Local democracy

Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

Contact: Guy Close  Tel: 07811 503906 or email  guy.close@bradford.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

13.

DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST

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

 

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

 

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

 

Notes:

 

(1)          Members must consider their interests, and act according to the following:

 

Type of Interest

You must:

 

 

Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

Disclose the interest; not participate in the discussion or vote; and leave the meeting unless you have a dispensation.

 

 

Other Registrable Interests (Directly Related)

OR

Non-Registrable Interests (Directly Related)

Disclose the interest; speak on the item only if the public are also allowed to speak but otherwise not participate in the discussion or vote; and leave the meeting unless you have a dispensation.

 

 

 

Other Registrable Interests (Affects)

OR

Non-Registrable Interests (Affects)

Disclose the interest; remain in the meeting, participate and vote unless the matter affects the financial interest or well-being

 

(a) to a greater extent than it affects the financial interests of a majority of inhabitants of the affected ward, and

(b) a reasonable member of the public knowing all the facts would believe that it would affect your view of the wider public interest;

in which case speak on the item only if the public are also allowed to speak but otherwise not do not participate in the discussion or vote; and leave the meeting unless you have a dispensation.

 

(2)          Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

 

(3)          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.

 

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

Minutes:

Minute no. 22 – Member Question Time

 

In the interests of transparency, Councillor P Clarke declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to question no. 9 in his capacity as S151 Officer of Keighley Town Council.

 

Minute no. 24 – Notices of Motion

 

In the interests of transparency, Councillor Loy declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to notice of motion 12.5 (A Council Structure to meet future needs) due to his employer’s involvement in setting up the Children’s Trust.

 

Councillor Parsan declared an interest in relation to notice of motion 12.1 (Eliminating the use of pesticides in our community).  On the basis that it was a disclosable pecuniary interest, Councillor Parsan left the meeting during the consideration of this item and did not participate in the vote.

14.

MINUTES

Recommended – That the minutes of the Annual Council Meeting held on 17 May 2022 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

 

(Guy Close – 07811 503906)

Minutes:

Resolved – That the minutes of the Annual Council Meeting held on 17 May 2022 be signed as a correct record.

15.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

To receive any apologies for absence.

 

(Guy Close – 07811 503906)

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A Ahmed, R Ahmed, Amran, Brown, J Clarke, Edwards, Felstead, Firth, Herd, Humphries, Lee, Mullaney, Sajawal and Smith.

16.

WRITTEN ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE LORD MAYOR (Standing Order 4)

(To be circulated before the meeting).

Minutes:

A copy of the Lord Mayor’s announcements had been circulated and published on the Council’s website.

17.

INSPECTION OF REPORTS AND BACKGROUND PAPERS

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(Guy Close – 07811 503906)

Minutes:

There were no restricted items.

18.

PETITIONS (Standing Order 11)

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

 

(i)            Traffic calming measures on Vine Terrace West – Clayton and Fairweather Ward.

 

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

 

(Farzana Mughal – 07811 504164)

Minutes:

Traffic calming measures on Vine Terrace West (Clayton and Fairweather Ward)

 

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

 

Action – Interim City Solicitor

19.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME (Standing Order 13)

The following public question has been received from Robert Hargreaves:

 

“Can the council leadership provide an update on the outcome of the report it commissioned Sport England to carry out on swimming pools in Bradford, specifically in relation to the future of Queensbury Pool?  As a former Queensbury Ward councillor, an active community campaigner and a frustrated resident with a keen interest in the future of the site, it is disappointing that the council has been sitting on this information since the middle of December and that it's officers refuse to make an announcement despite previous promises made.”

 

(Fatima Butt – 07970 411746)

Minutes:

The following public question had been received from Robert Hargreaves:

 

“Can the council leadership provide an update on the outcome of the report it commissioned Sport England to carry out on swimming pools in Bradford, specifically in relation to the future of Queensbury Pool?  As a former Queensbury Ward councillor, an active community campaigner and a frustrated resident with a keen interest in the future of the site, it is disappointing that the council has been sitting on this information since the middle of December and that it's officers refuse to make an announcement despite previous promises made.”

