No disclosures of interest were received in items under consideration.

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

The Strategic Director of Regeneration submitted Document “E” which considered a petition requesting the introduction of traffic calming on Kershaw Street, Bradford.

A member of the Committee who was also a ward member expressed concern about incidents of speeding on Kershaw Street that he had witnessed and asked whether temporary speed cameras could be used to reduce speeding.  The Principal Engineer, Traffic and Highways responded that he could pass the concerns on to the police however the street did not meet the criteria for Safety Cameras.  He added that the petitioners had been invited to the meeting but no one had attended. 

In response to questions from members the Committee was advised that the speed checks were undertaken during the day when the speeds would be at their highest and that there were 20 MPH signs at the entry points to the 20 MPH zone.

A further member of the Committee who was a ward member and lived in the area referred to speeding on Kershaw Street and expressed concerns about enforcement of the 20 MPH zone. 

Resolved –

(1)       That the issues raised in the petition be recognised.

(2)       That highways officers undertake an investigation into the volume and speed of traffic on Kershaw Street.

(3)       That the Bradford East Area Committee Chair bring the petition to the attention of the West Yorkshire Police with regard to enforcing the 20 MPH zone.

ACTION:         Strategic Director of Regeneration

The Strategic Director of Regeneration submitted Document “G” which advised the Area Committee of the requirement to replace street lighting columns that had been identified as non-compliant.  That was, they were in need of urgent replacement due to their age and condition based upon the findings of inspections carried out during reactive maintenance visits.

A member noted that a number of street lighting columns had corroded from the inside and asked whether the replacement columns could be protected from this, which the Senior Engineer, Street Lighting agreed to look into.  She added that the expected life of the replacement columns was 30 years.

A member requested that, in addition to the priority 1 and 2 schemes contained in Appendix 1 of Document “G” the Area Committee be provided with information on lighting columns that were likely to be replaced within the next 3 years.

Recommended –

(1)       That the Priority 1 street lighting column replacement schemes listed in Table A of Appendix 1 of Document “G” be implemented.

(2)       That future reports to the Area Committee include information on lighting columns that are likely to be replaced within the next 3 years.

ACTION:         Strategic Director of Regeneration

The Strategic Director of Regeneration submitted Document “H” which set out the work to put in place an up to date Local Plan for the Bradford district with specific focus on the Core Strategy and the Allocations Development Plan Document and the implications for the Bradford East area. 

The Planning and Transport Strategy Manager together with the Team Leader Local Development Plan introduced the report and explained that the process of putting a Local Plan in place was at the initial stage of identifying issues and options, which involved ensuring that the Council had as comprehensive information as possible.  The next stage would involve a technical and site by site analysis to reduce the sites to those that were more sustainable.  Consultation on these sites would take place next year.  The final stage would be to receive comments which would be the subject of examination by a planning inspector which could take place in  two years.

In response to a request from Ward Councillors, officers undertook to brief them on St Francis School / Playing Fields and the Greenwood Centre.

A member raised concerns that neighbours of land which had been identified as potential sites had not been made aware this.  Members were advised that the current list of potential development sites had been derived from a number of sources including those which had received planning permission, from officer survey work and from submissions by land owners and developers.  This had meant that there would be some sites where the owner did not know that it had been put forward.

It was reported that the Core Strategy was divided into areas and was not based on Wards.  The deliverable land supply in Bradford North East was very close to 4,400, however land supply in the area was limited.  The proposed housing target for Bradford North East had been subject to consultation and the planning inspector would report on it shortly.

In response to a member question it was confirmed that the housing target began from 2013, so that any sites of five houses or more build since that date would contribute to the overall number.

Members discussed the need to identify land for infrastructure purposes.  Reference was made to the planning inspector’s comments on the Canal Road corridor where it was noted that space was not being identified for new schools, expanding existing schools and there was a lack of green space within walking distance of home and school.  In response it was noted that the Government’s national priority had been to focus on housing.  However the Local Plan would assess the need for new infrastructure such as new schools to support the housing development and if necessary identify land for that infrastructure.  Members were advised that the new allocation plan would also consider provision of an appropriate network of green open spaces.  This would involve looking at existing green spaces and addressing the need for formal and informal green space and producing a strategy on green space.

