The following disclosures on matters under consideration were made:

Motion – Investing in Bradford’s Communities (Minute 49)

Councillor J Sunderland declared an interest as the chair of an organisation involved in asset transfer. During consideration of the motion as the issue of CCTV in Ilkley was raised during the debate Councillor Lee declared an interest as her brother owned bar in the centre of Ilkley.

Motion – Supporting Local Government Workers in Bradford Calling on the Government to Fund Fairer Pay (Minute 52)

Councillor Bacon declared an interest as working for a trade union. The City Solicitor made a statement that it could be perceived that all officers of the Council had a prejudicial interest in this item but none of the officers supporting this meeting including the Chief Executive, herself and the Committee Secretariat officers had given advice on the motion. It would be impractical for the officers supporting the meeting to leave the Council Chamber and any advice given would only be procedural.

Motion – Tackling Fixed Odds Betting Terminals and Problem Gambling (Minute 54)

Councillors Brown and Rickard declared an interest as members of the Regulatory and Appeals Committee and Councillor Ellis as a member of the Licensing Committee and an alternate on the Regulatory and Appeals Committee and did not participate in the decision. Other Members of those Committees also declared an interest but the City Solicitor advised that, although it was for each member to take their own view, the members of those committees were able to participate in the item.

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

ACTION:       City Solicitor

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2017 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Adrian Tumber – 01274 432435)

Resolved -

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2017 be signed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors L Cromie, P Cromie, Imran Hussain, Miller, Mullaney, Riaz, Sajawal and Shaw.

TERRORIST ATROCITY IN SOMALIA

On 14 October 2017 a terror attack took place in Mogadishu leaving many dead and injured and the Lord Mayor asked that our thoughts and prayers be with all those affected.

BRADFORD BULLS LADIES RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM ACHIEVEMENTS

The Lord Mayor hosted a Civic reception on 10 October 2017 for the Bradford Bulls Ladies Rugby League squad to mark their recent achievements in becoming the winners of the first Women's Super League Grand Final in addition to completing a league and cup double by winning the Women’s Challenge Cup final in July and going through the whole season unbeaten. 10 of their players were selected to represent England Rugby League and would travel to the inaugural Women’s Rugby League World Cup in Australia.

SUCCESS OF ILLUMINATE BRADFORD

Illuminate Bradford, held over three days on 13-15 October 2017, was an outdoor event featuring spectacular entertainment including dancers, acrobats, multimedia shows, street performances and light installations. This event was a major success for the City with large numbers of people attending the events and many positive comments. The Lord Mayor thanked all those who worked so hard to ensure the weekend was an outstanding success.

CORPORATE FRAUD TEAM WIN NATIONAL AWARD

Bradford Council gained an award for “Excellence in Corporate Fraud” at this year’s Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV) Performance Awards in Telford on Wednesday 4 October 2017. 

UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD HONOURS UNESCO CITY OF FILM DIRECTOR

It was reported that the University of Bradford had designated David Wilson, Director of Bradford UNESCO City of Film, as an Honorary Visiting Fellow.

YORKSHIRE IN BLOOM SUCCESSES

Appreciation was conveyed by the Lord Mayor to all whose hard work and creative efforts had resulted in commendations by the judging panel of Yorkshire in Bloom. All the groups and individuals had contributed to making the Bradford district a more pleasant and welcoming place in which to live, work and play.

71^st ANNUAL BRADFORD FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE

On Sunday 5 November 2017 the 71st annual Bradford Festival of Remembrance was to be held at Bradford Cathedral. The Lord Mayor requested that this event which remembered the courage and sacrifice of all the members of the country’s armed forces who had lost their lives, been injured or continue to place themselves at risk in the line of duty be supported. 

REMEMBRANCETIDE

The Lord Mayor reminded all Members of Remembrancetide in November. A ceremony would be held on 11 November 2017at the Bradford Cenotaph to mark Armistice Day. Remembrance Sunday would be observed on 12 November 2017 with a service, an Act of Remembrance and wreath-laying ceremony at Bradford Cenotaph with other services taking place at locations throughout the district.

