No disclosures of interest in matters under consideration were received. 

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2017 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Jane Lythgow – 01274 432270)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2017 be signed as a correct record.

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

(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 12 December 2017.

(Jane Lythgow - 01274 432270)

There were no questions submitted by the public.

NOMINATION TO LIST PROPERTY AS AN ASSET OF COMMUNITY VALUE

The Council has received a nomination to list a property known as Addingham Recreation Ground Sports Pavilion as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act 2011. 

The report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services (Document “P”) considers whether the nomination and nominated asset meets the Asset of Community Value Criteria set out in the Localism Act and contains a recommendation as to whether or not the nomination should be approved.

Recommended –

That in accordance with Option 1 the nomination of the property known as Addingham Recreation Ground Sports Pavilion, Main Street, Addingham, Ilkley, as an Asset of Community Value be accepted.

(Regeneration and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee

and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Nigel Gillatt – 01274 434224)

Members were advised that the Council had received a nomination to list a property known as Addingham Recreation Ground Sports Pavilion as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act 2011. 

The report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services (Document “P”) considered whether the nomination and nominated asset met the Asset of Community Value Criteria set out in the Localism Act and contained a recommendation as to whether or not the nomination should be approved.

Resolved –

That in accordance with Option 1 the nomination of the property known as Addingham Recreation Ground Sports Pavilion, Main Street, Addingham, Ilkley, as an Asset of Community Value be accepted.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Corporate Services

(Regeneration and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee / Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “Q”) provides a summary of the weed spraying contract that is delivered across the District; reviews the delivery during the past year and considers the future options with regard to weed control on the highway and footpath network.

Recommended –

That the approach to highway weed spraying in the Keighley Constituency be noted.

(Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Ian Wood – 01274 432648)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “Q”) provided a summary of the weed spraying contract delivered across the District; reviewed the delivery during the past year and considered the future options with regard to weed control on the highway and footpath network.

It was explained that the Council was responsible for the treatment of weeds

on the adopted public highway throughout the Bradford district which

included areas such as paved/tarmac footways; kerb edges and channels;

areas around street furniture and hard central reservations. The treated areas

amounted to around 3400km of linear surface.  Members were reminded that

whilst this was a highway function and part of that departments remit the Park

and Green Spaces Service (PGS) had always undertaken the service delivery

of that remit as an addition to the highway verge maintenance undertaken.

Due to the staffing demand, the specialist nature of the work and equipment

required the Council had tendered the work outside of the service area as it

was more cost effective to do so.  The general weed spraying contact had

been successfully tendered out to specialists since the late 1990s.  The

current contact, due for renewal, would be tendered for a three year period

with a one year extension included.

It was explained that since the ban on the use of Residual chemicals (those which lay active in the ground for a long period of time and stopped germination of seedlings) had been introduced in the late 1990s the chemical widely used for treatments, including the Bradford district, had been Glyphosate. The chemical Glyphosate was a broad spectrum systemic weed treatment and used to kill grasses and broad leaved annual weeds and when applied it was absorbed through the plant foliage and, as such, could not be used as a ‘pre emergence’ treatment.  Glyphosate would only kill weeds that were present at the time of spraying and further growth could re-appear following spraying.  The Council, working to confirm with the EU’s proposals for the Water Framework Directive and Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive was looking to reduce the amount of chemicals used in the environment.

The contract requirement was for the contractor to carry out three applications annually of the weed killer Glyphosate.  Appended to Document “Q” was the scheduled programme of works.  The Council had specified in the contract that contractors should ideally use the latest up to date vehicle mounted technology for the majority of the spray application. Such technological advances had developed an application through sensors and infra-red beams that could detect chlorophyll in a plant which allowed only the weeds that were present to be sprayed and conformed to the EU’s requirements.

Alternative methods of treatment which had been considered were reported although it was felt these were too labour and resource intensive and trials had not proved beneficial. 

The report revealed that the number of complaints received fluctuated

year on year and was dependent on seasonal weather conditions.

The statistics from January – November 2017  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

The report of the Strategic Director Children’s Services

(Document “R”) highlights the progress the Council and partners have made in bringing together existing arrangements for early help and early years services. 

The report outlines the need for proposed changes to how we deliver services in order to ensure we target resources at a time of increasing demand to avoid a detrimental impact on outcomes to children.  We cannot continue to deliver services in the way we do now with this level of government cuts. The focus will be on a proposed partnership approach which is more targeted to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities for children and young people across the District.

On 7 November 2017 Executive was asked to approve a period of consultation on a proposed new Prevention and Early Help delivery model.  Keighley Area Committee is asked to consider and comment on the report as part of formal consultation.

The views and comments of Members are requested and it is recommended -

(1)  That it be noted that formal consultation is underway from 15 November 2017 until 12 February 2018 with all interested parties as outlined in Appendix 12 to Document R.

