(Members Code of Conduct - Part 4A of the Constitution)

To receive disclosures of interests from members and co-opted members on matters to be considered at the meeting. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

Notes:

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

(2)       Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them.  A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 

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

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

Motions – West Yorkshire Pension Fund – Independent Divestment Review (Minute 46 (1) refers) and Fossil Fuels (Minute 46 (4) refers)

Councillor Lal declared an interest as a member of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund Board and did not participate in the debate or the vote.

Councillors Thornton and Winnard declared an interest as members of West Yorkshire Pension Fund Joint Advisory Group and did not participate in the debate or the vote.

In the interests of transparency all members in receipt of a pension from the West Yorkshire Pension Fund declared a non-pecuniary interest.

Motion – Implementing the CSE Safeguarding Review (Minute 46 (6) refers)

In the interests of transparency Councillor Engel declared an interest as her husband was employed by one of the organisations involved in supporting the work of the review.

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 July 2021 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Guy Close – 07811 503906)

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 July 2021 be signed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R Ahmed, Brown, J Clarke, Dunbar, Goodall, Hargreaves, I Hussain, Majkowski, Nazam, Knox, Sullivan and Wainwright.

(To be circulated before the meeting).

Death of former Councillor Martin Leathley

It is with sadness that I report the death of former Councillor Martin Leathley, who passed away on 10 September 2021, at the age of 81.

Martin was elected in 1994 and represented the Keighley North Ward until 2002.  He was also Town Mayor of Keighley in 2002, when the office was reinstated, and was the first Keighley Mayor for almost thirty years.

He was a hardworking and devoted Councillor who will be warmly remembered for the energy, enthusiasm and dedication which he brought to his role.  

Martin was committed to public service and had a strong desire to help others, which informed all the work he undertook. 

He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him and I have written to his widow and family to extend our sympathy in their loss.

The Death of Dr Rudolf Oscar ‘Rudi’ Leavor, BEM

It is with sorrow that I report the death of Rudi Leavor, BEM, on 27 July 2021 at the age of 95.

There can be few people involved in the Civic life of our District who had not met, and been charmed, by Rudi.  His old world demeanour, ready wit and ever present sparkle-in-the-eye combined to leave an indelible impression.

Chairman of the Bradford Tree of Life Synagogue, Rudi devoted much of his life to promoting interfaith relations here in our District.  His quest for people to live in harmony with one another doubtless sprang from the harrowing experiences he and his family suffered in fleeing Nazi Germany, together with the loss of many family members in the Holocaust. 

The power of education ran like a golden thread throughout Rudi’s life and he ensured his traumatic experiences were vividly conveyed to younger generations.  He spoke to many groups across the country and worked with the Jewish Museum in his Berlin birthplace, to whom he donated some family artefacts and where he also spoke.

Rudi proudly made Bradford his home and brought up his family here.  He was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2017 for his interfaith work with Muslim and other community leaders and was pleased to be considered an ‘activist for peace’. 

Rudi was, for many years, a stalwart member of the Lord Mayor's faith advisory team, as well as a steadfast supporter of the Civic office and countless Lord Mayor's Appeals.

His loss to this District and its communities is a great one and I have written to his family to express our condolences.  He will be remembered with deep affection and enduring respect, both in Bradford and further afield.

A celebration of the life of Dr Rudi Leavor will be held in Bradford Cathedral on Sunday, 14 November at 5.00pm. This is an invitation-only event that will be livestreamed on YouTube: https://youtu.be/be1mk76uKpI   If you would like an invitation, please email: rudi@bradfordcathedral.org

DEATH OF JACK TORDOFF, OBE, FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF JCT600

I also regret to report the death of Jack Tordoff, founder and Chairman of JCT600,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

(Access to Information Procedure Rules – Part 3B of the Constitution)

Reports and background papers for agenda items may be inspected by contacting the person shown after each agenda item.  Certain reports and background papers may be restricted. 

Any request to remove the restriction on a report or background paper should be made to the relevant Strategic Director or Assistant Director whose name is shown on the front page of the report. 