LORD MAYOR’S APPEAL COMMUNITY UNITED WALK – 15 APRIL 2018

A ‘Community United’ sponsored walk from Roberts’ Park, Saltaire along the canal bank to Keighley on 15 April 2018 was being arranged to raise funds for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, the Down Syndrome Training and Support Service in Bingley and for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

There were no restricted documents.

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

Ward

(i)  Regency Court and Walker Drive – Request to close walkway Manningham

(ii) Refuse collection arrangements                                                  Manningham

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

(Tracey Sugden – 01274 434287)

Regency Court and Walker Drive – Request to close walkway

The petitioners were not in attendance so in accordance with Standing Order 11.5 the petition could not be received and will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of Council on 12 December 2017.

Refuse collection arrangements

The petitioners were not in attendance so in accordance with Standing Order 11.5 the petition could not be received and will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of Council on 12 December 2017.

ACTION:       City Solicitor

There are no public questions.

(Tracey Sugden – 01274 434287)

There were no public questions.

That the appointment of the following non-voting co-opted members to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2017/18 Municipal Year be confirmed:

Teachers Secondary School Representative: Tom Bright

Teachers Special School Representative: Irene Docherty

Voluntary Sector Representative: Kerr Kennedy

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). 

Resolved –

(1)       That the appointment of the following non-voting co-opted members to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2017/18 Municipal Year be confirmed:

Teachers Secondary School Representative: Tom Bright

Teachers Special School Representative: Irene Docherty

Voluntary Sector Representative: Kerr Kennedy

(2)       That Councillor Berry be appointed to the Bradford South Area Committee in place of Councillor Sharp and Councillor Sharp be an alternate.

(3)       That Councillor Hassan Khan be appointed to the Regeneration and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee in place of Councillor Salam and Councillor Salam be an alternate.

(4)       That Councillor Love be appointed as the Chair of the Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Councillor Warnes be appointed as the Deputy Chair.

(5)       That Councillor Imran Hussain be appointed as an alternate to the Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee in place of Councillor Tariq Hussain.

ACTION:       City Solicitor           

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.

Council Document “E” details the verbal questions from Members to the Leader of Council and the answers given on the matters contained in the Leader of Council’s written report.

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

Will the portfolio holder join me and congratulate our officers throughout the Council and Merlin Top, Our Lady of Victories and Laycock Primary School on the successful launch of the Children’s Year of Safety in my ward?

2.         Councillor Mike Pollard

Does the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services acknowledge that Council Officers are more accurate in their statement relating to school funding, that “Bradford will be a marginal gainer in the longer term overall”, as is the Department for Education statement that schools in Bradford District will receive an extra £6.5m, than the teaching unions’ ill calculated claims that the District’s schools will lose over £28m of funding?

3.         Councillor Jeannette Sunderland

To the Leader of Council, given recent announcements of backlogs 1000 concerns about the risk of abuse to an adult and a backlog of 500 housing benefit appeal cases can the Leader advise Council of any other backlogs for example in Children’s Services or in the assessment of Carers’ or of those receiving care or Employee Grievances for example?

4.         Councillor Love

Can the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport tell us if the Council has responded to the DCLG consultation ‘Planning for Homes’ launched by Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP in September, which, if implemented as proposed, could lead to a significant reduction in the number of new houses required in Bradford.  If so, can he tell us what that response was?

5.         Councillor Morris

Question for the Leader of the Council - Following the findings of the investigation carried out by ITV and the Guardian, how many Bradford District residents qualify for a reduction in Council Tax on the grounds they suffer from a severe mental impairment and how many residents in the District are actually in receipt of this statutory discount?

6.         Councillor Ahmed

Does the Leader join me in supporting the initiative by Yorkshire Ambulance Service on 16 October of teaching CPR to 25,000 school children across the country at 134 schools in one day, including the following schools in our city: Bradford Girls’ Grammar, Darul u loom dawatul Imam, Dixons City Academy, Dixons McMillan, Prism Independent School and Queensbury School?  We hope that people will recognise the importance of early treatment and that the quicker a patient can receive CPR and a shock from a defibrillator, the greater their chance of survival. The month of October has hence been renamed ‘Shocktober’.

7.  ...  view the full agenda text for item 45.

Council Document “F” details the questions from Members to the Leader of Council and Portfolio Holders and the answers given.

