Local democracy

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Keighley Town Hall. View directions

Contact: Jane Lythgow 

Items
No. Item

47.

DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST

(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 may remain in the meeting and take part fully in discussion and voting unless the interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an interest which the Member feels would call into question their compliance with the wider principles set out in the Code of Conduct.  Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

 

(2)       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. 

 

(3)       Members are also welcome to disclose interests which are not disclosable pecuniary interests but which they consider should be made in the interest of clarity.

 

(4)       Officers must disclose interests in accordance with Council Standing Order 44.

 

Minutes:

No disclosures of interest in matters under consideration were received. 

48.

MINUTES

Recommended –

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2016 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

 

(Jane Lythgow – 01274 432270)

Minutes:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2016 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

49.

INSPECTION OF REPORTS AND BACKGROUND PAPERS

(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 - 01274 432270)

 

Minutes:

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

 

50.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

(Access to Information Procedure Rules – Part 3B of the Constitution)

 

To hear questions from electors within the District on any matter this is the responsibility of the Committee. 

 

Questions must be received in writing by the City Solicitor in Room 112, City Hall, Bradford, BD1 1HY, by mid-day on Tuesday 14 February 2016.

 

(Jane Lythgow - 01274 432270)

 

Minutes:

There were no questions submitted by the public.

 

51.

WARM HOMES HEALTHY PEOPLE (WHHP) WINTER WARMTH PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 74 KB

 

The report of the Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing, (Document “W”) provides an update on the local Warm Homes Healthy People (WHHP) winter warmth programme activities since the issue was discussed on 20 October 2016.  The report also includes specific information on the efforts made to foster greater sustainability for the programme in the future.

 

Recommended –

 

That Members be requested to continue to support the WHHP programme and that the report be noted.

(Sarah Possingham – 01274 431319)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing, (Document “W”) provided an update on the local Warm Homes Healthy People (WHHP) winter warmth programme activities since the issue was discussed on 20 October 2016.  The report also included specific information on the efforts made to foster greater sustainability for the programme in the future.

 

The report revealed that a ‘crowd funding’ project conducted in partnership with the work streams leads, whose purpose was to raise funds for WHHP through personal and business donation, had been unsuccessful.  A Member questioned if there were lessons to be learned and shared following that project and it was explained that the reasons the project had been unsuccessful were being considered and a future report would be provided.

 

Members questioned the influence the Council could have on private sector landlords to ensure their facilities were in suitable order. It was confirmed that Housing Associations had a responsibility to provide decent homes.  The Council also had a Housing Standards Team and when unsuitable accommodation was identified they would work with landlords to rectify the situation.  If landlords were reluctant to address the issues the Housing Standards Team did have recourse in law.

 

Resolved -

 

That Member support for the WHHP programme be continued and the report be noted.

 

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEEE: Health &Social Care

ACTION: Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing

 

52.

BRADFORD'S FAMILIES FIRST PROJECT PHASE 2 pdf icon PDF 130 KB

The Deputy Director (Children’s Social Care) will present a report,

(Document “X”) which provides a progress update on the Bradford Families First Project Phase 2.

 

Recommended –

 

That Document “X” together with the need for a continued assertive and intensive approach to reach, engage and improve outcomes for the agreed number of families and that a whole system approach will be required to reach and engage these families, led by the Targeted Early Help Service, other key Council teams, wider partners and commissioned services, be noted.

 

(Martyn Stenton – 01274 43258)

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Deputy Director (Children’s Social Care)  presented a report,

(Document “X”) which provided a progress update on the Bradford Families First Project Phase 2.

 

The outcomes of Phase 1 Payment by Results (PBR) was reported and it was explained that Phase 2 PBR would be harder to achieve due to a higher number of families with a wider complexity of needs; additional Payment by Results outcomes (increased from 4 to 11); 50% reduction in funding and additional monitoring requirements.

