The following disclosures on matters under consideration were made:

Petition – Menston Primary School pedestrian crossing (Minute 113)

Councillor Dale Smith declared an interest as a governor of Menston Primary School.

Motion – Compulsory Home Education Register and Action Against “Off-rolling (Minute 119)

Councillor Dale Smith declared an interest as a school governor.

Motion – Support for Community Asset Transfers (Minute 120)

Councillor Dale Smith declared an interest as trustee of Kirklands Community Trust, Menston.

Motion – School Admissions (Minute 121)

Councillor Dale Smith declared an interest as a school governor.

Motion – Tackling Youth Crime (Minute 122)

Councillor M Pollard declared an interest as his son was training as a special constable with the West Yorkshire Police.

The disclosures were made on the basis of transparency and those Members participated in the meeting during consideration and voting on the item.

ACTION:       City Solicitor

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 2019 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Adrian Tumber – 01274 432435)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 2019 be signed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Arshad Hussain, Khadim Hussain, Mullaney, Shafiq, Stubbs and R Sunderland.

TERRORIST ATROCITIES IN CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND

Shock and disbelief had been felt across the globe following the terrorist massacres at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. At least 50 people were killed and many others injured or badly affected as people attended Friday prayers. In Bradford, a short service was held and a minute’s silence to stand unified in grief and sorrow.

Members stood in silent tribute in memory of those who had lost their lives in recent tragic events including Christchurch, Utrecht and the Cyclone Idai.

GIFT TO THE CITY

The Lord Mayor announced that, during this meeting’s short adjournment, he would announce details of his gift to the City as a memento of his year in Civic office.

ELECTIONS

As this was the last ordinary meeting of the Council for the current  municipal year, the Lord Mayor extended every good wish for the future to colleagues who were standing down from the Council at the forthcoming elections. Many years’ service had been given to the work of the Council by those Members who were not standing and the Lord Mayor on behalf of the Council placed on record thanks and appreciation for their contribution to the life of the District and the wellbeing of its citizens. `Good Luck’ at the Polls was wished to those Councillors who were seeking re-election on the 2 May 2019.

There were no restricted documents.

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

Ward

(i)         Menston Primary School – Pedestrian crossing                      Wharfedale

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)

Menston Primary School – Pedestrian Crossing

Resolved -

That the petition be referred to Shipley Area Committee.

ACTION:       City Solicitor

Sun Lane, Burley in Wharfedale, Planning Inspectorate Public Inquiry

Resolved -

That officers be requested to arrange a local venue for the Sun Lane Planning Inspectorate Public Inquiry taking into account the petition and officers be reminded that the venue is the decision of the Local Planning Authority not the Planning Inspectorate.

ACTION:       Strategic Director Place

A question from a member of the public has been received and is contained in Document “Z”.

(Fatima Butt - 01274 432227)

Council Document “Z” details the question from a member of the public and the answer given by the Leader of Council.

To consider any 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). 

There were no appointments made to committees.

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 “AA” 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 Angela Tait

Can the Portfolio Holder give an update on the Bradford Live project as it enters its next phase now plans have been approved?

2.         Councillor Debbie Davies

Could the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transportadvise members of whether consideration has been given to running a cleanest ward award in order to encourage some fun, competition and increased community involvement to cleaning up litter from the District?

3.         Councillor Jeanette Sunderland

To the Portfolio Holder, please can you detail, broken down by year, how much the Council has paid out in compensation to cyclist across the District, as a result of accidents caused by highways and cycle lanes being in a poor state of repair, over the past 5 years?

4.         Councillor Tariq Hussain

Can the portfolio holder provide an update on the work being done to enforce against dangerously and illegally placed clothing bins across the district?

5.        Councillor Fozia Shaheen

It’s welcome news that we will be receiving over £100,000 from the Private Rented Sector Access Fund to help tackle homelessness. What are we planning to do with this funding?

6.         Councillor Russell Brown

With equipment already being removed, can the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport clarify what is planned for the services currently operating out of the Council’s Stockbridge Depot at Keighley?

7.         Councillor Fozia Shaheen

Does the leader join me in congratulating everyone who has been involved in International Women’s Day throughout the District, once again Bradford is flying the flag which is amazing.

8.         Councillor Caroline Firth

Can the Portfolio Holder give an update on our ongoing repair and replacement programme for street lights and how many lights on average are being repaired or replaced each month?  Also can he give timescales for the major new project to replace all lights with more efficient LEDs?

