(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 may remain in the meeting and take part fully in discussion and voting unless the interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an interest which the Member feels would call into question their compliance with the wider principles set out in the Code of Conduct.  Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(2)       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. 

(3)       Members are also welcome to disclose interests which are not disclosable pecuniary interests but which they consider should be made in the interest of clarity.

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

In the interest of transparency Councillors Dodds and Peart disclosed an interest in the item relating to Bonfire Planning 2018 (Minute 52) as Members of the West Yorkshire Fire Authority.

ACTION: City Solicitor

(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 Director 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 - 01274 434579)

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

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

To hear questions from electors within the District on any matter this is the responsibility of the Committee. 

Questions must be received in writing by the City Solicitor in Room 112, City Hall, Bradford, BD1 1HY, by mid-day on Tuesday 26 February 2019.

(Yusuf Patel - 01274 434579)

There were no questions submitted by the public.

The Area Coordinator will submit a report (Document “AA”) which covers the Bradford South Youth Summit that explored issues related to young people and social mobility.  This work was led by the Young Ambassadors group which supports the work of the Bradford Opportunity Area Fund.

Recommended –

(1)       That the Area Committee notes the priorities from the Young Ambassadors on page 6 of the report and works with the Youth Service to design engagement with young people that enables a dialogue and empowers young people to act.

(2)       That Councillors consider which priorities identified by young   people they can take action on and involve the right key partners   to effect change.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Corporate

(Mena Monnan - 01274 431155)

The Area Coordinator submitted a report (Document “AA”) which covered the Bradford South Youth Summit that explored issues relating to young people and social mobility.  This work was led by the Young Ambassadors group which supported the work of the Bradford Opportunity Area Fund.

The Chair welcomed the young people that were in attendance to talk about the Youth Summit and to share their life experiences with the Area Committee.  A number of young people spoke about their experiences and they made the following comments:

A young person stated that she was brought up in Holmewood and that she was the first member of her family to attend University, adding that despite all the barriers and the negative comments from family and friends particular regarding the financial debt she would accrue, attending University had had a profound impact on her life, which would enable her to reach her ambition of becoming a primary school teacher.  That through youth volunteering she had met a lot of young people and she was happy to encourage others to follow their dreams and aspirations.

A young person stated the he had experienced a lot of difficulties at secondary school, with his parents separating when he was very young.  That working with the Youth Service had helped him to address his issues and now he was attending College, and this would enable him to realise his dreams of becoming a television actor.

A young person stated that he had faced a number of problems in school which had resulted in him attending a pupil referral unit; however the youth service had helped him to turn his life around and he was no back in education.

During the discussion Members welcomed the candid manner in which the young people had expressed themselves and that their inspiring stories would encourage other young people that they could also turnover a new leaf and realise their potential, and this was partly due to the excellent work undertaken by the Youth Service.

A Member stated that much work could be done by the University to encourage more applications from young people who did not necessarily pursue the traditional University route.

The Committee also analysed the outcomes from the Bradford South Youth Summit held in October 2018, and the young people in attendance gave an overview of the recommendations emanating from the Summit around personal connections; right skills and qualifications, emotional support and financial and practical support, the recommendations were detailed in the report and they asked Members of the Area Committee how they could assist them in realising the recommendations.

During a lengthy discussion Members made a series of recommendations in response to the Youth Summit recommendations and it was therefore:

Resolved –

(1)       That the report recommendations from the Young Ambassadors          set out in Document “AA” be welcomed and that this Committee works with the Youth Service to have a dialogue that empowers    young people to act.

(2)       That in light of the recommendations from the Young  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “AB”) which provides members with the partnership response and community   engagement activity which supported the operational approach to the planning in the run up to and during the bonfire period 2018.

Recommended –

Members are asked to note the report and consider how the Area Committee can work with the partners to improve community safety outcomes in the planning to the bonfire period 2019.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Area: Corporate

(Rebecca Trueman - 01274 431364)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “AB”) which provided members with the partnership response and community   engagement activity which supported the operational approach to the planning in the run up to and during the bonfire period 2018.

Officers stated that some excellent partnership working, and the work of public volunteers had made a huge difference, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of incidents during the bonfire period.

During the discussion a Member stated that in Great Horton Ward, community calmers had ensured that a pub did not experience issues it had had in previous years, adding that although attack on fire fighters was still occurring the number of incidents had declined considerably. 

Officers acknowledged that the improvements were partly due to excellent partnership working between Councillors, community groups and the local mosques,  and that a model had emerged which could be built on in future years.

A Member expressed concern at the number of fireworks being sold from a large number of retails outlets with no licence necessarily required, suggesting that fireworks should only be sold from licenced premises.  In response it was pointed out that social media was also playing a part in the sale of fireworks, and there was an added issue around the condition of some of these fireworks, which the Police was acting on.

Officers also highlighted that a particular issue they were experiencing was around the fly tipping of large volumes of bulky items to be burnt on bonfire night, and the enforcement team was looking into this issue.

