Councillor Dodds disclosed, in the interest of transparency, and in relation to Minute 23, that her son worked as a Council Warden and that she was a member of the Friends of Brackenhill Park Group.

Councillor Tait disclosed, in the interest of transparency, that she was a member of the Friends of Horton Park Group (Minute 23)

Councillor L Cromie disclosed, in the interest of transparency, that she was a Member of the Friends of Queensbury Cemetery Group (Minute 23)

ACTION: City Solicitor

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meetings held on 29 June and 13 July 2017 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Yusuf Patel – 01274 434579)

Resolved -

That the minutes of the meetings held on 29 June and 13 July 2017 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(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 19 September.

(Yusuf Patel - 01274 434579)

There were no questions submitted by the public.

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “J”) which sets out the annual report for the devolved Parks & Green Spaces Service, reviews activity during thepast year and also considers the significant issues that will have an effect over the coming 12 months with optionswhere available for future service delivery, investment and savings.

Recommended –

That Bradford South Area Committee:

(1)       Note the content of this report.

(2)       Consider  option 2 as detailed in 9.1.1 to Document “J” with        regard to permanently closing the gates to stop vehicle access        into the car park of Horton Bank Country Park.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Area: Environment and Waste Management

            (Ian Wood – 01274 432648)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “J”) which set out the annual report for the devolved Parks & Green Spaces Service, reviewed activity during thepast year and also outlined the significant issues that would have an effect over the coming 12 months with optionswhere available for future service delivery, investment and savings.

The report revealed that the work of the Parks and Green Spaces Service (PGS) included woodland management; tree works; play area maintenance and development and maintenance of the district’s parks and other green spaces.

The Operational Depot Review of 2017 was discussed and new works planned for the coming year were reported.

The report included issues around the use of Horton Bank Country Park.  It was explained this was a well used facility by members of the local community and visitors from outside of the District, however, problems were being experienced with the car park being subject to numerous cases of fly-tipping and anti social behaviour.  The budget pressures arising from the subsequent clean up costs and the unsightly mess greeting visitors upon arrival at the park were discussed.

Options to address the issues at the park were presented and included:-

·         Do nothing and continue to clean up the tipping until the budgets were exhausted.

·         Permanently lock the gates for vehicular access leaving pedestrian access only.

·         Open and secure the access gates on a daily basis.

·         Install CCTV

Members were advised that currently there were no resources or budget available to carry out the latter two options.  It was explained that locking the gates for vehicular access was currently the preferred option but that on going discussions were required to confirm the optimum action to alleviate the issues being faced.  The use of bollards was suggested to retain access but restrict vehicles to the park.  It was explained that the site had initially been supplied by Yorkshire Water but had now been transferred to the Council so no third party needed to be consulted.

The consultation undertaken with Ward Councillors and residents about the options was queried.  In response it was explained that options had been suggested following a number of complaints about the site although consultation had not yet commenced.  A recent poll had been undertaken by the local press and had resulted in a 75/25 split in favour of restricting vehicular access.  Consultation with Ward Members would now be conducted.

A Ward Member reported consultation she had undertaken with Ward colleagues and that it was felt that no option other than to restrict access could be imagined.  Whilst not wishing to upset visitors to the park it was felt that the area would become spoilt if the tipping was allowed to continue.

A Member expressed his disappointment that the option of CCTV had been suggested but that no costs or details of where the budget could be obtained were included in Document “J”.  The report had revealed an indicative underspend in the budget in the region of £33,000 and it was questioned if  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

The Bradford South Area Coordinator will submit a report (Document “I”) which gives an update of some of the work undertaken by the Bradford South Area Neighbourhood Policing Team and an overview of the Bradford South Constituency Performance data.

Recommended  -

(1)       That Bradford South Area Committee notes the work undertaken by the Bradford South Neighbourhood Policing Team from April 2017 to July 2017 that contributed to addressing priorities within the ward plans for the Bradford South Area.

(2)       That the Bradford South Area Committee notes the positive partnership working that has been established with Elected Members, Council Officers, community organisations, volunteers and residents within the Bradford South Area.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Corporate

                                                                        (Mick Charlton – 01274 431155)

A representative of the Neighbourhood Policing Team for Bradford South and the Chief Inspector for the area addressed the meeting and reported that they wished to redress any perceptions that crime was increasing. They presented analysis of crime data which revealed that significant reductions in crime had been seen in the last three months. 

Members questioned the amount of police hours which had been utilised to secure convictions for three people, under the age of 18 years, who had recently received custodial sentences As the issue involved juveniles it was not possible to name those individuals but it was confirmed that those juveniles had been ring leaders for a significant amount of crime and were motivators of larger groups of offenders.  The number of arrests leading up to the sentencing of those individuals was reported and the number of police hours used was discussed.