If that request is refused, there is a right of appeal to this meeting. 

Please contact the officer shown below in advance of the meeting if you wish to appeal. 

(Guy Close – 07811 503906)

There were no restricted items.

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

(i)            Combating speeding traffic on Lee Lane / Moorfield Avenue – Bradford Moor Ward.

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

(Fatima Butt – 07970 411746)

Combating speeding traffic on Lee Lane / Moorfield Avenue (Bingley Rural Ward)

Resolved – That the petition be referred to Shipley Area Committee.

ACTION: City Solicitor

The following public question has been received:

“What is the Council's response to the following statement:

"Overhanging a public path behind my home, which links Calton Road with Spring Avenue, there is a very large ash tree which has become very dangerous in terms of dropping large branches on to the path and surrounding areas.  This path is used frequently by ourselves on the way to school and by other parents, children and families walking to the local primary school, and could have potentially catastrophic consequences if one of these large or even small- to medium-size branches were to fall on a passer-by or, worse, a child or infant in a pram.  It is not just in very windy conditions that the branches fall; it is quite often, and the path is littered with debris from the tree.  With it being an ash, it will eventually get the "ash die-back" and become very dangerous.  Many times after very windy nights, I have woken up to find extremely large branches in our and our neighbours' rear gardens.  We would like to know if the Council could get the tree trimmed at the top and sides to take some of the weight out of the tree and hopefully prevent an awful situation arising.  We don't want the tree felling, just crowning, and an uplift to reduce the tree's weight.  I have spoken to many nearby residents and parents about how bad the path is due to the constant scattering of debris."

(Jane Lythgow – 07970 411746)

The following public question had been received:

What is the Council's response to the following statement?

"Overhanging a public path behind my home, which links Calton Road with Spring Avenue, there is a very large ash tree which has become very dangerous in terms of dropping large branches on to the path and surrounding areas. This path is used frequently by ourselves on the way to school and by other parents, children and families walking to the local primary school, and could have potentially catastrophic consequences if one of these large or even small- to medium-size branches were to fall on a passer-by or, worse, a child or infant in a pram. It is not just in very windy conditions that the branches fall; it is quite often, and the path is littered with debris from the tree. With it being an ash, it will eventually get the "ash die-back" and become very dangerous. Many times after very windy nights, I have woken up to find extremely large branches in our and our neighbours' rear gardens. We would like to know if the Council could get the tree trimmed at the top and sides to take some of the weight out of the tree and hopefully prevent an awful situation arising. We don't want the tree felling, just crowning, and an uplift to reduce the tree's weight. I have spoken to many nearby residents and parents about how bad the path is due to the constant scattering of debris?”

Response from Strategic Director:

The Council as a land owner and highway authority has put in place a system of periodic tree inspections to identify and make safe trees where it is reasonably foreseeable that harm may occur within the inspection interval. The tree (#945600) in question was last inspected 27 November 2020 and was scheduled for its next inspection on 27 November 2021. However, given the concerns raised in the question, that inspection was brought forward and carried out on 4 October 2021. The tree was identified as having Ash Dieback Disease (ADD) in November 2020, however, at that stage it was not judged to be severe and in line with our current approach was retained. The disease does not appear to have advanced significantly over the past 12 months and will be re-inspected next in summer 2022. Where trees on Council land or the highway show significant decline they are scheduled for remedial works or removal. In this case the land on which the tree in question is growing is unregistered, however, in the event that it proves impossible to trace the owner the Council will take appropriate action to make the tree safe when that becomes necessary.

