No disclosures of interest in matters under consideration were received

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meetings held on 20 December 2016 and 31 January 2017 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Jane Lythgow/Tracey Sugden – 01274 432270/434287)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meetings held on 20 December 2016 and 31 January 2017 be signed as a correct record.

(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. 

(Jane Lythgow/Tracey Sugden – 01274 432270/434287)

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

None

There were no referrals to the Committee.

BRADFORD CITY CENTRE – PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ON-STREET VEHICLE CHARGES AND CHANGES TO SOME DESIGNATED PAY AND DISPLAY AND LIMITED WAITING BAYS

At its meeting on 7 March 2017 the Executive received a report of the Strategic Director, Place (Executive Document “BP”) which considered objections received to the proposals to extend the hours of on-street parking charges to 8a.m – 6p.m on Monday to Saturday (currently 10a.m – 4.30p.m) and to introduce a fixed £1 charge on Sundays in pay and display bays within Bradford city centre.

The report also considered the objections received to introduce pay and display bays on Canal Road, Valley Road, Bolton Road and Mill Street, which were currently designated as limited waiting parking bays, and to a proposal to provide a bus bay on Upper Piccadilly.

The Executive resolved –

(1) That the introduction of the revised on-street parking charges as

described in Document “BP” be approved, with the exception of the

implementation of a £1 Sunday flat rate charge to some “top of town”

streets, namely North Parade, Northgate, Rawson Road, Godwin

Street and Darley Street, where regeneration proposals may affect onstreet parking provision, as referred to in section 2.5 of Document

“BP”. The proposed bus bay on Upper Piccadilly be approved.

(2) That all objectors be notified of the Executive’s decision.

The decision of the Executive has been called in by Councillor Cooke. The reasons for the call in are:

1.    The impact of the proposal, on City Centre retailers, especially those at the 'top of town', is obviously going to be detrimental, potentially undermining efforts to regenerate the City Centre.

2.    There is a specific failure to consider the predictable economic impact on the Oastler Centre.

3.    The Council purports to promote footfall in order to augment the regeneration and prosperity of the City Centre and new charges will foreseeably do the opposite.

4.    As a result of reasons numbered 1 to 3 above, the Council is encouraging the use of out of town shopping centres, at the cost of theCity Centre.

In accordance with Paragraph 8.6.9 of Part 3E of the Constitution Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee can, following consideration of the matter, resolve to:

(1)  Release the decision for implementation.

(2)  Refer all or part of the decision back to the Executive to reconsider it in the light of any representations the Committee may make. The decision may not be implemented until the Executive has met to reconsider its earlier decision.

(3)  Refer the decision to full Council for consideration, in which case the decision may not be implemented until the Council has met to consider the matter.

If the Committee makes no resolution, in accordance with paragraph 8.6.9 of the Constitution, the decision may be implemented.

(Richard Gelder – 01274 437603)

BRADFORD CITY CENTRE – PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ON-STREET VEHICLE CHARGES AND CHANGES TO SOME DESIGNATED PAY AND DISPLAY AND LIMITED WAITING BAYS

At its meeting on 7 March 2017 the Executive had received a report of the Strategic Director, Place (Executive Document “BP”) which had considered objections received to the proposals to extend the hours of on-street parking charges to 8a.m – 6p.m on Monday to Saturday (currently 10a.m – 4.30p.m) and to introduce a fixed £1 charge on Sundays in pay and display bays within Bradford city centre.

The report had also considered the objections received to introduce pay and display bays on Canal Road, Valley Road, Bolton Road and Mill Street, which were currently designated as limited waiting parking bays, and to a proposal to provide a bus bay on Upper Piccadilly.

The Executive had resolved –

1.    That the introduction of the revised on-street parking charges   as described in Document “BP” be approved, with the exception of the implementation of a £1 Sunday flat rate charge to some “top of town” streets, namely North Parade, Northgate, Rawson Road, Godwin Street and Darley Street, where regeneration proposals may affect on-street parking provision, as referred to in section 2.5 of Document “BP”. The proposed bus bay on Upper Piccadilly be approved.

