A vote was taken and carried under Rules of Procedure 9.1.2 and 9.1.4 on re-ordering the business on the agenda and combining the debates on the Motion, Northcliffe Park, Shipley is one of five sites in the District being considered for a new crematorium as part of the Council’s Bereavement Strategy, and the petition concerning the same matter.

The following disclosures on matters under consideration were made:

Petition & Motion – Northcliffe Park, Shipley (Minutes 43 and 51)

Councillors R Ahmed, Amran, Azam, Brown, Cooke, Godwin, Griffiths, Lal, M Pollard, Wainwright, Warburton and Watson declared an interest as a Trustee of Northcliffe Park being a member or alternate of the Regulatory and Appeals Committee. Those members left the meeting during consideration of the motion and petition with the exception of Councillors Azam and M Pollard. Councillor Ross-Shaw declared that he belongs to the Friends of Northcliffe community group.

Motion – Building a Statutory Youth Service (Minute 53)

Councillor M Smith declared an interest as Chair of the Ilkley Youth and Community Association and Councillor Gibbons as a member of the Trustee Board; Councillor Whiteley as a member of Burley in Wharfedale Parish Council which was paying Bradford Council’s Youth Service to design and deliver services, and Councillor Wood as an alternate for the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Motion – Protecting the Protectors (Minute 54)

Councillors Dodds, Peart, M Pollard, Sunderland and Tait declared an interest as a member of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Councillors Brown, Dunbar and T Hussain as a member of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel.

Motion – Period Poverty (Minute 56)

During the debate on this motion Councillor Sunderland declared that she is a donator to Plan International.

The Lord Mayor declared he was a Governor of a school in Keighley.

With the exception where indicated the disclosures were made on the basis of transparency and those Members remained in the meeting during consideration and voting on the item.

ACTION:       City Solicitor

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2018 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Adrian Tumber – 01274 432435)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2018 be signed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ellis, Mir and Nazir.

DEATH OF FORMER LADY MAYORESS, MRS FLORENCE SAVILLE

It was with sadness that the Lord Mayor reported the death of former Lady Mayoress, Mrs Florence Mary Saville. Mrs Saville who was Lady Mayoress in 1990/91, alongside her husband Ernest as Lord Mayor, died on 19 August 2018. On behalf of the people of the district, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress attended Mrs Saville’s funeral service and wrote to express  sympathy to the family.

DEATHS OF FORMER COUNCILLORS KEVIN HAWKINS AND MOHAMMAD MASOOD

It was also with regret that the Lord Mayor reported to Council the deaths of two former Councillors which had taken place since our last meeting.

Former Councillor Kevin Hawkins, OBE, who died, aged 71, on 11 September 2018 served this Council from 1975 until 1980 representing the ward of Silsden, Addingham, Kildwick and Steeton with Eastburn and from 1980 to 1983 he represented the Craven ward. He was Conservative group Chief Whip and Co-ordinator in 1979/80, went on to serve as Deputy Leader in 1980/81 and became Leader of the Group from 1981/82.

Former Councillor Mohammad Masood worked for this Authority as an Officer, before becoming an elected Member for the Heaton ward in 2004, a position he held until 2010. He worked for many years as a senior town planning officer and as Bradford West Area Co-ordinator. As a councillor Mohammad Masood was appointed as portfolio holder for Corporate Services on the Council’s Executive.

The Lord Mayor had written to both families extending condolences and to express gratitude for the work they carried out for this Council. Members paid tribute to former councillors Hawkins and Masood and Mrs Saville and stood for a minute’s silence.

RETIREMENT OF HER MAJESTY’S LORD-LIEUTENANT FOR WEST YORKSHIRE AND THE APPOINTMENT OF HER SUCCESSOR

Dame Ingrid Roscoe, DCVO, who for 14 years had served as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, stood down on 1^st September 2018. On behalf of the people of the district, the Lord Mayor wrote to Dame Ingrid on her retirement to thank her for her years of dedicated and distinguished service. Her Majesty The Queen appointed Mr Edmund (Ed) Anderson, DL as Lord-Lieutenant for West Yorkshire and he took up the position on 1 September 2018. The Lord Mayor had written to the new Lord-Lieutenant to congratulate him on his appointment.

Prior to her retiring, Dame Ingrid appointed the following as Deputy Lieutenants for the county: Zulfi Karim (Secretary-General of the Council for Mosques); Wahida Shaffi (the West Yorkshire Co-ordinator of Near Neighbours, a countrywide initiative bringing together people from different backgrounds to forge relationships of trust) and Mrs Elizabeth Reynolds, JP (a magistrate of thirty years’ standing, who was Deputy Chairman of the Bradford and Keighley Bench from 2011-2015 and then Chairman from 2015-2017). 