It was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

The Strategic Director of Environment and Sport submitted the annual report for the Parks & Green Spaces Service (Document “I”) which reviewed activity during thepast year and also considered the significant issues that would have an effect over the coming 12 months with optionswhere appropriate for future service delivery.

In response to a question about income generation from user groups members were advised that that football, rugby and cricket clubs had always paid a substantial annual fee and that the fee for bowling clubs had historically been low by comparison.  Therefore the income generated form bowling clubs brought them in line with other sports clubs.

With reference to a member question it was reported that the Peel Park lodge would have a new tenant in the next three weeks.  Options were being pursued regarding holding car boot sales in the park.  Fees and charges for businesses such as boot camps and dog walking services had been reviewed and were being charged on a commercial basis.

It was noted that negotiations were taking place regarding the deferred green flag status of Peel Park and that the judges concerns had been addressed.

The Chair emphasised the need to investigate means of income generation from a commercial grower or social enterprise group to bringing the greenhouse facilities and café in Peel Park back into use.  It was noted that consultation had taken place on the use of the nursery but to date nothing had come to fruition.  A report back to the Area Committee was requested on the use of the Peel Park nursery and greenhouses.

In response to a question regarding sponsorship for flower beds, members were advised that sponsorship arrangements were in place and that consideration was being given to business sponsorship of a park or associating the name of a business with a event in the park.

A member referred to the toilet facilities in the Peel Park which were an issue.

Members were advised that work was being undertaken with Fresh Start regarding growing produce and selling it in the café to promote community engagement, although this was not a significant generator of income.

Resolved –

(1)       That the work of local volunteers in maintaining green spaces be recognised and officers be thanked for the support given to them.

(2)       That a further report be presented to the Area Committee on the work being undertaken to bring Peel Park nursery and café back into use.

(3)       That a further report be presented to the Area Committee on the use of section 106 funding.

ACTION:         Strategic Director Environment and Sport

The Strategic Director of Regeneration submitted Document “J” which sought to update Members on current casualty levels and trends in Bradford East and on the Road Safety education, training and publicity initiatives aimed at reducing these casualties.

The Chair expressed concern at the upward trend in the number of accidents involving pedal cyclists as the cycle super highway ran through the Bradford East constituency.  She asked whether it would be possible to identify where the accidents had occurred.  The Casualty Reduction and Road Safety Manager would request the West Yorkshire Project Officer to provide information on the location of pedal cycle casualties in the whole of Bradford East which should help to identify any hot spots.

A member raised concerns about drivers of high performance cars and motor cyclists and asked whether any work was being undertaken with schools to alert children to be aware of the specific problem of people who did not operate within the rules of the road.  The  Casualty Reduction and Road Safety Manager responded that presentations and practical pedestrian training was undertaken in schools.  She added that they tried to educate children for the unexpected.  However she emphasised that child casualties tended to be made up of children playing in local streets.

In response to a question about older children she advised members that training for year 7 children covered issues such as distractions when using the road.  She added that Year 9 children were starting to become passengers with older friends so presentations were aimed at this area and pre-driver presentations.

A discussion took place in which members expressed grave concerns regarding drivers of high performance cars, the anti social use of quad bikes and cars being driven without insurance in the Bradford East area.  It was noted that a multi agency approach was called for to address these issues.  Members requested that the Area Co-ordinator produce a resource, in consultation with the West Yorkshire Police on how to report dangerous driving to the police.

Resolved –

(1)       That the Bradford East Area Committee Chair meet West Yorkshire Police to discuss the use of high performance cars and anti social behaviour arising from the use of quad bikes with a view to addressing these issues in Bradford East.

(2)       That the Area Co-ordinator produce a resource for members of the Area Committee and local Councillors to disseminate through local networks on how to report instances of dangerous driving and cars being driven without insurance to the police.

ACTION:         Area Co-ordinator