2.    That all objectors be notified of the Executive’s decision.

The decision of the of the Executive had been called in by Councillor Cooke. The reasons for the call in had been:

1.    The impact of the proposal, on City Centre retailers, especially those at the 'top of town', is obviously going to be detrimental, potentially undermining efforts to regenerate the City Centre.

2.    There is a specific failure to consider the predictable economic impact on the Oastler Centre.

3.    The Council purports to promote footfall in order to augment the regeneration and prosperity of the City Centre and new charges will foreseeably do the opposite.

4.    As a result of reasons numbered 1 to 3 above, the Council is encouraging the use of out of town shopping centres, at the cost of theCity Centre.

In accordance with Paragraph 8.6.9 of Part 3E of the Constitution Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee were advised that they could, following consideration of the matter, resolve to:

(1)  Release the decision for implementation.

(2)  Refer all or part of the decision back to the Executive to reconsider it in the light of any representations the Committee may make. The decision may not be implemented until the Executive has met to reconsider its earlier decision.

(3)  Refer the decision to full Council for consideration, in which case the decision may not be implemented until the Council has met to consider the matter.

Members were also aware that if the Committee made no resolution, in accordance with paragraph 8.6.9 of the Constitution, the decision may be implemented.

Members raised a number of questions in relation to Executive Document BP including:-

·         Had any quantitative evidence been produced to support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

Document “AF” provides an update to the previous recommendations around the management of the District’s Killed and Serious Injuries (KSI’s) on the highway.

The report also updates on the Inter-Departmental Agreements between Planning, Transportation & Highways Service and Public Health around the Road Safety Team and Active School Travel.

Recommended –

That officers be requested to update the Committee in twelve months time to include casualty performance and a financial update.

(Simon D’Vali – 01274 618375)

Document “AF” provided an update to the previous recommendations around the management of the District’s Killed and Serious Injuries (KSI’s) on the highway.

The report also updated Members on the Inter-Departmental Agreements between Planning, Transportation & Highways Service and Public Health around the Road Safety Team and Active School Travel.

Document “AF” referred to the budget announcement that the current Inter-Departmental Agreement between PT&H and Public Health, financially supporting the district’s road safety team would be reduced by 50% over a two year period commencing in 2018/19. The report also revealed that the current Inter-Departmental Agreement between PT&H and Public Health, financially supporting the districts Active School Travel Programme would be subject to cessation over a two year period commencing 2018/19.

Members questioned if funding had been identified to mitigate the impact of those cuts and it was explained that, at the time of report writing, the situation was not clear.  Since that time it had become evident that funds could be available from the Local Transport Plan.  It was also considered that a business case  for support for the services could be made to the West Yorkshire Safer Roads Executive.

A Member referred to the evidence in his ward of the success of the road safety services and suggested that pressure from the Committee may be required on the commissioning groups to convince them to support the Road Safety Team and the Active School Travel Programme 

The success of the Active School Travel Programme, in helping thousands of children and their families to live a more active lifestyle through the promotion of walking and cycling, was commended.  The difficulties in persuading parents to walk to school were acknowledged and it was agreed that an understanding of the catchment areas and the ability to ensure children were allocated schools within their local community was required.

It was acknowledged that, with the cuts which had been made to school budgets, that schools would be less able to support the Active School Travel Programme financially.  It was agreed that the allocation of primary school pupils to schools close to their homes would enable parents to walk their children to school. 

The previous prevalence of child injuries in the district and the evidence which revealed the accomplishment of the Road Safety Team and Active Travel Programme was discussed.  It was agreed that now was not the time to reduce those programmes which were beginning to produce real results.  It was agreed that efforts should be made to retain those services and the good practice which had been developed be continued.

In response to questions about the ability for schools to teach road safety it was explained that with the volume of statutory elements in school curriculums it was difficult for schools to include non core subjects.  Training to schools was provided in priority area with the areas of greatest need being approached first.  A strong case had been made to schools to encourage them to accept the training available and School Governors  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

Previous reference: Minute 6 (2016/17)

The Strategic Director, Place will present a report (Document “AD”) which summarises the main comments arising from the public consultation which has taken place in respect of the draft Ilkley Moor Management Plan that the Committee considered in June 2016.

Members are advised that the Plan is currently being updated to respond to comments received and that a final draft will then be ready for consideration by the Committee.