BRADFORD BULLS CHAMPIONSHIP PROMOTION

The Lord Mayor congratulated Bradford Bulls rugby team on clinching promotion to the Championship with a 27-8 victory over Workington at Odsal on 7 October 2018 in the League One play  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

There were no restricted documents.

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

Ward

(i)        Bonn Road, Bradford – Residents Parking Scheme                Toller

(ii)        Milman Swing Bridge, Apperley Bridge Road                Idle &Thackley

(iii)       Northcliffe Park – proposed site for crematorium                                   Shipley

(iv)       Health and Environment in Shipley – proposed alterations to road junctions at the former Branch Hotel site and Otley Road/Valley Road, Shipley                                                                                                Shipley

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

(Fatima Butt - 01274 432227)

The following petitions were received:

Bonn Road, Bradford – Residents Parking Scheme

Resolved –

That the petition be referred to the Bradford West Area Committee.

Milman Swing Bridge

Resolved –

That the petition be referred to the Bradford East Area Committee.

Northcliffe Park, Shipley – Consideration of site for a new crematorium

Resolved –

That the petition be referred to the Executive.

Health and Environment in Shipley

Resolved -

That the petition be referred to the Executive.

ACTION:       City Solicitor

There are no public questions.

(Fatima Butt - 01274 432227)

There were no public questions.

Recommended -

That the appointment of the following non-voting co-opted representatives to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2018/2019 municipal year be approved:

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 –

That the appointment of the following non-voting co-opted representatives to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2018/2019 municipal year be approved:

Teachers Secondary School Representative: Tom Bright

Teachers Special School Representative: Irene Docherty

Voluntary Sector Representative: Kerr Kennedy

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 “H” 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. 

1.         Councillor Abid Hussain

Can the Portfolio Holder give an update on the Council’s plans to increase footfall on Darley Street and other streets around the middle and top of town areas in the city centre?

2.         Councillor Debbie Davies

Can the Portfolio Holder for Education, Employment and Skills inform colleagues of any actions which are being taken to meet the Children, Young People and Families Plan 2017-20 objective, of reducing unauthorised primary and secondary school absences within the district, to beneath the national average?

3.         Councillor Jeanette Sunderland

What action is being taken to address the on-going potential safeguarding concerns arising from the limited capacity to conduct direct payment audits for social care clients?

4.         Councillor Kevin Warnes

Now that the Council has demolished the Branch Hotel, one of Shipley’s oldest local landmarks, in order to widen the nearby road, what steps have been taken to date to involve local residents and community groups in exploring the full range of possible design options for the new junction and thereby maximising its capacity for cutting air pollution and boosting low carbon travel, cycling and local walking networks?

5.         Councillor Angela Tait

Would the Leader join me in congratulating the Bradford Chamber of Commerce and all supporting organisations in the success of the pilot Bradford Manufacturing Week which brought together manufacturers, schools, young people and parents through tours, work experience, seminars, exhibitions and learning events held at manufacturer premises and key locations across the district?

6.         Councillor Richard Dunbar

Does the Leader agree that the Prime Minister as the creator of the hostile environment policy needs to take more proactive action to support members of the Windrush Generations rather than continue to blame them for their fate?

7.         Councillor John Pennington

In light of the fact that the Bradford Brewery has closed after just 3 years trading, despite being awarded grants of £170,000, can the Leader of the Council advise colleagues of measures in place to ensure that grants awarded more recently, are likely to provide other than short term benefit?

8.         Councillor Taj Salam

Can the Portfolio Holder tell me how much fly-tipping we have picked up in the last year and what is the cost?

9.         Councillor Richard Dunbar

Would the Leader agree that the continued delay of the Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) stake reduction will do nothing but cause more harm to those suffering the harsh realities of problem gambling.

10.       Councillor Andrew Senior

Can the Portfolio Holder  ...  view the full agenda text for item 47.

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

            RECOMMENDATION FROM THE GOVERNANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE -Treasury Management Policy Statement, Minimum Revenue Provision Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy 2018/19

The report of the Assistant Director, Finance and Procurement (Governance and Audit Document “AD” 2017/18) shows the Council’s Treasury Strategy for borrowing for the three financial years commencing 2018/19 and the Annual Investment Strategy for 2018/19.

            Recommended-

That the report of the Governance and Audit Committee (Document “AD”) be adopted.

                                                                                    (David Willis – 01274 432361)

The report of the Assistant Director, Finance and Procurement (Governance and Audit Document “AD” 2017/18) showed the Council’s Treasury Strategy for borrowing for the three financial years commencing 2018/19 and the Annual Investment Strategy for 2018/19.

Resolved –

That the report of the Governance and Audit Committee (Document “AD”) be adopted.

ACTION:        Assistant Director Finance and Procurement

The report of the Assistant Director, Finance and Procurement (Governance and Audit Committee Document “P” 2018/19) shows the Council’s Treasury Management activities for the year ending 31 March 2018.

