Local democracy

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1 - City Hall, Bradford. View directions

Contact: Yusuf Patel 

Items
No. Item

30.

DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST

(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.

Minutes:

In the interest of transparency Members declared an interest in the following items:

 

(i)            In relation to the Update on the Work of the Libraries Service (Minute 35) Councillor Green (Chair) stated that his partner worked in the Library Service.

 

(ii)          In relation to the Neighbourhood Wardens & Environmental Enforcement Offices (Minute 36) Councillor Dodds stated that her son was employed as a Council Warden.

 

ACTION: Director of Legal & Governance

 

31.

INSPECTION OF REPORTS AND BACKGROUND PAPERS

(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)

 

Minutes:

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

 

32.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

(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 29 November 2022.

 

(Yusuf Patel - 01274 434579)

 

Minutes:

There were no questions submitted by the public.

 

33.

BRADFORD OPPORTUNITY AREA: BRADFORD SOUTH pdf icon PDF 1 MB

The Opportunity Area Programme (2017 – 2022) focused on supporting disadvantaged children and young people, and utilised the DfE’s investment through education to improve social mobility. Close to £15m has been invested in Bradford by the end of the programme which ceased in July 2022.

 

The Programme Director (former Bradford Opportunity Area) will submit a report (Document “M”) which sets out activity focused on the Bradford South Area.

 

Recommended –

 

It is recommended that the programme investment and progress be noted for information including the lessons learned and recommendations from the evaluation report.

 

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Children’s Services

 

(Kathryn Loftus – 07966133284)

 

Minutes:

The Opportunity Area Programme (2017 – 2022) focused on supporting disadvantaged children and young people, and utilised the DfE’s investment through education to improve social mobility. Close to £15m has been invested in Bradford by the end of the programme which ceased in July 2022.

 

The Programme Director (former Bradford Opportunity Area) submitted a report (Document “M”) which sets out activity focused on the Bradford South Area.

 

It was explained that in 2018 the Bradford Opportunity Area programme was allocated £5.6m (part of the £15m) in funding from DfE to deliver a range of extra-curricular activities that develop non-cognitive abilities, collectively named ‘essential life skills’ (ELS). 

 

The programme invested in a wide range of activity aimed at tackling social mobility through the lens of education. Appendix 1 summarised activity focused on the Bradford South Area.

 

The DfE’s Bradford Opportunity Area Programme has now formally come to an end and the DfE are in the process of transitioning to the new Priority Area work and also building a legacy through an ‘Education Alliance for Life Chances’. 

 

DfE’s Priority Area’s programme identified 55 Education Investment Areas (EIAs) through the Levelling Up White Paper (Feb 2022).The Schools White Paper (Mar 2022), then identified 24 Priority Areas which will see more intensive investment and a package of measures to drive school improvement and improve pupil outcomes. They are a subset of EIAs, and comprise of the 12 former DfE Opportunity Areas and 12 other EIAs that have particularly low attainment and high rates of disadvantage. Bradford is identified as one of these Priority Areas.  The focus for this work is to be confirmed and will be overseen by an independent Partnership Board.

 

During the discussion a member ascertained how the work undertaken under

the initiative would continue to be supported into the future and what impact

Covid had had during the delivery of the Programme. In response it was

stated that a system had been in place with schools during the pandemic, with

regular meetings held to ensure programme delivery and it was envisaged

that these links will be maintained into the future.  One of the issues that had

came to light during delivery of the Programme was the digital inequalities that

exist and measures had been put in place to address this deficit.

 

The Chair ascertained if there was an easy read version of the document

available, so that parents and other interested parties could learn lessons and

glean some information from the work undertaken.  In response it was stated

that some of the key messages were being disseminated so it resonated with

communities. The Chair suggested that libraries, community organisations as

well as Councillors would be a good point of contact going forward.

 

In response to a question regarding a future programme and what work the

Dfe were undertaking to disseminate the work done so far, it was stated that a

new Dfe programme was being envisaged and subject to the funding, links

can be made with the existing programme,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

34.

BEACON ROAD - REVIEW OF TRAFFIC CONDITIONS pdf icon PDF 624 KB

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “K”) which reviews current traffic conditions on Beacon Road including traffic collisions and survey data and consider potential options for interventions.

 

Recommended –

 

(1)       That the Bradford South Area Committee notes the content of this      report.

 

(2)       That the Bradford South Area Committee gives consideration to the   addition of items for Traffic Calming, a 20mph speed limit and/or      additional pedestrian facilities to the waiting list for Safe Roads          measures.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Regeneration & Environment

(Andrew Smith - 01274 434674)

 

Minutes:

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “K”) which reviewed current traffic conditions on Beacon Road including traffic collisions and survey data and considered potential options for interventions.