 

Resolved – That a copy of the response be provided in writing and published on the Council’s website.

 

Action – Interim City Solicitor

20.

MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES AND JOINT COMMITTEES (Standing Order 4)

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 non-voting co-opted members be appointed to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2022/23 Municipal Year:

 

·         Tom Bright – Teacher Secondary School Representative

·         Dr Samina Karim – Children’s Social Care.

 

b)    That the following non-voting co-opted members be appointed to the Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2022/23 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.

 

Action: Interim City Solicitor

Minutes:

Resolved – That the following membership changes to Committees, be approved:

 

a)    That the following non-voting co-opted members be appointed to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2022/23 Municipal Year:

 

·         Tom Bright – Teacher Secondary School Representative

·         Dr Samina Karim – Children’s Social Care.

 

b)    That the following non-voting co-opted members be appointed to the Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2022/23 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.

 

c)    That other membership changes to Committees, be approved as follows:

 

·         Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Councillor Brendan Stubbs to replace Councillor Jeanette Sunderland.  Councillor Jeanette Sunderland to replace Councillor Susan Knox as an alternate.

 

·         Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Councillor Aneela Ahmed to replace Councillor Karen Regan.

 

·         Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny – Councillor Joe Wheatley to replace Councillor Aneela Ahmed as an alternate.

 

·         Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Councillor Karen Regan to replace Councillor Hassan Khan as an alternate.

 

·         Regulatory and Appeals Committee – Councillor Shabir Hussain to replace Councillor Marcus Dearden as an alternate.  Councillor Kevin Warnes to replace Councillor Caroline Whitaker as an alternate.

 

·         Area Planning Panel (Keighley and Shipley) – Councillor Mohammed Shafiq to replace Councillor Ralph Berry as an alternate.

21.

REPORT BY THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL

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.

Minutes:

The report of the Leader of the Council had been circulated and published on the Council’s website.

22.

MEMBER QUESTION TIME (Standing Order 12) pdf icon PDF 66 KB

To deal with supplementary questions arising from the attached questions of which written notice has been given. 

 

Notes:

 

(i)         Answers to written questions shall be circulated at the commencement of the meeting.

 

(ii)        The Lord Mayor will have regard to the list of questions and the political composition of the Council in calling on Members to put their supplementary question to the Leader of Council and Portfolio Holders.

 

(iii)       A period of up to 30 minutes shall be available for supplementary questions to Members of the Executive.

 

1.    Councillor Angela Tait

Would the leader join me in congratulating the organisers of the Bradford Dragon Boat Festival for delivering a wonderful event for the district to be proud of and raising much needed funds for The Lord Mayor's Charities and multiple other charities.

 

2.    Councillor Sally Birch

How many Council owned residential class properties have been empty/unoccupied for over a year and what are is the criteria for managing these in light of the housing demands in the district?

 

3.    Councillor Jeanette Sunderland

At the Corporate Scrutiny Committee on 30th June 2022 the issue of apparently hundreds of computers bought for staff in Children's Services remaining unused was raised. Can the Leader assure us that the Council knows how many devices there are, exactly where they are now and can she confirm that there is no information about Bradford's most vulnerable children left on those devices?

 

4.    Councillor Matt Edwards

Can the leader of the Council tell us what Bradford Council have done to make sure: a) every individual and small business that is eligible for an exemption for the Clean Air Zone has been made aware of the options; b) ensure the website is accurate and up to date with all the relevant information; and c) The Council has in place information and process to assist residents who don’t have access to the internet.

 

5.    Councillor Luke Majkowski

Can the portfolio holder finally provide feedback for members, as well as for the very hardworking and dedicated Queensbury Tunnel Society, on the studies carried out on Queensbury Tunnel? This information has been in the hands of the council for a significant amount of time now. Also, do recent events at Cumbria's Great Musgrave Bridge, in his opinion, have any impact on the in filling of Queensbury Tunnel?

