ANTISOCIAL NOISE NUISANCE UPDATE

REHIS ANNUAL CONFERENCE

17 November 2005

AIMS Provide background to why ASBA Noise

provisions introduced Provide feedback of implementation and operation

of ASBA noise procedures in Scotland and Belfast Discuss way forward- evaluation, sharing good

practice, training and funding

Neighbour Noise

“ A bad neighbour is as great a misfortune as a good one is a great blessing”

(Source -Hessiod (8th c. BC), Greek poet) “Reasonableness –balance between

orderliness and tolerance as sound annoyance is subjective” (source- GLA)

Introduction Why new legislation? The Scottish Executive’s Coalition’s Partnership

Agreement in 2003 Give local authorities additional powers to deal with noise

nuisance, to complement EPA and CGA Tackle the problems of antisocial noise in domestic

dwellings up to 24 hours per day Power – complementary, enabling and flexible not

compulsory, based on objective measurement

Noise Provisions(1) Enabling and flexible discretion for local authorities to

adopt ASB Noise service for what periods of day and week they wish, depending on resource and needs assessment

Complement existing noise nuisance enforcement legislation

Alternative quick resolution –institute Fixed Penalty Notice system for breach of permitted noise levels within domestic dwellings, if Warning Notice deterrent ignored.

Powers to Local Authority “authorised” officers and police officers

Noise Provisions(2)-Funding Scottish Executive to fund Local Authority ASB

Noise Service teams-staffing, equipment and training needs-by annual grant payment scheme.

Funding of £2.88m secured for 2005, £2.3m for 2006 and £3.3m for 2007

Bids from 22 LAs received by deadline of 22.10.04, totalling £4m for 2005. To date only £1m paid out, reflecting delays in implementation

Noise Provisions(3)-Levels

ASB Noise offence based on exceeding an objective measured sound level,

determined by order from SE Ministers, who wished 24 hour coverage

Based on research conducted by Dr. Bernadette McKell, Hamilton & McGregor

Noise Levels and Periods The time periods and corresponding permitted noise levels

are defined as : Daytime- 07.00-19.00 LAeq 41dB Evening- 19.00-23.00 LAeq 37dB Night-time 23.00-07.00 LAeq 31dB Noise levels to be measured by LA “authorised” officers

on approved equipment, as defined in Regulations, to implement the ASBA noise provisions.

ASBA Noise References ASBA Noise Guidance : http://www.antisocialbehaviour.com/asb/files/Guidance%2

0on%20Noise%20Nuisance.pdf

ASBA Noise Regulations : http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/

ssi2005/20050043.htm Noise Level Feasibility Research Report :

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/ERADEN/EcolAU/00017824/nir_rpt.pdf

Training Needs The Institute of Acoustics (IOA) and REHIS accredited new internal noise

measurement training courses ready for February 2005 implementation Focussed (update) 1 day short course for those with IOA’s Certificate of

Competence in Environmental Noise Measurement More complete 4 day course utilising existing IOA’s syllabi, for those

requiring more training To date some 130 candidates have received training at either Strathclyde

University or Bell College and 95% passed the required exams. IOA are monitoring results and will modify the training accordingly There will be a further T/C in February 2006, and then as required/six monthly

Noise and Health

“Uninterrupted sleep is known to be a prerequisite for good physiological and mental functioning of healthy persons”

“Sleep disturbance is considered to be a major environmental noise effect. It is estimated that 80-90% of reported cases of sleep disturbances in noisy environments are for reasons other than noise originating outdoors”

Source : WHO- Berglund, Lindvall & Schwela 1999

LAs who have implementedLocal Authority Resolution Received Effective Date Period of Resolution

Aberdeen 19-Jul-05 20-Jun-05 7 days / 09:00 - 04:00

Angus 18-May-05 01-Jul-05Mon-Fri 0:00-02:00 & 20:00-24:00 Sat-Sun 0:00-3:00 & 20:00-24:00****

Argyll & Bute 26-Sep-05 07-Nov-05 up to 7 days / up to 24 hrsClackmannanshire

Dumfries & Galloway 01-Mar-05 01-Apr-05

Thurs, Fri & Sat night 19:00 to 07:00 following morning Sun 17:00-Mon 07:00

East Ayrshire 01-Aug-05 01-Sep-05

Mon-Thurs 09:00-17:00 Fri 9:00 -16:00 Thurs-Sun night 20:00 to 04:00 following morning***

East Lothian 28-Feb-05 01-Apr-05Mon-Sun 0:00-04:00 Mon-Fri 08:00-24:00 Sat-Sun 06:00-24:00*

East Renfrewshire 22-Jun-05 22-Aug-05 Mon-Sun 09:00 - 02:00

Edinburgh 28-Feb-05 01-Apr-05Mon-Sun 0:00-04:00 Mon-Fri 08:00-24:00 Sat-Sun 06:00-24:00*

