Councillor Cooke disclosed a prejudicial interest in the item relating to the District Plan (2016-2020) Annual Report 2016-17 and Bradford District Partnership Resourcing (Minute 47), as a member of the Bradford District Partnership Board, and he did not participate in the discussion and voting on the matter.

ACTION:       City Solicitor

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

There were no referrals made to the Committee.

Resolved –

That the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the Appendix relating to the Bradford Odeon on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the proceedings, that if they were present, exempt information within paragraphs 3 and 5 (financial or business affairs and legal privilege)  of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) would be disclosed and it is considered that, in all the circumstances, the public interest in allowing the public to remain is outweighed by the public interest in excluding public access to the relevant part of the proceedings for the following reasons:

It is in the public interest in maintaining these exemptions because it is in the overriding interest of proper administration that Members are made fully aware of the financial and legal implications of any decision.

At its meeting on 5 December 2017 the Executive received a report of the Strategic Director Corporate Services (Executive Document “AM” which contained Not For Publication Appendix 1) which considered the options available to the Council in securing funding for the proposed refurbishment of the Bradford Odeon.

Executive resolved as follows:

(1)       To endorse the risk assessment in the Not for Publication                               Appendix to Document ‘AM’.

(2)       To endorse further detailed consideration, with partners, of the                       optimal legal and financial structure to develop the Bradford                                   Odeon with their preferred delivery option being Option 2 as set                       out in the Not For Publication appendix to Document ‘AM’.

(3)       To support the principle that the Council provides loan or other                      forms of capital to enable the development to proceed.

(4)       To support bids to other bodies who are willing to co-fund                                development.

(5)       To receive a further report at the earliest opportunity or at its                            scheduled meeting on 9 January 2018 on the preferred option       and any other relevant matters.

The decision of the Executive had been called in by Councillor Naylor.  The reasons for Councillor Naylor requesting the call-in were:

“As such I wish to scrutinise the strategic role the Odeon will play in the regeneration of Bradford and its impact on other Council assets and initiatives.

I would also like to scrutinise the loan the security for the loan and any implications it may have for state aid together with any further issues which the not for publication papers may give rise to”.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted the intention of Executive to take a further report on the Bradford Odeon at its meeting on 9 January 2018 and the Committee felt that it would be better placed to consider the financial and legal issues associated with the funding package once the report is published, and it was therefore:

Resolved –

(1)       That the Executive decision of 5 December 2017 be released for            implementation.

(2)       That the Chair indicate to the Leader of Council the Committee’s           desire to discuss the financial and legal issues arising from the      funding package for Bradford Odeon and that, if Executive does       not refer these matters to Corporate Overview and Scrutiny        Committee the item will be called-in.

ACTION:       City Solicitor

The Community Safety Partnership (Safer and Stronger Communities Partnership) has a statutory duty to produce a three-year plan to increase community safety. The plan is informed by the safer strategic intelligence assessment and is refreshed annually. Bradford District’s plan also encompasses priorities that support community cohesion and integration.

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “W”) which sets out the Bradford District Safer and Stronger Communities Strategic Plan 2017-20.

Recommended –

(1)       Considers the Safer and Stronger Communities Plan 2017-20 as           set out in Appendix A to Document “W”.

(2)       Provides its comments on the Safer and Stronger Communities            Plan 2017-20 as set out in Appendix A to Document “W”.

(Rebecca Trueman - 01274 431364)

The Assistant Director for the Office of the Chief Executive submitted a report (Document “U”) which highlighted the key achievements, future challenges and areas of focus of the Bradford District Partnership in delivering the priorities of the District Plan.  The report also reflected on the resourcing arrangements for the management of the Bradford District Partnership, with whom responsibility for the delivery of the District Plan lies.

During the discussion, the Chair stated that a number of the performance targets were not expected to be achieved and ascertained what measures were being put in place to address this.  In response the Assistant Director Neighbourhoods and Community Safety stated that in relation to Safer, Clean and Active Communities, although the Police were unable to attend todays meeting, the effective partnership working with the Police was paying dividend.  Mention was made of the work the Police were doing to deal with serious crime gangs, as well as the increased confidence in reporting crimes and building resilience within communities, by liaising directly with the community.

In response to a question of what outcomes had been actively achieved, the Assistant Director for the Office of the Chief Executive explained that within the district plan a number of performance indicators were proxy measures, which were sometimes difficult to quantify, and therefore a mechanism had to be adopted which would better measure the impact of the work.

In relation to a question of what the financial cost to the Council was in terms of the officer time spent on this area of work, the Assistant Director stated that this would be difficult to quantify as a number of officers contributed to this work, spread over a number of service areas and undertaken as part of their overall duties.  She also stressed that partnership working was now the norm across the Council.

The Chair reiterated the need to understand the cost element, in order to gage whether or not the work undertaken represented value for money, and he urged that officers provide an indication of the cost in future reports.

A Member stated that in relation to equality and diversity no reference was made in the report to the Council’s new Equality Objectives.  In response it was stressed that the objectives would be looked at in the context of the District Plan and how they translated across the partnership.