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). 

a)    That the following co-opted members be appointed to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2021/22 Municipal Year:

Voting co-opted members:

·         Fauzia Raza – Parent Governor Representative (from 22 September 2021)

·         Joyce Simpson – Church Representative (from 22 September 2021)

Non-voting co-opted members:

·         Dr Samina Karim – Children’s Services Representative

·         Tom Bright – Teachers Secondary School Representative.

b)    That the following non-voting co-opted member be appointed to the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2021/22 Municipal Year:

·         Julia Pearson – Bradford Environmental Forum

c)    That the following non-voting co-opted members be appointed to the Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2021/22 Municipal Year:

·         Susan Crowe – Bradford District Assembly Health and Wellbeing Forum

·         Trevor Ramsay – i2i Patient Involvement Network, Bradford District NHS Foundation Care Trust

·         Helen Rushworth – Healthwatch Bradford and District.

d)    Councillor Sajawal (Bradford Independent) to replace Councillor Choudhry on the Bradford East Area Committee for the remainder of the 2021/22 municipal year from 19 November 2021.

e)    Councillor Gibbons (Independent) to replace Councillor Hawkesworth (Ilkley Indpendent) on the Keighley Area Committee for the remainder of the 2021/22 municipal year from 19 November 2021.

f)     Councillor Jenkins (Independent Socialist) to replace Councillor (Conservative Group Whip to confirm nominee) on the Shipley Area Committee for the remainder of the 2021/22 municipal year from 19 November 2021.

Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

Resolved – That the following co-opted members be appointed to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2021/22 Municipal Year

Voting co-opted members:

• Fauzia Raza – Parent Governor Representative (from 22 September 2021)
• Joyce Simpson – Church Representative (from 22 September 2021)

Non-voting co-opted members:

• Dr Samina Karim – Children’s Services Representative
• Tom Bright – Teachers Secondary School Representative.

Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

Resolved – That the following non-voting co-opted member be appointed to the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2021/22 Municipal Year:

• Julia Pearson – Bradford Environmental Forum.

Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

Resolved – That the following non-voting co-opted members be appointed to the Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2021/22 Municipal Year:

• Susan Crowe – Bradford District Assembly Health and Wellbeing Forum
• Trevor Ramsay – i2i Patient Involvement Network, Bradford District NHS Foundation Care Trust
• Helen Rushworth – Healthwatch Bradford and District.

Bradford East Area Committee:

Resolved – Councillor Sajawal (Bradford Independent) replaces Councillor Choudhry (Labour) on the Bradford East Area Committee for the remainder of the 2021/22 municipal year from 19 November 2021.

Keighley Area Committee:

Resolved – Councillor Gibbons (Independent) replaces Councillor Hawkesworth (Ilkley Independent) on the Keighley Area Committee for the remainder of the 2021/22 municipal year from 19 November 2021.

Shipley Area Committee:

Resolved – Councillor Jenkins (Independent Socialist) replaces Councillor Davies (Conservative) on the Shipley Area Committee for the remainder of the 2021/22 municipal year from 19 November 2021.

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 “Item 9” details the report from the Leader of Council.

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 Kausar Mukhtar

There seems to be an epidemic of e-scooters across the country and in the Bradford District. If people decide to purchase a motorised bike they need a licence and insurance. It appears that e-scooters are exempt. What are the rules and regulations for these two wheeled scooters that are silent so cannot be heard if behind pedestrians, they speed along footpaths, they can be seen on roads and in some cases young children ride them in the Council’s parks?

2. Councillor Debbie Davies

The A6038 Otley Road through Baildon is a major route which is constantly busy with traffic.  In recent years it has been closed for weeks at a time for roadworks causing delays to motorists, increased traffic on residential streets and pollution.  Are you able to ensure in future utility works are done at the same time as much as possible, that diversion and access only signs are erected much sooner and that utility companies are requested to work seven days a week and into the evenings to minimise disruption?

3. Councillor Jeanette Sunderland

Following the delay to Spring 2022 for finishing the work at Greengates Junction can the Portfolio Holder please advise what support is in place for businesses located on and around the junction and continue to be disrupted by the work that has now been underway for a year. Can the portfolio holder also outline what additional support is being offered given the disruption is now set to continue for an additional 6 months?

4.  Councillor Martin Love

According to the Forward Plan during the summer, the Executive were due to consider a report on ‘Enforcement of Stationary Vehicle Engine Idling Offences in the Bradford District’ at its meeting on September 7th, however the report was not on the final agenda for that meeting. Can the Leader of Council explain why the report was not considered as originally planned and tell us when it will be received by Executive?