9.         Councillor Jackie Whiteley

Will the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, please confirm whether any work has been completed which considers the likely displacement of commuter parking from Ilkley into Burley in Wharfedale and Menston if  road side parking charges are introduced and residents only parking stops commuters parking in Ilkley?

10.       Councillor Caroline Firth

Does the Portfolio Holder join me in agreeing that the newly unveiled restored Butterfield Window at Cliffe Castle is a fantastic achievement for all involved in the project?

11.       Councillor Brendan Stubbs

To the Portfolio Holder, over the past 3 year how many  ...  view the full agenda text for item 117.

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

To consider any recommendations arising from meetings of the Executive and Committees held after the publication of this agenda and prior to the Council meeting.

                                                                        (Adrian Tumber – 01274 432435)

At the meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee on 14 March 2019 the Director of Finance submitted a report showing the Council’s Treasury Strategy for borrowing commencing 2019/20 and the Annual Investment Strategy and the Committee referred the report to Council for approval.

Resolved –

That Governance and Audit Committee Document “AN” be adopted.

ACTION:        Director of Finance

To be moved by Councillor David Ward

Seconded by Councillor Jeanette Sunderland

This Council notes the call by the Children’s Commissioner for a compulsory home education register in response to the rapid growth in home education and growing evidence of “off-rolling” by schools as a way of seeking to improve the school’s league table position. This immoral behaviour is known to disproportionately affect children from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with Special Educational Needs.

This Council resolves to:

1.         Write to the Secretary of State for Education urging him to:

a.         introduce legislation requiring all those who exercise their legitimate right to home educate their children, to register with their Local Authority.

b.         Give Local authorities the Statutory right to enter the homes of all those on the register to carry out inspections.

2.         Take measures to identify any schools in Bradford who are guilty of “off-rolling” and to report those schools to OFSTED.

A motion was moved by Councillor Ward.

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

An amendment was also moved by Councillor Davies.

Resolved –

Nationally all Local Authorities (LAs) have seen a rise in Electively Home Educated (EHE) pupils. Bradford’s approach is considered proactive, respecting the right of parents to home educate if they wish to whilst at the same time, seeking to make informal enquiries with all registered families as opposed to only taking action in respect of concerns raised.

This Council notes the call by the Children’s Commissioner for a compulsory home education register in response to the rapid growth in home education and growing evidence of “off-rolling” by schools as a way of seeking to improve the school’s league table position. This immoral behaviour is known to disproportionately affect children from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with Special Educational Needs.

This Council also notes in July 2018 the LA responded to the Department for Education’s call for evidence stating the following in respect of registration: “Parents/carers can opt out and avoid scrutiny by a Local Authority. An advantage of mandatory registration is that LAs would have knowledge of all children in their area whose parents/carers have opted to home educate.”

Currently the EHE team adopts a supportive approach to encourage parents/carers to register. Protocol determines schools cannot remove a pupil from their roll to EHE without confirmation from the Local Authority.

In respect of entering homes, the Local Authority responded with: “Monitoring is not currently permitted. Giving LAs power to monitor and visit the home at least annually to meet with the child would help the process of effective monitoring.”

The current EHE team offers home visits to all families who are registered as EHE. We also offer to meet families in a neutral venue if they are not agreeable to officers entering their homes which presently they do not have to permit.

The Leader and Portfolio Holder wrote to the previous Secretary of State (SoS) when in power, highlighting the issues raised above and asked whether the SoS had any appetite for additional powers for LAs to enable more effective monitoring of EHE.

This Council further notes the resistance to the Badman Report in 2009 by other parties, who rejected the recommendations and effectively opposed the compulsory registration and monitoring of home educated children.

In 2017 data collected evidenced that some schools were ‘off-rolling’ pupils to EHE. The team has addressed this with schools, offering challenge to leadership teams where patterns of off-rolling are identified. The team interrogates each registration to EHE from a school to reassure that it is parental choice to Electively Home Educate. The locally agreed fair access protocol means that where a parent reapplies for a school place following a period of EHE they will be admitted to the previous school’s roll.

This Council:

1.    Respects the right of parents to choose to educate their children at home.

2.    Resolves to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 119.

To be moved by Councillor Simon Cooke

Seconded by Councillor Rebecca Poulsen

Council notes the successful transfer of assets from the authority to local communities and applauds the efforts and commitment of local people who have taken over management of public halls, libraries and other facilities.