 

6.    Councillor Fozia Shaheen

Can the leader join me in congratulating Bradford District in securing the City of Culture 2025. This is an amazing achievement for our city. Please could the leader assure this money will be used to reflect and support all communities through regeneration, heritage and cultural opportunities, and advise what are the plans for the next steps.

 

7.    Councillor Angela Tait

Could the portfolio holder provide an update on progress of the domestic violence pilots across the district.

 

8.    Councillor Mike Pollard

Further to the airing of “Bradford on Duty”, does the Leader of the Council believe that contributing to the programme was a good idea, conducive to promoting to the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 22.

Minutes:

Details of the questions from Members to the Leader of Council and Portfolio Holders and the answers given had been circulated and published on the Council’s website.

23.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE EXECUTIVE AND COMMITTEES (Standing Order 15) pdf icon PDF 303 KB

At the meeting of Governance and Audit Committee held on 9 June 2022, consideration was given to a report of the Director of Finance and IT, which presented the Annual Treasury Management Report 2021-22 for adoption by Council.

 

Resolved – That the report (Document “C”) be noted and referred to Council for adoption.

 

Action: Director of Finance and IT

Minutes:

At the meeting of Governance and Audit Committee held on 9 June 2022, consideration was given to a report of the Director of Finance and IT, which presented the Annual Treasury Management Report 2021-22 for adoption by Council.

 

Resolved – That the Annual Treasury Management Report 2021-22 (Document C) be adopted by Council.

 

Action – Director of Finance and IT

24.

NOTICES OF MOTION (Standing Order 17)

To consider notices of motion set out below:

 

12.1

 

Eliminating the use of pesticides in our community

 

To be moved by: Councillor Anna Watson

 

To be seconded by: Councillor Kevin Warnes

 

Council notes that:

 

a)    residents across our District are concerned about the use of pesticides such as Glyphosate on our streets, housing estates, parks and gardens, and the impact of this policy on human, animal, insect and environmental health in general;

b)    these concerns are increasingly supported by scientific evidence that shows potential links of Glyphosate to cancer, liver disease and fertility in the human population;

c)    there is also growing scientific evidence that the use of pesticides, including Glyphosate, is causing a decline in insect populations including key pollinators such as bees, wasps and butterflies;

d)    the European Commission published proposals in June 2022 that will “ban all pesticides in sensitive areas”, prohibiting their use “in places such as urban green areas, including public parks or gardens, playgrounds, schools, recreation or sports grounds, public paths and…any ecologically sensitive area to be preserved for threatened pollinators”, with the intention of removing chemical pesticides “from our proximity in our everyday lives”;

e)    many towns and cities across the UK are reducing, or eradicating, the use of pesticides in urban spaces and switching to non-chemical methods of weed control;

f)     Bradford Council’s Sustainable Development Action Plan states that the principle of “Living Within Environmental Limits” should “inform action across the Council”, and that “The Council, with the powers, resources and influence at its disposal, will seek to ensure effective climate action and a safe and high quality local environment, actively working to have a positive impact on the rest of the world. Respecting the limits of our environment, resources and biodiversity and ensuring that the natural resources needed for life are unimpaired and remain so for future generations”;

g)    our Local Biodiversity Action Plan does NOT include bumblebee bees or other pollinators in the list of species that have action plans to protect and enhance their status across the District.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

1.    produce an action plan for the elimination of the use of all pesticides by the Council, inclusive of glyphosate, before the end of 2022, with the intention of implementing the measures in the plan from the beginning of the 2023-2024 municipal year;

  1. support our key partners to follow suit and develop their own strategy for ending the use of pesticides on land under their control;
  2. encourage the general public to stop the use of pesticides in their gardens, allotments and other open areas;
  3. develop a broader pollination strategy that will show how, as a District, we will support biodiversity and local ecosystems through regeneration and the protection of local habitats (for example, through development of local community orchards/gardens, the introduction of a wild flowering programme or simple re-wilding areas of the District);
  4. add bumble bees and other pollinators to our Local Biodiversity Action Plan as species with action plans to protect and enhance their status across  ...  view the full agenda text for item 24.