            Recommended –

That the report of the Governance and Audit Committee (Document “P”) be adopted. 

                                                                        (David Willis – 01274 432361)

The report of the Assistant Director, Finance and Procurement (Governance and Audit Committee Document “P” 2018/19) showed the Council’s Treasury Management activities for the year ending 31 March 2018.

Resolved –

That the report of the Governance and Audit Committee (Document “P”) be adopted.

ACTION:        Assistant Director Finance and Procurement

The report of the Assistant Director, Finance and Procurement (Governance and Audit Committee Document “Q” 2018/19) shows the Council’s Treasury Mid Year Review up to 31 August 2018.

            Recommended –

That the report of the Governance and Audit Committee (Document “Q”) be adopted.

                                                                        (David Willis – 01274 432361)

The report of the Assistant Director, Finance and Procurement (Governance and Audit Committee Document “Q” 2018/19) showed the Council’s Treasury Mid Year Review up to 31 August 2018.

Resolved –

That the report of the Governance and Audit Committee (Document “Q”) be adopted.

ACTION:        Assistant Director Finance and Procurement

To be moved by Councillor Kevin Warnes

Seconded by Councillor Martin Love

Council notes that:

a)    Northcliffe Park is one of several sites being considered by the Labour Executive as the location for a replacement crematorium for the Council’s existing facility in Nab Wood;

b)    a new crematorium would be a substantial structure, with car parking and a garden of remembrance; would require new access roads; and would therefore substantially degrade the amenity of a large part of the existing park;

c)    the 1921 Indenture makes it clear that the park can only be used “entirely as an open space for the recreation and benefit of the public and for no other purpose whatever”;

d)    Shipley residents are overwhelmingly opposed to the option of building a crematorium in Northcliffe Park.

Council therefore requests that the Labour Executive formally remove Northcliffe Park from the list of possible sites for a new crematorium.

A motion was moved by Councillor Warnes.

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

Resolved –

Council notes that:

a)    The Labour Executive is planning to make a necessary investment in bereavement facilities to meet the district’s needs now and into the future. This is to ensure that all communities have access to the high-quality, caring and efficient services we all rightly expect;

b)   Nab Wood, Scholemoor and Oakworth crematoria are emitting mercury into the atmosphere and for this, the Council on behalf of Bradford pays an annual levy;

c)    Cleaner, more efficient crematoria are essential for the district in the future;

d)   A part of Northcliffe Park is one of five sites to be considered by the Executive as the location for a replacement crematorium for the Council’s existing facility in Nab Wood; a part of Littlemoor Park, Queensbury is another potential location being considered. The other three sites are commercially confidential.

e)    There are very few sites suitable for a crematorium anywhere in Bradford such is the strict national legislation governing their location;

f)     The Council has commissioned a detailed feasibility study into the five sites;

g)   The Council values the parks and green spaces of Bradford and would always by preference avoid using them for this special purpose. It will always respect the decision of trustees regarding the parks.

The Executive therefore awaits the findings of the feasibility study which it will then consider along with all the facts and expressed public sentiment before a decision can be reached. This will not happen before 2019.

ACTION:        Strategic Director Place

To be moved by Councillor Martin Love

Seconded by Councillor Kevin Warnes

Council notes:

1.    The government is proposing, via a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS), to allow the exploration phase of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to be allowed under Permitted Development (PD), therefore requiring no planning permission.

2.    The government is also proposing to bring the production phase of fracking under Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) and for this to be decided centrally by government and the planning inspectorate. This will take decisions away from local councils. If approved, this approach could be extended to include other types of oil and gas exploration, such as acid stimulation, through secondary legislation.

Council believes that local planning authorities should retain democratic control of all local mineral and fossil fuel development.

?Council therefore requests the Chief Executive to (a) respond to the government consultation before the deadline of 25^th October 2018, to (b) reject the changes proposed for PD and NSIP as inappropriate and (c) make it clear that our view is that local planning authorities should retain local control and primacy for all planning decisions at all stages for all types of oil and gas exploration.

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

Resolved –

Council notes:

(1)          The government is proposing, via a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS), to allow the exploration phase of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to be allowed under Permitted Development (PD), therefore requiring no planning permission.

(2)          The government is also proposing to bring the production phase of fracking under Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) and for this to be decided centrally by government and the planning inspectorate. This will take decisions away from local councils. If approved, this approach could be extended to include other types of oil and gas exploration, such as acid stimulation, through secondary legislation.

Council believes that local planning authorities should retain democratic control of all local mineral and fossil fuel development.

?Council therefore requests the Chief Executive to (a) respond to the government consultation before the deadline of 25^th October 2018, to (b) reject the changes proposed for PD and NSIP as inappropriate and (c) make it clear that our view is that local planning authorities should retain local control and primacy for all planning decisions at all stages for all types of oil and gas exploration.

