Local democracy

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - City Hall, Bradford. View directions

Contact: Adrian Tumber 

Items
No. Item

20.

DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST

(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 may remain in the meeting and take part fully in discussion and voting unless the interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an interest which the Member feels would call into question their compliance with the wider principles set out in the Code of Conduct.  Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

 

(2)       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. 

 

(3)       Members are also welcome to disclose interests which are not disclosable pecuniary interests but which they consider should be made in the interest of clarity.

 

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

 

Minutes:

The following disclosures in matters under consideration were received:

 

Recommendation from the Governance and Audit Committee - Amendments to the Constitution and Disciplinary Procedures for the Head Of Paid Service, Monitoring Officer and Chief Finance Officer (Minute 27)

 

Given that the item dealt with the procedures for dismissing statutory officers Suzan Hemingway, Interim Chief Executive, as the Head of Paid Service and Dermot Pearson, Assistant City Solicitor, as the Monitoring Officer declared an interest and left the meeting during consideration of the matter.

 

Motions – Mental Health Challenge (Minute 29)/ Mental Health (Minute 30)

Councillors Ahmed, Hawarun Hussain and Shabbir made a declaration that their work involved mental health services.

 

As the disclosures were made on the basis of transparency those Members remained in the meeting during consideration and voting on the items.

 

ACTION:       Assistant City Solicitor

 

21.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Baroness Eaton, Imran Hussain, Leeming, Miller, Morris, Lynne Smith and Tait.

 

22.

REPORT BY THE LEADER OF COUNCIL pdf icon PDF 66 KB

A written report by the Leader of Council giving an update on key issues will be circulated before the start of the meeting. There shall be a period of up to 15 minutes during which any Member of Council may ask the Leader of the Council (or a Member of the Council nominated by the Leader) a question on any matter arising out of the written report.

23.

WRITTEN ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE LORD MAYOR (Standing Order 4)

(To be circulated before the meeting).

Minutes:

TERRORIST ATROCITY IN SOUSSE, TUNISIA

 

The Lord Mayor drew attention to the minute’s silence that was held in Centenary Square at noon on 3 July in memory of those who lost their lives in the Tunisian beach shootings in Sousse on 26 June. A short observation had been led by the Lord Mayor’s Chaplain, the Reverend Paul Bilton, and it was a well-attended and poignant moment of remembrance and solidarity.

 

24.

INSPECTION OF REPORTS AND BACKGROUND PAPERS

(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. 

 

(Adrian Tumber - 01274 432435)

 

Minutes:

There were no restricted documents.

 

25.

PETITIONS (Standing Order 11)

To consider up to five requests for the Council to receive petitions in accordance with Standing Orders. 

Ward

 

(i)         Stop the suffering of horses and dogs at Esholt gypsy site               Baildon

 

If any further requests are received, in writing, by mid-day three working days before the meeting (Thursday), details will be circulated.

 

(Palbinder Sandhu – 01274 432269)

 

26.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME (Standing Order 13) pdf icon PDF 73 KB

The following questions have been received from members of the public:

 

1.         The following question has been received from Simon Hiles:

 

There have been hundreds of complaints reported to the appropriate council departments regarding the illegal breeding and trading of dogs and horses on the Esholt site.  This has been confirmed by witnesses, and the RSPCA, who have offered their evidence to the council offices.   

 

The question is, in the light of the overwhelming evidence why has there still  been no action taken against this tenant for a) keeping many more animals on the site than is allowed under council regulations, and b) the breeding and trading of animals for profit, on the site, in breach of council regulations?

 

 

2.         The following question has been received from Mark Swindells:

 

“Considering the cuts that the Council has had to make and the need for the Council to continue capital investment in “assets and infrastructure” in the district which will deliver benefit and returns for the council tax payer. Can the councillor please justify the expenditure of council funds on the former Ferniehurst School housing development when the Council is foregoing in excess of £800,000 in revenue from sale of the land and possible section 106 payments. Furthermore by the council’s own admission this project will not get to the point that it has broken even within 20 (twenty) years. Especially when there are in excess of 4000 empty homes in the district. In anyone’s book this is does not indicate that the priorities or the finances of the Council are being managed at all well, especially as this is not a large infrastructure project such as a much needed new road or school where this kind of long term outlook would be generally accepted when weighed against the benefits to the community as a whole?”