Minutes:

Resolved – That the following notices of motion be approved:

 

12.1 - Eliminating the use of pesticides in our community

 

Moved by: Councillor Sarah Ferriby

 

Seconded by: Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw

 

Council notes:

 

The debate concerning the possible harmful effects of glyphosate is continuing to take place within organisations, including councils and governmental bodies, across the world.

 

The motion approved by full council on 16 July 2019 titled ‘Use of glyphosate herbicides by CBMDC’ requested that the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee commission and publish a report covering these issues, the steps taken to protect both staff and the public from harm and examine alternative measures for weed control with a view to making recommendations for the reduction or cessation of glyphosate use.

 

Council therefore requests:

 

That the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which has recently completed work on climate emergency, green space, water management, biodiversity and single-use plastics, progress the report, which was inevitably delayed by the Covid pandemic, at its earliest opportunity.

 

That the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which is under development and incorporates the existing Strategic Action Plan for bumblebees, be sent to the Regeneration and Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee for review and feedback by members before it is adopted.

 

12.2 - Woodlands and trees

 

Moved by: Councillor Sarah Ferriby

 

Seconded by: Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw

 

Council notes that:

 

Bradford Council currently manages around 30,000 street trees and 860 hectares of woodland across the district.

 

In January 2019, Bradford Council passed a motion that declared a Climate Emergency and on our website commits to “improve green space” across the district.

 

Bradford Council has also pledged to plant one tree for every primary school child across the district. This equates to 55,000 trees of which around 26,000 have already been planted including 10,000 planted as part of the Queen’s Canopy (QGC). A further 29,000 will be planted up to 2024.

 

Bradford Council was awarded ‘Tree City of the World’ for its commitment to urban tree forestry.

 

Bradford District is part of the Northern Forest Project - an ambitious plan to plant 50 million trees across the North of England before 2032.

 

Bradford Council is achieving all of the above despite the unprecedented level of Conservative government funding cuts over the past 12 years which continue to put incredible strain on all council services for people throughout the district.

 

With regard to Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), an individual tree is the responsibility of the land owner, who has the responsibility to regularly risk assess them.

 

Council resolves to:

 

Achieve the ambitious targets we have set ourselves to plant new trees whilst maintaining and improving our substantial existing woodlands, street trees, parks and green spaces

 

Continue to work with schools, volunteers and Friends groups in our new planting and management of existing trees, parks and green spaces and acknowledge the leading role our parks services have played in facilitating and supporting new Friends groups

 

Support the planned introduction of a new Customer Relationship Management system by the Customer  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

25.

PAY POLICY STATEMENT UPDATE FOR 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 53 KB

To receive a report from the Director of Human Resources presenting details of the proposed amendments to Pay Policy Statements for the financial year 2022/23 to reflect appointments to the Children’s Trust, and senior roles in the Council following job evaluation and benchmarking.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Human Resources submitted a report which presented details of the proposed amendments to the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2022/23 to provide for appointments to the Children’s Trust, and alterations to senior roles in the Council following job evaluation and benchmarking.

 

Resolved –

 

(a)  That the amended Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2022/23 as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

(b)  That the Chief Executive be given authority in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, and also after undertaking consultation with the S151 Officer, the Department for Education and the Children’s Commissioner, to authorise an appropriate remuneration package in respect of the posts of Chief Executive and Finance Director of the Children’s Trust. 

 

Action – Director of Human Resources

26.

EXECUTIVE CONSIDERATION OF URGENT REPORT pdf icon PDF 22 KB

Pursuant to paragraph 12.1 of the Executive Procedure Rules, the Leader of the Council to present an update to Council detailing Executive decisions considered within the previous three months under the Special Urgency provisions contained in paragraph 11 of the Executive Procedure Rules.

Minutes:

Pursuant to paragraph 12.1 of the Executive Procedure Rules, the Leader submitted a report to Council, which detailed Executive decisions considered within the previous three months under the Special Urgency provisions contained in paragraph 11 of the Executive Procedure Rules.

 

Resolved – That the contents of the report be noted.