ACTION:        Chief Executive/Strategic Director Place

To be moved by Councillor Richard Dunbar

Seconded by Councillor Sue Duffy

This Council notes:

•    That the Conservative Government has failed young people by overseeing unprecedented and cruel cuts to youth services across the country. Overall spending on youth services in England has fallen by £737m (62%) since 2010.

•       Youth work as a profession has been eroded and undermined through funding cuts and market reforms. This has resulted in a reduction in the number of JNC programmes, the number of providers employing JNC qualified workers and the number of students enrolling in undergraduate programmes. Between 2012 and 2016, 600 youth centres closed down and 3,500 youth workers lost their jobs.

•       Cuts to youth services have devastated the lives of young people by damaging community cohesion, making it harder to stay in formal education, and having a negative impact on their health and wellbeing. 83% of youth workers say the cuts have had an effect on crime and anti-social behaviour.

•       Youth work is a distinct educational process offering young people safe spaces to explore their identity, experience decision-making, increase their confidence, develop inter-personal skills and think through the consequences of their actions. This leads to better informed choices, changes in activity and improved outcomes for young people.

This Council believes:

•       Youth services should be made statutory, recognising the important role universal youth work plays in supporting young people to realise their potential.

•       Each local authority would set up a local youth services partnership with young people, parents, professionals and councillors, to ensure that the new national provision is tailored to the needs of each community.

•       It should be the responsibility of the Secretary of State to promote and secure youth services in each local authority across the country.

•       There should be a mandated national body with dedicated ring fenced funding to oversee youth service provision across England implemented through a local partnership board.

This Council:

•       Instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State urging a change to make youth services a statutory service given the issues faced by young people in Britain today.

•       Notes the Labour Party is running a consultation into youth services. We resolve for the Leader to submit our views before the deadline on Monday 12 November 2018.

•       Will ask Bradford District MPs to support and campaign for statutory youth services.

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

Amendments moved by Councillor Sunderland and Councillor Rickard were defeated.

Resolved –

This Council notes:

•     That the Conservative Government has failed young people by overseeing unprecedented and cruel cuts to youth services across the country. Overall spending on youth services in England has fallen by £737m (62%) since 2010.

•     Youth work as a profession has been eroded and undermined through funding cuts and market reforms. This has resulted in a reduction in the number of JNC programmes, the number of providers employing JNC qualified workers and the number of students enrolling in undergraduate programmes. Between 2012 and 2016, 600 youth centres closed down and 3,500 youth workers lost their jobs.

•     Cuts to youth services have devastated the lives of young people by damaging community cohesion, making it harder to stay in formal education, and having a negative impact on their health and wellbeing. 83% of youth workers say the cuts have had an effect on crime and anti-social behaviour.

•     Youth work is a distinct educational process offering young people safe spaces to explore their identity, experience decision-making, increase their confidence, develop inter-personal skills and think through the consequences of their actions. This leads to better informed choices, changes in activity and improved outcomes for young people.

This Council believes:

•     Youth services should be made statutory, recognising the important role universal youth work plays in supporting young people to realise their potential.

•     Each local authority would set up a local youth services partnership with young people, parents, professionals and councillors, to ensure that the new national provision is tailored to the needs of each community.

•     It should be the responsibility of the Secretary of State to promote and secure youth services in each local authority across the country.

•     There should be a mandated national body with dedicated ring fenced funding to oversee youth service provision across England implemented through a local partnership board.

This Council:

•     Instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State urging a change to make youth services a statutory service given the issues faced by young people in Britain today.

•     Notes the Labour Party is running a consultation into youth services. We resolve for the Leader to submit our views before the deadline on Monday 12 November 2018.

•     Will ask Bradford District MPs to support and campaign for statutory youth services.

ACTION:        Chief Executive/Leader of Council

To be moved by Councillor Abdul Jabar

Seconded by Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe

This Council notes:

·         Public servants in the police, fire and ambulance services put themselves in extraordinary situations to protect us every day.

·         Antisocial behaviour and attacks against those professionals are unacceptable and put lives at risk both by threatening the safety of the worker and by diverting resources from emergencies. This is a problem throughout the year, including around Bonfire Night.

This Council:

·         Endorses Holly Lynch MP’s ‘Protect the Protectors’ campaign and will support publicity campaigns to promote safe and responsible behaviour and raise awareness of the tougher sentences arising from the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill.

·         Supports our partners in police, fire and health and the trade unions in their work to combat antisocial behaviour and attacks, including through engagement activities in schools and other youth and community settings.

Calls on residents to: be respectful to public servants keeping us safe; enjoy safe bonfires and fireworks by preparing properly, getting appropriate permissions and acting responsibly, ideally by attending well run public events; help educate young people about the risks of fire and the need to treat each other and the emergency services with respect.

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

Resolved –

This Council notes:

·         Public servants in the police, fire and ambulance services put themselves in extraordinary situations to protect us every day.

