Members were reminded that the meeting scheduled for 2 May 2017 had been adjourned as the pre-election period had been entered by that date.

The 2 May 2017 meeting was reconvened and closed as the business for discussion was considered at this meeting.

No disclosures of interest in matters under consideration were received.

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2016 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

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

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2017 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(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. 

Under Article 6 of Part 2 of the Constitution of the Council the

Committee may make a recommendation to Council for the co-option

of Members to the Committee.

The Committee is asked to consider the appointment of non-voting co-opted

members for the 2017-18 municipal year.

Recommended –

That it be recommended to Council that the appointment of the

following non-voting co-opted members for the remainder of the

2017-18 municipal year be confirmed:-

Julia Pearson - Bradford Environment Forum

Nicola Hoggart – Environment Agency

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

Resolved –

That it be recommended to Council that the appointment of the

following non-voting co-opted members for the remainder of the

2017-18 municipal year be confirmed:-

Julia Pearson - Bradford Environment Forum

Nicola Hoggart – Environment Agency

ACTION: City Solicitor

Previous Reference: 2 May 2017

The report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services (Document “AL” 2016/17 – previously circulated) provides an update on progress towards installing renewable energy generation capacity across the Council’s estate.

Recommended –

That the contents of Document “AL” (2016/17) be noted and a further update be requested at the end of the 2017/18 financial year.

(Neill Morrison – 01274 434003)

The report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services (Document “AL” 2016/17) provided an update on progress towards installing renewable energy generation capacity across the Council’s estate.

The report referred to APSE (Association of Public Centre Excellence) supporting energy as a policy work stream and its continuation of support to inform and shape the role which Local Authorities could play.  In response to questions regarding the support which had been received it was reported that regular forums were arranged for Local Authorities to meet and discuss advances in renewable policy changes and to provide early stage free legal advice.  It was confirmed that officers from Bradford regularly attended those events.

The CO2 emission figures for the corporate estate had been unavailable at the time of agenda production and those figures were tabled at the meeting.  It was explained that the figures were early stage calculations but officers were confident that they were within five per cent.  The figures were calculated to 2020 and it was questioned how the authority could move to a target beyond a 40% CO2 reduction beyond that date.  In response it was confirmed that renewable energy and battery storage would have an increasing part to play in that reduction.  New opportunities were approaching in wind/solar and battery storage and also opportunities from A21, a project which was looking to convert, in the long term, gas in the Leeds gas network to hydrogen.  It was explained that there were limitations, however, the authority was making progress and would continue to do so.

The removal of the solar panels from Jacobs Well to Eccleshill Pool was discussed.  It was reported that the Voltaire panels would remain in place and generating until the Jacobs Well building was demolished.   There were limited markets for second hand panels but discussions were being held about the potential removal of the panels to the Nell Bank Centre. 

Whilst acknowledging the energy reductions achieved concern was expressed that the use of biomass could exacerbate air pollution.  In response it was explained that care was taken upon installation.  The Margaret McMillan Towers building had been the most recent installation.  Analysis of the impacts of the installation was that it would lead to a less than 0.2% increase in NO₂ emissions.  An impact of 0.5% was rated as negligible”

A Member questioned the steps taken, beyond the Council’s own fleet, with regards to electric cars.  He felt that the authority should demonstrate and lead on issues to clean the air levels in the district.  In response it was explained that there were issues with the rapid charging infrastructure, however, work was being undertaken with Public Health to address that matter.

Resolved –

That the contents of Document “AL” (2016/17) be noted and a further update be requested at the end of the 2017/18 financial year.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Corporate Services                                

Previous Reference: 2 May 2017

The report of the Chair of the Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Document “AM” 2016/17 – previously circulated) presents the findings of the Water Management Scrutiny Review.

Recommended –

(1)  That the findings and recommendations contained within the draft Water Management Scrutiny Review Report appended to Document “AM”(2016-17) be adopted.

(2)  That the Water Management Scrutiny Review Report be submitted to the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

(Mustansir Butt – 01274 432574)

The report of the Chair of the Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Document “AM” 2016/17) presented the findings of the Water Management Scrutiny Review.

Members were aware that, at its meeting on 19 January 2016, Council had agreed that the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee undertake an in-depth review in to the effectiveness of Bradford Council and its partners in dealing with the floods across the District in December 2015.

As part of that Scrutiny Review, members had explored how the Council could learn from the approaches taken during the winter 2015 floods, to assist the Council and its Partners to better deal with future floods.

Council had also agreed that the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee would receive the final review report, prior to its submission to full Council.

In addition the Environment and Waste Management Overview Scrutiny Committee had undertaken a wider scrutiny review into Water Management across the District.  The draft Scrutiny Report following that review was appended to Document “AM”.

It was acknowledged that a great deal of work and effort had been undertaken during the review; however, it was questioned if there should be firmer deadlines and achievable outcomes within the recommendations.

In response it was clarified that the final recommendation contained in the draft report was that the committee receive a further report, before the end of April 2018, which monitored progress against all the recommendations contained in the review.  It was felt that this would provide the opportunity to flag up issues where policy could be implemented.  Partners could be invited to discuss that report and judgements could be made at that time. It was stressed that the role of the Committee was to consider potential policy implementation and that resource committal was the Executive’s role.

A Member referred to the role of the community in response to the floods.  He referred to the decreased staffing resources in the Emergency Planning Department and the reliance on members of the community in emerging issues.  He referred to Recommendation 10 “that the Council review its record to date in enabling community engagement around the challenges of water management and flooding and explores the options for developing more resilient local networks in future years”.  He explained that Leeds Council employees were allowed 10 working days per annum to volunteer and questioned the policy for Bradford’s own employees to volunteer in the community.   He stressed that the flooding issues were not only about people living near to water.  An example of the concreting of grassed areas on higher levels resulting in water flowing into lower lying areas of the district was cited.

The representative of the Environment Agency reported that her organisation had a long term plan for the next six years around the engagement of communities.  She referred to Community Resilience meetings, chaired by the Council’s Assistant Director, Waste, Fleet and Transport Services and that she felt assured that work was being undertaken on the review recommendations.

A representative from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.