(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.

Councillor Sutcliffe, in the interest of transparency, declared in relation to Minute No. 48 that she worked freelance for an organisation that had been allocated UKSPF funding.

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2023 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Yusuf Patel – 01274 434579)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 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 16 January 2024.

(Yusuf Patel – 01274 434579)

There were no questions submitted by the public.

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “T”) which updates members on key areas of partnership work to build and develop community safety in the Bradford South constituency.

Recommended –

(1)              That Bradford South Area Committee notes the work undertaken by the Bradford South Neighbourhood Policing Team and Community Safety Partners that contributes toward 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 between Bradford South Neighbourhood Policing Team, Safer Bradford ASB Team, Elected Members, Council Officers, Community Organisations, volunteers, and residents within the Bradford South Area.

Overview and Scrutiny Area: Corporate

(Michael Churley - 07582 100367)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “T”) updated members on key areas of partnership work to build and develop community safety in the Bradford South constituency. The Committee were informed that a Community Safety Partnership plan was a statutory requirement and that the plan was contained at Appendix 1 of the report. The work surrounding early intervention and prevention was detailed, particularly the work with young people in partnership with local schools. Members were advised that some of the data contained within the report was Bradford South specific however in some cases this was not possible, and the data instead reflected district wide.

The Police representative summarised the policing report and highlighted some of the crime statistics as well as the work that had been carried out to reduce crime in each ward. Members were informed that there had been increased early intervention work such as a perpetrator pilot which targeted individuals who were repeatedly arrested, the pilot provided them with intensive support and resulted in a 94.4% reduction in reoffending.

The partnership work with the Council was underlined and Members were told that ward officers were part of the joined-up approach, particularly in regard to engagement and knowledge of the local area. It was added that further training would be provided to wardens.

A Member asked about early intervention in relation to the safety of women and girls, given that they comprised 70% of the victims of domestic abuse, particularly if there was any work to empower people to challenge forms of harassment. In response officers stated that part of the survey asked if people knew where to go for support and it was acknowledged that more information regarding intervention could be beneficial.

A Member sought clarification regarding the organisation Women’s Centre, and it was explained that the current commissioned service to deliver the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence contract was Survive & Thrive, the service was a consortium of three organisations: Staying Put, Women's Centre and Family Action. Therefore, Women’s Centre worked as part of Survive & Thrive.

The Committee asked about whether hate crime had risen and noted the lack of data. Officers informed the Committee that figures had decreased slightly although issues relating to recording hate crime and therefore the accuracy of crime data was acknowledged. A Member asked if hate crime was recorded by the Council and was told that hate crime was police recorded but figures could be shared.

Members stated that the reduction in anti-social behaviour (ASB) was positive but questioned whether it was due to a decline in reporting crime or police action. Members were informed that reporting of ASB had increased exponentially during the lockdowns and that it had been decreasing ever since. Members stressed that residents should continue to report crime as police resources were deployed according to statistics, increased reporting would help identify areas of need.

Officers were asked about the Holmewood Community Safety Partnership and if there was scope for other areas. It was explained that it would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

The Strategic Director Place (Document “T”) which provides a review of the above funding opportunity and provides an outline of how the devolved funding will be distributed in Bradford South. The report will focus on the role of the Area Committees in terms of decision maker of local funding and influencer of the district delivery with particular focus on Year 3 UKSP allocation.

Recommended –

(1)       That the Bradford South Area Committee agrees spend activity for      the capital allocation for 24/25 as outlined within this report    working collectively with the UKSP Programme Delivery Manager   and Bradford South Area Co-ordinator.

(2)       That the Bradford South Area Committee approves the application      form and criteria (to be tabled at the meeting).

(3)       That the UKSP Programme Delivery Manager and Bradford South        Area Co-ordinator present a report to the 7 March 2024 Bradford South Area Committee to determine applications for 2024/2024          funding. 

Overview and Scrutiny Area: Regeneration & Environment

(Ingunn Vallumroed - 07816355406

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “U”) provided a review of the above funding opportunity and provided an outline of how the devolved funding would be distributed in Bradford South. The report focussed on the role of the Area Committees in terms of decision maker of local funding and influencer of the district delivery with particular focus on Year 3 UKSP allocation. The Bradford South Area Coordinator stated that the release date of funding had not yet been confirmed by government and that funding may change following government reviews. In addition to the uncertainty of funding it was added that organisations would be required to demonstrate outcomes.

The Committee discussed the possible criteria that organisations would have to meet in order to apply for funding. Consideration was also given to the maximum amount of funding an organisation could apply for.

Members expressed concerns surrounding raising the hopes of organisations if funding was to be reviewed and potentially withdrawn by government. The importance of effective communication with organisations was emphasised.

The application process was discussed, and the Bradford South Area Coordinator told Members that ward officers could offer support with the application process.

Members were advised that some combined funding had been returned from previous allocations, and it was suggested that it could be allocated to Tasty Chewsday who operated in the Wyke ward.

Resolved –

(1)           That the Area Coordinator drafts a criteria for UKSP revenue and capital funding, with a view to circulating it to Members of the Area Committee for comment, prior to submitting the options to the February meeting of the Area Committee. 

(2)           That the Committee agreed the proposal up to £5,600 funding allocation from the Combined Fund as outlined by the Area Co-ordinator to Tasty Chewsday.

To be actioned by: Bradford South Area Coordinator

Overview and Scrutiny Area: Regeneration & Environment

(Ishaq Shafiq – 01274 431155)