·         Antisocial behaviour and attacks against those professionals are unacceptable and put lives at risk both by threatening the safety of the worker and by diverting resources from emergencies. This is a problem throughout the year, including around Bonfire Night.

This Council:

·         Endorses Holly Lynch MP’s ‘Protect the Protectors’ campaign and will support publicity campaigns to promote safe and responsible behaviour and raise awareness of the tougher sentences arising from the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill.

·         Supports our partners in police, fire and health and the trade unions in their work to combat antisocial behaviour and attacks, including through engagement activities in schools and other youth and community settings.

Calls on residents to: be respectful to public servants keeping us safe; enjoy safe bonfires and fireworks by preparing properly, getting appropriate permissions and acting responsibly, ideally by attending well run public events; help educate young people about the risks of fire and the need to treat each other and the emergency services with respect.

ACTION:        Chief Executive       

To be moved by Councillor Sarah Ferriby

Seconded by Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe

This Council notes:

·         The majority of people living in the Bradford District take pride in where they live. The most recent official data from the Office for National Statistics finds that Bradford people are happier than they were 12 months ago.

·         However litter dents this pride. It is a blight on streets, parks and other public spaces and it costs councils across the UK hundreds of millions of pounds a year to clear up.

·         We carry out street cleaning and enforcement activities against culprits in order to clean up our district and we provide practical support to volunteers and community groups who do great work cleaning up public spaces.

·         Behaviour change among the minority of people who create litter is essential in order to deal with the root cause and reduce the huge environmental and financial cost.

This Council resolves to                                                                                 

·         Have a Big Clean-Up Day involving councillors and community volunteers across the district.

·         Launch pilot programmes across the district trialling innovative methods alongside established activities and engage with the business community, such as fast food outlets, to jointly tackle littering.

·         Seek community champions to work with officers in strengthening community and business engagement in their local areas.

·         Work with partners on awareness-raising campaigns to educate about the massive cost of litter and to encourage behaviour change.

·         Continue with strong enforcement measures and continue to explore new options together with partners.

Call on the Government to make significant funds available for us to carry out additional work to build community resilience and strengthen community cohesion in tackling the blight of litter.

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

Amendments moved by Councillor Reid and Councillor Poulsen were defeated.

Resolved –

This Council notes:

·         The majority of people living in the Bradford District take pride in where they live. The most recent official data from the Office for National Statistics finds that Bradford people are happier than they were 12 months ago.

·         However litter dents this pride. It is a blight on streets, parks and other public spaces and it costs councils across the UK hundreds of millions of pounds a year to clear up.

·         We carry out street cleaning and enforcement activities against culprits in order to clean up our district and we provide practical support to volunteers and community groups who do great work cleaning up public spaces.

·         Behaviour change among the minority of people who create litter is essential in order to deal with the root cause and reduce the huge environmental and financial cost.

This Council resolves to                                                                              

·         Have a Big Clean-Up Day involving councillors and community volunteers across the district.

·         Launch pilot programmes across the district trialling innovative methods alongside established activities and engage with the business community, such as fast food outlets, to jointly tackle littering.

·         Seek community champions to work with officers in strengthening community and business engagement in their local areas.

·         Work with partners on awareness-raising campaigns to educate about the massive cost of litter and to encourage behaviour change.

·         Continue with strong enforcement measures and continue to explore new options together with partners.

Call on the Government to make significant funds available for us to carry out additional work to build community resilience and strengthen community cohesion in tackling the blight of litter.

ACTION:        Strategic Director Place

To be moved by Councillor Sarah Ferriby

Seconded by Councillor Abdul Jabar

This Council notes:

·         Because of Government cuts more than one in four children in the UK are living in poverty (27.1% in 2015-16) and this will rise to almost one in three (31.3%) by 2021-22, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

·         Food bank use has risen rapidly in recent years with the Trussell Trust reporting it gave out a record 1.3m food parcels to an estimated 666,000 people in 2017-18, up 13% on the previous year.

·         People who are unable to afford food might also be unable to afford other essentials such as sanitary products. Young girls may be particularly vulnerable to the impact as it could lead to them missing school or having to choose between buying food or sanitary protection.

·         After being tasked by the Leader to explore how we can address this issue, officers launched a pilot scheme at Britannia House in May this year to take donations of products to be provided through the Storehouse, a local charity that supplies over 30 food banks.

This Council will:

·         Carry out more detailed research to identify the causes and extent of the issue, what good practice is already taking place and what more can be done to address the problem most effectively across the district.

·         Work with partners such as the Clinical Commissioning Group, schools, the Red Box project and the Storehouse to establish the best ways to tackle the problem.

·         Ask officers to report back to the Leader before the end of December with their findings and options for scaling up our activity with partners.

·         Call on Government to remove VAT from all sanitary products.

