(Members Code of Conduct – Part 4A of the Constitution)

To receive disclosures of interests from members and co-opted members on matters to be considered at the meeting. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

Notes:

(1)       Members must consider their interests, and act according to the following:

(2)       Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)       Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them.  A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 

(4)       Officers must disclose interests in accordance with Council Standing Order 44.

In the interest of transparency, all Members who had been in attendance at the meeting on 16 March 2023 when the decision had been made to appraise the options for the potential disposal of the lodge and associated land at 40 Brow Gate, Baildon disclosed that interest.   They remained in the meeting during consideration and voting on the item.

(Access to Information Procedure Rules – Part 3B of the Constitution)

Reports and background papers for agenda items may be inspected by contacting the person shown after each agenda item.  Certain reports and background papers may be restricted. 

Any request to remove the restriction on a report or background paper should be made to the relevant Strategic or Assistant Director whose name is shown on the front page of the report. 

If that request is refused, there is a right of appeal to this meeting. 

Please contact the officer shown below in advance of the meeting if you wish to appeal. 

(Yusuf Patel – 07970 411923 / Jane Lythgow 07970 411623)

There were no appeals submitted by the public to review decisions to restrict documents. 

The Committee will be asked to consider recommendations, if any, to appoint Members to Sub-Committees of the Committee.

                        (Yusuf Patel – 07970 411923 / Jane Lythgow 07970 411623)

There were no changes proposed to Sub-Committee membership.

Previous reference: Minute 34 2022/23

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “K”) asks Members, acting as Trustees of Baildon War memorial Charity, to agree to the disposal of 40 Browgate Baildon namelyBaildon War Memorial.  This is consisting of both house and shrine and following an appraisal of options by Phil Barker, Assistant Director of Sport & Culture under delegated powers from the Director of Place.

Recommended –

That the outcome of the Options Appraisal be accepted and, as both charities align, and ensuring that the Baildon War Memorial be retained, the transfer of asset to Bradford Flower Homes Development Limited be agreed.

To be actioned by: Strategic Director, Place

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “K”) asked Members, acting as Trustees of Baildon War memorial Charity, to agree to the disposal of 40 Browgate Baildon namelyBaildon War Memorial.  That was consisting of both house and shrine and following an appraisal of options by Phil Barker, Assistant Director of Sport & Culture under delegated powers from the Director of Place.

The report revealed that the Bradford Flower Homes Development Limited Charity had indicated, via the Council’s Estates Service, a wish to take over the management responsibility and custodianship of Baildon War Memorial (consisting of both house and shrine) held on charitable trust by Baildon War Memorial Charity.

The objectives of the Bradford Flower Homes Development Charity’s objectives were reported and Members were assured that they were broadly in line with those of the Council as trustees of Baildon War Memorial Charity.

Members were reminded that at the meeting on 16 March 2023 it had been agreed that the Assistant Director, Sport & Culture in Place, was authorised to appraise the options for the potential disposal of the lodge and associated land at 40 Brow Gate, Baildon by transfer to Bradford Flower Homes Development and a detailed progress report was provided following that appraisal.

The committee, as trustees of the Baildon War Memorial Charity, was also reminded that it must act in the Charity’s best interest to carry out its purpose both currently and in the future.

It was explained that the property had been vacant since the last occupier had died and was now in a heavily dilapidated state of repair. To refurbish the property would require over £150,000 to return it to a habitable stage and comply with DDA legislation.

In response to questions, it was confirmed that the Council were not able to access funding to undertake the works required and there was no budget within the Council for that purpose.

Bradford Flower Fund were able to access their own capital and external funding, which the  Council could not, and had agreed to undertake all necessary works to bring the property back to its intended purpose of providing accommodation for appropriate people.

A Member clarified his belief that Baildon War Memorial Charity’s broadly aligned to Bradford Flower Fund. In response it was confirmed that the Charity Commission had confirmed that the majority of objectives of the two charities were aligned. 

The report revealed that it had been demonstrated that Baildon War Memorial Charity had no financial resources to repair the asset and that the only previous funding had been gained from a rental income, which had since ceased. 

It was questioned if investigations had been made to ascertain if other charities would be interested in acquiring the asset and it was confirmed that, when the building became vacant, checks had been made with charities with similar aims and objectives and no interest had been received. It was confirmed that Bradford Flower Fund had a number of sites throughout the country including a large residential property providing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.