(2)  That it be noted that Executive will receive a further report in April 2018 following formal consultation.

(Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Judith Kirk– 01274 431078)

The report of the Strategic Director Children’s Services

(Document “R”) highlighted the progress the Council and partners had made in bringing together existing arrangements for early help and early years services. 

On 7 November 2017 the  Executive had been asked to approve a period of consultation on a proposed new Prevention and Early Help delivery model.  Keighley Area Committee was asked to consider and comment on the report as part of that formal consultation. 

The report outlined the need for proposed changes to how services were delivered in order to ensure resources were targeted, at a time of increasing demand, to avoid a detrimental impact on outcomes to children.  It was explained that unprecedented reductions in Government funding meant that the Department of  Children’s Services could not deliver services in the way it previously had.  The proposed focus would be on a partnership approach which was more targeted to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities for children and young people across the District.

The Deputy Director, Education, Employment and Skills addressed the meeting and provided a visual depiction, in diagrammatic form, of the proposed changes to how the children’s centre core offer across the District would be provided.  The proposals would result in a move from separate services (the seven Children’s Centre clusters and five Early Help clusters) to one new Prevention and Early Help Service. The preferred model included a combination of a small group of central services and four new Prevention and Early Help teams.  Based on the Families’ Needs Assessment it was proposed that the four area based teams would cover Keighley/Shipley combined; Bradford East; Bradford West and Bradford South.  There would be two types of teams working in each area dealing with both case management and preventative measures.  The proposals would cut out duplication and implement a whole family approach where families would not receive a series of interventions from different services.

It was clarified that approximately 50% of current posts would be removed from the structure which would equate to 220 to 240 full time equivalent posts.  In response to which Members expressed concern that the service may not be able to function appropriately.  That concern was acknowledged, however, the element of duplication in the previous structure was reported and that should additional funding be secured the potential for teams to be enlarged was stressed.  The proposals would result in a move to generic job descriptions and whole family approach. 

Concerns that staff, transferring from their current specialisms to prevention and early help across all key stages, would not have the necessary skills to fulfil their new roles were raised.  Members were assured that a skills passport approach was being established to provide a professional development programme for all personnel. 

Members questioned the rationale for a combined Keighley and Shipley area based team.  It was explained that a great deal of research had been undertaken to assess the levels of deprivation and wards/neighbourhoods with the greatest needs would be targeted.  Should levels of need  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

The report of the Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing (Document “S”) outlines the work of the Department of Health and Wellbeing on developing a departmental culture that encompasses Community Led Support.  That focusses on social care support being delivered in ways which are determined by people directly delivering services along with local partners and members of the communities they are serving.

The active involvement of Elected Members in a community leadership role is requested and it is recommended –

That the report be noted.

(Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Julie Robinson-Joyce – 01274 434143)

The report of the Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing (Document “S”) outlined the work of the Department of Health and Wellbeing on developing a departmental culture that encompassed Community Led Support. Social care support would be delivered in ways which were determined by people directly delivering services along with local partners and members of the communities they were serving.

It was explained that the proposed model would be delivered slightly differently in varying locations but would have the same guiding principles and provide a reduction in bureaucracy.  Work to support the changes would be delivered through a combination of workshops, training, facilitation, mentoring and meetings.

Members were reminded that an initial event was being held on 9 January 2018 at Victoria Hall, Keighley.  The event would bring together elected Members, ward officers and wardens, social   workers and VCS organisations to understand more about Community Led Support, to learn about each other’s roles and to provide an opportunity to develop networks.

In the afternoon there would be a market place event where partners,

including Voluntary and Community Sector organisations would be able to

showcase their organisations.  Members were advised that their active

 involvement in a community leadership role was valued and that their

local expertise would be very much appreciated. 

In response to questions about potential job losses it was explained that it

was not envisaged, at the current time, that this would be the case.

The report revealed that Keighley Central would be the first ward with the new approach and it was queried when the arrangements would be expanded to other localities.  It was explained that the social work team in Airedale had identified sufficient networks in Ilkley to implement the arrangements speedily.  There were a number of enthusiastic managers and a strong voluntary network in the Keighley constituency and it was envisaged that Keighley Central could become involved in March 2018.

Members suggested that the service consult on the proposals with the Youth Service and Housing Associations and in response it was confirmed that there had been consultation with those groups and it was believed that there was a lot of potential for inter generational work. Details of a ‘Gig Buddy’ scheme operated by Bradford College which could be implemented in Keighley were reported.  The scheme involved young people attending events with a mate/buddy rather than a paid staff member.  A Member expressed concern, however, that volunteer services may be lost if volunteers did not receive the appropriate support.

Resolved –

That the report be noted.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing. 

(Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee)