To appoint a Chair for the Municipal Year 2023/2024.

To appoint a Deputy Chair for the Municipal Year 2023/2024.

(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 must consider their interests, and act according to the following:

(2)       Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)       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. 

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

In the interest of transparency Members declared the following interests:

(i)         Councillor Mitchell declared an interest in the item relating to Safe   Roads Programme (Minute 8) as his property backed on to Rook Lane,     which was included in the list of works.

(ii)        Councillors Edwards, Mitchell and Walsh declared an interest in the            item relating to UKSPF (Minute 9) as they were either trustees or        employed by organisations that had received funding under the     programme.

ACTION: Director of Legal & Governance

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2023 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Yusuf Patel – 01274 434579)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2023 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 Director of Legal and Governance in Room 112, City Hall, Bradford, BD1 1HY, by mid-day on Tuesday 20 June 2023.

(Yusuf Patel – 01274 434579)

There were no questions submitted by the public.

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “A”) which sets out objections received to recently advertised proposals for traffic calming measures on Wibsey Park Avenue & Farfield Avenue, Bradford.

Recommended –

(1)       That the objections be overruled and the proposed traffic calming measures implemented as advertised.

(2)       That the objectors be informed accordingly.

Overview & Scrutiny Area:  Regeneration and Environment

(Andrew Smith - 01274 434674)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “A”) which set out objections received to recently advertised proposals for traffic calming measures on Wibsey Park Avenue & Farfield Avenue, Bradford.

The Principal Engineer explained that over 300 properties had been consulted on the proposed TRO which had generated 12 objections and 11 letters of support, details of which were set out in section 2.5 of the report.

A Member ascertained if there was any scope to widening the road.  In response the Principal Engineer explained that the proposed budget for the scheme was £45,000, so it couldn’t be looked at within the parameters of the existing budget.

The Chair added that there had been some discussions around this and in the context of undertaking the legal work and possible slippage, there may be an opportunity of extending the remit of the scheme using the 2023/23 Safe Roads budget.  He also requested that the positioning of the pedestrian crossings be looked at as some highway safety concerns had been raised.

A Member also thanked officers for taking on board the concerns of residents and the Wibsey ward Councillors in promoting the scheme.

Resolved –

(1)       That the objections be overruled and the proposed traffic calming measures implemented as advertised.

(2)       That the objectors be informed accordingly.

ACTION: Strategic Director Place

Overview & Scrutiny Area:  Regeneration and Environment

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “B”) which seeks approval for the 2023/24 Safe Roads programme for the Bradford South Constituency.

Recommended –

(1)       That the Bradford South Area Committee approves the    programmes of Safe Roads schemes for 2023/24 listed in    Appendices 1 and 2 to Document “B”.

(2)       That any Traffic Regulation Orders, or any legal procedures linked      to the processing of traffic calming measures or pedestrian       crossing facilities which are necessary to implement the chosen    schemes be approved for processing and advertising subject to     the scheme details being agreed with the local Ward Members.

(3)       That any valid objections to the advertised Traffic Regulation    Orders, traffic calming or pedestrian facilities be submitted to this Area Committee for consideration or in the event of there being          no valid objections the Traffic Regulation Orders be sealed and             implemented and the traffic calming or pedestrian facilities be implemented as advertised.

(4)       That should inflationary pressures on the projects listed in        Appendices 1 and 2 to Document “B” make delivery of the full          programme impossible a further report be brought to the Area           Committee to reconsider scheme priorities.

Overview & Scrutiny Area:  Regeneration and Environment

(Andrew Smith - 01274 434674)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “B”) which sought approval for the 2023/24 Safe Roads programme for the Bradford South Constituency.

The Principal Engineer explained that the list of outstanding schemes set out in Appendix 4 to Document “B” had been reviewed in consultation with Ward Councillors. 

In response to a question regarding a scheme in Tong Ward, it was agreed that the Burnham Avenue scheme would be reinstated on the list of outstanding schemes. 

