City of York Council's executive will look at how to improve the way the council tackles domestic noise nuisance at their meeting on Tuesday, 2 September.

Councillors will review options to improve the existing procedures for tackling domestic noise, which currently see complaints involving council tenants and the general public being treated in different ways.

Domestic noise nuisance is the most common type of anti-social behaviour experienced by council tenants, with over 75 per cent nuisance reports relating to excessive noise.

Most noise complaints are initially dealt with by the council's environmental protection unit, with complaints involving council tenants passed to the housing team. The three options for improving the way the council handles noise nuisance in council properties are: 1. Retaining the existing arrangements 2. Creating a clear and accountable protocol between the environmental protection unit and the housing team, with more intervention by the environmental protection unit 3. Forming a specialist noise abatement team within the environmental protection unit, allowing them to take the lead in dealing with all noise nuisance complaints

Mike Southcombe, acting manager of the environmental protection unit, said "Domestic noise nuisance is one of the most common types of anti social behaviour. The aim of the new proposals is to ensure that we can deal with all noise complaints effectively and efficiently."

The review of current procedures follows criticism by the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) in March 2003. The LGO found maladministration causing injustice by the council against a couple who complained about the council's failure to tackle the nuisance of a neighbouring council tenant.