Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team (LASBT) work alongside Housing Leeds to respond to anti-social behaviour (ASB) complaints and concerns from across the city.
We’ve seen an overall decrease in ASB across Leeds over the last year. Working with West Yorkshire Police, we’ve focused on early intervention and prevention, as well as enforcement. Several initiatives to tackle ASB across the city have been successful.
Highlights from the last year include:
- Investing in initiatives to reduce anti-social bike use
- Using the Safer Streets fund to increase officer visibility
- Working with Youth Justice Service and Early Help Hubs to divert young people away from crime
- Improving local partnership working in hotspot areas to reduce nuisance and ASB committed by young people
- Conducting targeted operations to minimise ASB during ‘peak’ periods
- Creating a Leeds-wide Public Spaces Protection Order to prevent anti-social cruises across the district
- Working with partners to help address arson and nuisance fires
- Holding ASB Awareness Week. The theme was the impact of anti-social behaviour on young people
Estate walkabout summary
Estate Walkabouts give residents the opportunity to walk a set route around their local area with a Housing Officer to spot problems and suggest improvements. During the year we consulted with residents and ward members about how often we do walkabouts in each area. We’re committed to completing two walkabouts per area each year. Last year we completed 547 across the city. We know that not everyone is able to attend a physical walkabout so last year we introduced Virtual Walkabouts. This allows more flexibility for residents to engage at times that suit them. Look out for virtual walkabouts in your area.
Other highlights over the year include:
- Working with the Tree Management Team to adopt a new approach to pruning work across the city
- Working with the Cleaner Neighbourhoods Team, Environmental Enforcement, and Waste Management to tackle environmental concerns
- Working with our partners to carry out ‘Estate Action Days’ to improve the environments of our estates
- Working with the Parks and Countryside Team to enhance ground maintenance during the winter months
Lincoln Green MAFWA partnership
Roxby Close Community Garden
A disused playground in Lincoln Green, has been transformed into a community garden. The area is now an attractive, open green space with seating, planting, and areas to meet and play. We’ve worked with MAFWA and the local community to create a space that can be used to grow food, join workshops, meet friends, eat picnics, and enjoy the garden.
'Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation (BITMO) manages 1,800 council homes in Belle Isle on behalf of Leeds City Council. It is run by tenants of Belle Isle and is the largest estate based TMO in the country.
I’m pleased to share with you a short summary of the work of BITMO and what we’re doing to build a better future for Belle Isle. As a tenant led organisation we rely on the commitment of our tenants to tell us what their priorities are, and to provide leadership through our Board.
If you would like to find out more about BITMO or get involved in our volunteering programme.
Please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.'
– Deborah Kelly (BITMO Chief Executive)
Percentage of rent collected: 96% in 2021/22 and 95.99% in 2022/23
Investing in your homes: £1.5m in 2021/22 and £1.9m in 2022/23
Additional income generated for customers: £166k in 2021/22 and £107k in 2022/23
Homes with a gas safety certificate: 99% in 2021/22 and 99% in 2022/23
Number of complaints received: 32 in 2021/22 and 42 in 2022/23
Complaints responded to in timescale: 63% in 2021/22 and 69% in 2022/23
Engaging with our residents
Working with our residents is important to us. We have lots of ways for tenants to get involved in reviewing what we do and helping us make decisions. Here are some examples of how we have improved services with you:
- Improved security and décor in response to feedback from our residents living in flats
- Improved the cleaning standards in our blocks of flats and installed CCTV
Thank you to everyone who has come to see us at our consultation events. We’re listening to what you’re telling us and this will help improve our services to you. There are opportunities for tenants to be part of working groups and join our board, to influence how we work.
Supporting our community
The BITMO Community Fund has been open for two years providing financial support to individuals and groups in six categories:
- Decorating and minor works
- Tenancy sustainability
- Training and skills
- Environmental improvements
- Voluntary group initiatives
- Green strategy
The Community Fund is able to give grants up to £500 in each of these categories. We have supported 69 applications so far. We’ve seen the highest demand in the tenancy sustainability category, as this supports with purchases of essential items such as beds, fridges and cookers. Some grants have been given to groups to run activities linked to health and well-being. Equipment has been provided for a new community garden on the site of a disused garage area. Last year we gave out £11,000. We are relaunching the fund this year to support more of our residents.