5.  Councillor Kausar Mukhtar

Please could Councillors be given the data obtained from the air monitoring station situated on the car park on the corner of Tong Street and Broadstone Way? Could we also see how this compares with data from other air monitoring stations across the district?

6.  Councillor Ruth Wood

National research has shown that black women are 4 more times likely to die in childbirth than white women. What are the statistics in Bradford and if this is also the case in Bradford what are we doing about  ...  view the full agenda text for item 44.

Council Document “Item 10” details the questions from Members to the Leader of Council and Portfolio Holders and the answers given.

a)    At the meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee held on 22 July 2021 consideration was given to the report of the City Solicitor (Document “D”) which provided feedback from the Community Governance Review for a proposed new Local Council in the Windhill and Bolton Woods area, which had been triggered by receipt of a petition from local residents.

Resolved –

That the following be referred to Council:

That the Governance and Audit Committee do not support the proposal of a new Local Council being set up in the Windhill and Bolton Woods area due to the low turnout of representations as detailed in 3.5 of Document “D” and also with regard residents in Polling district 28F who didn’t identify themselves as living in Windhill and Bolton Woods.  The council must have regard to the need to secure that community governance reflects the identities and interests of the community in that area and is effective and convenient.

Action: City Solicitor

b)    At the meeting of Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 23 March 2021, consideration was given to a report of the Chair of Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Document “AD”), which contained the findings from the Hate Crime Scrutiny Review.

Resolved –

1)      That the findings contained within the Draft Hate Crime Scrutiny Review Report, be adopted.

2)      That the Hate Crime Scrutiny Review report be referred to Council to be endorsed, at its next business meeting.

Action:  Overview and Scrutiny Lead

Governance and Audit Committee:

At the meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee held on 22 July 2021 consideration was given to the report of the City Solicitor which provided feedback from the Community Governance Review for a proposed new Local Council in the Windhill and Bolton Woods area, which had been triggered by receipt of a petition from local residents.

Resolved (Council amendment) – That Council notes the extensive work undertaken by Windhill Community Centre in the extremely difficult circumstances of Covid restrictions, which resulted in a lower level of representations than would otherwise be the case. Members therefore support a further review being undertaken sometime in the future (no sooner than 12 months from now) if there are no Covid restrictions in place. Public meetings would also form part of the review.  This course of action is supported by ward councillors

ACTION: City Solicitor

Corporate Overview and Scrutiny:

At the meeting of Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 23 March 2021, consideration was given to a report of the Chair of Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which contained the findings from the Hate Crime Scrutiny Review.

Resolved – That the Hate Crime Scrutiny Review be endorsed by Council.

ACTION: Overview and Scrutiny Lead

To consider the notices of motion set out below:

12.1

West Yorkshire Pension Fund – Independent Divestment Review

To be moved by: Councillor Warnes

Seconded by: Councillor Love

Council notes that:

a)    Bradford Council formally declared a ‘Climate Emergency’ in January 2019;

b)    Bradford Council, as a leading member of the Leeds City Region (LCR) Climate Coalition, is committed to achieving a net zero carbon LCR “by 2038, with significant progress by 2030”, and this aim was formally adopted by Bradford Council in October 2019;

c)    the forthcoming COP26 international meeting in Glasgow underlines the critical importance of doing everything possible to reduce our reliance on the fossil fuel sector and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with it;

d)    Bradford Council administers the West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF) on behalf of its members and chairs its key committees (the Joint Advisory Group and the Investment Advisory Panel);

e)    Bradford Council must ensure that, in carrying out its role as the WYPF administering authority, its own interests do not compromise the fiduciary duty owed by the WYPF to its members;

f)     it is not within the power of Bradford Council to ‘dictate’ or ‘mandate’ how these funds should be invested;