Council recognises the support given to these transfers and other social businesses in the District by voluntary sector infrastructure organisations and funders including the National Lottery as well as by officers from across the Council.

Council recognises that access to finance and business planning remains a challenge for groups wanting to take control of community assets or to develop facilities for their local neighbourhood.

Council request that the Strategic Director for Place and the Strategic Director for Corporate Resources draw up proposals for consideration by the Executive as follows:

1.     An affordable loan product making use of Council prudential borrowing powers and drawing on the successful model developed for Cullingworth Village Hall

2.     A toolkit for local groups considering asset transfers or development projects that provides advice on planning, licensing, building control and the Council’s approach to using its assets for community purposes

3.     Options for applying Community Infrastructure Levy (or other proceeds from planning gain) to the development of new or transferred community facilities

4.     A plan for raising awareness of finance options and opportunities throughout the District’s voluntary and community sector.

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

Resolved –

Council notes the successful transfer of assets from the authority to local communities and applauds the efforts and commitment of local people who have taken over management of public halls, libraries and other facilities.

Council recognises the support given to these transfers and other social businesses in the District by voluntary sector infrastructure organisations and funders including the National Lottery as well as by officers from across the Council.

Council recognises that access to finance and business planning remains a challenge for groups wanting to take control of community assets or to develop facilities for their local neighbourhood.

Council request that the Strategic Director for Place and the Strategic Director for Corporate Resources draw up proposals for consideration by the Executive as follows:

1.     An affordable loan product making use of Council prudential borrowing powers and drawing on the successful model developed for Cullingworth Village Hall

2.     A toolkit for local groups considering asset transfers or development projects that provides advice on planning, licensing, building control and the Council’s approach to using its assets for community purposes

3.     Options for applying Community Infrastructure Levy (or other proceeds from planning gain) to the development of new or transferred community facilities

4.     A plan for raising awareness of finance options and opportunities throughout the District’s voluntary and community sector.

ACTION:        Strategic Director Place/Strategic Director Corporate Resources

To be moved by Councillor Debbie Davies

Seconded by Councillor Dale Smith

Council notes that:

1.    In March 2018 the Executive approved an increase in places for Low Ash Primary School from 60 to 90, to start in September 2019.

2.    Recently notification that this increase in numbers is no longer required due to the fact that proposed housing developments, which were expected to increase the demand on school places have not yet begun construction and are not expected to be occupied for a number of years.

3.    A referral has been made to the Schools Adjudicator to request a variation of the Published Admission Number (PAN) for Low Ash Primary school in order to allocate 60 pupils to start reception in September 2019 instead of the previously published 90.

4.    Parents and pupils may have used this information to help decide which school to apply for and if this is approved it is likely to lead to significant disappointment and impact negatively both for this year and subsequent years.

5.    Despite action to mitigate the impact on other schools in the local area, which may not fill their spaces, the Council could have acted on sooner and certainly before parents had submitted their school choices.

Council resolves:

1.    To clarify when the Schools Adjudicator makes their decision and what will happen if they do not support this request.

2.    If the request is approved then to contact all those parents who chose Low Ash Primary School offering an explanation and apology for the unsatisfactory actions of the Council.

3.   To take steps to ensure this unfortunate situation doesn’t arise again, including liaising effectively with other council departments, on the progress or otherwise of proposed housing developments etc and act accordingly.

A motion was moved by Councillor Davies.

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

Resolved –

Council notes that:

1.    In March 2018 the Executive approved an increase in places for Low Ash Primary School from 60 to 90, to start in September 2019.

2.    Recently notification has been received that this increase in numbers is not required this year due to the fact that proposed housing developments, which were expected to increase the demand on school places, have not yet begun construction.

3.    A referral will be sent to the Schools Adjudicator week commencing 25 March following modelling of allocations for September 2019. The results of this modelling will be included in the referral. The school, surrounding schools and the Council are all in agreement with the proposal so there is no reason to think the Schools Adjudicator should disagree.

4.    There has been no increase in the overall number of preferences for Low Ash this year. Low Ash is a Good school and used to be the only Good school in the area, this is now no longer the case with other local primary schools now having also achieved this Good Ofsted rating as well as Low Ash.

5.    The school forecasting process is continually reviewed and updated.   Schools all over the district have changed their PANs. 

Council resolves to:

Await the outcome of the Schools Adjudicator’s decision and then review the situation at the school in conjunction with the Governing Body for future years.