 

The Principal Highways Engineer stated that following a discussion at the July meeting, a request was made to bring a report back to the Area Committee on traffic conditions on the road and possible interventions.

 

A Ward Councillor and Member of this Committee stated that residents had raised concerns with her regarding the issues on Beacon Road including vehicle speed and pedestrian injuries, so any scheme needed to address these issues.  In response it was stated the measures could be considered as part of the Safe Roads Programme.

 

In response to a question regarding the times and duration of the speed survey and the criteria for installing speed cameras, it was stressed that the traffic survey was undertaken over a five day period including part of a weekend to give a reasonable picture of the volume and speed of traffic.  In relation to the criteria for installing speed enforcement cameras, collisions and recorded speeds and evidence that speed was a factor in those collisions were the criteria used.

 

The Chair highlighted that instead of just showing average speeds it would be important to see what the range of speed of vehicles using Beacons Road, in order to give a better picture. He stressed that planning development in an area generally added to highway safety concerns, and therefore more emphasis needs to be placed on this aspect through the planning process.

 

Resolved -

 

(1)      That the contents of the report be noted.

 

(2)      That the addition of items for Traffic Calming, a 20mph speed limit      and/or additional pedestrian facilities be added to the waiting list      for Safe Roads measures.

(3)       That in light of the requests for highway safety measures following     development or change of use granted by planning, that the             Assistant Director Transportation, Design and Planning be     requested to review current planning policy in light of subsequent             evidence that there are serious highways implication arising from       planning decisions.

ACTION:       Strategic Director Place / Assistant Director Transportation                    Design & Planning

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Regeneration & Environment

(Andrew Smith - 01274 434674)

 

35.

UPDATE ON THE WORK OF LIBRARIES IN BRADFORD SOUTH pdf icon PDF 161 KB

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “L”) which provides an update on Bradford Libraries Service since the previous report to this Committee about Libraries, in January 2022. It summarises overall developments in the Service since then, as well as a more detailed update on libraries in the South area.  

 

Recommended –

 

(1)       Members are recommended to note the progress that has been            made since the previous report to this Committee and ways in        which local libraries can contribute to the priorities in the Local       Area Plan. 

 

(2)       Libraries to work closely with local Councillors and          Neighbourhood Teams on the development of local library plans. 

 

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Healthy People & Places

 

(Christine May - 07970 829265)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “L”) which provided an update on Bradford Libraries Service since the previous report to this Committee about Libraries, in January 2022. It summarised overall developments in the Service since then, as well as a more detailed update on libraries in the South area.  

 

During the discussion, a Member commended the excellent engagement work undertaken at Brackenhill and that community libraries benefitted from this innovative programme. 

 

In response to a question regarding engagement work with schools, it was stressed that this work was progressing in earnest.  In addition there was an effort to engage more with the community and voluntary sector, as well as the youth service and improve links with Libraries.

 

A Member suggested that the link between Libraries and the wider services being provided in communities needed to made stronger and be better integrated.  In response it was stated that this was a crucial area of development to understand better what Libraries were being used for, and how additional services could be co-located, where beneficial and appropriate for the community.

 

Recommended –

 

(1)       That the progress that has been made since the previous report to      this Committee and ways in which local libraries can contribute to            the priorities in the Local Area Plan be noted. 

 

(2)       That Libraries continue to work closely with local Councillors and       Neighbourhood Teams on the development of local library    plans. 

 

ACTION: Strategic Director Place

 

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Healthy People & Places

 

(Christine May - 07970 829265)

 

 

36.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WARDENS & ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS pdf icon PDF 169 KB

The Bradford South Area Coordinator will submit a report (Document “N”) which provides information on the work of the Neighbourhood Wardens and Environmental Enforcement Officers in Bradford South. 

 

Recommended –

 

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

 

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

 

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Corporate/Regeneration and Environment

 

(Ishaq Shafiq - 01274 431155)

Minutes:

The Bradford South Area Coordinator submitted a report (Document “N”) which provided information on the work of the Neighbourhood Wardens and Environmental Enforcement Officers in Bradford South. 

 

During the discussion, a number of Members raised issues around NS admin and that all queries regardless of it being from a Councillor were dealt with in accordance with the normal response deadlines.  In response the way queries were dealt and actioned was explained, and it was stressed that NS admin was principally an inbox for the enforcement team, and Members were advised that a separate email should also be sent to the relevant officer, so that an appropriate response can be provided.

 

Resolved –

 

(1)       That the progress made of the Environmental Enforcement &    Neighbourhood Warden Service since the last report in          December 2021 be noted.

 

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

 

ACTION: Bradford South Area Coordinator  

 

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Corporate/Regeneration and Environment