Local democracy

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Contact: Jane Lythgow 

Items
No. Item

1.

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.

 

2.

MINUTES

Recommended –

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2020 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

 

(Jane Lythgow – 01274 432270)

Minutes:

 

Resolved –

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2020 be signed as a correct record.

 

3.

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.

 

4.

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 16 March 2021.

 

(Jane Lythgow - 01274 432270)

 

Minutes:

There were no questions submitted by the public.

5.

STREET DEDICATION TO MARGARET WINTRINGHAM MP pdf icon PDF 445 KB

This report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “A”) considers a proposal to name a street on a new development on Land At Grid Ref 405342 442432 Spring Gardens Lane Keighley after “Margaret Wintringham MP”,

 

Recommended –

 

That the proposal to name the street “Margaret Wintringham MP Close” be approved.

 

(Regeneration and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Adrian Walker – 01274 431237)

Minutes:

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “A”) considered a proposal to name a street on a new development at Spring Gardens Lane, Keighley, in honour of Margaret Wintringham MP.  The dedication was part of the Pioneering Bradford Lasses campaign which recognised influential women from the District.  

 

It was explained that, at the request of the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, the title MP be excluded from the proposal.

 

A Member was concerned that he had been unaware of the proposal and questioned if residents had been consulted.  In response it was explained that Ward Members, the Chief Executive and Leader of Council would be consulted although the protocol in such cases did not include resident consultation. 

 

Members acknowledged the importance of recognising influential women from the area and whilst no objections to the honour were raised some Members thought the name was long winded and could be unattractive to potential house purchasers.    Consideration was given to ‘Wintringham Way’ however concerns that this would detract from the association to the MP were raised.  The Strategic Director confirmed that it was customary when honouring a person in the district to use their full name.

 

Resolved –

 

That the proposal to name the street “Margaret Wintringham Close” be approved.

 

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Regeneration & Environment

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

 

 

 

 

 

6.

HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE NON-CLASSIFIED ROADS AND SURFACE DRESSING ALLOCATION FOR KEIGHLEY CONSTITUENCY - 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 198 KB

The Strategic Director, Place, will present a report (Document “B”) which provides information on the Capital Highway Maintenance funding element of the Local Transport Plan for 2021/22 and makes recommendations on the allocation for Non-Classified road resurfacing schemes and Surface Dressing sites in the Keighley constituency.

 

Recommended –

 

That the proposed list of schemes for 2021/22 as shown in Appendices 2 and 3 to Document “B” be approved.

(Regeneration & Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Andy Fisher – 01535 618297)

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Strategic Director, Place, presented a report (Document “B”) which provided information on the Capital Highway Maintenance funding element of the Local Transport Plan for 2021/22 and made recommendations on the allocation for Non-Classified road resurfacing schemes and Surface Dressing sites in the Keighley constituency.

 

A Member questioned why the value of schemes supported in the Ilkley Ward were considerably higher than other wards.  The Strategic Director explained that schemes were progressed on evidence of their condition which was obtained from a third party company annually.  Evidence on the surface and condition was captured from a vehicle with roof-mounted cameras.  In addition, information from in house inspectors and engineers on the network was combined with accident data and car damage reports to prioritise the schemes.

 

The Strategic Director clarified that traffic volumes had changed over decades and together with the bad winters experienced had contributed to deterioration.  If interventions were made before further deterioration progressed it was possible to save the roads with prevention treatments which could be applied within the first two years of decline.

 

A Member reported that Slaymaker Lane in Oakworth had received surface dressing which had not adhered to the road and was blocking gullies.  The Strategic Director explained that, to prevent the issues reported, a road surface would be given four or five sweeps after the dressing had been applied.  It was agreed to look into the issue raised if the Member could provide further details.

 

The non-inclusion of Sefton Drive and Gordon Street in Ilkley on the priority list was questioned and it was suggested that the condition of those roads was worse than schemes on the priority list.  A substitution of High Wheatley with Kings Road from the reserve list was also raised. A discussion between Ward Members ensued and it was acknowledged that schemes on the list for treatment were deteriorating due to flooding. The Strategic Director confirmed that the schemes had been prioritised on condition and usage (volume of traffic, number of HGVs, number of properties served, etc.).   It was also likely that some schemes on the reserve list could be addressed with Department for Transport Pothole Fund monies.

 

The responsibility to clear gullies blocked by resurfacing works was questioned and it was explained that this was the responsibility of the contractor.  Concerns about gullies in the Central Ward were raised and the Strategic Director agreed to liaise with contractors if Members could provide the precise locations.

 

Resolved –

 

That the proposed list of schemes for 2021/22 as shown in Appendices 2 and 3 to Document “B” be approved.

 

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Regeneration & Environment

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

 

 

7.

PROTECTING CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS AT RISK OF EXPLOITATION. pdf icon PDF 1 MB

The report of the Chief Executive (Document “C”) provides an update to and builds on the report presented to the District Area Committees previously regarding the issue of Child Exploitation (CE). It focuses on the Strategic Response to all forms of exploitation in Children and Adults and how partners from the Working Together to Safeguard Children – the Bradford Partnership and the Bradford Safeguarding Adults Board work to drive improvements across the District and to hold agencies to account for their work in their area. This report also outlines the emergence of other complex safeguarding themes and outlines how partners are effectively collaborating and focussing upon the protection of vulnerable Children and Adults.

 

Recommended –

 

1.    That the contents of the report be noted and Members be requested to consider how they can support local activity against Child and Adult Exploitation.

 

2.    That a further report on the progress of the response to Exploitation be provided in 12 months’ time.

 

3.    That Partners from the Working Together to Safeguard Children – the Bradford Partnership and the Bradford Safeguarding Adults Board, be requested to seek further funding opportunities from Government funding streams to enable continuation of service provision as outlined in Document “C”.

 

(Children’s Services & Health & Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committees)

(Darren Minton   01274 434361)

 

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Chief Executive (Document “C”) provided an update to Members and built on the report presented to the District Area Committees previously regarding the issue of Child Exploitation (CE).

 

The report focused on the strategic response to all forms of exploitation in children and adults and how partners from the Working Together to Safeguard Children – the Bradford Partnership and the Bradford Safeguarding Adults Board worked to drive improvements across the District and to hold agencies to account for their work in their area. The report also outlined the emergence of other complex safeguarding themes and outlined how partners were effectively collaborating and focusing on the protection of children and adults. 

 

Appended to Document “C” were reports on Working Together to Safeguard Children – The Bradford Partnership; the Strategic Response to Risk and Vulnerabilities in Complex Safeguarding; Information and Data for Keighley Area; Case Studies; Trusted Relationships Statistics and Cyber Team Statistics.

 

The Bradford District Cyber Team Bradford Cyber Prevention Early Intervention Summary Report 2019/20, also appended, detailed the current level of engagement with all schools.  It was questioned whilst 156 primary schools had engaged and had Cyber Safety workshops none of the secondary schools had been involved in those initiatives.

 

In response it was confirmed that all secondary schools had a dedicated police officer providing input on cyber safety. There was much support provided to secondary schools, including those in the private sector, and schools’ officers continued to be deployed throughout lockdown.  The measures contained in the report were in addition to what was ordinarily provided.

 

A pattern of emerging risk seen in Ilkley was raised and it was questioned how that was being addressed.  It was explained that in response to any referral reported measures would also be taken with their peer group and that could be the reason data showed bundles or cohorts in a particular area.  Referrals were discussed in multi-agency meetings held daily and consideration was given to all young people at risk.  Risks were managed and monitored to allow information to be gathered and hot spot locations identified. 

 

A Member referred to data included in the report depicting the average number of children at risk of exploitation.  He questioned if the figure depicted was a total or children identified in the that month.  He also queried if when that figure reduced in October was that because the children were no longer at risk or because they had moved out of the area.  In response it was clarified that this was the cumulative number.

 

In response to a request for additional clarity about the figures reported it was explained that the numbers indicated the number potentially at risk per 10,000.  It was agreed to make future reports easier to understand. 

 

A Member, whilst welcoming the report and the work undertaken to help people susceptible to risk, questioned what was being done to catch the perpetrators. 

 

In response it was confirmed was that there were hundreds of officers and staff working to investigate,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

CHAIR'S NOTES

Minutes:

TRIBUTES TO THE LATE COUNCILLOR ABID HUSSAIN AND THE LATE COUNCILLOR MICHAEL ELLIS

 

At the conclusion of the meeting Members paid tribute to the late Councillor Abid Hussain who had been a Member of the Committee and Ward Councillor for the Keighley Central Ward.

 

At an informal meeting at the beginning of the year Members had also paid tribute to the late Councillor Michael Ellis, Chief Whip for the Conservative Group.  To allow those sentiments to be formally noted it was agreed that they be recorded in the first formal meeting since that time.

 

THE LATE COUNCILLOR ABID HUSSAIN

 

Councillor Green paid his respects to the late Councillor Hussain.  He referred to his service to the Committee and the loss his passing would have. 

 

Councillor Farley spoke about his friendship with the late Councillor Hussain for ten years and his unique way of pulling people together – despite not answering emails!  He recounted he was a very ‘hands on’ and approachable Councillor and that he had spoken to him shortly before he died.  He reported that he had been improving and looked forward to going home.  The news of his passing was very sad and would have a great impact on the local community.

 

Those sentiments were echoed by all Members.  It was agreed that Councillor Hussain would be sadly missed and his passing was a great loss to the District. Condolences were passed to the family of the late Councillor.

 

THE LATE COUNCILLOR MICHAEL ELLIS  

 

Councillor Ali reported that the late Councillor Ellis had been a good fellow and friend.  He had provided him with lots of advice and he was an asset to the party.

 

Councillor Hawkesworth recalled that with the exception of Councillor Dale Smith she had known the late Councillor Ellis longer than anyone else on Council.  He had made a huge contribution politically and in particular for his work with flood management.  He would be sadly missed.

 

Councillor Brown acknowledged the late Councillor Ellis’ professional skills and talents and that the Council and the whole district benefitted from his expertise. He recalled that as a Whip he had a very dry sense of humour and when he had seen him recently, despite him losing his hair due to his treatment, he offered a comb and bottle of brylcreem to a colleague who was requiring a haircut.

 

Councillor Farley explained that he was a member of the Flood Resilience Committee and had spoken to the late Councillor Ellis many times on that topic and particularly after the Boxing Day floods.  He was always approachable and did his best for his constituents and would be sadly missed.

 

Those sentiments were echoed by all Members.  It was agreed that Councillor Ellis would be sadly missed and that his passing was a great loss to the District. Condolences were passed to the family of the late Councillor.

 

 

FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS

 

The Chair wished good luck to all Members standing in the local elections in May 2021.