Falkirk 29-Jun-05 01-Aug-05 7 days / 24 hoursGlasgow 29-Mar-05 04-May-05 up to 7 days / up to 24 hrs Inverclyde 15-Jun-05 01-Oct-05 7 days / 24 hrs per dayMidlothian 26-Sep-05 01-Nov-05

North Ayrshire 24-May-05 01-Jul-05

Mon-Thur 9:00-16:45 Fri 9:00-16:30 Thurs-Sun 20:00-24:00 Thurs-Mon 00:00-04:00***

North Lanarkshire 24-Mar-05 02-May-05 7 days / 19:00 - 07:00Orkney IslesPerth & Kinross

Renfrewshire 03-May-05 01-Jun-05Mon-Fri 8:45-16:45 Fri 20:00-Sat 02:00 Sat 20:00-Sun 02:00**

South Ayrshire 08-Jul-05 02-Aug-05

Mon-Thur 8:45-16:45 Fri 8:45-16:00 Thu-Sun 20:00-24:00 Thur-Sun 0:00-04:00***

South Lanarkshire 04-May-05 06-Jun-05 7 days / 24 hrs per day

West Dunbartonshire 11-Oct-05 21-Nov-05Thurs-Sun night 20:00 to 03:00 following morning

West Lothian 08-Jul-05 08-Aug-05 7 days / 19:00 - 04:00

LAs action 1/4/05-30/09/05Local Authority Complaints Warning Notices Fixed Penalties Complaints Warning Notices Fixed Penalties

Aberdeen 211 26 1 504 70 8

Angus 0 0 0 6 0 0

Argyll & Bute 0 0 0 0 0 0

Clackmannanshire 0 0 0 0 0 0

Dumfries & Gall 255 63 0 72 27 4

East Ayrshire 0 0 0 18 0 0

East Lothian 43 1 0 88

East Renfrewshire 0 0 0 0 0 0

Edinburgh 2298 156 4 2095 205 10

Falkirk 0 0 0 0 0 0

Glasgow 323 12 0 1277 116 6

Inverclyde 0 0 0 0 0 0

Midlothian 0 0 0 0 0 0

North Ayrshire 0 0 0 55 0 0

North Lanarkshire 78 1 0 233 9 0

Orkney Isles 0 0 0 0 0 0

Perth & Kinross 0 0 0 0 0 0

Renfrewshire 0 0 0 0 0 0

South Ayrshire 0 0 0 46 0 0

South Lanarkshire 0 0 0 87 2 0

West Dunbarton 0 0 0 0 0 0

West Lothian 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS = 3208 259 5 4481 429 28

Belfast City Council Statistics 2000 – 2001 01 – 02 02 – 03 03 – 04 04 – 05 Complaints Daytime 1121 1161 992 1265 1445 Night-Time 1344 2500 2298 3043 3520 Total 2465 3661 3290 4308 4965 Noise Act 1996 Verbal Warning 103 267 374 512 574 Warning Notice 165 340 160 193 247 Fixed Penalty 7 13 12 10 16 PC&LG(NI) Order 1978 Article 38 (general) 24 39 7 19 28 Article 38 (alarm) - - - 24 23 Article 40 8 7 6 8 3 Overall Prosecution 3 8 5 4 8

REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE Although 18 LAs from the 22 who submitted resolutions have

implemented their service, only 7 have investigated a substantial volume of complaints to date

Edinburgh have investigated over 5000 complaints in first 6 months, reflecting benefit of awareness campaign and fully resourced team.

Independent research showed only 18% of public knew to phone LAs with noise complaint

90% of complaints nationally resolved by verbal warning, 9% by Warning Notice, with only 0.2% requiring a FPN, confirming the deterrent works.

Issues Recruitment – lack of EHOs and technical officers;

therefore no prerequisite required other than completed set training and exams

Funding – lack of guarantee; therefore SE set 2 year bid process. Limited budget; therefore may be rationalisation. Existing funding not being utilised fully, or being used for strictly ASBA Noise work, preventing optimum budgeting.

Levels – require more measurements to evaluate if correct Training –IOA and REHIS monitoring efficiency

Evaluation Executive have reimplemented the ASBA Noise

Implementation Advisory Group to review progress Executive to commission consultant to undertake formal

review of 1st year and Guidance in January 2006 Executive to publish Scottish Noise Management Guide,

including revised ASBA Noise Guidance in April Executive have promoted new Noise PI, dividing domestic

and non-domestic noise, to include ASBA Noise to commence from April 2006.

Sharing Good Practice The Executive implemented an ASB Practitioners’

Adviceline for all aspects of ASBA including noise- 0800 850 500

Also website –www.antisocialbehaviourscotland.com

Circulated LA contact list to allow all to discuss issues and share good practice

Reimplemented NIAG to discuss ongoing issues

CONCLUSIONS A positive start especially from the larger LAs FPN deterrent works Teething problems with training and objective

measurements being reviewed Legal precedents from Edinburgh’s FPNs and seizure will

aid guidance and procedures Guarantee of secured funding a perennial issue, requiring

co-operation from all LAs to enable Executive to maximise grant payments