 

 

(Palbinder Sandhu – 01274 432269)

 

27.

MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES AND JOINT COMMITTEES (Standing Order 4)

Recommended -

 

That the appointment of Mr Gull Hussain, to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee as a Parent Governor Representative 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). 

 

28.

MEMBER QUESTION TIME (Standing Order 12) pdf icon PDF 187 KB

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 Farley

Can the Leader comment on the work of Keighley United in bringing the people of Keighley together to condemn and tackle child sexual exploitation (CSE) and can he also update us on the efforts of the Council, working with others,  to prevent and detect CSE, support victims and bring offenders to justice?

 

 

2.         Councillor Whiteley

Would the Portfolio Holder for Health and Social Care, confirm what arrangements are being made to maintain adequate provision of quality Day Care, Nursing Care and Residential Care, when the National Living Wage come into effect in April?

 

 

3.         Councillor J Sunderland

To ask the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Sport and Sustainability

 

For each of the proposed new swimming pools in the District please can you give the timetable for development included the anticipated date of opening? 

 

 

4.         Councillor Shaheen

 What are the potential implications for Bradford District of the Government’s proposed funding formula for schools?

 

 

5.         Councillor Khadim Hussain

Can the Leader confirm that he will build on the successful economic summit held in Keighley and will continue to address the issue of the town’s strategic transport links and connectivity?

 

 

6.         Councillor Pennington

Would the Leader of the Council outline the criteria used in the granting of City Centre Growth Grants generally and can he confirm the return, in the terms of job creation and economic regeneration that the council should expect from the £200,000 spent on new signposts?

 

 

7.         Councillor Swallow

Would the Portfolio Holder agree that Operation Steerside conducted by West Yorkshire Police has been a successful start to dealing with appalling driver behaviour and ensure that she puts all necessary pressure on West Yorkshire Police to continue this operation and embed it in business as usual, so that law abiding road users can start to see and feel the benefits of improved safety on our Districts roads? Furthermore, could she insist on a similar operation around our schools where children, parents and carers have to continually dice with danger just to access school? 

 

 

8.         Councillor Farley

What representations has the Council made to Airedale and Wharfedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in the light of their decision to cut contribution to social care funding, what is the outcome of those representations and what are the implications for vulnerable people in Keighley and across Airedale and Wharfedale?

 

 

9.         Councillor Rickard

Given the intent to build 40000 homes across the District, can the Portfolio Holder  ...  view the full agenda text for item 28.

29.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE EXECUTIVE AND COMMITTEES (Standing Order 15) pdf icon PDF 125 KB

10.       RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE EXECUTIVE AND COMMITTEES

            (Standing Order 15)

 

10A      CROSS AUTHORITY DELEGATION OF TAXI AND PRIVATE

HIRE ENFORCEMENT POWERS

 

At the meeting of the Regulatory and Appeals Committee on 10 March 2016  the report of theStrategic Director, Environment and Sport (Regulatory and Appeals Committee Document “AV”)  proposed that the Committee make a recommendation to full Council to delegate the power to take enforcement action in respect of taxi and private hire functions to officers within the other West Yorkshire local authorities and the City of York Council, whilst retaining those functions within the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, and accepting similar delegated enforcement powers from those authorities.

 

The report explained that the aim was to have a uniformed approach to licensing to deliver a consistent level of compliance and enforcement regardless of which authority had licensed a vehicle or driver.

 

The Regulatory and Appeals Committee,

 

Resolved –

 

(1)        That it be recommended to Council that:

           

(a)        The taxi and private hire enforcement powers set out in Appendix A to Document “AV” be delegated by the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council to the following local authorities, namely, Leeds City Council, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council and City of York Council, in addition to these functions being retained by the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. 

