(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:

(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.

No disclosures of interest in matters under consideration were received.

Recommended – That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2023 be signed as a correct record.

(Fatima Butt – 07970 411746)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2023 be signed as a correct record.

To receive any apologies for absence.

(Fatima Butt – 07970 411746)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alipoor, Fricker, Herd, Mitchell, Naylor, Nazir, Regan, Sunderland, Wheatley and Wood.

(To be circulated before the meeting).

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

(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. 

(Fatima Butt – 07970 411746)

There were no appeals submitted by the public to review decisions to restrict documents.

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

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

(Su Booth – 07814 073884)

(1) Save Ilkley Tip

Resolved –

That the petition be referred to the Executive for consideration as part of the budget process.

To be actioned by: Director of Legal and Governance

(2)       Stop Bradford Council Closing Ford Hill Queensbury HWRC (TIP)

Resolved –

That the petition be referred to the Executive for consideration as part of the budget process.

To be actioned by: Director of Legal and Governance

There are no public questions.

(Fatima Butt – 07970 411746)

There were no public questions to consider.

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 Councillor Andrew Loy replace Councillor Peter Clarke on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee.

To be actioned by: Director of Legal and Governance

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.

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

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 Alex Mitchell

Would the leader be surprised to learn that even Conservative MPs in leafy suburbs, like Danny Kruger, are admitting that the Tory Government is leaving the country in a worse state than they found it. Up and down the country it is ordinary people who continue to pay the price for ongoing austerity to local councils. Bradford Council has had to find £350m through cuts and savings in 14 years of austerity. Residents of Queensbury are rightly sick of the Tory cuts to their frontline services including the proposed closure of the tip at Ford Hill. Whilst the opposition locally are powerless to help and can only point the finger. What more can be done to compel this government to do the right thing, restore fair local funding to Bradford Council to protect vital services for the most vulnerable in society and keep open much loved local facilities in wards like Queensbury?

2.    Councillor Mike Pollard

Can the Leader of Council explain why, as soon as it became patently clear, as long ago as July last year, that there was no plausible route to presenting a balanced Revenue Budget for 2024/25 (even including whatever positive adjustments to the Council’s usable reserves position might at that time have been thought feasible), was the sensible proactive decision to lodge a request with DLUHC for Exceptional Financial Support not taken at that time?

3.    Councillor Caroline Whitaker

Can the portfolio holder please reassure residents in Steeton and Silsden that the long-awaited construction of the bridge over the A629 between Silsden and Steeton is still going ahead as planned?

4.    Councillor Jeanette Sunderland

As part of the plan to achieve financial sustainability there is a proposal to close and dispose of Ingleborough Hall Outdoor Centre and the transition of bookings to Buckden House and the enabling of Respite and Short Breaks to support cost avoidance of the growing financial pressure being experienced in the Children and Families Trust to provide Short Breaks and holiday respite provision. Notwithstanding the serious detriment to children in the district which the closure of Ingleborough Hall represents can the Portfolio Holder explain to Council what financial provision is being made to ensure that the facilities at Buckden are fully accessible to all?

5.    Councillor Alex Mitchell

Will the portfolio holder for culture join me in congratulating the wonderful Black Dyke Band on their national trophy.

6.    Councillor Ralph Berry

Can the Portfolio holder advise how many vulnerable people  ...  view the full agenda text for item 75.

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

To consider notices of motion set out below:

12.1 - Problematic Pavement Parking 

To be moved by:      Councillor Matt Edwards 

To be seconded by: Councillor Caroline Whitaker 

 This Council notes:

·           The Highway Code is clear - vehicles should not park on the pavement. However, outside of London and Scotland, it is still legal

·           Pavement parking can pose a hazard to pedestrians, especially parents with pushchairs, people with sight loss, wheelchair users and other disabled people. These people are especially at risk as they can be forced into the road and faced with oncoming traffic that they cannot see.

·           Pavements are not designed to take the weight of vehicles and so surfaces can become damaged or subside, presenting a further hazard for pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities.

·           Action to tackle pavement parking is currently problematic because:

·         The current legislation on nuisance pavement parking is confusing.

·         The legal remedies available to tackle nuisance pavement parking are unsatisfactory.

This Council also notes:

·           The Department of Transport’s ‘Pavement Parking: Options for Change’ consultation closed in November 2020 - but to date the outcome of this has not been published.

·           Over 15,000 people took the time to respond to this consultation, demonstrating the level of public concern. They are still waiting for a response.

