Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2023 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Jane Lythgow – 01274 432270)

In the interests of clarity and in relation to Minute 30 (Keighley Locality Plan 2022-2025 - Support from Keighley Town Council) the following Members disclosed their connections to Keighley Town Council:

·         Councillor Brown – Employed by a charity supported by Keighley Town Council.

·         Councillor Clarke – Section 151 Officer for Keighley Town Council

·         Councillor Herd – Member, Keighley Town Council

In addition, all Members who lived in the parish area of Keighley Town Council disclosed that interest.

In the interests of clarity and in relation to Minute 31, (Keighley Locality Plan 2022-2025 Progress Update) the following disclosures of interest were received:

Councillor Firth – Good Start, Great Schools – co-founder of Keighley Imagination Library.

Councillor Lintern – Decent Homes - employed by a housing association.

All Members remained in the meeting during consideration and voting on those items.

Action: Director of Legal and Governance

(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.

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2022 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 that is the responsibility of the Committee. 

Questions must be received in writing by the Director of Legal and Governance in Room 112, City Hall, Bradford, BD1 1HY, by mid-day on Tuesday 31 January 2023.

(Jane Lythgow - 01274 432270)

There were no questions submitted by the public.

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “K”) makes suggestions on the possible support Keighley Town Council can provide on the delivery of the Keighley Locality Plan 2022-2025.

Recommended –

1.    Members are asked to comment on the ways in which Keighley Town Council proposes that it can contribute to the priorities of the Keighley Locality Plan 2022-25, as detailed in Document K at Appendix B.

2.    That the Keighley Area Co-ordinator and his staff team be requested to work with Keighley Town Council, and all Local Councils in the Keighley Area, to help address the priorities of the Keighley Locality Plan 2023-25.

(Jonathan Hayes – 01535 618008)

Members were advised that when the locality plan had been produced the Town Clerk had made contact with the Area Co-ordinator’s Office with suggestions on how the Town Council could support its delivery and requested an opportunity to talk to Members about those suggestions.

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “K”) included suggestions made by the Town Council on the possible support Keighley Town Council could provide on the delivery of the Keighley Locality Plan 2022-2025

The Town Mayor and Deputy Town Clerk were in attendance and highlighted a number of actions, set out in Document “K”, and examples of work to achieve those objectives.

It was explained that the initial idea to support the plan had arisen at the Town Council’s Policy and Governance Committee where members had been keen to consider how they could support the plan.  Appended to Document “K” was an overview of thirteen aims identified by the town council to contribute towards the Locality Plan.  Those propositions detailed future actions; activities already undertaken and aspirations. 

Members welcomed the suggestions included in the report whilst requesting clarification on a number of points. 

There was concern about the possible duplication of work across the Keighley constituency.

The suggestion to create Ward Forums was not welcomed as it was felt that there were now more effective ways, through social media and methods such as market stalls and street surgeries, to communicate with residents. The Deputy Town Clerk agreed with those comments and reported that the proposal had been scrapped.

It was explained that CCTV Cameras was already included in the plan and, as the police had oversight of those cameras, Members were not clear how joint working would assist. 

In response it was explained that the Town Council’s suggestion was to provide mobile cameras which would be managed by officers from the Council and the police.  It had been hoped to develop a method for residents to raise their concerns and for those mobile cameras to be deployed where needed.  It was confirmed that the CCTV cameras were monitored by the police.

Members questioned reference to cameras to target ‘hot spots’ for Anti-social behaviour; criminal activity and fly tipping and the suggested sum of £6,000 offered by the town council for cameras in the Keighley East Ward.  It was confirmed that the two comments referred to the same scheme and that more than £6,000 had been allocated across the town. 

The suggested potential for the Town Council’s Community Awards event to be expanded to include the district Council and other parish councils in the area was questioned with a view that the Keighley event should be continued to retain the Keighley identity being voiced by the Chair.

A Member who had nominated an entrant for an award asked why she was not told they had been shortlisted or invited to attend and it was explained that the venue where the Keighley event, Civic Centre, had been held had limited capacity.  If subsequent events were held  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

Previous reference: Minute 12

The Strategic Director, Place, will present a report (Document “L”) which reveals that the Council, working with partner agencies, is undertaking work to strengthen its approach to Locality Working. A key part of that approach is the development of Locality Plans.

The Keighley Locality Plan 2022-25 was approved by the Area Committee in June 2022. Document “L” provides an update on the progress achieved towards addressing the Locality and Ward priorities set out in the Locality Plan.

Recommended –

1.    That the progress made towards addressing the locality-wide and ward-based priorities set out in the Keighley Locality Plan 2022-25, as detailed at Appendix A to Document “L” be noted.

2.    Members are asked to comment on any revisions they would like to see made to the Keighley Locality Plan for 2023-25, including the six Ward Plans.

3.    That the Keighley Area Co-ordinator be requested to present a revised Locality Plan 2023-25 for approval at the first meeting of the Area Committee in the new Municipal year.

(Jonathan Hayes – 01535 618008)

The Strategic Director, Place, presented a report (Document “L”) which revealed that the Council, working with partner agencies, was undertaking work to strengthen its approach to Locality Working. A key part of that approach was the development of Locality Plans.

Members were reminded that the Keighley Locality Plan 2022-25 was approved by the Area Committee in June 2022.  Document “L” provided an update on the progress achieved towards addressing the locality and ward priorities set out in that plan. 

It was explained that comments made at the meeting or later would be considered in a revised document and that the updated plan would be presented in June 2023.

A Member questioned if additional funding was available for the priorities in the plan and was advised that existing resources and partnerships would be utilised as additional funding was not available.  Assurances were provided that where opportunities were presented to source additional funding they would be utilised.

The locality wide priority to ensure that new house building included affordable homes that were accessible to young people was queried and whilst acknowledging that this was not within the powers of the local authority it was identified as an aspiration of the plan and the work with partners. 

A Member referred to difficulties in gaining access to GP appointments.  It was recognised that whilst that was a national problem and not within the committee’s remit, there were measures which could be undertaken to make the local population more active and healthy and to consider the health of residents in a holistic manner. The benefits of remaining active and accessing the local countryside were discussed.

The development of a national scheme, Our Future Health, was discussed and it was questioned if that would feed into the priorities and something which residents would be encouraged to join.  It was explained that work was undertaken with health partners in a community partnership a key theme of which was to reduce inequalities.

Resolved –

1.    That the progress made towards addressing the locality-wide and ward-based priorities set out in the Keighley Locality Plan 2022-25, as detailed at Appendix A to Document “L” be noted.

2.    That the Keighley Area Co-ordinator be requested to present a revised Locality Plan 2022-25 for approval at the first meeting of the Area Committee in the new Municipal year.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Corporate

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place