The Council is in the process of preparing a new Local Plan which will contain a suite of documents and will replace the current statutory development plan for Bradford District (the Replacement Unitary Development Plan). The first of the Local Plan documents is the Core Strategy, which sets out the strategic approach to managing development and change to 2030, and was adopted in July 2017. The DPD was approved by Full Council on 20 October 2015 for submission to government for examination. Following publication for representations an examination was held with a government appointed Inspector.

On 12 September 2017 the Executive considered the report of the Strategic Director, Place (Executive Document “Q”) as the Council had now received the Planning Inspector’s Final Report and recommendations for the Bradford District Waste Management DPD (attached as Appendix 1). The Inspector has considered all the matters before him including the plan, the evidence underpinning it, and the objections and representations made and the published modifications. In his report he concludes that the Plan can be considered to be legally compliant and sound, providing a limited set of Main Modifications (attached as Appendix 2) are made to the plan as submitted and ready for adoption by the Council.

The Executive,

Resolved -

(1)       That the contents of Document “Q” and contents of the Inspector’s Report (Appendix 1 to Document “Q”) be noted and it be recommended that Full Council formally adopt the Bradford District Waste Management Development Plan as approved by Full Council on 20^th October 2015 and submitted to the government for examination with the Main Modifications contained in Appendix 2, as proposed by the Inspector pursuant to Section 23 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

(2)       That the Assistant Director (Planning Transportation and Highways) in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder be authorised to make other minor amendments of redrafting or of a similar nature as may be necessary prior to formal publication.

                                                                        (Bhupinder Dev – 01274 432012)

Previous reference: Executive Minute 32 (2017/18)

The Council was preparing a new Local Plan which would contain a suite of documents and replace the current statutory development plan for Bradford District (the Replacement Unitary Development Plan). The first of the Local Plan documents was the Core Strategy, which set out the strategic approach to managing development and change to 2030, and was adopted in July 2017. The DPD was approved by Full Council on 20 October 2015 for submission to government for examination. Following publication for representations an examination was held with a government appointed Inspector.

On 12 September 2017 the Executive considered the report of the Strategic Director, Place (Executive Document “Q”) as the Council had received the Planning Inspector’s Final Report and recommendations for the Bradford District Waste Management DPD. The Inspector had considered all the matters before him including the plan, the evidence underpinning it, and the objections and representations made and the published modifications. In his report he concluded that the Plan can be considered to be legally compliant and sound, providing a limited set of Main Modifications were made to the plan as submitted and ready for adoption by the Council.

Resolved -

(1)       That the Bradford District Waste Management Development Plan as approved by Full Council on 20 October 2015 be formally adopted and submitted to the government for examination with the Main Modifications contained in Appendix 2 to Executive Document “Q”, as proposed by the Inspector pursuant to Section 23 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

(2)       That the Assistant Director (Planning Transportation and Highways) in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder be authorised to make other minor amendments of redrafting or of a similar nature as may be necessary prior to formal publication.

ACTION:       Strategic Director Place

A vote was taken and carried on re-ordering the business on the agenda so that Motion 4, Support for Bradford’s Rohingya Community, was considered next on the agenda.

A motion, as set out in the resolution below, was moved by Councillor Hinchcliffe and was carried.

Resolved-

This Council notes:

·         The United Nations has described the exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar to Bangladesh as “the most urgent refugee emergency in the world” with “widespread human rights violations” in what appears to be “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing”.

·         Bradford has a significant Rohingya Muslim population, the largest in Europe, who are understandably extremely concerned for the safety of their loved ones.

This Council calls on the international community to:

·         Exert its influence to stop the persecution now

·         Intervene so that humanitarian aid is allowed in to support the Rohingya immediately

·         Ensure that Bangladesh has sufficient resources to sustain the Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution.

This Council resolves to support Rohingya Bradfordians by:

·         Recognising the Bradford Rohingya Community UK Association as a representative body of the Bradford Rohingya Community and support this newly established body to organise themselves as a charity.

·         Ensuring the Bradford Rohingya community has full access to ESOL classes now available through the Government’s ‘Controlling Migration Fund’ and other services so that they can take a full and active role in life in Bradford.

• Supporting the Bradford Rohingya Community to manage their charity relief effort to support the plight of others in their homeland.