 

A Member representing the Keighley West Ward expressed a view that the programmes initial success had declined and there was now reluctance for referrals to be made.  In response it was explained that there had been a change of personnel in that area and issues had been resolved.  It was requested that the changes be communicated to the community so that the programme could get back on track.

 

The ability to meet the programmes targets was discussed and it was explained that 150 referrals per month were required and 100 per month were currently being achieved.  The programme now had access to information on school attendance; police involvement and contacts made to social care.  That information was being utilised to identify additional families needing support.

 

Members questioned the staffing capacity to meet those targets and it was clarified that prior to the implementation of a new structure there were three separate teams and analysts.  The teams no longer worked in isolation and all personnel viewed the project as their responsibility.

 

It was questioned if the PBR outcomes could be adjusted and it was explained that as well as officers working harder communication was being made with the Government to extend the programme to include children who should be attending nursery school.  On going discussions were being held with health colleagues to gain access to data on families which were not accessing dentists or GP surgeries. 

 

The ability to link the programme to the Poverty Scrutiny Review conducted by the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee and potential information sharing was suggested. In response it was clarified that representatives of the programmes management team worked with similar organisations and work was coordinated between partners in the police; schools; public health; voluntary community services and Barnardos. 

 

Resolved –

 

That Document “X” together with the need for a continued assertive and intensive approach to reach, engage and improve outcomes for the agreed number of families and that a whole system approach will be required to reach and engage these families, led by the Targeted Early Help Service, other key Council teams, wider partners and commissioned services, be noted.

 

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEEE: Children’s Services

ACTION: Deputy Director (Children’s Social Care)

 

53.

ARRANGEMENTS BY THE COUNCIL AND ITS PARTNERS TO TACKLE CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION pdf icon PDF 384 KB

Previous reference: Minute 51 (2015/16)

 

The Strategic Director, Children’s Services, will present a report,

(Document “Y”) which provides an update to the report presented to Keighley Area Committee in 2016 regarding the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE). The report sets out the arrangements that have been put in place, and which continue to develop, to safeguard children from CSE.

 

Members are invited to consider ways in which CSE can be tackled at a local level.

 

Recommended –

 

That the report be noted.

 

(Jenny Cryer – 01274 434333)

 

 

Minutes:

Previous reference: Minute 51 (2015/16)

 

The Strategic Director, Children’s Services, presented a report,

(Document “Y”) which provided an update to the report presented to Keighley Area Committee in 2016 regarding the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE). The report set out the arrangements that had been put in place, and which continued to develop, to safeguard children from CSE.

 

Following a very detailed presentation Members raised a number of questions to which the following responses were provided:-

 

·         The Council’s Member Development Manager was compiling a CSE training programme for all Council Members and this would be extended to Town and Parish Councillors.

 

·         The data included in Document “Y” was correct as of 27 October 2016.  The statistics were provided as a snap shot in time but did change on a daily basis with additional referrals and regular reviews being undertaken on risk scores. 

 

·         In recognition of rapid advances in technology the West Yorkshire Police and Children’s Services had invested in a Police Community Support Officer to deliver cyber crime training to be delivered at age appropriate levels.

 

·         A bid had been made to the Community Safety Partnership which could be amended to include a suggested sticker campaign to raise awareness of CSE in schools.

 

·         There was now one “front door” to Social Care and Social Work and Police teams worked together.  Investigation could be made into any links between troubled families and CSE incidents.

 

·         There was not a gradual progression between low, medium and high risk referrals.  A referral could immediately be categorised as high risk.    The Portfolio Holder (Deputy Leader and Health and Wellbeing) explained that the Safeguarding Board had accepted the policy of thresholds and information could be circulated to Members if required.  Training on a method called “Signs of Safety” had been arranged for 1 March 2017. 

 

·         All referrals were recorded and jointly assessed and those assessments included historical cases.  It was maintained that the “voice of the child” was central to safeguarding children from harm.

 

·         The Police were able to trace vulnerable people using technology.

