To appoint a Chair for the Municipal Year 201/2019.

Resolved –

That Councillor Amran be appointed Chair of the Bradford West Area Committee for the 2018/2019 Municipal Year.

Action: City Solicitor

COUNCILLOR AMRAN IN THE CHAIR

To appoint a Deputy Chair for the Municipal Year 2018/2019.

Resolved –

That Councillor Mohammed be appointed Deputy Chair of the Bradford West Area Committee for the 2018/2019 Municipal Year.

Action: City Solicitor

In the interests of clarity:

      I.        All Members of the Committee disclosed an interest in the item relating to Ward plan progress report 2017-18.

    II.        Councillor Shaheen disclosed an interest to the item relating to Welfare Advice Services Across Bradford South (minute 6) by virtue of her employment.

ACTION: City Solicitor

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 Monday 25 June 2018.

(Asad Shah - 01274 432280)

There were no questions submitted by the public.

The report of the Strategic Director, health and Wellbeing (Document “A”) seeks to update members on the delivery of welfare advice services across the Bradford West constituency; including details of where services are offered, by whom and how they are used.

Recommended –

(1)       To accept this report and its contents.

(2)       To encourage services to continue to work in tandem ward        members and to ensure service access data is up to date for a             wide range of stakeholders and referrers.

(Sarah Possingham – 01274 431319)

The report of the Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing (Document “A”) sought to update the Committee on the delivery of welfare advice services across the Bradford West constituency; including details of where services were offered, by whom and how they are used.

Following a synopsis of the report by the Commissioning Manager, with the permission of the Chair, a question and answer session ensued:

·         What different positive impacts had been made from the previous year and in particular, the City ward; and, what needs had been highlighted and met that had made positive differences?

o   City, Manningham and Toller wards were by far the largest represented and the highest number of constituents had accessed services that were on offer. Assistance in further areas of work such as Council Tax and Council Benefits services were also being offered. Due to the reduction of funding, there had been a decrease of staff and therefore in order to meet high demands had been challenging for the service and at present the level of demand was being exceeded by the level of supply of services;

·         Was the advice service offering advice to people with mental health issues?

o   Only advice on benefits relating to mental health benefits was offered;

·         A total number of 781 people had been seen sing the previous year, therefore how was the service progressing with the ever increasing demand of services?

o   Through a specific maintained training course process;

·         Was there feedback from residents that could be shared with the Committee?

o   Once collated, then could be shared with Ward Councillors at a later date;

·         How was residents feedback gathered?

o   On a annual basis but due to the reduction of the team to nearly half, the task of monitoring had become arduous;

·         Were the needs of the Bradford West constituency being met fully?

o   Unfortunately some residents were unable to gain access to services they required. Due to demand exceeding the supply of services, the service was continuously liaising with providers for solutions but again, it all came down to financial constraints; and,

·         An explanation was sought for the reason behind the allocation of 11.5 hours for the Toller ward as opposed to Manningham ward being allocated 42 hours?

o   Manningham ward was one of the most deprived wards in the district, hence the allocation of 42 hours.

The Chair reminded the Committee that this service was a model approved by the Executive.

During the discussion, the following points were raised by the Committee and officers present:

·         The welfare advice services were not being utilised in a manner that were meeting the needs of the community;

·         It was understood that the level of demand had exceeded the number of appointments available in specific areas, equally some areas of services available had been accessed significantly less. Therefore, officers should relocate staff at the higher demanded services;

·         In relation to child poverty, the service was trying to resume offering services in GP surgeries through advice sessions; and,

·         If one  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

On the 3 April 2018, the Council’s Executive agreed to implement the Family Hubs model for delivering prevention and early help to babies, children and young people from October 2018.

The report of the Strategic Director, Children’s Services (Document “B”) provides an update on implementation since April 2018 with a specific focus on area based planning and issues.

Recommended –

Bradford West Area Committee is asked to note the report, progress to date and provide support and guidance on the on-going co-production of the Family Hubs offer.

(Jim Hopkinson – 01274 432904)

On the 3 April 2018, the Executive agreed to implement the Family Hubs model for delivering prevention and early help to babies, children and young people from October 2018.

The report of the Strategic Director, Children’s Services (Document “B”) provides an update on implementation since April 2018 with a specific focus on area based planning and issues.

Following a synopsis of the report by the Deputy Director of Social Care, a question and answer session followed:

·         As co-producing and the consideration of implementing a detailed Family Hubs service offer, what strength based approach was being deliberated?

o   The essence being to partnership with families whilst assisting in communities through wide networking as a wider solution;

·         Due to limited resources, could officers give assurances to the Committee that all services would be utilised efficiently?

o   The service was intending to commission a number of resources and deeply work where essential demands were in need and up to a £1000 per family would be made available;

·         How would the model work towards tackling families whose children were not in school?

o   Funding that was once allocated to the Local Authority was now directed towards academies to resource services in assisting families with children who were out of school; and,

·         Would officers with backgrounds entailing educational and early years with the essential experience in children’s needs be assimilated into where best their experiences suited the needs of demand?

o   Dependent on caseload basis and what kind of children in particular areas who were not on any education services systems but there was no intentions of stretching workload of families but only to tailor for specific needs.

At the end of the discussion, the Committee highlighted the fact that limited resources were being stretched and therefore the communities may be willing to assist through community centres. That all future reports be simplified and contain contingency planning for the sake of intended planned services may not be able to succeed.

Resolved –

That the contents set out in Document “B be noted.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Children’s Services

LEAD: Strategic Director, Children’s Services

That the report of the Bradford West Area-Committee (Document “C”) outlines the work of the Bradford West Area Co-ordinator’s Office in the addressing the Ward priorities contained in the six Ward Plans.

Recommended –

(1)       That the work of the Bradford West Area Co-ordinator’s Office in           supporting Ward priorities within the Bradford West Ward Plans         2017-  2018  be noted.

(2)       That the commitment and involvement of residents, local             community   and voluntary organisation, Elected Members and     partner agencies in supporting the priorities be welcomed and     supported.

(3)       That the constructive engagement with local communities at      Neighbourhoods and through other forms of Community      Engagement in meeting the Ward Plan priorities be noted.

(Bhulla Singh 01274 434854)

That the report of the Bradford West Area Co-ordinator (Document “C”) outlined the work of the Bradford West Area Co-ordinator’s Office in the addressing the Ward priorities contained in the six Ward Plans.

The Bradford West Area Co-ordinator explained from the report that the method of developing priorities for the wards had been through the annual ward assessment. The Ward Assessment included a wide range of key statistical information about the Ward.  In addition to the statistical data there had also been a collation of qualitative information gained through community engagement. The quantitative and qualitative information was interpreted to establish the needs of the Ward.  The Assessment also included information about community strengths and resources available to address each individual Ward needs.

Resolved –

(1)       That the work of the Bradford West Area Co-ordinator’s   Office in         supporting Ward priorities within the Bradford West Ward Plans         2017-2018  be noted.

(2)       That the commitment and involvement of residents, local             community   and voluntary organisations, Elected Members           and partner agencies in supporting the priorities be             welcomed and supported.

(3)       That the constructive engagement with local communities at      Neighbourhoods and through other forms of Community      Engagement in meeting the Ward Plan priorities be noted.

(4)       That Bradford West Area Co-Ordinators Office and in particular             the Ward Officers be thanked for assisting Councillors of the         Bradford West Constituency in addressing Ward priorities

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Corporate

LEAD: Assistant Director, Neighbourhoods and Customer Services

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “D”) summarises the Community Chest Grants awarded in the financial year 2017 to March 2018 for the benefit of communities within Bradford West Constituency.

Recommended –

1)         That the wide range of applications from groups, organisations and individuals across Bradford West Constituency are noted and welcomed.

(2)       That the Bradford West Area Co-ordinator’s Office continues to ensure the effective allocation of the Community Chest Budget by providing appropriate advice and support to applicants.

(3)       That organisations requesting Community Chest grant funding must return their completed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) within a 3 month period from the date it was posted.  Failure to do so will make the organisation ineligible for the funding and they will have to reapply.

(Bhulla Singh – 01274 432597)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “D”) summarised the Community Chest Grants awarded in the financial year 2017 to March 2018 for the benefit of communities within Bradford West Constituency.

The Bradford West Area Co-ordinator explained from the report that the Community Chest budget was intended to assist community, leisure and cultural activities which were of benefit to the community, and where the activity could not go ahead without some financial assistance.

Applications which met the published criteria were considered from groups, organisations and individuals contributing across a broad spectrum of initiatives, to the well being and development of communities within the Bradford West Constituency.

Resolved –

1)         That the wide range of applications from groups, organisations and individuals across Bradford West Constituency are noted and welcomed.

(2)       That the Bradford West Area Co-ordinator’s Office continues to ensure the effective allocation of the Community Chest Budget by providing appropriate advice and support to applicants.

(3)       That organisations requesting Community Chest grant funding must return their completed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) within a 3 month period from the date it was posted.  Failure to do so would make the organisation ineligible for the funding and they would have to reapply.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Corporate

LEAD: Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing