In the interests of clarity in respect of the item relating to public rights of way (minute 42), Councillors Love and Warnes each disclosed that they lived near to a public right of way and Ms Pearson disclosed that she was the Chair of one of the “Friends of” groups which worked with the rights of way service.

ACTION: City Solicitor

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meetings held on 26 September, 31 October and 21 November 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 26 September, 31 October and 21 November 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.

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “S”) provides a brief overview of the Council’s duties in relation to public rights of way.  The report also clarifies  how obstructions are dealt with and how paths are moved in response to a query from a member of the public.

Recommended –

That the report be noted.

 (Danny Jackson – 01274 431230)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “S”) provided a brief overview of the Council’s duties in relation to public rights of way.  In response to a query from a member of the public, the report also clarified  how obstructions were dealt with and how paths were moved

The Chair queried whether any particular footpaths were problematic and was informed that Keighley footpath no 74 was the subject of a longstanding dispute with the landowner in question and that legal action may have to be considered.

In response to a further question in respect of blocked rights of way, the Committee was informed that the Council had a duty to remove blockages and that members of the public were able to serve notice on the Council if this was not done. However, this sanction had never been necessary.

Members noted that a survey of footpaths had been undertaken by the Ramblers Association and asked whether it met the Council’s needs. They were advised that, while the survey was very helpful, it had been undertaken by volunteers and that coverage of the District was, therefore, piecemeal. It also identified paths as unusable when they were merely overgrown.

A Member queried why a Council survey had not been undertaken since 1998 and was informed that it was the result of resource implications and a change in the emphasis of the work of the team towards regeneration rather than simply mapping of rights of way.

A Member queried whether work was undertaken on urban footpaths as well as more rural areas and was informed that there was an issue with funding for urban rights of way and that footpaths were dealt with on a case by case basis rather than a programme of planned maintenance.

In response to a question about making footpaths accessible to all Members, Members were advised that efforts were concentrated on ensuring rural routes were accessible by means such as using gates rather than stiles. They were also informed that developer contributions were used to fund such improvements as well as the budget for the service area.

A Member also asked questions in respect of the consultation process and the receipt of objections and was informed that the process included informal consultation which meant that issues could be resolved at an early stage. The team also made every effort to work with objectors and to reach a solution which was acceptable to all parties.   

Resolved –

That the report be noted and the Public Rights of Way team be thanked for the work conducted in the District.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

The Strategic Director, Place will present a report (Document “P”) which gives an update on fly tipping in the District, including an analysis on trends in complaints, levels of tonnages collected and whether recent policy changes with regard to waste disposal and collection have had any associated impacts.

To allow the Strategic Director to be present at the meeting this item was deferred from the meeting held on 21 November 2017.

Recommended –

(1)  That the update on fly tipping and actions taken to address the problem be noted.

(2)  That a further report be brought to this Committee within twelve months.  

(Damian Fisher – 01274 437146)

At the commencement of this item, the Chair announced that, as the subsequent two items were related matters, he would take a presentation on each item, followed by a combined question and answer session. Members would then be asked to make a separate decision on each item.

In respect of this item, the Strategic Director, Place presented a report (Document “P”) which gave an update on fly tipping in the District, including an analysis on trends in complaints, levels of tonnages collected and whether recent policy changes with regard to waste disposal and collection had any associated impacts.

Members were informed that there had been a significant increase in reporting of flytipping, principally due to support from the media and new platforms for reporting such as on-line or using a mobile phone app. A review of this additional reporting showed a great deal of multiple reporting of incidents so it was not considered that the increase in reporting reflected  a significant increase in flytipping itself. 

A Member noted that clothing banks were a particular problem in respect of flytipping and asked what could be done to improve matters. She was informed that a clothing bank situated on private land needed planning permission and one left on the highway classed as an obstruction. She was also informed that tougher enforcement work in this area had been agreed.

Members discussed the issue of littering by customers outside shops and businesses and were informed that a pilot scheme in five different areas of Bradford involving working with businesses had worked particularly well and had meant that enforcement had not been required. It was hoped to roll out the pilot scheme across the whole District. 

Resolved –

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That the Strategic Director, Place, be requested to provide a progress report in 12 months time.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

Previous reference: Minute 70 (2015/16)

The Strategic Director, Place, will present a report, (Document “T”) which presents the Environmental Enforcement Strategy outlining approaches that will be taken to address environmental crime and improve environmental quality across the Bradford District.

Members are requested to consider the draft Environmental Enforcement Strategy and the overall approach to enforcement.

(Amjad Ishaq – 01274 433682)

Previous reference: Minute 70 (2015/16)

The Strategic Director, Place, presented a report, (Document “T”) which explained the Environmental Enforcement Strategy outlining approaches that were taken to address environmental crime and improve environmental quality across the Bradford District.

He explained that the strategy involved proactive work to improve matters under new broader legislative powers. The emphasis was now on encouraging personal responsibility and the use of fixed penalty notices for lower level flytipping offences was proving to be very successful as it meant that a very low number of prosecutions was then necessary.

