(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.

In the interest of transparency Members declared the following interests:

·         Councillor Lintern disclosed, in relation to the Keighley Locality Plan Progress Update (Minute 29) that she worked for a local housing association. This was to reflect the ‘Decent Home’ Keighley locality wide priority detailed in that item.

·         Councillor Firth disclosed, in relation to the Allocation of Coming Funding 20233-2024 (Minute 30) that she was a non-voting member of Hainworth Wood Community Centre which had been the recipient of a grant.

·         Councillor Brown disclosed, in relation to the Allocation of Combined Funding 20233-2024 (Minute 30) that he was a Member of the Grants Advisory Group.

To be actioned by Director of Legal & Governance

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2023 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Jane Lythgow – 01274 432270)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2023 be signed as a correct record.

(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 14 November 2023.

(Jane Lythgow – 01274 432270)

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

documents.

The Council, at it’s meeting on 17 October 2023, passed the following resolution in relation to a petition presented requesting traffic calming measures in East Morton:

Resolved –

That the Petition be referred to the Keighley Area Committee.

Members are requested to consider what action they wish to take regarding this referral. 

The Council, at its meeting on 17 October 2023, had resolved that a petition regarding traffic calming measures in East Morton be referred to this Committee and Members were asked to consider what action they wished to take regarding that matter.

The Strategic Director, Place, addressed the meeting and reported that the North Area Traffic Team would design an evidence-based proposal for East Morton and would be looking to consult with the public at some point in January 2024.  Depending on the outcome of the consultation, and discussions with the Portfolio Holder, they would be looking for delivery within the next financial year subject to governance and financial agreements.

To be actioned by Strategic Director, Place

Overview and Scrutiny Area: Regeneration & Environment

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, Document “G” provides a progress report on the Smart Street Lighting Project and the work undertaken to date.

Recommended –

1.    That the progress of the Smart Street Lighting Project be acknowledged and further updates be welcomed.

2.    That the Smart Street Lighting Project, and the positive impact for the Keighley constituency and its wards be endorsed.

(Allun Preece – 01274 434019)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, Document “G” provided a progress report on the Smart Street Lighting Project and the work undertaken to date.

Members were reminded that the Council had approved an invest to save project of £45m to update its current lighting stock, of approximately 56,500 assets, with the aim of significantly reducing energy consumption, maintenance costs and reducing CO² emissions. The project would replace the existing inefficient lighting with energy efficient LED’s whilst retaining most of the existing lighting columns. It had been envisaged that there would be a need for the replacement of approximately 15,600 life expired lighting columns which were identified during a survey of all existing assets (carried out in 2019-20). The new lighting solution would be controlled using a Central Management System (CMS) to control the lighting via a Low power wide area network (LoRaWAN) platform to facilitate Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity for a variety of sensors and devices.

The project was split into two work streams “In Scope” works around 48,300 assets which were the standard column replacements, connections and luminaire replacements on the majority of streets across the district and “Out of Scope” works around 8,200 which were the more challenging assets such as heritage assets, pole mounted and wall mounted luminaires, columns in back streets, overhead cabled columns etc.

It was reported that the “In Scope” works were being undertaken by the external contractor Amey OW Ltd. and the “Out of Scope” works were by a mix of the Councils in house delivery teams for the luminaire replacements and a further contract resource for the remaining column replacements and connections.

Appended to the report were charts outlining load reduction; energy savings and CO2 savings by ward and identifying the smart street lighting works by work type and completed works, by ward, to date.

Following a detailed presentation Members asked a number of questions including if vehicle charging posts were to be attached to lighting columns and queried if those columns had been moved near to the roadside.  It was explained that it had been intended to utilise the columns for electric charging, but it had been found that the cables feeding the lights were not big enough to support that proposal. 

It was questioned if any of the lights would be turned off as opposed to being dimmed at certain times.  It was explained that at the current time there were no proposals for any lighting to be turned off. A report, including the approach to overnight dimming, was to be considered by the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 28 November 2023.

Missing signs on columns was raised and it was confirmed that, contractually, any signs which featured on the old columns must be replaced.

The installation of shields was discussed, and Members were advised old shields would be replaced on the new columns.  The new lighting was at six metres as opposed to the previous five metres, so they cast light  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

The Strategic Director, Place, will present Document “H” which advises Members that Bradford Council, working with partner agencies, is working 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 “H” provides an update on the progress achieved towards addressing the Locality and Ward priorities set out in the Locality Plan during April – September 2023.

