Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2015 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Adrian Tumber – 01274 432435)

To consider up to five requests for the Council to receive petitions in accordance with Standing Orders.  If any requests are received, in writing, by mid-day three working days before the meeting (Thursday), details will be circulated.

(Palbinder Sandhu – 01274 432269)

Recommended –

That the appointment of Tom Bright as a non-voting co-opted Teachers Secondary School representative to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the remainder of the 2015/16 Municipal Year be confirmed.

To consider any further motions (i) to appoint members to a Committee or a Joint Committee; or (ii) to appoint Chairs or Deputy Chairs of Committees (excluding Area Committees). 

To deal with supplementary questions arising from the attached questions of which written notice has been given. 

Notes:

(i)         Answers to written questions shall be circulated at the commencement of the meeting.

(ii)        The Lord Mayor will have regard to the list of questions and the political composition of the Council in calling on Members to put their supplementary question to the Leader of Council and Portfolio Holders.

(iii)       A period of up to 30 minutes shall be available for supplementary questions to Members of the Executive. 

QUESTIONS TO MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE

1.         Councillor Shafiq

Could the Leader advise what lessons have been learned by the local authority from the report published this week on the imposition of an IEB at Laisterdyke?

2.         Councillor Ellis

Can the Deputy Leader of Council inform colleagues of whether she agrees with Councillor Darryl Smith, Leader of the Conservative Group on Rossendale Borough Council, who says of licensing people to drive passengers, that Rossendale cannot “carry on the way we have been, if it is causing problems for us and neighbouring authorities” and would she further agree with Councillor Smith, that “it must be very frustrating when you are focussing on safeguarding and then look at neighbouring boroughs issuing licenses like confetti?”

3.         Councillor Jeanette Sunderland

To ask the Portfolio Holder for Education, Skills and Culture - Does the Portfolio Holder believe that the standard of education in Bradford should be judged by the progress of the most vulnerable?

4.         Councillor Ahmed

Could the Portfolio holder update us on the percentage of Bradford Schools now judged to be Good or Outstanding by Ofsted?

5.         Councillor Warnes

Does the Leader of Council welcome the recent decision by Norwich City Council to build 105 new Passivhaus homes and agree that this is a low carbon policy that Bradford Council should adopt immediately in line with our corporate commitment to decarbonise our district?

6.         Councillor Hawkesworth

Will the Leader please confirm that should any community or group within the District wish to mark the 90th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by holding a street party to mark Her Majesty’s outstanding record of dedication and service all legal and administrative work necessary to secure an appropriate street closure will be carried out by Council staff without charge to the organisers of the party?

7.         Councillor Farley

Bradford has a long standing tradition of acting as a safe haven for refugees fleeing from other countries, can the leader tell us what the current position is regarding the possibility of further Syrian refuges being welcomed to the District?

8.         Councillor Dunbar

Have the recent cuts in ESOL funding in places like Bradford College been raised with the Government particularly in light of recent plans to accept more Syrian refugees?

9.         Councillor Pennington

Can the Leader of the Council confirm whether the old Keighley College building in North Street will be demolished?

10.       Councillor Hassan Khan

Can the leader update Council on progress  ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

To consider the attached motions of which notice has been given.

1.         RESPECT FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 

To be moved by Councillor Cooke

Seconded by Councillor Ellis

Council notes continued reports of abuse directed at members of the armed forces and the failure of public authorities to treat uniformed servicemen with respect.

Council affirms its commitment to support the Military Covenant and ensure that he contribution of the armed forces to our security and safety is respected.

Council asks that the Chief Executive engage positively with other public agencies including NHS bodies to ensure that they honour the national and local commitment to support and respect members of the armed forces.

2.         EDUCATION – CREATING A WEST YORKSHIRE CHALLENGE           

To be moved by Councillor Rickard

Seconded by Councillor Pennington

Council welcomes the Education Covenant for Bradford and recent initiatives intended to begin the process of improving educational attainment in the City including a positive engagement with potential academy sponsors.

