(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, the Chair, Councillor Dodds declared that her son was a Council Warden (Minute 56).

ACTION: City Solicitor

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 October 2021 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Yusuf Patel – 01274 434579)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 October 2021 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 30 November 2021.

(Yusuf Patel - 01274 434579)

There were no questions submitted by the public.

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “L) 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     2021 to November 2021 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 & Scrutiny Area: Corporate

(Mick Charlton – 01274 431155)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “L) which gave 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.

The Inspector for the Bradford South Neighbourhood Policing Team was present at the meeting to give an overview and respond to Member’s questions.  During his presentation he highlighted the following:

·         That the Covid pandemic had had a profound impact in terms of behaviours, leading to an increase in the incidents of violence against a person and criminal damage.

·         That incidents of domestic violence had also seen an upturn during the pandemic, leading to a more coordinated approach on how we tackle this particular crime, with a focus on victim support and recording of historic abuse.

·         That there had been an increase in the recording of non-violent crime, particularly in the sphere of online abuse and malicious communications, as more time had been spent online, during the period of the lockdown.

·         That there was an effort to increase the number and visibility of PCSOs in each of the wards.

·         During the pandemic the force had struggled to maintain community contact, and there was now a concerted effort to rebuild community contacts.

·         Work within schools was an important area of work, in order to build on relationships and trust in the Police and deter young people from criminal behaviour, with a particular focus on knife crime.  In addition working with Council Wardens to address the issue of parking near schools.

·         Antisocial Behaviour was another key area of activity, particularly with regards to incidents on Broadstone Way, Holme Wood, with some good work done to address ongoing issues, however problems remained, with attacks on delivery drivers an area of concern.  Work was also ongoing in the Wibsey/Royds area to deal with incidents of burglary and theft.

The Domestic Violence Coordinator was also present at the meeting and stated that the Pandemic had seen increases in the incidents of domestic violence and the work of the Unit, with its increased funding from the Council, was very much focussed on supporting victims and campaigns to ensure people sought the right help.  Prevention and Early help was very much an area of focus, as well as working with perpetrators and intergenerational work,  to break the cycle of violence and change behaviours.  

Community based approaches were crucial in tackling the issue, and to this end creating more safe spots was another area of focus; working with organisations to provide the necessary training so that appropriate responses were provided to victims.

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

A Member thanked the Police and the work undertaken by the Domestic Violence Unit and suggested that the Police are proactive in ensuring that details of the location of Safe Spots are widely disseminated.

A Member commended the Police on a recent raid on a Cannabis Farm.

A Member  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

The Strategic Director Corporate Resources will submit a report (Document “M”) which asks Members to consider and note the update on Assets of Community Value (ACV) in the Bradford South area.

Recommended –

The Area Committee is asked to note the update of listings as Assets of Community Value set out in Appendix 1 to Document “M”.

Overview & Scrutiny Area: Regeneration and Environment

(Nigel Gillatt - 01274 434224)

The Strategic Director Corporate Resources submitted a report (Document “M”) which asked Members to consider and note the update on Assets of Community Value (ACV) in the Bradford South area.

The process for registering ACV had now changed, been simplified and will be periodically reported to the Area Committee.

Resolved –

That the update of listings as Assets of Community Value set out in Appendix 1 to Document “M” be noted.

ACTION: No Action

Overview & Scrutiny Area: Regeneration and Environment

The Area Co-ordinator will submit a report (Document “N”) which provides information on the work of the Neighbourhood Wardens, Covid Support Workers and Environmental Enforcement Officers in Bradford South. 

Recommended –

(1)       Bradford South Area Committee notes the progress of the          Environmental Enforcement Service since the last report in            February 2021.

(2)       Bradford South Area Committee support the proposed    developments to improve the performance of the service through     the work of the Environmental Task Force over the coming 18    months.

(3)       A further report is brought to the Area Committee in 12 months’           time.

Overview & Scrutiny Area: Corporate/Regeneration and Environment

(Amjad Ishaq/ Kirsty Yaxley, Mick Charlton - 01274 431155)

The Area Co-ordinator submitted a report (Document “N”) which provided information on the work of the Neighbourhood Wardens, Covid Support Workers and Environmental Enforcement Officers in Bradford South. 