ACTION:       Chief Executive/ all Strategic Directors           

A motion was moved by Councillor Cooke.

An amendment, as set out in the resolution below, moved by Councillor Ferriby was carried.

An amendment was also moved by Councillor Hawkesworth.

Resolved –

Council notes:

·         Capital investment across the district that has run to millions of pounds over many years including Shipley and Keighley Library, Shipley pool, Cliffe Castle, Keighley Market and Saltaire public realm works, with more investment in the pipeline including road improvements in Keighley (Hard Ings & North Street)

·         Planned multi-million pound investment in two new swimming pools which will complement existing refurbished provision in Eccleshill, Ilkley, Shipley and Keighley

·         Non-capital investment and support with partners across the whole district such as Tour de Yorkshire, Ilkley and Bradford Literature Festival, Shipley Street Arts Festival, Saltaire Festival,  Bingley Music Live, International Women’s Day, Pride Event

·         Our Investment Strategy which outlines our approach to making investments to generate revenue that in turn supports the funding of services for the whole district

·         A budget of £200k per annum for two years has been identified  to provide further support to community groups going through the Community Asset Transfer process, including legal and surveying staff

·         The unprecedented scale of government cuts, with the central government grant for Bradford Council being cut completely by 2020. This austerity is being felt across the public sector including the police, fire service and the NHS

Council:

(1)       Recognises the unprecedented pressure on the revenue budget caused by government cuts and believes that the proper use of capital investment is to support all the District’s communities.

(2)       Asks that the Finance Director continues with the implementation of appropriate support to community groups who have come forward to express an interest in taking on community facilities and services.

(3)       Asks the Finance Director to produce a report to the Executive investigating and identifying additional income and revenue generation opportunities for the Council that can be used to support communities and services across the district, such as the investment in the NCP car park that will see an income generation line, net of borrowing costs, of approximately £160,000 per annum for Bradford residents.

ACTION:       Strategic Director Corporate Services

A motion was moved by Councillor Ward.

An amendment, as set out in the resolution below, moved by Councillor Imran Khan was carried.

Resolved-

This Council notes that the UK's Creative Industries are worth over £80 billion per year to the UK economy and account for nearly 2 million jobs.

The ‘Bacc for the Future’ campaign led and supported by over 200 arts and education organisations forewarned that the introduction of the English Baccalaureate would put arts subjects at risk.

This Council notes the recent disturbing report by the Education Policy Institute ‘Entries to arts subjects at Key Stage 4’ which, at a national level, identifies a link between the introduction of the English Baccalaureate and Progress 8 and the decline in the number of pupils taking arts subjects in 2016 to its lowest level for a decade.

This Council calls on the Government to evaluate the impact of the introduction of the English Baccalaureate and the use of Progress 8 as an accountability measure on the take up of arts subjects at Key Stage 4 and take actions to remedy any decline that might have occurred.

This Council also believes that Art & Culture play an important role in the development of a child and welcomes the continuing commitment to the Education Covenant, which includes championing the District’s unique art and cultural offer. This Council asks the Director of Children’s Services to further strengthen the cultural element of the Education Covenant in conjunction with local partners as well as Arts Council England.

ACTION:       Strategic Director Children’s Services

A motion was moved by Councillor Jeanette Sunderland.

An amendment, as set out in the resolution below, moved by Councillor Val Slater was carried.

Resolved –

This Council notes:

·         the increasing level of  childhood obesity globally as outlined in the World Health Organisation report “Ending Childhood Obesity”

·      the reducing levels of physical activity in children and young people

·      outdoor activity and play are contributors to the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

This Council welcomes the ongoing work to tackle these issues by:

·       the introduction of the Healthy Bradford plan and the Healthy Bradford Charter

·       taking a whole systems approach in conjunction with Public Health England and Leeds Beckett University

·       actively working with existing strategies and a wide range of partners including Active Bradford, the Born in Bradford project and the Design in the Public Sector programme

·       Learning from and sharing good practice with other councils, such as Birmingham and Wigan

This Council resolves to:

·         Encourage the “Daily Mile” in Schools

·     Task Public Health, the Neighbourhoods service, Highways and Communities to progress the Active streets model (which includes temporary street closures) in conjunction with the Play Champion

·         Review and Revise the “All to Play for” strategy     

ACTION:       Strategic Director Children’s Services/Strategic Director Place/Strategic Director Health and Wellbeing

A motion, as set out in the resolution below, was moved by Councillor Hinchcliffe and was carried.

