The following declarations of interest were received in the interest of clarity:

(i)         Councillor Dodds declared an interest in the item relating to Cleaner          and Greener Street (Minute 52) as her son was employed as a Council     Warden. 

(ii)        Councillor Sharpe declared an interest in the item relating to Child             Sexual Exploitation (Minute 50) as she was employed by an             organisation, who dealt with tackling issues around CSE.

ACTION:       City Solicitor

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2016  be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Yusuf Patel – 01274 434579)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2016 be signed as a correct record.

(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 17 January 2017.

(Yusuf Patel - 01274 434579)

There were no questions submitted by the public. 

The Strategic Director Children’s Services will submit a report (Document “AC”) which provides an update to the report presented to this  Area Committee in 2016 regarding the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE). It sets out the arrangements that have been put in place, and which continue to develop, to safeguard children from CSE.

Recommended –

(1)       The Bradford South Area Committee is invited to note the            contents of this report.

(2)       The South  Area Committee is invited to consider ways in which           CSE can be tackled at a local level.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Children’s Services

The Strategic Director Children’s Services submitted a report (Document “AC”) which provided an update to the report presented to the Area Committee in 2016, regarding the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE). It set out the arrangements that had  been put in place, and which continue to develop, to safeguard children from CSE.

The Assistant Director Performance, Commissioning and Partnerships,  an intelligence officer from the Safeguarding Hub, a Police Superintendent and a Youth Service Practitioner were present at the meeting to give an overview of the work done and to respond to Members’ questions.

The Assistant Director stated that information pertaining to CSE in the district had been referred to the Independent Inquiry into CSE.  The report set out the local context as well as the situation within the Bradford South area.  She highlighted that specific training had been undertaken with taxi drivers and it was the intention to roll this out to the PTS drivers and METRO.  A play aimed at explaining the issue to secondary aged pupils continued to highlight and raise awareness of CSE.  A further play aimed at primary aged children was also in the process of being rolled out.  The work of the multi agency hub was alluded and the role it played in tackling CSE.  The Assistant Director also drew attention to the increase in the number of reported cases, which could be put down to the increase confidence in reporting.  In relation to the Bradford South area, up to the 27 October 2016, 76 young people had been identified as at risk of CSE, including 11 considered to be at high risk.  In addition the Ward with the highest number of at risk children was Wyke, with Tong, Wibsey and Royds close behind.

The Youth Service Practitioner for the Bradford South area was present and stated that working in partnership with all, in particular young people was key in addressing the issue and encourage peers to help each other identify and to be confident to report concerns around CSE to a responsible adult.  In addition vulnerability was a particular area of focus and attention, and work was on going to try and engage young people with the communities they live in.

A Superintendent from West Yorkshire Police stated that processes in relation to tackling CSE had been reviewed by the multi agency hub and they were in the process of being implemented.  He stressed that the increase in the number of reported cases had to be seen as a positive step.

During the discussion Members asked a number of question, the questions together with the responses are detailed below:

That in acknowledging the increase in the number of referrals to the hub, the report failed to quantify or give an explanation behind the numbers.  In addition it failed to give a comparison in terms of the current number of live cases and the corresponding picture from a year ago.  In response the intelligence officer to the Hub explained that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “AD”) which  details the Youth and Community Chest Grants awarded from applications received prior to the 31 October 2016 deadline.

Recommended –

(1)       That the wide range of applications from groups, organisations             and individuals across Bradford South are noted and welcomed.

(2)       That the Bradford South Area Co-ordinator’s Office continue to             ensure the effective allocation of the Youth and Community Chest          budget by providing appropriate advice and support to applicants.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Corporate

                                                                        (Mick Charlton- 01274 431155)    

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “AD”) which  detailed the Youth and Community Chest Grants awarded from applications received prior to the 31 October 2016 deadline.

Resolved –

(1)       That the wide range of applications from groups, organisations             and individuals across Bradford South be noted and welcomed.

(2)       That the Bradford South Area Co-ordinator’s Office continue to             ensure the effective allocation of the Youth and Community Chest          budget by providing appropriate advice and support to applicants.

ACTION:       Bradford South Area Coordinator

The Bradford South Area Coordinator will submit a report (Document “AE”) which provides an update on progress since June 2016.

Recommended –

Bradford South Area Committee notes and welcomes the approach

outlined in this report and the progress made since June 2016. 

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Corporate

                                                                        (Mick Charlton - 01274 431155)

The Bradford South Area Coordinator submitted a report (Document “AE”) which provided an update on progress since June 2016.

The Ward Officer for the Great Horton, Scholemoor and Lidget Green area,

together with the Area Coordinator and Environment Enforcement Manager

gave details of the issues affecting the Great Horton area and the initiative to

tidy up the area.

It was explained that after a concerted effort to clean up the area, a

demonstrable difference was visible thanks to all the agencies involved in the

clean up.  Leaflets regarding the initiative as well as before and after photos

showing the litter and rubbish that had been removed from the area were

circulated for information.

A Member of the Committee and Ward Councillor for the area echoed the

sentiments expressed by the Ward Officer and the difference it had made to

cleanliness of the area, and she hoped that the work would continue and that

further work is done with businesses, in relation to littering outside of their

premises.

Work done to tackle flyposting and fly tipping was also alluded to.  It was explained that more work had to be done with landlords about disposal of bulky items. In addition CCTV cameras were being successfully used to tackle fly tipping hotspots.

A Member stated that in dealing with landlords in an area where there was transient population, this initiative had yielded excellent results, however only a Landlord Registration Scheme would resolve some of the more deep seated problems.

A Member suggested that the success of the initiative should be promoted through the T&A and via community radio.

Resolved –

(1)       That the approach outlined in Document “AE” and the progress made since June 2016 be noted and welcomed.

(2)       That the Great Horton Ward Officer, officers in the Area office, the Council’s Environmental Enforcement Team, Street Cleansing Operatives, Council’s Wardens and other agencies including local people be commended for their hard work in improving the cleanliness of the Great Horton Ward.

ACTION: Bradford South Area Coordinator