(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.

Executive Members had been granted dispensations under the

Localism Act 2011 in relation to their declared Disclosable Pecuniary Interests relating to employment, sponsorship and land (The list had been published with the agenda under this agenda item).

ACTION: Director of Legal & Governance

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 and 14 December 2022 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Jill Bell / Yusuf Patel - 01274 434580 434579)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 and 14 December 2022 be signed as a correct record.

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

The following recommendations had been received:

Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee 12 January 2023

RESPONSE TO FIREWORKS REVIEW OCTOBER 2021

Resolved –

(1)       This Committee requests that a report be presented in September   2023, which sets out the approaches being used to address the anti-       social use of fireworks and the effectiveness of those approaches.

(2)       This Committee requests that the Executive continues to lobby            the Districts MP’s and Local Government Association Partners, in       relation to addressing the anti-social use of Fireworks.

(3)       That the Leader of Council, continues to write to the Districts MP’s to:

(i)            Reduce the noise levels of all categories of fireworks;

(ii)          Stop the sale of the more powerful fireworks, such as category 3

                        and 4;

(iii)         For individuals who sell fireworks to have a licence, which demonstrates that they are a fit and proper person to be able to sell fireworks.

ACTION:  Strategic Director of Place

Note:  In receiving the above recommendation the Leader stated that we will write again to the Districts MP and the Local Government Association in relation to addressing the anti-social use of Fireworks.

ACTION:  Interim Strategic Director of Place

Council 24 January 2023

Save Keighley Household Waste and Recycling Centre – Keighley Central Ward.

Resolved –

That the petition be referred to Executive.

Note: In receiving the petition the Leader stated that it will considered as part of the Executive Budget meeting on 21 February 2023.

ACTION: Director of Legal & Governance

(Councillor Hinchcliffe)

The Director of Legal & Governance will submit a report(Document “AO”) which recommends a schedule of ordinary meetings for Council and the Executive for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

Recommended –

(1)       That the schedule of meetings of the Executive for 2023/24 as set out in appendix 1 to Document “AO” be approved.

(2)       That it be a recommendation to the annual meeting of Council that the ordinary meetings of Council for 2023/24 as set out in appendix 1 to Document “AO” be approved.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Corporate

(Fatima Butt/Yusuf Pate l- 01274 432777/4579)

The Director of Legal & Governance submitted a report(Document “AO”) which recommended a schedule of ordinary meetings for Council and the Executive for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

Resolved –

(1)          That the schedule of meetings of the Executive for 2023/24 as set        out in Appendix 1 to Document “AO” be approved subject to the 2 April 2024 meeting moving to 9 April 2024 .

(2)       That it be a recommendation to the annual meeting of Council that the ordinary meetings of Council for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 1 to Document “AO” be approved.

ACTION: Director of Legal & Governance

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Corporate

The Director of Finance will submit a report (Document “AP”) which provides the Executive with an update on the 2023-24 budget position following national announcements outlined in the Provisional Local Government Settlement (20th December 2022), and the impact following the setting of the Council Tax and Business rates bases for 2023-24.

The report also provides a revised estimate of inflationary pressures in 2023-24, and an update on estimated savings associated with changing the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy following further review.

It also identifies issues and uncertainties which could still have a bearing on the final size of the budget for 2023-24 and future financial years. This includes for example the agreement of the contract price for the new Bradford Children’s and Families Trust.

The report also outlines responses that have been received to the consultation so far. Executive will need to have regard to this report when considering the recommendations to make to Council at their meeting on 21st February 2023 in advance of Budget Council on the 23rd February 2023

Recommended –

Executive is asked to:

(1)       Note the contents of Document “AP” and to have regard to the             information contained within this report when considering the             recommendations to make to Council on a budget for 2023/24 at       their meeting on 21 February 2023.

(2)       In accordance with Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, to have

            regard to the information contained in Appendix B and the Annex       to Appendix B to Document “AP”, together with the equality   assessments when considering the recommendations to make to    the Council on budget proposals for 2023-24.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Corporate

                                                            (Andrew Cross – 07870 386523)

The Director of Finance submitted a report (Document “AP”) which provided the Executive with an update on the 2023-24 budget position following national announcements outlined in the Provisional Local Government Settlement (20th December 2022), and the impact following the setting of the Council Tax and Business rates bases for 2023-24.

The report also provided a revised estimate of inflationary pressures in 2023-24, and an update on estimated savings associated with changing the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy following further review.

It also identified issues and uncertainties which could still have a bearing on the final size of the budget for 2023-24 and future financial years. This included for example the agreement of the contract price for the new Bradford Children’s and Families Trust.

The report also outlined responses that had been received to the consultation so far. Executive needed to have regard to this report when considering the recommendations to make to Council at their meeting on 21st February 2023 in advance of Budget Council on the 23rd February 2023.

The Director gave a brief overview of the details contained in Document “AP” as well as tabling an Addendum (Addendum 2) which following the completion, review and submission of the NNDR1 form, revised levels of Section 31 grants had been estimated, and the Council now expected to receive c£2.246m more than previously estimated for Multiplier compensation on the Council’s Top Up Grant, and it is also forecasted to have a £263k higher Business Rates deficit for 2022-23 at £2.067m.

Attention was also drawn to the consultation feedback on the budget proposals which were set out in the report. Addendum 1 was tabled setting out additional responses that had been received following the conclusion of the consultation exercise on 25 January 2023.  At the conclusion of the consultation, the Council had received comments from 873 people or groups through the online questionnaire. It had received two postal questionnaires and 14 representations had been made through emails or letters.

The level of response was significantly increased compared to recent years’ budget proposals consultations. The majority of the response is in relation to the proposal R41 – Waste Review, but in particular the potential to close the Keighley Household Waste and Recycling Centre.

In addition, a public petition opposing the potential closure of the Keighley Household Waste and Recycling Centre was presented at Full Council on the 24 January 2023.

A Keighley Central Ward Councillor was present at the meeting and stated that the proposed closure of the Keighley Waste and Recycling Centre would have a detrimental impact on the residents of Keighley and the surrounding areas, as this was a well-used facility and could lead to increased incidents of fly-tipping, and that many people had responded to the consultation, and although he appreciated the context of the proposed closure, he and has fellow Councillors were urging that this facility be kept open.

The Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder welcomed the feedback on the budget consultation and the strength of feeling that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 194.

The Director of Finance will submit a report (Document “AQ”) which provides Members with an update on the forecast year-end financial position of the Council for 2022-23.

It outlines the revenue and capital budgets and the year-end financial position based on information at the end of December 2022. It states the Council’s current balances and reserves and school balances. 

Recommended –

That the Executive note the contents of this report and the actions taken to manage the issues highlighted.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Corporate

                                                            (Andrew Cross – 07870 386523)

The Director of Finance submitted a report (Document “AQ”) which provided Members with an update on the forecast year-end financial position of the Council for 2022-23.

It outlined the revenue and capital budgets and the year-end financial position based on information at the end of December 2022. It stated the Council’s current balances and reserves and school balances. 

In receiving the report, the Leader acknowledged the challenges facing Councils up and down the country.

A main opposition group Councillor was present at the meeting and stated that in the context of the significant funding challenges facing the Council, that the Executive seriously revisit the Capital Programme with a view to culling any programme where there was no investor saver element.  In response the Leader stressed that the Capital Programme was constantly reviewed to ensure that it provided value for money as well as the regeneration benefits, to help us grow the economy and she cited the street lighting programme, where new columns would significantly reduce energy costs. 

Resolved –

That the contents of Document “AQ” be noted and the actions taken to manage the issues highlighted.

ACTION: Director of Finance

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Corporate

(Councillor I Khan)

The Strategic Director of Children’s Services will submit a report (Document “AR”) which asks the Executive to determine Primary and Secondary admission arrangements for 2024/2025.

Recommended –

(1)       That the Executive approve the Primary and Secondary Admission Arrangements for 2024/25.

(2)       That the Executive approve the Primary and Secondary Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme for 2024/25.

(3)       That the Executive approve the In-Year Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme for 2024/25.

(4)       That the Executive note the proposed changes to the admission arrangements for own admission schools for 2024/25 listed in Appendix E.

(5)       That the Executive note the Published Admission Numbers for 2024/25 contained in Appendix G.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Children’s Services

(Rachel Phillips)

The Strategic Director of Children’s Services submitted a report (Document “AR”) which asked the Executive to determine Primary and Secondary admission arrangements for 2024/2025.

It was stressed that the Council had a statutory obligation to set admission

arrangements.

Resolved –

(1)      That the Primary and Secondary Admission Arrangements for 2024/25 be approved.

(2)      That the Primary and Secondary Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme for 2024/25 be approved .

(3)      That the In-Year Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme for 2024/25 be approved.

(4)      That the proposed changes to the admission arrangements for own admission schools for 2024/25 listed in Appendix E to Document “AR” be noted.

(5)      That the Published Admission Numbers for 2024/25 contained in Appendix G to Document “AR” be noted.

ACTION: Strategic Director Children’s Services

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Children’s Services               (Rachel Phillips)

The Strategic Director Children’s Services will submit a report (Document “AS”) which sets out a reduction in the Published Admission Numbers at Eldwick Primary School & Steeton Primary School.

Recommended –

(1)       That the Executive approve the proposal to reduce the Published Admission Number (PAN) at Eldwick Primary School from 75 to 60 from 1 September 2024.

(2)       That the Executive approve the proposal to reduce the Published        Admission Number (PAN) at Steeton Primary School from 45 to 30    from 1 September 2024.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Children’s Services

(Emma Hamer - 01274 439535)

The Strategic Director Children’s Services submitted a report (Document “AS”) which set out a reduction in the Published Admission Numbers at Eldwick Primary School & Steeton Primary School.

Details of the consultation exercise were alluded to, with the majority of the respondents agreeing to the proposals set out in the report.

Resolved –

(1)      That the proposal to reduce the Published Admission Number (PAN) at Eldwick Primary School from 75 to 60 from 1 September 2024 be approved.

(2)      That the proposal to reduce the Published Admission Number (PAN) at Steeton Primary School from 45 to 30 from 1 September     2024 be approved.

ACTION: Strategic Director Children’s Services

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Children’s Services

The Strategic Director of Place will submit a report (Document “AT”) which sets out progress towards opening a Housing Revenue Account (HRA) with effect from April 2023 and to seek approval to the annual rent increase, service charges and level of HRA reserve to be established upon opening.

Recommended –

That Executive;

(1)       Formally approve the establishment of a Housing Revenue        Account with effect from April 1 2023.

(2)       Approve a rent increase of 7% - to be applied from 1^st April 2023 in      respect of the council’s housing stock of 406 units.

(3)       Approves the transfer of housing reserves of £503k from General        Fund to HRA.

(4)       Approve the service charges to apply to the council stock of 406         units from April 1 2023 as set out below:

(i)           Extra Care £51.39 per week

(ii)          General needs £1.20 - £10.27 per week (dependent upon property type)

(5)       Note progress on the development of the draft HRA Business   Plan.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Regeneration & Environment

(Alan Lunt - 01274 434748)

The Strategic Director of Place submitted a report (Document “AT”) which set out progress towards opening a Housing Revenue Account (HRA) with effect from April 2023 and to seek approval to the annual rent increase, service charges and level of HRA reserve to be established upon opening.

It was explained that the proposals would impact on the 406 housing units the Council still owned and that the HRA would enable managing the council’s housing stock more effectively for example, major repairs, responsive repairs and improve liaison with tenants.

The Regeneration, Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder stated that the Council had an ambition for good quality housing in the district, and that the HRA would drive this ambition forward.

Resolved –

(1)      That the establishment of a Housing Revenue Account with effect       from April 1 2023 be approved.

(2)      That a rent increase of 7% be approved - to be applied from 1^st            April 2023 in respect of the council’s housing stock of 406 units.

(3)      That the transfer of housing reserves of £503k from General Fund       to HRA be approved.

(4)      That the service charges be approved to apply to the council     stock of 406 units from April 1 2023 as set out below:

(i)          Extra Care £51.39 per week

(ii)        General needs £1.20 - £10.27 per week (dependent

         upon property type)

(5)      That progress on the development of the draft HRA Business Plan      be noted.

ACTION: Strategic Director Place

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Regeneration & Environment

To receive the minutes of the meeting(s) of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority held on 21 October 2022 (Please click here for minutes link).