 

·         Historic cases could be more complex.  Staffing levels were being increased and additional investigating officers were being utilised to help police officers. 

 

A local resident addressed the meeting and expressed her concern that she had not received a response to a request for statistics about CSE in the Keighley and Bradford district.  She said she had been told that statistics were not available and questioned how those statistics could be analysed by officers if that data did not exist.  She also referred to her not being allowed to visit the multi agency HCS Hub located in Sir Henry Mitchel House, Bradford, despite being told on a previous occasion that she could visit that facility.  

 

A historical case involving a family member of the resident addressing the meeting was reported.  She explained that she had been told, at the time of the offence, that there was not enough information to process the case.  She was questioning, therefore, how the police  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

54.

ALLOCATION OF COMMUNITY BUILDINGS GRANTS 2017-19 pdf icon PDF 78 KB

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “Z”) outlines the recommendations of the Keighley Area Committee Grants Advisory Group for the allocation of Community Buildings Grants 2017-19.

 

Recommended –

 

(1)  That the Community Buildings Grants allocations recommended by the Grants Advisory Group, as outlined in Paragraph 3.1 of Document “Z” be approved.

 

(2)  That the decisions on the allocation of the Community Buildings Grants Contingency Fund be delegated to the Grants Advisory Group and that the Keighley Area Co-ordinator be requested to report any such allocation of grants to the Keighley Area Committee on a six monthly basis.

 

(Jonathan Hayes – 01535 618008)

Minutes:

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “Z”) outlined the recommendations of the Keighley Area Committee Grants Advisory Group for the allocation of Community Buildings Grants 2017-19.  Included in the report were details of all applications received.

 

A Member questioned how the allocations were decided and it was explained that groups submitted an “Expression of Interest Form” for consideration by Members the Grants Advisory Group (GAG).  The eligibility for the grants was contained in the Expression of Interest Form guidance notes available for applicants and included that groups should:-

 

·       Be accessible to everyone within the local community and or young people

·       Have well maintained and clean facilities

·       Have a responsible charging policy, appropriate to the facilities available

·       Have robust financial systems and controls in place

·       Be run by a strong and responsible voluntary management committee

·       Work in partnership with other agencies

·       Provide generic community activities as opposed to Facilities designed for a limited section of the community

·       Must be available for bookings

·       Be on and up to date on the **DIVA database

·       May be a District wide community of interest group

 

** The DIVA Bradford project brings together information on voluntary and community sector groups from across Bradford District in a single searchable directory.

 

The feedback provided to unsuccessful applicants and the ability to appeal the GAG decision was questioned.

 

In response it was explained that groups would be informed in writing indicating what had been approved.  The GAG were recommending the retention of a Contingency Fund in order for the Area Committee to be able to consider supporting new or existing groups that were likely to need help in the coming months and years, particularly in relation to taking on responsibility of CBMDC buildings. The Contingency Fund also allowed further consideration to be given to groups which had not been awarded the full amount they applied for, who then found that they suffered adversely as a result of further cuts to their budgets or unforeseen costs. A particular concern was the position of groups currently waiting for determinant of budget from other sources, for example, Public Health grants.

 

For those groups that were successful or unsuccessful in the application process it was intended to set up a workshop in each constituency that would offer advice and support with fundraising to mitigate the loss of funding.

 

In response to questions it was confirmed that commercial activities were not supported and all groups must adhere to the eligibility criteria.

 

It was requested that future Keighley Area Committee Grants Advisory Group reports for approval of the allocation of Community Buildings Grants include details of the amounts the applicants had initially requested.

 

Resolved –

 

(1)  That the Community Buildings Grants allocations recommended by the Grants Advisory Group, as outlined in Paragraph 3.1 of Document “Z” be approved.

 

(2)  That the decisions on the allocation of the Community Buildings Grants Contingency Fund be delegated to the Grants Advisory Group and that the Keighley Area Co-ordinator be requested to report any such  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.