Following some concerns expressed around the number of collisions on Hollybank Road, the Principal Engineer stated that up to date information regarding accidents etc. would be looked at and future schemes prioritised accordingly. 

In response to a question regarding the funding of mobility kerrbing and the number of outstanding requests, the Principal Engineer explained that any work in the future would be undertaken, where the most benefit could be derived from the installation. 

Following discussion, it was agreed that work on the Wibsey Park Avenue scheme could commence in earnest, whilst the legal process for the Hutton Road scheme is completed, and it was therefore:

Resolved –

(1)      That the objections be overruled and the proposed traffic calming measures implemented as advertised.

(2)       That the objectors be informed accordingly.

ACTION: Strategic Director Place

Overview & Scrutiny Area:  Regeneration and Environment

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “C”) which provides a review of the above funding opportunity and provides an outline of how the devolved funding will be distributed in Bradford. The report also focusses on the role of the Area Committees in terms of decision maker of local funding and influencer of the district delivery.

Recommended –

(1)       That the contents of this report are noted.

(2)       That the Area Committee receives an annual report on the          progress on UKSPF delivery.

Overview & Scrutiny Area:  Regeneration and Environment

(Ingunn Vallumroed – 07816355406)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “C”) which provided a review of the above funding opportunity and provided an outline of how the devolved funding will be distributed in Bradford. The report also focussed on the role of the Area Committees in terms of decision maker of local funding and influencer of the district delivery.

The Programme manager gave a brief history of the programme and an explanation of the funding mechanism, drawing attention to the constrained timetable associated with delivering the programme.

During the discussion, the Chair stated that funding for training was earmarked for year 3 of the programme, whereas this should have been undertaken in year 1 and be a theme throughout. He also expressed reservations that capital grant funding of £12000 in Year 2 would only fund a very discreet project.

In response the Programme Manager explained that capital funding would increase in subsequent years and therefore more tangible projects could be delivered over time. Skills funding has been pre-determined by Government to only be spent in Year 3.

The Chair stressed that it was imperative that the Area Committee Chairs were consulted before any decisions were made on funding specific projects.

A Member stated that bidding and receiving funding within a constrained time limit was challenging and that it was a real concern for organisations, and therefore it was important to talk and consult with organisations in a timely manner on how best to spend the money.

In relation to consultation, a Member stressed that good communication with organisations was key ,as a top down approach only created distance and there was also a need to avoid duplication when it came to consultation.

In response it was acknowledged that there was some flexibility in delivery and outcomes and how we spent the money, so therefore Members’ suggestions would be taken on board.

The Chair highlighted the need to have some more clarity around the funding mechanism and that it be done in a timely manner and that ward councillors were consulted accordingly.  In addition, it was suggested that organisations are given advice and assistance in submitting bids.

The Programme Manager explained that a significant amount of funding would be coming in Year 3 of the programme, and therefore using the Area Committee process effectively and providing additional support were crucial factors in delivering a successful programme.

The Chair suggested that to avoid the issues experienced to date and allow for Area Committee involvement; that this matter should be placed as a standing item on the Area Committee’s agenda for the foreseeable future, and it was therefore:

Resolved –

(1)       That the report be noted.

(2)       That UKSPF be added as a standing agenda item for future        Area Committee meetings.

(3)       That the Area Committee receives an annual report on the          progress on UKSPF delivery.

ACTION: Strategic Director Place / Area Coordinator (2)

Overview & Scrutiny Area:  Regeneration and Environment

Please note that the remaining meetings for the 2023/2024 Municipal Year will be held as follows:

(All Meetings will be held on Thursday at 6.00pm)

20 JULY 2023

14 SEPTEMBER

19 OCTOBER

7 DECEMBER

25 JANUARY 2024

15 FEBRUARY

7 MARCH

(Yusuf Patel – 07970 411923)

The Area Committee noted that the remaining meetings for the 2023/2024 Municipal Year:

(All Meetings will be held on Thursday at 6.00pm)

20 JULY 2023

14 SEPTEMBER

19 OCTOBER

7 DECEMBER

25 JANUARY 2024

15 FEBRUARY

7 MARCH