There was a discussion about the use of community calmers and their effectiveness, and it was suggested that Ward Councillors could approach their respective ward officers on their appropriateness and it was therefore:

Resolved –

That the report be welcomed and that Ward Councillors approach their respective ward officers if they want to develop a community calmers programme in their wards for Bonfire Night 2019, as part of their 2019-20 Ward Planning process.

ACTION:       Strategic Director Place

The Interim Strategic Director Children’s Services will submit a report (Document “AC”) which , this report presents the proposal for consultation for the use of buildings within the Prevention and Early Help Service.

This follows the creation of a new 0-19 years Prevention and Early Help Service that was informed by a public consultation carried out between November 2017 and February 2018; and a decision by Council Executive Committee of the 3rd of April 2018 that the use of buildings be reviewed to look for ways in which the two year additional funding for staffing could be sustained through different use of buildings assets.

Recommended –

Bradford South Area Committee are asked to note the details of this report and make comment.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Area:             Children’s Services

(Jenny Cryer - 01274 432438)

The Interim Strategic Director Children’s Services submitted a report (Document “AC”) which presented proposals for consultation for the use of buildings within the Prevention and Early Help Service.

This follows the creation of a new 0-19 years Prevention and Early Help Service that was informed by a public consultation carried out between November 2017 and February 2018; and a decision by Executive of the 3rd of April 2018 that the use of buildings be reviewed to look for ways in which the two year additional funding for staffing could be sustained through different use of buildings assets.

During the discussion a Member stated that he would be keen to get together with officers to explore the proposals for Wyke Ward, as the ward was out on the outer perimeter of Bradford South, and it was therefore important that any provision was in the right location and fit for purpose.

It was pointed that although there was a need to rationalise buildings, the aim of these proposals was not to reduce services but to ensure they were cost effective.

In relation to a question regarding the provision in Queensbury ward, it was pointed out that services were delivered at Victoria Hall on a needs lead basis.

A Member stressed that within Great Horton ward access was an issue for many having to travel to Lidget Green Primary, which was not a central location for many of the residents and therefore location and access should be looked at. 

In response to a question regarding consultation it was pointed out that consultation had been undertaken via social media, children’s centres and through questionnaires.

In relation to the family hub at Reevy Hill, it was pointed out that Reevy Hill would become a multi agency hub with a number of services provided from there.

The Chair suggested that officers link up with the ward officers and Councillors, with a view to getting a more coordinated approach in the respective wards and it was therefore:

Resolved –

That the report and the progress being made in the Prevention and Early Help Service be welcomed, and that Members comments and suggestions be taken into consideration as the proposals on the use of buildings are developed.

ACTION: Interim Strategic Director Children’s Services

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “AD”) which asks Members to consider the Stronger Communities Strategy and Delivery Plan, produced by the Bradford Stronger Communities Partnership.

Recommended –

Bradford South Area Committee is asked to note the work carried out in the development of the Bradford Stronger Communities Strategy and Delivery Plan by the Stronger Communities Partnership.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Area: Corporate

(Zahra Niazi - 01274 436082)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “AD”) which asked Members to consider the Stronger Communities Strategy and Delivery Plan, produced by the Bradford Stronger Communities Partnership. The Project Coordinator gave a summary of the Strategy and Delivery Plan which was detailed in the report.

During the discussion the Chair pointed out that working in conjunction with schools can be tricky because if schools did not buy into the process, then the desired outcomes would not be achievable.  In addition he questioned the wisdom of having the Strategy as the outcomes were not clear.  In response it was stated that as part of the initial consultation over 630 people had attended the three events and accompanying workshops, which in turn informed the Strategy and Delivery Plan.

A Member stated that there was no reference in the report regarding the Roma community who were a crucial part of any community strategy and realising community cohesion. 

A number of Members questioned how the Strategy and Delivery Plan impacted specifically on Bradford South and that the report failed to provide specific information pertaining to Bradford South.  In addition the report lacked information regarding integration and what the real issues were.

The Chair suggested that in the context of the issues raised by Members of the Committee, officers should consult further with Ward Councillors with a view to understanding how the Strategy and Delivery Plan can be implemented in Bradford South and it was therefore:

Resolved –

That further consultation be undertaken with Ward Councillors on how the Stronger Communities Strategy and Delivery Plan can be delivered successfully in the Bradford South area.

ACTION: Strategic Director Place

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “AE”) which outlines the recommendations of the Bradford South Area Committee Grants Advisory Group for the allocation of Community Buildings Grants 2019-2021.

Recommended –

That Bradford South Area Committee approves the Community Buildings Grants outlined in 3.1 to Document “AE”.

Overview and Scrutiny Area: Corporate

(Mahmood Mohammed - 01274 437399)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “AE”) which outlined the recommendations of the Bradford South Area Committee Grants Advisory Group for the allocation of Community Buildings Grants 2019-2021.

Members welcomed the additional resources that had been made available to the Bradford South area and it was:

Resolved –

That the Community Buildings Grants outlined in 3.1 to Document “AE” be approved.

ACTION: Strategic Director Place