CLUTTERING OF COMMON SPACES IN HDB ESTATES

CLUTTERING OF COMMON SPACES IN HDB ESTATES: 5.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for National Development in light of the recent unfortunate fire incident in Hougang, what steps, if any, will the Ministry take to ensure that the common spaces in HDB estates are not cluttered to endanger the lives of residents in the event of a fire.

The Minister of State for National Development (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the health and safety of residents in our housing estates is of prime concern to both HDB and the Town Councils. Over the years, HDB has worked closely with Town Councils to tackle the illegal obstruction of shop fronts caused by the excessive display of merchandise. Shopkeepers have been advised of good Outdoor Display Area (ODA) practices, such as keeping a clear corridor passageway of at least 1.5 metres from the front of the shop to ODA

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and not to leave goods or racks overnight outside the shop. Those who have flouted these guidelines have been warned and summoned. From January to September this year, more than 4,800 warnings and summons were issued by Town Councils for ODA infringements.

Given the recent unfortunate fire incident in Hougang, HDB, Singapore Civil Defence Force, National Environment Agency and Town Councils have jointly intensified enforcement against ODA infringements by HDB shop retailers. All Town Councils have been briefed on the ODA guidelines and urged to exercise more stringent control over the use of the ODA by the shop retailers as well as the use of common property by residents. To complement the Town Councils' stepped-up enforcement, regular joint inspections with the HDB, SCDF, NEA will be mounted.

Shop retailers are well aware of these ODA guidelines, as they have been reminded repeatedly, through information leaflets, briefings and personal advice by enforcement officers.

Uncooperative shop retailers who persist in endangering public safety by violating the ODA guidelines will be dealt with severely. Failure to comply with the guidelines may result in fines of up to $5,000 under the Town Councils Act. The goods and other paraphernalia causing obstructions will be removed, if need be. For the recalcitrant cases, HDB will terminate the tenancies of the shop tenants and shop owners will have their leases forfeited.

I would like to assure that shopkeepers will continue to be allowed to display their wares outside their shops in the common areas, but within the guidelines. I would like to urge them to cooperate to ensure the safety of their customers and the cleanliness of our public spaces.

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Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Sembawang): Sir, I would like to ask the Minister of State what checks and balances are in place, if any, by the Ministry of National Development to ensure that all Town Councils do their checks regularly and make sure that this is enforced. Is there any form of performance ranking or rating for each Town Council in terms of their performance in such areas, so that the public can have access to the information that the Town Council is serving them well?

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: Sir, in reply to the Member's question, I would like to assure the Member that HDB does perform regular inspections independently of Town Councils, and there are performance benchmarks that we have put in place on the various Town Councils.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak: Is the information in the public domain?

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: This is an issue of performance indicators on the Town Councils. So it is between MND, HDB and the Town Councils.

Mdm Cynthia Phua (Aljunied): Sir, I would like to ask the Minister of State whether the HDB has any record of cases where MND terminated the tenancy or leases in view of excessive obstruction?

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: Mr Speaker, in reply, the answer is yes, we have a handful of cases of termination of leases.