·           Some local authorities, including Sheffield, have introduced Traffic Regulation Order (in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984) to tackle the issue of problematic pavement parking in hotspots.

·           From June 2016, all parking contraventions became the responsibility of the Local Council Authority's Civil Enforcement Officers (Traffic Wardens) - whilst Police have responsibility for and the ability to deal with nuisance / obstruction offences - where a vehicle is causing an obstruction. However these powers are currently not consistently utilised across Bradford District.

·         Surveys and polls repeatedly show overwhelming support for legislation to address pavement parking across England and Wales. Sustrans’ Walking and Cycling Index showed that 65% of residents supported the complete prohibition of pavement parking (while only 16% oppose it).

This Council resolves to:

·           Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Transport requesting that the Government’s response to the consultation now be published as promised.

·           Ask highways officers to conduct a survey amongst the elected members of this Council asking members to identify streets within their ward where nuisance pavement parking occurs.

·           Ask the Strategic Director of Place to bring a report to Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee within 6 months outlining the findings of this survey and details of the enforcement action that this Council proposes to take.

·           Write to the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime to ask her to ensure that West Yorkshire Police are consistently using their powers to tackle nuisance / obstruction offences. Her response should be circulated to all councillors.

12.2 - Bradford Council Climate Strategy and Action Plan 

To be moved by:   Councillor Kevin Warnes  

To be seconded by: Councillor Anna Watson  

 Council notes that: 

a.    It is five years since Bradford Council declared a ‘climate  ...  view the full agenda text for item 76.

Motion 12.1 – Problematic Pavement Parking

Resolved –

That under Council Standing Order 9.1.6 Motion 12.1 Problematic Pavement Parking be withdrawn from the agenda.

12.2 – Bradford Council Climate Strategy and Action Plan

To be moved by: Cllr Si Cunningham

To be seconded by: Cllr Sarah Ferriby

Council notes that:

It is five years since Bradford Council declared a ‘climate emergency’ on 15 January 2019.

Bradford Council, like many local authorities, faces unprecedented financial challenges. We have also gone through a pandemic since that declaration. However, there is no economic sustainability without environmental sustainability.

Failure to implement urgent action to tackle the climate crisis would present a significant financial risk to the Council.

Council further notes that:

On 24 March 2020, the Executive:

I               approved a Sustainable Development Action Plan (2020-2021),

II             approved the establishment of a Sustainable Development   Partnership for the District,

III            resolved that “effective environmental management and performance be developed including rapid and significant reduction in harmful greenhouse gas emissions”,

IV          requested that a “dedicated report on the key developments in UK environmental legislation and environmental protection be brought to the Executive in autumn 2020”,

V           requested that “as a matter of urgency support, training and guidance is provided to elected members, officers, suppliers, contractors and partners and citizens on taking forward sustainable development and climate action 2020-2025”,

VI               requested that “an annual report [on the above] be brought to the Executive”.

a.          The Climate Change Committee stated in December 2020 that “more than half of the emissions cuts needed rely on people and businesses taking up low-carbon solutions – decisions that are made at a local and individuals' level. Many of these decisions depend on having supporting infrastructure in place. Local authorities have powers or influence over roughly a third of emissions in their local areas.”

b.          Along with all West Yorkshire Authorities, the Council is committed to achieving Net Zero, in terms of Carbon Dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions, by 2038, with significant progress made by 2030. We also work closely with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority on delivering the Mayor’s commitment to net zero.         

c.          The Council has almost halved its CO2e emissions between 2014/15 and 2021/22 from 42,000 tonnes to 22,000 tonnes. The Clean Air Zone is achieving CO2e emission reductions of 150,000 tonnes.

d.          There is a comprehensive report going to Regeneration and Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee in January 2024.

e.          The Executive has received regular updates on climate action including through the annual Full Year Performance reports, as well as other more focused reports such as the Clean Air Schools Programme. Climate and the environment is also routinely considered as part of all council decisions and activity. In addition, regular sustainability and climate action updates have been considered through district partnerships such as the District Plan Annual Report at the Health and Wellbeing Board.

f.           The council is also doing further considerable climate and environmental work as an active partner in the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. As part of the journey to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

The Lord Mayor expressed his good wishes and success for the future on behalf of members and officers to the Director of Legal and Governance (Monitoring Officer), Asif Ibrahim, who was leaving the Authority.  

He praised the courteous help, support, commitment and his unfailing eye for detail Asif had provided throughout his time with the Authority.