A Member referring to the data in the report felt that this did not provide enough information about the crime and requested that statistics be compiled into more meaningful information in future reports.   Retail crime occurring in the Great Horton ward was raised and it was questioned why that was not included in the report.  Members requested that the location, volume and nature of crimes be clarified in future reports.  In response it was explained that the information in Document “I” was an annual summary and more detailed information was presented at the Ward Officer Team meetings which were held every 10 weeks.  The Police also offered to send specific information to Members on request.

The number of Police Community Support Officers supporting each Ward Area was discussed.  It was questioned why Wibsey and Royds shared that resource whilst other areas with lower crime figures had a dedicated team. It was explained that the Tong Ward had been a priority in the previous six months and the Police had endeavoured to provide the most effective personnel in each ward based on their expertise.  A new Ward Officer would be commencing duty in the Wibsey area within the next week.

The Chief Inspector explained that there were 600 new PCSOs in West Yorkshire and that 137 of them were being allocated to Bradford.  The Police force had made a significant investment in Neighbourhood policing but officers would need time to become focussed and trained.  The Ward Officer Team meetings would be advised of individual arrangements for each ward.

A Member referred to negative reporting of crime in the Wibsey Ward.  He stressed that himself and his ward colleagues had accompanied the Member of Parliament for Bradford South when she had been discussing a survey she had conducted with residents in the area.  The main topic of conversation during those discussions had been around the street scene and transport services and crime and not been mentioned by the shopkeepers approached.    He believed that a business watch being promoted would prevent a lot of crime and he was disappointed with the press and social media reports of crime in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

The Bradford South Area Coordinator will submit a report(Document “K”) which provides an update relating to Council Wardens, Environmental Enforcement and Street Cleansing in the Bradford South Area. It highlights a developing approach that delivers on the cleaner/greener agenda at an Area, Ward, neighbourhood and street level that is supported by residents, businesses and community organisations as part of the People Can – Make a Difference Campaign.

Recommended –

That the Bradford South Area Committee notes and welcomes the information in this report.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Environment and Waste Management

            (Damian Fisher/Louise Williams - 01274 437146 / 01274 431066)

The Bradford South Area Coordinator submitted a report(Document “K”) which provided an update relating to Council Wardens, Environmental Enforcement and Street Cleansing in the Bradford South Area. It highlighted a developing approach that delivered on the cleaner/greener agenda at an Area, Ward, neighbourhood and street level that was supported by residents, businesses and community organisations as part of the People Can – Make a Difference Campaign.

Appended to the report was information relating to the service requests and performance monitoring for street cleansing and environmental issues being dealt with by Council Wardens.

Concern had previously been expressed about the level of litter, particularly in the Great Horton area; however, the appendices to the report depicted a great improvement in the amount of litter.  This was attributed to an increased presence by the clean team who had worked closely with the enforcement officers  in the area.  The close working relationship between those teams had resulted in the significant improvements seen. 

Members questioned the definition of detritus and it was explained that this referred to the dirt around the gutters.  In previous reports the figure had been low, however, that figure had now increased as less sweeping had been done due to more work being done to obtain a behaviour change around litter.

The weight of the Big Belly Bins and how those receptacles were emptied was questioned.  It was explained that the waste was compacted; a signal was transmitted when the bin was full and doors were opened and the rubbish removed.   The availability of those bins was suggested for other areas and it was explained that the volume of rubbish was analysed in areas to decide if they were suitable for the ‘Big Belly’ type receptacles.  A Member suggested that bins located on Broadstone Way in Holmewood were located inappropriately.  It was suggested that the bins should be located along the route which residents took to their homes from the takeaway restaurants in that area rather than outside of the businesses.

The availability of cashless parking in the Bradford South area was questioned and Members were assured that, although there was little payable parking in the Bradford South area, the ability to pay via the meters was still available. 

The difficulties in catching dog owners whose pets were fouling the area were discussed.  It was explained that Wardens had patrolled the area, however, pet owners often moved on to another patch when they witnessed the wardens presence.  Wardens were being asked to talk to residents about the issues to deter that behaviour.   

An increase in the number of complaints in the Great Horton Ward reported in Document “K” was questioned and it was explained that this was likely because of the increased presence of Council Wardens and residents being encouraged to report issues.

The scope of the Crime Protection Notices and Community Protection Warnings reported in Document K  was questioned.  It was explained that a presentation was being given to the Planning Panels and could be shared with Bradford  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.