ACTION:        Interim Strategic Director Children’s Services

To be moved by Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe

Seconded by Councillor Abdul Jabar

We support the police completely in their action of bringing to justice the youths who committed the brutal attack in City Park on 24^th February. We want to see justice served and welcome the three arrests that have been made.

We condemn mindless violence wherever it happens but it is particularly distressing when we see it happening in our city and town centres.  These are familiar places we all own and where we feel at home. No one, whoever they are, has the right to inhibit others from using that space comfortably and without fear. Our city and town centres belong to all of us, not to a mindless few.

We see serious youth crime rising in other parts of the country. We must act quickly to make sure that in the Bradford District our young people are diverted from such dangerous activity.

There has been an announcement in the last few weeks that the police are increasing the Police precept on Council Tax for Bradford residents. Next year this will increase by £24 on a band D property. We want to see all this money being spent on front line policing officers who will bolster the prevention of and reaction to crime, and particularly on youth-on-youth offences.

We know that when communities and agencies come together, we can have a positive impact in our neighbourhoods and public spaces. Bonfire Night was one such example when communities worked as one and engaged with young people on the night with the result that incidences of anti-social behaviour were reduced.

We are concerned that nine years of Tory Government austerity has seriously damaged the fabric of society. Council, police, probation and judiciary have all had huge cuts to their services and in growing cities like ours, this kind of public service attrition is having a major impact.

We call on the Government to restore levels of funding for the police and for the council.

We resolve to:

·         Demand more action to prevent our young people coming to harm.

·         Call on parents and carers to partner with us and other public agencies in preventing their children from being involved in incidents that we all witnessed in City Park.

·         Convene town centre summit meetings with the BIDs and local agencies to refresh plans in place to tackle anti-social behaviour.

·         Use our youth service to engage more extensively in town centres with our young people, as has been done in Shipley so that young people can be diverted towards more positive activities.

·         Review the offer being provided by our Youth Offending Team to see what more can be done to turn young people away from crime.

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

An amendment moved by Councillor Jeanette Sunderland was defeated.

Resolved –

We support the police completely in their action of bringing to justice the youths who committed the brutal attack in City Park on 24^th February. We want to see justice served and welcome the three arrests that have been made.

We condemn mindless violence wherever it happens but it is particularly distressing when we see it happening in our city and town centres.  These are familiar places we all own and where we feel at home. No one, whoever they are, has the right to inhibit others from using that space comfortably and without fear. Our city and town centres belong to all of us, not to a mindless few.

We see serious youth crime rising in other parts of the country. We must act quickly to make sure that in the Bradford District our young people are diverted from such dangerous activity.

There has been an announcement in the last few weeks that the police are increasing the Police precept on Council Tax for Bradford residents. Next year this will increase by £24 on a band D property. We want to see all this money being spent on front line policing officers who will bolster the prevention of and reaction to crime, and particularly on youth-on-youth offences.

We know that when communities and agencies come together, we can have a positive impact in our neighbourhoods and public spaces. Bonfire Night was one such example when communities worked as one and engaged with young people on the night with the result that incidences of anti-social behaviour were reduced.

We are concerned that nine years of Tory Government austerity has seriously damaged the fabric of society. Council, police, probation and judiciary have all had huge cuts to their services and in growing cities like ours, this kind of public service attrition is having a major impact.

We call on the Government to restore levels of funding for the police and for the council.

We resolve to:

·         Demand more action to prevent our young people coming to harm.

·         Call on parents and carers to partner with us and other public agencies in preventing their children from being involved in incidents that we all witnessed in City Park.

·         Convene town centre summit meetings with the BIDs and local agencies to refresh plans in place to tackle anti-social behaviour.

·         Use our youth service to engage more extensively in town centres with our young people, as has been done in Shipley so that young people can be diverted towards more positive activities.

·         Review the offer being provided by our Youth Offending Team to see what more can be done to turn young people away from crime.

ACTION:        Interim Strategic Director Children’s Services/Strategic Director Place

To be moved by Councillor Imran Khan

Seconded by Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw

We note the success of National Apprenticeship Week between 4^th and 8^th March and associated promotional activity across the district.

The Council supported various local initiatives to promote apprentices including:

•          Promoting the excellence of our Council Apprentice of the Year, Afzal Khalifa.  He featured on Cabinet Office and DWP social media

•          The Council’s 300th apprentice has been a milestone to celebrate and has been an opportunity to hold information sessions for managers to further support new apprenticeship opportunities in the Council – we are working towards a target of 500 apprentices employed in the Council and maintained schools by 2021

•          The Lord Mayor visited Skills for Work, the Council’s apprenticeship delivery arm

•          An SME event was held at City Training Services, and the Employer Pledge Evening

•           Joint events were organised with regional partners

•          The big screen in City Park promoted the benefits of apprenticeships and local apprenticeship opportunities.