Council recognises that Bradford needs external assistance in order to meet the targets for improvement and believes that the West Yorkshire Combined Authority presents the opportunity to share the task of improving education across the sub-region.

Council asks the Chief Executive and Strategic Director for Children to prepare proposals for co-operation across West Yorkshire in raising educational attainment including pooling budgets and knowledge as well as possible representation to the Department for Education to secure national support for the initiative.

3.         REFUGEES                                      

To be moved by Councillor Fear

Seconded by Councillor Stelling

This Council notes that since the conflict in Syria began, over 4 million people have been displaced.

This Council also notes that hundreds of thousands have risked their lives in unsafe crossings of the Mediterranean to reach safety in Europe and that thousands have sadly lost their lives while doing so.

This Council further notes that the Prime Minister has announced that the UK will accept 20,000 refugees over the next 5 years and that Britain’s £12billion foreign aid budget will be used towards Local Authorities expenses related to these refugees.

This Council believes that the UK should be resettling more refugees than it currently is and that it is our moral responsibility, for Bradford Council and for the British Government to do more to help alleviate this humanitarian crisis.

This Council resolves to increase the number of refugees we are seeking to accept into Bradford in response to this tragedy.

This Council further resolves to seek funding from all possible sources to cover the cost of resettlement and to provide funding from reserves to cover any shortfall in costs not met by outside organisations and the government.

This Council urges other Councils across the UK to follow its example in increasing the offer of assistance and in providing sanctuary for those fleeing conflict.

4.         BRADFORD EDUCATION COVENANT     

To be moved by Councillor Hinchcliffe

Seconded by Councillor Green

This Council believes that:

(1)        Every child in the Bradford District should have the chance to realise their  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Previous reference: Council Minute 35 (2015/16)

On 14 July 2015 Council resolved:

“This Council believes that devolution of power to the regions must be a positive opportunity for the district and must represent a genuine transfer of powers, resources and accountability in the areas where local intervention delivers the biggest benefit to the District and the region.

The Council notes that the terms of regional devolution to West Yorkshire and neighbouring authorities is subject to ongoing negotiation between authorities and with Government and that the proposals emerging from those negotiations will become clearer later this year.

The Council therefore resolves to undertake further debate on this issue at its October 2015 meeting.”

In accordance with the resolution a debate can take place under this item.

The report of the Director of Human Resources (Document “K”) asks Council to approve the proposal to appoint Dermot Pearson, Assistant City Solicitor, to the post of Interim City Solicitor on a salary package in accordance with the Council’s Pay Policy Statement.

Council is also asked to formally agree to fill the post of City Solicitor and delegate responsibility to appoint to the City Solicitor position to an Appointments Panel.

Recommended –

(1)        That the Council approves the appointment of Dermot Pearson as Interim City Solicitor for up to 6 months or until such time as an appointment is made to the vacant position of City Solicitor whichever is the earlier. 

(2)        That the Council confirms that they are in agreement with the proposal to appoint to the position of Interim City Solicitor on the salary package as detailed and set out in the Council’s Pay Policy Statement 2015/16.

(3)        That the Council approves the appointment to the vacant City Solicitor post.

(4)        That the Council delegates the responsibility to appoint to the position of City Solicitor to an Appointments Panel.  The Panel should comprise 3 Elected Members, 2 Labour and 1 Conservative, with the memberships to be on the nomination of the Leader of Council and the Leader of the Conservative Group and shall include at least one member of Executive.

                                                                                    (Sue Dunkley – 01274 433710)

The Leader of the Council has appointed 6 Executive Assistants to work with the Executive Members with portfolios.

The Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel met on 24 September 2015 to consider whether a Special Responsibility Allowance should be paid to Executive Assistants and if so what the appropriate SRA should be. The report of the Independent Remuneration Panel is attached to Document “J”.

Council is requested to consider the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

                                                                        (Dermot Pearson – 01274 432496)