In relation to a question on how the Strategic Delivery Partnership worked with the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committees, it was acknowledged that the relationship was working well, for example the Children’s Education Covenant was regularly discussed by the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Resolved –

That a progress report on the Bradford District Safer and Stronger Communities Strategic Plan 2017-20 be considered in 12 months time, which includes outcomes and indicators.

ACTION:       Strategic Director Place

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “V”) which asks Members to consider work taking place on building stronger communities within Bradford District and to note the planned approach to responding to the ‘Casey Review – A review into opportunity and integration’.

Recommended –

(1)       Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider        the work taking place across district on building stronger and         more cohesive communities and make any recommendations about approach.

(2)       That Area Committees receive a breakdown of work taking place          at a constituency level.

(3)       That Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee reviews local            approach in light of any emerging government response to the   Casey Review, once this has been published.

(Ian Day - 01274 433507)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “V”) which asked Members to consider the work taking place on building stronger communities within Bradford District and to note the planned approach to responding to the ‘Casey Review – A review into opportunity and integration’.

The Assistant Director Neighbourhoods and Community Safety gave a summary of the work undertaken and achievements to date, which were detailed in the report, stating that the Council was working with all religious groups and other organisations in its response to the Louise Casey report on opportunity and integration, which will give its recommendations to the government.

During the discussion the Chair stated that the report failed to portray the reality of community cohesion in Bradford and that Bradford was now a more divided city than ever before, and that community relations in the city were better 25 years ago, adding that in many areas in this city people were afraid to go, depending on their ethnicity. He cited that 3 pubs in his ward had been targeted on bonfire night in what could only be seen as a racist attack.

He urged that officers  should start to do things in a different way. As there was a tendency to consult with and use the same organisations time and time again, such as the Council for Mosque which was not representative of the community.  He suggested that more work needed to be done on the doorstep and getting new groups on board, otherwise he could envisage more problems if this issue is not tackled head on.

A Member stated that at a recent event at the synagogue there were armed police posted outside, and he questioned the wisdom of a Jewish event needing police protection. He mentioned that people in his ward were reluctant to come to Bradford because they did not feel safe and it was this sort of perception that had to be tackled, adding that when it came to integration, both sides of the community didn’t want to integrate.  He also expressed his concerns at the levels of anti-Semitism being espoused on line which needed to be tackled.

A number of Members gave examples of their experiences and citing incidents and issues relating to community cohesion within their wards.

A Members suggested that officers needed to get out  into the streets; instead of just working with certain community organisation on distinct projects.

In response to the plethora of issues and concerns raised by Members, the Assistant Director Neighbourhood and Customer Services stated that there was work going on with different communities, however he recognised that there was more work to be done, and to this end officers were not complacent on the issue and that funding was being put into areas to tackle entrenched views.

He added that, in general, people agreed that Bradford district was a welcoming city where people get on with each other and added that the report outlined some amazing work taking place by a wide range  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

The Assistant Director for the Office of the Chief Executive will submit a report (Document “U”) which highlights the key achievements, future challenges and areas of focus of the Bradford District Partnership in delivering the priorities of the District Plan.  The report also reflects on the resourcing arrangements for the management of the Bradford District Partnership, with whom responsibility for the delivery of the District Plan lies.

Recommended –

(1)       Members note and comment on the report.

(2)       That a further report be brought following publication of the District Plan Annual Report 2017/18, around September 2018.

(Kathryn Jones – 01274 433664)        

The Community Safety Partnership (Safer and Stronger Communities Partnership) has a statutory duty to produce a three-year plan to increase community safety. The plan is informed by the safer strategic intelligence assessment and is refreshed annually. Bradford District’s plan also encompasses priorities that support community cohesion and integration.

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “W”) which set out the Bradford District Safer and Stronger Communities Strategic Plan 2017-20.

Members welcomed the report and the detailed analysis contained therein. 

During the discussion, a Member stated that he commended the efforts to tackle organised crime which cut across a number of areas.  In response the Assistant Director Neighbourhoods and Community Safety stated that a particular area of concern was the exposure to organised crime at street level.

The Assistant Director also alluded to the joint Police and Council intelligence hub which was looking at and improving information at ward officer level and inform decisions.

The Chair ascertained how Bradford’s reported crime figures compared with neighbouring authorities, and what were the real concerns and challenges facing the district.  In response the Assistant Director stated that although hate crime figures had gone up nationally, Bradford’s figures compared well.

Resolved –

(1)       That the report be noted

(2)       That a further report be brought following publication of the District Plan Annual Report 2017/18, around September 2018.

ACTION:       Assistant Director for the Officer of the Chief Executive

The Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee will submit a report (Document “X”) which sets out the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme for 2017/18. 

Recommended –

(1)       That members consider and comment on the areas of work        included in the work programme.

(2)       That members consider any detailed scrutiny reviews that they             may wish to conduct.

(Mustansir Butt – 01274 432574)

The Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee submitted a report (Document “X”) which set out the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme for 2017/18. 

Resolved –

(1)       That an item on Property Transactions be added to the work      programme, to be considered in February 2018 and to also        include the process of selling assets and buildings

(2)       That the work programme 2017-18 continues to be reviewed      regularly during the remainder of this Municipal Year.

ACTION:       Overview and Scrutiny Lead

(Mustansir Butt – 01274 432574)