The views of the Committee on the options set out in Section 9 of Document “AD” are requested.

(Danny Jackson – 01274 431230)  

The Strategic Director, Place, presented a report (Document “AD”) which summarised the main comments arising from the public consultation which had taken place in respect of the draft Ilkley Moor Management Plan that the Committee had considered in June 2016.

Members were advised that the Plan was currently being updated to respond to comments received and that a final draft would be prepared for consideration by the Committee.

Members felt the report revealed a more sophisticated approach to the management of the moor and questioned if grouse shooting was detrimental to the objectives of the management plan.  In response it was explained the plan attempted to set out the future of the management of the moor taking account of the benefits that the moor provided.  If it was felt that grouse shooting was not consistent with those objectives the issue would be considered in June 2018 when the current licence was to be reviewed. 

Document “AD” included aspirations to support the habitat of the moor; less intensive bracken control, less intensive heather management and increased tree cover.  It was questioned if that would result in the moor becoming a forest and it was explained that historic management did discourage trees on higher slopes. 

In response it was explained that allowing natural regeneration on lower slopes would help biodiversity and flood mitigation.  The area would not be allowed to become a woodland but the benefits of trees was now recognised. It had been realised that removal of all bracken was not achievable and expensive.  There were some benefits of bracken and the focus of bracken control would be to ensure footpath routes were cleared.

It was explained that the final plan would be completed and the process for adoption of the final plan was discussed.  It was agreed that legal advice would be sought to ascertain the plan’s formal approval process and that the final version of the plan would be presented prior to its submission to Natural England for consent.

Resolved –

1.    That the comprehensive approach being developed in relation to the management of Ilkley Moor be welcomed.

2.    That the Strategic Director, Place, be requested to present to this Committee the final draft of the Ilkley Moor Management Plan before it is submitted to  Natural England for consent.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

The Strategic Director, Place will present a report (Document “AE”) which provides the Committee with an update on patronage, timetable changes, Northern Powerhouse Rail and other initiatives that will improve the provision of rail services within the District.

Recommended –

(1)  That the content of Document “AE” be noted.

(2)  That the need for a Bradford City Centre station to be included as part of the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail network, for the wider benefit of the North as well as the Bradford District, be endorsed.

(3)  That a further report in relation to rail strategy be provided in spring 2018.   

(Neil Moore – 01274 437682)

The Strategic Director, Place presented a report (Document “AE”) which provided the Committee with an update on patronage, timetable changes, Northern Powerhouse Rail and other initiatives that would improve the provision of rail services within the District.

The investment in new trains and the removal of the pacer units was welcomed.  The train frequency at Low Moor Station was questioned and it was explained that a week day service from Northern Rail would be hourly although discussions were being held to increase the frequency to two per hour. Those services would be supplemented by four daily Grand Central services from Leeds to Manchester. 

Proposed station improvements were questioned and Members were assured that the plans included new ticket machines to meet the demand. Trials of a modular building were being conducted in Ravensthorpe but it was not yet known if those buildings, when utilised in Bradford, would include waiting facilities.

In response to questions about the decrease in passenger numbers at Frizinghall Station it was suggested that the numbers for the previous year may have been overestimated.  That station continued to be well used and was not under any threat. 

The Portfolio Holder confirmed that businesses were keen to see increased frequency and links towards Manchester and those views would be added to the Northern Powerhouse Rail case.  It was stressed that cost benefit analysis undertaken would need to be more robust than that traditionally undertaken when demand forecasts were cautious and conservative.  The added value to the city’s economy, traffic reduction, air quality reduction and access to the Manchester job market together with the benefits to the whole of the North of England should be included.

Resolved –

(1)  That the content of Document “AE” be noted.

(2)  That Members fully endorse the need for a Bradford City Centre station to be included as part of the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail network, for the wider benefit of the North as well as the Bradford District and urge that the electrification of the Calder Valley Line be implemented as a priority.

(3)  That a further report in relation to rail strategy be provided in spring 2018.  

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

Document “AG” presented the Committee’s work programme 2016/17.  A Member raised concern about air pollution in the district and was advised that the issue was scheduled to be considered in May 2017.

No resolution was passed in respect of this item.