A motion was moved by Councillor Ferriby.

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

An amendment moved by Councillor Davies was defeated.

Resolved –

This Council notes:

·         Because of Government cuts more than one in four children in the UK are living in poverty (27.1% in 2015-16) and this will rise to almost one in three (31.3%) by 2021-22, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

·         Food bank use has risen rapidly in recent years with the Trussell Trust reporting it gave out a record 1.3m food parcels to an estimated 666,000 people in 2017-18, up 13% on the previous year.

·         People who are unable to afford food might also be unable to afford other essentials such as sanitary products. Young girls may be particularly vulnerable to the impact as it could lead to them missing school or having to choose between buying food or sanitary protection.

·         After being tasked by the Leader to explore how we can address this issue, officers launched a pilot scheme at Britannia House in May this year to take donations of products to be provided through the Storehouse, a local charity that supplies over 30 food banks.

This Council will:

·         Carry out more detailed research to identify the causes and extent of the issue, what good practice is already taking place and what more can be done to address the problem most effectively across the district.

·         Work with partners such as the Clinical Commissioning Group, schools, the Red Box project and the Storehouse to establish the best ways to tackle the problem.

·         Ask officers to report back to the Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee before the end of December with their findings and options for scaling up our activity with partners.

·         Call on Government to remove VAT from all sanitary products.

ACTION:        Strategic Director Health and Wellbeing

To be moved by Councillor Simon Cooke

Seconded by Councillor Mike Ellis

Council notes:

1. 2018 marks the centenary for the armistice at the end of the 1914-18 Great War
2. That the city remembers the sacrifice of local people at that time each year

Council believes that the cause of peace is served by remembering the sacrifices of armed servicemen and women as well as in noting the horrors of war

Council affirms its commitment to supporting the Military Covenant and to providing support to current and former members of Britain’s armed services.

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

Resolved –

Council notes:

(1)       2018 marks the centenary for the armistice at the end of the 1914-18 Great War.

(2)       That the city remembers the sacrifice of local people at that time each year.

Council believes that the cause of peace is served by remembering the sacrifices of armed servicemen and women as well as in noting the horrors of war

Council affirms its commitment to supporting the Military Covenant and to providing support to current and former members of Britain’s armed services.

ACTION:        Chief Executive

To be moved by Councillor Martin Smith

Seconded by Councillor Mike Ellis

Council notes the Office of National Statistics recent publication of updated Household Projections in England and that these projections reduce per annum new households from 210,000 to 159,000.

Council also notes that these revised figures show a significantly lower projection for household formation in Bradford and that a higher proportion of new household formation will be by older people.

Council believes, in the light of these new statistics, that the current objective assessment of housing need for Bradford is not fit for purpose and instructs the Strategic Director, Place to conduct an urgent review to set a new baseline for housing need drawn from accurate data on household formation.

A motion was moved by Councillor Martin Smith.

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

Resolved –

Council notes:

·         The Executive has already agreed a review of housing numbers in July 2018.

·         The Council’s Core Strategy was adopted in July 2017, approved by a government inspector, reviewed directly via government call-in and released without amendment. The Government has stated that any adopted strategy within the last five years is still valid.

·         The decision of the Executive in July 2018 to nonetheless conduct a partial review of the Core Strategy in light of the Government’s proposals to amend the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) introducing a standard methodology, which would reduce planned housing numbers across the north of England.

·         The consultation responses to the NPPF proposals submitted by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) expressing their concerns over the new methodology, including Conservative-led Council members, that the new methodology could stifle growth across the north of England while encouraging additional growth in the south, further exacerbating the North-South divide.

·         The Office of National Statistics (ONS) recent publication of update Household Projections in England suggests a further reduction of housing need well below the government target of 300,000 a year and that the Government acknowledge the obvious issues caused by these figures with a revised methodology due before the end of the year to address this.

·         That the ONS update these figures every two years and should clearly be viewed in the context of Local Plans that have to anticipate need and demand for 15-20 year periods.

·         Finally, Council notes the expectation stated by the Government that any new methodology would be considered a baseline for considering housing need, and that it does not take into account local growth plans such as that outlined in our Economic Strategy.

Council resolves:

That the partial review of the Core Strategy is subject to appropriate public consultation and is brought back to Full Council for debate at the publication draft stage prior to submission.

ACTION:        Strategic Director Place     

To be moved by Councillor Debbie Davies

Seconded by Councillor Rebecca Poulsen

Council notes:

• Last year, Manchester City Council scrapped plans to expand their 20mph speed limit zones, after finding that it reduced speeds by an average of just 0.7mph, with speeds actually increasing on some streets due to overtaking etc

• Such schemes reduce the speeds of drivers who are responsible, but have no effect on those who are not, including those in stolen cars, under the influence, or in cars bearing false number plates etc.

