Councillor Goodall for Councillor Clarke

None received.

(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 18 January 2022.

(Jane Lythgow - 01274 432270)

None received.

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “F”) provides an update on work undertaken by the Youth Service in the Keighley Area in the past 12 months and outlines the direction of travel for the next 12 months.

Recommended –

That the work undertaken by the Youth Service in the Keighley Area as detailed in Document “F” be welcomed.

(Jonathan Hayes – 01535 618008)

Resolved –

1.    That the item be deferred to a future meeting of the Keighley Area Committee.

The Chief Executive will present a report (Document “G”) providing an update on the contemporary strategic response to all forms of exploitation of children and adults at risk of exploitation and how partners from The Bradford Partnership – Working together to safeguard children and the Bradford Safeguarding Adults Board work to drive continuous improvement and to hold agencies to account for their work on this subject. The report also outlines the challenges presented to the partnership following the global pandemic – Covid 19.

Recommended –

1.    That the report be noted.

2.    That a commitment be made to working closely with partners to continue to raise awareness of exploitation of both adults and children.

3.    That the Chief Executive be requested to provide a further report in 12 months’ time.

(Darren Minton – 01274 424361)

The Chief Executive presented a report (Document ‘G’) which provided an update on the contemporary strategic response to all forms of exploitation of children and adults at risk of exploitation and how partners from The Bradford Partnership – Working together to safeguard children and the Bradford Safeguarding Adults Board work to drive continuous improvement and are able to hold agencies to account for their work on this subject. The report also presented issues from the Covid-19 Pandemic. This provided a contemporary response to exploitation.

Members sought to understand how those who are not already on the Council’s radar are flagged as at risk of exploitation, and what signs are looked for. Officers explained that this information comes from intelligence. This can be members of the public or neighbours and there is also a safeguarding business initiative, with businesses such as Yorkshire Water who are entering homes and may be able to identify exploitation, which will help to keep people safe. Furthermore, the ‘Front Door’ service provides a, team of experienced practice supervisors, and any contact is dealt with by the bespoke exploitation team. This allows the team to set the child’s journey off on the right trajectory. Officers also explained that they are hoping to have a launch campaign over the next year to raise the profile of child sexual exploitation. Officers stressed that through the Multidisciplinary approach, they want CSE to be at the forefront of people’s minds.

Members were keen to understand how officers are engaging faith communities in the Keighley Central Ward.Officers explained that they wouldn’t have data of Keighley specifically but this is something that is in progress. Officers made members aware that they need to build on that in order to progress for the next steps. Officers identified that faith communities can be a very fast point of contact in Keighley central.

Officers suggested a need to improve in faith communities. Officers explained that they will circulate ward specific data if necessary.

Members sought to understand what was meant by ‘not yet assessed’ and whether those identified as ‘not yet assessed’ are moving through the system. Officers explained that exploitation assessments are taking place and that they are supplementary and take place along the statuary assessment. Concerns come through front door and are initially assessed in locality areas. There is a Daily Risk Assessment Meeting which allocate specialised and supplementary assessments for children who need it. Thus happens every day and will be cleared within the next 4 weeks.

Members asked if someone is accused are they accused until they become a perpetrator and whether this is flagged up whilst they are accused? Because if that was the case the DBS check would be clean, even though accusations could have built up over years. In Keighley there are a number of investigations of non-recent exploitation offences. Adult males, not exclusively, now may have children of their own or in their network. Members sought to clarity if there is a process to identify whether these  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.