 

(b)       Similar delegated enforcement powers be accepted from Leeds City Council, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council and the City of York Council.

 

(c)        The Strategic Director, Environment and Sport be instructed to take the necessary action to implement recommendations (1)(a) and (b) above.  

 

(2)        That the Strategic Director, Environment and Sport submit a further report to the Regulatory and Appeals Committee on the effectiveness of the new arrangements in due course.

(Carol Stos - 01274 437506)

 

30.

NOTICES OF MOTION (Standing Order 17)

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

 

1.         HOME EDUCATED CHILDREN

 

To be moved by Councillor J Sunderland

Seconded by Councillor Griffiths

 

This Council notes the comments of the Ofsted Chief Inspector about the "serious and growing threat to the safety and well-being of hundreds of children in several English Regions"

 

This Council takes seriously its responsibility to protect children from harm regardless of education setting. 

 

This Council requests a review of the education of children who are not registered pupils at a school. The review should include but not be restricted to;

 

1.         The local arrangements for establishing the identities of children who are not registered pupils at a school.

 

2.         The arrangements the Council has to identify and prevent children at risk of becoming a child missing education.

 

3.         How the Council discharges its duties with regard to Home Education.

 

4.         An analysis of why the parents or carers of approximately 500 children choose elective home education in the District and where possible to ask the views of the children and young people themselves.

 

5.         The analysis should include questions of attendance or otherwise with other children at places which could potentially be identified as unregistered schools.

 

The information should be presented to a meeting of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee within the next six months for them to review concerns especially with regard to safeguarding and make recommendations for improvement. 

           

 

 

2.         ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHY SOCIETY COLLECTION   

                                   

To be moved by Councillor Cooke

Seconded by Councillor Pennington

 

Council notes the decision of the Science Museum Group to remove the Royal Photography Society collection from Bradford

 

Council believes this decision along with the withdrawal of the National Media Museum from Bradford's three film festivals causes significant damage to the cultural life of the City

 

 

 

 

Council asks the Chief Executive to:

 

1.         Write to the Arts Minister raising our concern about the London-centric bias in arts and cultural funding in England in the context of this decision

 

2.         Write to the District's MPs asking for their support in challenging the decision of the Science Museum Group 3. Raise the issue directly with the Science Museum Group and the V&A arguing that a new centre focused on art in photography should complement the STEM aspects of the medium and that this is best achieved by that new centre being based in Bradford

 

 

3.         TOURISM     

                                   

To be moved by Councillor Miller

Seconded by Councillor Rickard

 

Council notes the importance of tourism to the District's economy and the proposed review of support for the visitor economy in the recent budget.

 

Council believes that:

 

1.         Tourism and the visitor economy are central to the District's future economic growth.

 

2.         Support infrastructure is essential to that visitor economy especially in key tourist locations such as Haworth, Saltaire, Ilkley & Craven.

 

3.         The exclusive focus of the District's events budgets on the City Centre undermines these key tourist hubs.

 

Council resolves:

 

1.         To ask the Chief Executive to extend  ...  view the full agenda text for item 30.

31.

Proposal to Implement the Video Broadcasting on the Internet (Webcasting) of Key Council Meetings pdf icon PDF 98 KB

The report of the Assistant Director, Information Services (Document “U”) recommends the implementation of technology in the Council Chamber and in Committee Room 1 to allow key Council meetings to be broadcast over the internet. There are many benefits to the webcasting of Council meetings but the overall aim is to improve public engagement in the Council’s democratic process.

 

Recommended -

 

That a webcasting solution be implemented and a review of the process be undertaken following 12 months of operation.

 

                                                                        (David Cawthray – 01274 432800)

 

32.

PAY POLICY STATEMENT 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 321 KB

The report of the Director of Human Resources (Document “V”) presents, for approval, the Pay Policy Statement. It is a requirement of the Localism Act 2011 for Local Authorities to produce and publish a Pay Policy Statement for each financial year.

 

Recommended -

 

That the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2016/17, as set out in Appendix 1 to Document “V”, be approved.

                                                           

                                                               (Michelle Moverley – 01274 437883)