g)    as part of its duties in relation to the WYPF, Bradford Council was also required to establish and operate a Local Pension Board – this board (the West Yorkshire Pension Fund Pension Board) is responsible for (i) assisting the administering authority in securing compliance with Local Government Pension Scheme regulations, (ii) any overriding legislation and guidance from the Pensions Regulator, and is currently chaired by a Bradford Councillor;

h)    the WYPF’s Investment Strategy Statement recognises climate change risk and is committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its portfolio by 2050 or sooner;

i)      the WYPF is signed up to the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change Net Zero Commitment Statement, which also accepts the need to transition investments to achieve net-zero portfolio greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, or sooner;

j)      although low carbon investments remain a relatively small market segment, WYPF has been able to build up its portfolio to over £700m, with a further £260m committed to future projects;

k)    according to Friends of the Earth, UK local government pensions held £9.7 billion of investments in fossil fuel companies in the 2019/20 financial year, and the WYPF remains one of four local authority pension funds with the largest investments of this kind;

l)      efforts to engage positively with the fossil fuel sector (via the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change) have failed to make significant progress;

m)  numerous other organisations in the UK have now begun to divest their fossil fuel holdings and reduce their exposure to the growing risk of stranded fossil fuel assets, such as the National Employment Savings Trust, the Brunel Pension Partnership, the Environment Agency and a number of councils including Calderdale, Cardiff, Islington, Lambeth, Southwark and Waltham Forest;

n)    Calderdale Council’s cabinet agreed, in July 2021, to propose that their  ...  view the full agenda text for item 46.

Resolved – That the following notices of motion (with amendments) be approved:

1 – West Yorkshire Pension Fund – Independent Divestment Review

Moved by: Councillor Angela Tait

Seconded by: Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe

Council notes:

• Calls for an independent divestment review of West Yorkshire Pension Fund’s investments in fossil fuel energy assets.
• Bradford Council formally declared a ‘Climate Emergency’ in January 2019, and as a member of the Leeds City Region (LCR) Climate Coalition, has formally committed to achieving a net zero carbon LCR “by 2038, with significant progress by 2030”.
• The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warning in August 2021 that “Global warming of 1.5°C and 2.0°C will be exceeded during the 21st century unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades.”
• Achieving net zero will require an unprecedented transformation of economy and society, including a massive shift to renewable energy and away from fossil fuels.
• That a transition to low carbon and renewable energy is already underway, driven by policy, technology and investment. Although currently the pace and magnitude of this transition falls short of that which is necessary to achieve the aims of the Paris Agreement.
• That Climate Change poses wide ranging financial and investment risk across all industry and business sectors as well as an existential risk, that particular concerns arise in respect to fossil fuel energy and that continued long-term investment in this area carries with it some significant financial risks.
• Bradford Council is the administering authority for the West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF) and WYPF has investments in the fossil fuel energy sector.
• The concerns, both financial and ethical, of stakeholders in WYPF over its holdings in fossil fuel energy companies.

Council further notes:

• WYPF is a pension provider for almost 300,000 members, and 423 employers. The value of the Fund at March 31, 2021, was £16.3billion.
• The fund has specifically recognised climate change as a risk to its investments and has committed to a net-zero portfolio by 2050 or sooner and to implementing this with the aim of achieving real economy emissions reductions.
• Within the last year WYPF received a report commissioned from AON specifically on climate related investment risks and this was used in the development of the Fund’s strategic asset allocation.
• WYPF is signed-up to the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) Net Zero commitment statement. This includes setting an interim target for 2030 or sooner for reducing Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions associated with its portfolios and setting a target for increasing investment in climate solutions, consistent with a fair share of the 50% global reduction in CO2 identified as a requirement in the IPCC special report on global warming.
• WYPF’s investments in renewable energy assets, technology and sustainable infrastructure has increased by 44% in the last two years. Currently it stands at £708m, with a further £262m committed awaiting drawdown. This is far in excess of is holdings in non-renewable energy.
• WYPF is a signatory to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

Part two questions to the Leader and Portfolio Holders and responses.