Councillors have agreed a £38,000 investment in enhanced measures to tackle anti-social behaviour in Perth and Kinross.
Councillors unanimously approved the investment with one councillor saying anti-social behaviour was ruining the lives of some residents.
The additional investment was approved as councillors approved a three per cent increase on tenants’ rent.
In November 2021 PKC’s 7760 tenants received a survey asking them to choose one of three options with an explanation of what each option would allow the council to do.
The three options were: an increase of three per cent, 3.5 per cent or four per cent.
There was a 70 per cent increase in the number of respondents from last year.
Out of the 2,177 tenants (28 per cent) who responded, 54 per cent chose the lowest option of a three per cent rent increase.
Highland Perthshire Conservative councillor John Duff found it “encouraging” to note PKC rents were “five per cent lower than neighbouring local authorities”. But the Conservative councillor expressed concern about what might be done to tackle anti-social behaviour if option one was chosen.
He pointed out references to tackle anti-social behaviour in options two and three “but no specific mention of that in option one”.
He added: “I also note that improving neighbourhoods is the third highest priority for our tenants.”
Out of the 2177 who voted, 29 per cent chose option two and 17 per cent option three.
Lib Dem councillor Liz Barrett suggested this showed almost half of the tenants wanted measures to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Husband and wife team councillors Peter and Liz Barrett put forward an amendment to the motion to put £38,000 funding in place to support anti-social behaviour. The allocation would come from PKC’s reserves rather than being done through a further rent increase.
SNP councillor Tom McEwan said he “wholeheartedly supported” measures to tackle anti-social behaviour benefiting residents “without hitting them in the pocket”. He suggested it become part of the core baseline of what PKC offered its tenants.
SNP councillor Grant Laing said he had “recurring” anti-social behaviour issues in his ward and cited one couple where it was “ruining their lives”.
Convener Bob Brawn agreed to incorporate the amendment into his motion as did fellow Conservative councillor Chris Ahern who seconded the motion.
Cllr Brawn said rent-setting was one of the “most important” roles of the committee. He praised the rent “likely to be the fourth lowest” in Scotland.
Concern was raised about whether every tenant would cope with a three per cent rent increase. Depute director of communities Clare Mailer told councillors they were “absolutely seeing that tenants were feeling the pressures of fuel costs and the impact of the pandemic”.
She said PKC had also seen an increase in tenants in rent arrears.
In moving the report, Cllr Brawn pointed to funds in place to help those who might struggle financially and urged anyone who is to get in touch with their locality office.
He said: “They won’t get laughed at or shouted at. They are there to help.”
The amended motion was unanimously approved.
After the meeting Cllr Peter Barrett said: “Our tenants want action. Anti-social behaviour has worsened during COVID. People are spending more time at home and suffering greater and more prolonged issues of noise, disturbance and clash of lifestyles. It is right that we act effectively in response and particularly in these difficult times. We must recognise that an enhanced response is required, which goes beyond business as usual and tackles the misery that anti-social behaviour causes.”
He added: “It will help the council tackle the scourge of anti-social behaviour and make Perth and Kinross a safer, more secure and better place to live.”
Cllr Liz Barrett said: “We know that anti-social behaviour is a huge issue for residents, whether it is noise from inside and outside homes, graffiti, rubbish in gardens and common areas, issues with pets, or verbal abuse. We need to address it.”