• This week the T&A asked ‘Would you welcome the introduction of 20mph zones?” to which the answer was yes 42%, no 58% - clearly not a scientific study but it gives an indication of what people think.

Council resolves to:

Scrap plans for the introduction of a City Centre 20mph zone and instead distributes the £120,000 estimated cost of introducing one, between the Council Wards, so that such speed limits can be introduced near schools or other appropriate sites.

A motion was moved by Councillor Davies.

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

Resolved –

Council notes:

·         20mph zones are a proven way of encouraging safer driving, reducing average road speeds and casualties and encouraging a better environment for pedestrians and cyclists when installed in appropriate locations

·         The initial proposals for the city centre and sites around schools are for areas where road layouts and/or the presence of existing traffic management measures will support a 20mph speed limit

·         City centre 20mph zones are increasingly common across the country including in Sheffield, Leeds, Brighton, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London

·         The University of the West of England has just completed a comprehensive study of 20mph zones in Bristol and found that average speeds reduce in 94% of streets, increased rates of walking and cycling and reduced fatalities and injuries generating cost savings of £15 million

·         The recent announcement that the Council would be consulting on a city centre 20mph zone in addition to a programme of 20mph zones around schools to be rolled out over time

Council resolves to:

Proceed to the consultation on the proposed 20mph zones and ask that the Executive receives a paper on the responses before a final decision is made.

ACTION:        Strategic Director Place

To be moved by Councillor David Ward

Seconded by Councillor Julie Humphreys

The Children’s Society’s “The Good Childhood Report 2018 based upon a national survey of 2,000 children reveals that girls are unhappier with their lives, more likely to have depression and twice as likely to self-harm as boys. The survey also reveals traditional gender stereotypes remain strong and impact on children’s well-being and that those children attracted to the same or both genders have lower wellbeing, higher rates of depression than other children –with almost half engaged in self harming. The Report 2018 concludes that after 15 years of increased levels of children’s happiness with their lives, children’s well-being is now as low as it was two decades ago.

The response to the Future in Mind report and the production of ‘The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health’ published in 2016 provides a model for how Bradford could respond to The Good Childhood Report and therefore:

1.    This Council reaffirms the strategic ultimate responsibility it has for the education of all children in the Bradford District whose education is publicly funded.

2.    This Council fully accepts the importance of a child’s sense of well-being on their ability to fully benefit from the formal education that they receive.

3.    This Council undertakes to create a Children’s Wellbeing Task Group including key strategic partners to identify the key factors affecting the wellbeing of young people in the Bradford District with a view to the development of a transformation plan to increase their general sense of wellbeing and of life satisfaction.

A motion was moved by Councillor Ward.

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

An amendment moved by Councillor Davies was defeated.

Resolved –

The Children’s Society’s “The Good Childhood Report 2018”, based on a national survey of 2,000 children, reflects the huge scale of mental health challenges faced by children nationally. The Future in Mind report and the production of ‘The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health’ published in 2016 provides a model for how Councils could respond to The Good Childhood Report.

Bradford Council is signed up to delivering the Future in Mind strategy for the district and a refresh report is due to be presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board in November. This Council welcomes the positive message from the Department of Health Directorate who oversee our Future in Mind delivery programme, which has commended our work as "Fully confident" in September this year.

The Future in Mind delivery group reports to the Mental Wellbeing Partnership Board and to the Health and Wellbeing Board. The district wide Mental Wellbeing Partnership Board is a multi-agency group comprising of staff from BMDC, NHS, independent and community leaders. It has an all-inclusive approach to the wellbeing of children and young people and recognises the important role for learning, education and development. This is reflected in our strategy.

Children & young people’s mental wellbeing is a key priority for the Children's Transformation and Integration Group (Children’s TIG) which reports to the Children's Trust Board, chaired by the Portfolio Holder, and to the Health and Wellbeing Board. The main purpose of Children’s TIG is to identify the key factors affecting the wellbeing of young people in the Bradford District with a view to the development of a transformation plan to increase their general sense of wellbeing and of life satisfaction.

This Council:

(1)       Reaffirms its strategic ultimate responsibility together with partners for the wellbeing of every child in the district regardless of the type of school or setting they attend.

(2)       Fully accepts the importance of a child’s sense of wellbeing on their ability to fully benefit from the formal education that they receive.

(3)       Actively leads on the agenda to promote children’s mental wellbeing in the district within the already established governance and partnership arrangements in place to ensure strong accountability and pace / continuity of our work.

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

To be moved by Councillor Brendan Stubbs

Seconded by Councillor Geoff Reid

Council Notes

1.    That many English regions across the country are benefiting from devolution deals.

2.    Despite the benefits of devolution, the current model of city regions, LEPS and combined authorities are lacking in democratic accountability.

3.    That the concentration of political power in the hands of a single directly elected Mayor is not as democratic as a proportionally elected body.