The Environmental Services and Enforcement Manager together with the Warden and Environmental Enforcement Manager were present at the meeting to give a comprehensive overview of the activities undertaken, with a particular emphasis on the work done to tackle fly tipping with smarter use of CCTV technology; redeployment of wardens to undertake enforcement work as well as their community engagement role; the successful work done to tackle issues relating to Bonfire Night and that this year there had been little or no incidents compared to those in previous years; more prosecutions and fixed penalty notices issued for fly tippers as appropriate, and tackling the issue of litter more proactively via the Council Wardens.

During the discussion a Member expressed concerns that she felt there was a conflict of interest between Wardens performing their community engagement role and their enforcement role.  In response it was stated that although they seemed like competing roles, a lot of work and training had gone to ensuring the Wardens performed each role effectively, and that they were managed properly in this respect.

In response to a question regarding the use of CCTV and the use of FPNs, it was stressed that a comprehensive report would be taken to the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny on their effectiveness and Value for Money, albeit to say the Service had seen great strides in better targeted enforcement and more effective use of CCTV, as well the issuing of FPN’s, where deemed appropriate for lower level offences.

In the area of littering and dog fouling the Council was not as effective in issuing FPN’s and there would be a concerted effort to improve on enforcement in these areas.

A Member raised some issues experienced in the Great Horton Ward regarding the Wardens and it was highlighted that any issues will be looked into in conjunction with the Wardens who serve the Ward.  The Area Coordinator also stressed that one of the areas they were addressing with the Wardens was need to patrol the respective areas with purpose and ensure issues were picked up.  However it was pointed out that there may sometimes be delays in how other services responded to the issues flagged up by the Wardens.

Resolved –

(1)       That the progress of the Neighbourhood Wardens and     Environmental Enforcement Service since the last report in February 2021 be welcomed.

(2)       That the proposed developments to improve the performance of          the service through the work of the Environmental Task Force            over the coming 18 months be supported.

(3)       That a further report be brought to the Area Committee in 12     months’ time.

ACTION: Area Coordinator

Overview & Scrutiny Area: Corporate/Regeneration and Environment

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “O”) which details the Youth and Community Chest Grants awarded from applications received prior to the 31 October 2021 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 & Scrutiny Area: Corporate

(Mick Charlton - 01274 431155)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “O”) which detailed the Youth and Community Chest Grants awarded from applications received prior to the 31 October 2021 deadline.

The Chair stated that there was another round of applications coming up in the new year, and encourage that Ward Councillors encourage organisations in their wards to apply for funding.

In response to a question regarding the number of applications from the Great Horton Ward, it was stated that a breakdown of applications from the respective wards, over the last 3 years, would be provided at a future meeting.

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: Area Coordinator

Overview & Scrutiny Area: Corporate

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “P”) which details the Connecting People Fund, Stronger Communities Service (Bradford for Everyone Programme) awarded from applications received prior to Monday 4 January 2021 deadline.

Recommended –

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

Overview & Scrutiny Area: Corporate

(Liz Parker - 01274 431155)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “P”) which detailed the Connecting People Fund, Stronger Communities Service (Bradford for Everyone Programme) awarded from applications received prior to Monday 4 January 2021 deadline.

Resolved –

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

ACTION: Area Coordinator

Overview & Scrutiny Area: Corporate

The Area Office is leading on an engagement process across Bradford South. 

The Bradford South Area Coordinator will submit a report (Document “Q”) which gives Committee members the opportunity to discuss relevant issues to include in the process.

The Area Coordinator to include ideas from discussion within the development of the Bradford South Localities Plan  2022-26.

Overview & Scrutiny Area: Corporate

(Mick Charlton - 01274 431155)

The Area Office is leading on an engagement process across Bradford South.  The Bradford South Area Coordinator submitted a report (Document “Q”) which gave Committee members the opportunity to discuss relevant issues to include in the process.

Following a short discussion it was:

Resolved –

That in addition to 1) Domestic Violence Safe Spots, 2) stone throwing, 3) preventable deaths of young people, 4) improving engagement around Winter Warmth work that the issue of the 5) dangerous and illegal use of bikes and quad bikes also be added to the list of topics that will be included in the Bradford South Localities Plan.

ACTION: Area Coordinator

Overview & Scrutiny Area: Corporate