Council - 17 October 2017

MOTION – INVESTING IN BRADFORD’S COMMUNITIES

Resolved –

Council notes:

·         Capital investment across the district that has run to millions of pounds over many years including Shipley and Keighley Library, Shipley pool, Cliffe Castle, Keighley Market and Saltaire public realm works, with more investment in the pipeline including road improvements in Keighley (Hard Ings & North Street)

Planned multi-million pound

·         investment in two new swimming pools which will complement existing refurbished provision in Eccleshill, Ilkley, Shipley and Keighley

·         Non-capital investment and support with partners across the whole district such as Tour de Yorkshire, Ilkley and Bradford Literature Festival, Shipley Street Arts Festival, Saltaire Festival,  Bingley Music Live, International Women’s Day, Pride Event

·         Our Investment Strategy which outlines our approach to making investments to generate revenue that in turn supports the funding of services for the whole district

·         A budget of £200k per annum for two years has been identified  to provide further support to community groups going through the Community Asset Transfer process, including legal and surveying staff

·         The unprecedented scale of government cuts, with the central government grant for Bradford Council being cut completely by 2020. This austerity is being felt across the public sector including the police, fire service and the NHS

Council:

(1)       Recognises the unprecedented pressure on the revenue budget caused by government cuts and believes that the proper use of capital investment is to support all the District’s communities.

(2)       Asks that the Finance Director continues with the implementation of appropriate support to community groups who have come forward to express an interest in taking on community facilities and services.

(3)       Asks the Finance Director to produce a report to the Executive investigating and identifying additional income and revenue generation opportunities for the Council that can be used to support communities and services across the district, such as the investment in the NCP car park that will see an income generation line, net of borrowing costs, of approximately £160,000 per annum for Bradford residents.

Note: In noting the receipt of the above recommendation the Leader requested that a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Executive

ACTION:        Strategic Director Corporate Services