4.    The population and GDP of Yorkshire is roughly equivalent to that of Scotland.

Furthermore, Council believes that:

5.    Yorkshire forms a single recognisable region, with a common culture, dialect, and identity which is one of the strongest in the UK.

6.    Power should be devolved as far as possible with decisions that affect residents being made by Local Government.

Therefore, Council calls for:

7.    A regional devolution deal for Yorkshire consisting of a single directly elected parliament

8.    Election to the Yorkshire Parliament to be by single transferable vote method in multi-member constituencies.

9.    Powers devolved to Yorkshire to be equivalent to those devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

10.  The powers and funding of regional and sub-regional quangos to be subsumed into the Yorkshire Parliament.

11.  Abolition of the offices of Police and Crime Commissioners for the Yorkshire Police forces, with policing powers returned to democratically accountable local Police and Crime panels.

12. The leader of the Council to write to The Right Honourable James Brokenshire MP Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Jake Berry MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth expressing this Council’s view on Yorkshire wide devolution.

A motion was moved by Councillor Stubbs.

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

Resolved –

Council notes:

·        That devolution would lead to more powers and money to grow our local economy.

·        That a proposal for a One Yorkshire devolution deal has now been submitted to Government with a full economic case for devolution to the region.  Government has previously rejected other proposed devolution deals including Leeds City Region.

·        That the One Yorkshire devolution proposal is signed up to by 18 local authority leaders across party lines and across the region.  It also has strong backing from some Yorkshire MPs and from the Archbishop of York.

·        That a number of English city regions across the country are benefiting from devolution deals, as well as the devolved nations of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

·        The population of Yorkshire is roughly equivalent to that of Scotland however Scotland has seen much greater levels of devolution over the past two decades compared to Yorkshire. 

·        Yorkshire forms a single recognisable economically coherent region, with a common culture, dialect, and identity which is one of the strongest in the UK.

·         Powers should be devolved as far as possible with decisions that affect residents being made by Local Government and even neighbourhood level where that is possible.

This Council calls for:

1.    A regional devolution deal for Yorkshire consisting of a single directly elected mayor acting with a cabinet made up of elected members from each local authority across Yorkshire. Both sub regional, thematic and sectoral sub-committees to be made up of business, civic, third sector and elected members.

2.    Election of the directly elected mayor to be by supplementary voting method as per the existing Mayoral legislation already laid down in the House of Commons.

3.    The principle of subsidiarity to be followed when determining at what level decisions of resource allocation to be made.  We aspire to the powers devolved to Yorkshire being equivalent to those devolved to the Scottish Parliament, this to be achieved with Government’s consent over time.

4.    The powers and funding of regional and sub-regional bodies to be subsumed into the One Yorkshire framework over time.

5.    Above all, a constructive conversation regarding devolution with the Government at the earliest opportunity would be welcomed.

ACTION:        Chief Executive

The Council is required by the Food Standards Agency to have a documented and approved Food Safety Service Plan in place. The report of the Director of Health and Wellbeing (Document “J”) seeks approval for the 2018/19 Plan.

Recommended –

That the Food Safety Service Plan be approved.

                                                                         (Angela Brindle – 01274 433985)

The Council is required by the Food Standards Agency to have a documented and approved Food Safety Service Plan in place. The report of the Director of Health and Wellbeing (Document “J”) sought approval for the 2018/19 Plan.

Resolved –

That the Food Safety Service Plan be approved.

ACTION:        Strategic Director Health and Wellbeing

The report of the Chief Executive (Document “K”) recommends that Council designates the post of Director of Finance (post currently called Assistant Director Finance and Procurement) as the Council’s Section 151 Officer/Chief Financial Officer.

Recommended -

(1)       That Council designates the post of Director of Finance as the Council’s Section 151 Officer/Chief Financial Officer such designation to take effect immediately.

(2)       That the proposed amendments to the Constitution as set out inparagraph 4.1 of Document “K” be adopted.

(3)       That the City Solicitor be granted delegated authority to make consequential amendments to the Constitution as a result of any recommendations approved by full Council.

(4)      That the City Solicitor ensures that any agreed amendments are implemented.        

                                                                                    (Mandy Hill – 01274 432214)

The report of the Chief Executive (Document “K”) recommended that Council designate the post of Director of Finance (post currently called Assistant Director Finance and Procurement) as the Council’s Section 151 Officer/Chief Financial Officer.

Resolved –

(1)       That Council designates the post of Director of Finance as the Council’s Section 151 Officer/Chief Financial Officer such designation to take effect immediately.

(2)       That the proposed amendments to the Constitution as set out inparagraph 4.1 of Document “K” be adopted.

(3)       That the City Solicitor be granted delegated authority to make consequential amendments to the Constitution as a result of any recommendations approved by full Council.

(4)       That the City Solicitor ensures that any agreed amendments are implemented.

ACTION:        Chief Executive