This Council believes that high-quality apprenticeships are a vital ingredient in driving an inclusive and prosperous economy, as well as an excellent way of providing opportunity for young and older people alike. For young people apprenticeships offer the opportunity to gain skills and improve their chances of embarking on a great career; for older people apprenticeships can also be an opportunity to take their career in a fulfilling new direction.

We note the poor implementation of the Apprenticeship Levy.  And that 95% of levy-paying employers were not able to spend their full allowance in the first year of operation which means that just £268 million was spent by levy-paying employers on apprentices.  This equates to just 13% of the Treasury’s £2.01 billion apprenticeships budget.

This Council:

-          Commends local businesses and organisations which already offer a range of high-quality apprenticeships to people across the district

-          Encourages all businesses and organisations to provide good apprenticeships

-          Renews its commitment to being an example of best practice and employing 500 apprentices across our workforce by 2021

-          Calls on Government to fully devolve the planning and funding of the apprenticeship system to local authorities.

-          That the Government immediately introduce reforms that will devolve Apprenticeship Levy to local areas and to introduce greater flexibility for employers and learners.   We must invest in human capital at this crucial juncture in our country’s history.

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

Resolved –

We note the success of National Apprenticeship Week between 4^th and 8^th March and associated promotional activity across the district.

The Council supported various local initiatives to promote apprentices including:

•          Promoting the excellence of our Council Apprentice of the Year, Afzal Khalifa.  He featured on Cabinet Office and DWP social media

•          The Council’s 300th apprentice has been a milestone to celebrate and has been an opportunity to hold information sessions for managers to further support new apprenticeship opportunities in the Council – we are working towards a target of 500 apprentices employed in the Council and maintained schools by 2021

•          The Lord Mayor visited Skills for Work, the Council’s apprenticeship delivery arm

•          An SME event was held at City Training Services, and the Employer Pledge Evening

•           Joint events were organised with regional partners

•          The big screen in City Park promoted the benefits of apprenticeships and local apprenticeship opportunities.

This Council believes that high-quality apprenticeships are a vital ingredient in driving an inclusive and prosperous economy, as well as an excellent way of providing opportunity for young and older people alike. For young people apprenticeships offer the opportunity to gain skills and improve their chances of embarking on a great career; for older people apprenticeships can also be an opportunity to take their career in a fulfilling new direction.

We note the poor implementation of the Apprenticeship Levy.  And that 95% of levy-paying employers were not able to spend their full allowance in the first year of operation which means that just £268 million was spent by levy-paying employers on apprentices.  This equates to just 13% of the Treasury’s £2.01 billion apprenticeships budget.

This Council:

-          Commends local businesses and organisations which already offer a range of high-quality apprenticeships to people across the district

-          Encourages all businesses and organisations to provide good apprenticeships

-          Renews its commitment to being an example of best practice and employing 500 apprentices across our workforce by 2021

-          Calls on Government to fully devolve the planning and funding of the apprenticeship system to local authorities.

-          That the Government immediately introduce reforms that will devolve Apprenticeship Levy to local areas and to introduce greater flexibility for employers and learners.   We must invest in human capital at this crucial juncture in our country’s history.

ACTION:        Chief Executive/Assistant Director Children’s Services (Performance, Commissioning and Partnerships)

In accordance with the Localism Act 2011 Local Authorities are required to produce and publish a Pay Policy Statement for each financial year.  The Pay Policy Statement must be approved by full Council before publication. The report of the Director of Human Resources (Document “AC”) presents the draft Pay Policy Statement 2019/20 for approval.

Recommended –

That the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2019/20, as set out at Appendix 1 to Document “U”, be approved.

                                                                                    (Tim Barker – 01274 432031)

In accordance with the Localism Act 2011 Local Authorities are required to produce and publish a Pay Policy Statement for each financial year.  The Pay Policy Statement must be approved by full Council before publication. The report of the Director of Human Resources (Document “AC”) presented the draft Pay Policy Statement 2019/20 for approval.

Resolved –

That the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2019/20, as set out at Appendix 1 to Document “U”, be approved.

ACTION:        Director of HR