An amendment moved by Councillor Cooke was defeated.

Resolved-

This Council notes:

·         For most workers in local government and schools, pay and other terms and conditions are determined by the National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services

·         On average across the country, NJC basic pay has fallen by 21% in real terms since 2010

·         NJC workers had a three-year pay freeze from 2010-2012 and have received only 1% pay increase annually since then

·         NJC pay is the lowest in the public sector

This Council therefore supports the NJC pay claim for 2018, submitted by UNISON, GMB and Unite on behalf of council and school workers and calls for the immediate end of public sector pay restraint. NJC pay cannot be allowed to fall further behind other parts of the public sector. This Council also welcomes the joint review of the NJC pay spine to remedy the turbulence caused by bottom-loaded pay settlements.

Council further notes the drastic ongoing cuts to our funding by the Government which has impacted staff here in Bradford. Council calls on the Government to provide all additional resources to ensure local authorities can fund a decent pay rise for NJC employees and the pay spine review.

This Council resolves to:

·         Write to the LGA asking it to make urgent representations to Government to fund the NJC claim and the pay spine review;

·         Write to the Prime Minister and Chancellor supporting the NJC pay claim and seeking the additional resources needed to fund a decent pay rise and the pay spine review

·         Write to local NJC union representatives to convey support for the pay claim and the pay spine review.

ACTION:       Chief Executive/Director of Human Resources

A motion, as set out in the resolution below, was moved by Councillor Hinchcliffe and was carried.

Resolved-

This Council notes:

·         Bradford Council’s net budget in 2020 will be around half what it was in 2010 and our workforce has reduced by over 2,000 staff since the start of the government’s austerity programme

·         At his Autumn Budget on 22 November the Chancellor has an opportunity to promote good growth and reconsider any further planned cuts.

·         The Council’s submission of what should be included in the Autumn Budget has been sent to Government, setting out our ambitions and the investments and support needed to achieve them

This Council:

·         Asks the District’s MPs to back Bradford’s investment asks and seek meetings with Ministers to promote them.

·         Will continue to press government for a national plan to address the social care crisis

·      Requests that the Chief Executive draws up a prospectus setting out the case for investment in Bradford District and the returns to be achieved through the public, private and third sectors working together to secure the necessary resources and reforms.  This should build on the work of the economic strategy.

ACTION:       Chief Executive

A motion was moved by Councillor Dunbar.

An amendment, as set out in the resolution below, was moved by Councillor Dunbar and was carried.

Resolved –

This Council notes: 

·         In Bradford we have 62 betting shops but among these there are a large number of FOBTs – up to 248.

·         The prevalence of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) in betting shops, often referred to in the media as “the crack cocaine of gambling”, allowing bets of up to £100 every 20 seconds 

·         In 2012, over £1.5bn was lost on FOBTs across the UK. More profit was made from FOBTs than from the National Lottery, yet the most recent British Gambling Prevalence Survey found that while 56% of the population play the Lottery, just 4% play FOBTs.

·         Research carried out by Geofutures, which found there are four times as many betting shops, which house FOBTs, in areas of high unemployment than in areas of low unemployment.

·         Concern of the continued delays by Government in reporting back from the Review of Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures

·         The position in the Republic of Ireland where the Government has introduced legislation to ban FOBTs in betting shops.

Bradford Council is concerned that the increase in FOBTs is causing significant problems and believes the Government should introduce legislation to ban B2 casino games in betting shops. 

This Council will write to Government expressing our concerns outlined above and to ask for a speedy publication of their response to the Review of Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures.  If this does not recommend a ban then we additionally request that Government:

·         Reduces the maximum bet per spin on FOBTs to £2

·         Starts an immediate review of problem gambling

·         Introduces a compulsory levy for gambling companies that will fund research and treatment to help problem gamblers deal with their addiction

• Grants local authorities greater powers through the planning system to restrict the excessive clustering on our high streets of betting shops with FOBTs.

ACTION:       Chief Executive/Strategic Director Place