  Officers added that the model would be based on developing strong relationships to map what areas needed support which would be supported by the flexible working pattern.

36.4           In response to residents, officers stated that the Field Officers were working closely with Housing Officers to understand the communities across the city so when they attended this panel they could effectively contribute. They added that the review may change the frequency of inspections but plans were still in the design stages and details were not yet finalised.

36.5           Officers stated that the new system would be more fluid in its regime, for instance not executing clockwork inspections every six months but using feedback to provide a more bespoke service when requested.

36.6           Residents raised concern for refuse and recycling of missed bin collections and poor information of what, how and when to recycle.

36.7           Officers responded that the Cityclean service has upset some residents across the city and collection solutions needed attention. Officers added that Field Officers could ease the confusion by relaying better information to residents channelled through these meetings.

36.8           In response to residents, the Chair responded that there were two sized of bin which could be requested, however for an additional bin the house of multiple occupancy would have to have a considerable number of tenants.

36.9           Officers stated that if residents wanted more information they should contact them and in the future they intended to collate the names of residents on to a database to contact residents to keep them informed.