In response to a question about unregistered waste collectors, it was confirmed that there had been three stop and search operations this year, however most dealers were registered as it cost only £154 to register. Efforts were made to identify unregistered traders and it was agreed that it would be useful to inform the public about the need to use a registered waste collector rather than simply leaving items out in the street for random collection.

Members were also advised that sending out Community Protection written warnings with both the Police and Council logos to deal with accumulations of waste on private land was proving extremely successful, with 1700 Community Protection Warning letters leading to just 600 Community Protection notices (CPNs) issued since October 2014 and only 6 prosecutions last year for non-compliance with CPNs..

Resolved –

That the report and the overall approach to enforcement within the District be welcomed.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

Previous reference: Regeneration and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Minute 32 (2016/17)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “U”) provides information about the Council Warden Service and highlights new areas of work and advances in technology that support and increase the effectiveness of Council Wardens.

Members are requested to consider and suggest any changes to the work of the Council Warden Service.

(Louise Williams – 01274 431066)

Previous reference: Regeneration and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Minute 32 (2016/17)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “U”) provided information about the Council Warden Service and highlighted new areas of work and advances in technology that supported and increased the effectiveness of Council Wardens.

Following on from discussion of the Environmental Enforcement Strategy and the success of community protection warnings, Members were advised that  a pilot was being set up to train wardens to issue community protection warnings.

Members were very appreciative of the warden service, expressing their thanks for the work undertaken and in particular for that work which was in addition to basic service levels.

A Member asked a question in respect of evening patrols in the outer wards, noting that city centre wardens worked later than those in other parts of the District. He was advised that wardens did patrol in the evenings and would be directed to areas where issues had been reported.

Members noted that a company, 3GS, had been procured to enforce littering and dog control offences. They asked how many notices had been issues by these wardens and were informed that over 3000 had been issued to date.

Members commented that all three of the reports under discussion were extremely useful to their ward work and for their work with the warden service. They enquired whether income from the          3GS fines was reinvested into street cleansing and were assured that it was.

They also enquired whether the work described in all three reports was effecting a change in people’s behaviour and were informed that independent reports showed that fewer people were now dropping litter in the city centre.

They were also advised that, from April, fixed penalty notices could be issued for litter dropped from cars. These would be issued to the registered keepers of the vehicles concerned rather than needing to identify the individual who actually committed the offence and would be extremely helpful in dealing with this type of littering. Referrals from members of the public could be accepted for such offences, providing that the person was willing to provide a witness statement.       

Resolved –

That the report be welcomed and the Council Warden Service be thanked for its work.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

The Strategic Director, Place, will present a report (Document “V”) which informs Members of the consultation process being conducted with regard to the Bradford Forster Square Redevelopment process.

The views and comments of Members are sought in relation to the station design and features.

(Tom Jones – 01274 434983)

The Strategic Director, Place, presented a report (Document “V”) which informed Members of the consultation process being conducted with regard to the Bradford Forster Square Redevelopment process.

Members were advised that the redevelopment scheme was a gateway scheme which was one of only two in West Yorkshire and that the outline business case had already been approved. As part of the work towards the final design, consultation had been on-going with key stakeholders including the travelling public. Events had been held in the station very recently which had been very successful. Indicative results showed a high level of approval for the proposal and especially for features such as station toilets. Once the consultation had ended a full analysis of the outcomes would be undertaken with a view to commissioning a full business case before the end of the financial year. A further report on progress would be presented to this Committee  in the new year.

Members questioned the senior transport planner in some detail in respect of the following issues:

·         What would be the timescales for completion?

·         Would the royal mail and retail sites be involved in the redevelopment?

·          Would issues such as security and monitoring be incorporated into the redevelopment?

In response, he advised that the scheme was planned for completion by the end of the 2021 financial year; that the owners of both the royal mail and the retail parks were being closely worked with as the intention was to have an attractive frontage to the station including a good desire line towards the retail park and that improving security was a high priority for the redevelopment, with issues such as the shape of the building, improved lighting and having the building enclosed all having a part to play.

Members commented that security was very important to them, especially as there would be a shopping complex within the new station building which would likely attract young shoppers. They also suggested that thought be given to the space to the rear of the retail park that could be seen from the train as it was pulling into the station as it was currently heavily littered and not attractive. Members considered that arrival into Bradford should better reflect the attractive new station complex that was being planned. 

Resolved –

That the comments expressed by Members be incorporated into the Forster Square Re-development consultation process.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

Previous reference:  Minute 38 (2017/18)

The report of the Chair of the Committee (Document “W”) presents for Members’ consideration the Committee’s work programme for 2017-18.

Recommended –

(1)  That Members consider and comment on the areas of work included in the 2017-18 Work Programme for the Committee.

(2)  That Members consider any detailed scrutiny reviews that they may wish to conduct.

(3)  That the work programme 2017-18 continues to be reviewed regularly during the year.

(Mustansir Butt – 01274 432574)

Previous reference:  Minute 38 (2017/18)

The report of the Chair of the Committee (Document “W”) presented for Members’ consideration the Committee’s work programme for 2017-18.

Members were reminded that an informal meeting was due to take place in January on biodiversity and that a report would be presented to the meeting scheduled for February in respect of Forster Square station

No resolution was passed on this item.