The 14th September proved to be a victorious day for Stockton Borough Council when the anti social behaviour team was successful in its application to the courts to close a problem property. The property in question faced numerous allegations of persistent disorder, nuisance and anti-social behaviour to surrounding neighbours and members of the public.
Using closure powers under part 1A of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2008, the Council applied to have 9 Cheltenham Avenue, Thornaby, closed after numerous repeated incidents recorded including; fighting, loud noise and frequent visitors in connection with drug dealing and prostitution. This is the first time the Council has used these powers.
The making of the order is necessary to prevent the tenant, Pamela Nunn, 52, from returning to the property owned by landlords P & M Properties, in light of preventing the occurrence of disorder for a period of 3 until midnight of December 13, 2009 before it can be re-let. If the behaviour continues within the surrounding area, the council have the option to apply to the courts for an extension of the order.
The activities at the house were first brought to the attention of the Council's Anti-Social Behaviour Team in April and after unsuccessful attempts to tackle the problems with the tenants and the landlords. The Council had no option other than to apply for the closure order. Cleveland Police were involved throughout the process and made several raids on the property in connection with alleged drugs offences. District Judge Harrison found in favour and accepted the evidence of persistent anti-social behaviour.
Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety, said: "This house was an anti-social behaviour magnet and its closure will bring some much needed peace and quiet to the residents of Cheltenham Avenue the Council can not and will not ignore such behaviour"
Closure Orders are a last resort after Police and Council interventions have failed to tackle the issue. These actions could have all been avoided if the landlords had been registered with the Council landlord liaison scheme and properly referenced tenants and ultimately co-operated with the Anti social behaviour team and the Police.
With support from the legislation, the council will be seeking the accumulated costs against the landlords for expenses including: boarding up and daily maintenance of the property, re-boarding and various court costs, these cost will be sort from the local authority once the closure order expires and again could have been avoided if the landlords had fully co-operated with the police and local authority.
Since the order was granted the tenant, Pamela Nunn has appealed the court order defending herself on the grounds that the council have failed to give sufficient support regarding re-housing. Support was offered throughout the process to all parties involved, this included referrals to Support networks who would have helped with housing issues as well as drug and behaviour problems, on each occasion this was denied.
As this is the first closure order in the area, lessons have been learnt and procedures for future closure orders will be tightened up, just one example would be that video's of the house content will be produced before boarding up and taking down closure boards, this is with the intention to provide evidence for any issues of content that may occur.
Any further information regarding this property closure order can ring Stockton Borough Council's Anti-Social behaviour team on 01642 527615