Recommended –

1.    That the progress made during the period April – September 2023 towards addressing the locality-wide and ward-based priorities set out in the Keighley Locality Plan 2022-25, as detailed in Document “H” at Appendix A, be noted.

2.    That the Keighley Area Co-ordinator be requested to present a further Progress Update in six months-time.

(Jonathan Hayes – 01535 618008)

The Strategic Director, Place, presented Document “H” which reminded Members that Bradford Council, working with partner agencies, was working to strengthen its approach to Locality Working. A key part of that approach was the development of Locality Plans.

The Keighley Locality Plan 2022-25 was approved by the Area Committee in June 2022. Document “H” provided an update on the progress achieved towards addressing the Locality and Ward priorities set out in the Locality Plan during April – September 2023.  Members were advised that the report had been presented to Executive and had received positive feedback for its progress and partnership working.

Document “H” included progress and one piece of work from each of the plan’s six themes from each ward which had been put together by ward officers, associates and the advanced youth practitioner and the team were thanked by the Area Co-ordinator for their efforts and the production of the good news issues.

Following acknowledgement from Members that the attendance of colleagues from the Area Co-ordinator’s office had strengthened ward meetings it was explained that the place meetings across the locality had been enhanced by a change to Ward Leadership Teams focusing on the themes of the locality plan. The attendance of Ward Officers involved in those themes reinforced that people were together in working on those themes.

A Member referred to a good news item in the Craven Ward which she felt was not welcomed by all residents and suggested the inclusion of the provision of affordable housing in the Yorkshire Housing development.  It was agreed that efforts would be made to circulate future news stories prior to publication.

Whilst acknowledging the fantastic work undertaken by Ward Officers a Member raised concerns about the lack of temporary housing accommodation in the town.  He reported people’s reluctance to engage with private landlords and he was advised that continuing efforts were being made to address the lack of temporary accommodation.

A Member referred to a family which had moved to Keighley and settled into the area.  They had subsequently been moved to Bradford centre and no longer felt safe.

Whilst echoing Members’ sentiments that ward colleagues, partners and others were doing a wonderful job a correction was made to actions, outcomes and indicators for Ilkley and it was explained that the premises accommodating youth sessions were based on Little Lane.

Resolved –

1.    That the progress made during the period April – September 2023 towards addressing the locality-wide and ward-based priorities set out in the Keighley Locality Plan 2022-25, as detailed in Document “H” at Appendix A, be welcomed.

2.    That Council officers and partner agencies involved in the progress towards addressing the locality-wide and ward-based priorities set out in the Keighley Locality Plan 2022-25, be  thanked for their hard work.

3.    That the Keighley Area Co-ordinator be requested to present a further Progress Update in six months-time.

To be actioned by Strategic Director, Place

Overview and Scrutiny Area - Corporate

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “I”) presents the recommendations from the Grants Advisory Group for the Keighley Area in respect of the allocation of funding that has been amalgamated from funding received by Bradford Council from the United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), the West Yorkshire Mayor’s Cost of Living fund (CoLF) and the Household Support Fund (HSF).

Recommended –

That the recommendations for the allocation of funding, as outlined in Appendix C to Document “I” be approved. 

(Jonathan Hayes – 01535 618008)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “I”) presented the recommendations from the Grants Advisory Group for the Keighley Area in respect of the allocation of funding that had been amalgamated from funding received by Bradford Council from the United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), the West Yorkshire Mayor’s Cost of Living fund (CoLF) and the Household Support Fund (HSF).

The report revealed that the City of Bradford Metropolitan Council (CBMDC), via its Constituency Area Co-ordinator had invited applications from eligible local organisations to apply for funding available from the West Yorkshire Mayor’s Cost of Living Fund (WYCA CoLF), Household Support Fund (HSF) and UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Applications from eligible local organisations across the Keighley constituency were invited to apply from the total funding of £97,128. The funds from CoLF, HSF and UKPSF were combined to provide emergency local services and support during the cost-of-living crisis, specifically for food banks/parcels, warm places debt advice and support for mental health.

The decisions on the allocation of funding were devolved to Area Committee to distribute to the Voluntary and Community Sector.  The Grants Advisory Group (GAG) was made up of elected members nominated by the Area Committee at the beginning of each municipal year to help support the decision-making process in conjunction with the Area Co-ordinator.  Once all grant applications are appraised and before moving to contracting, the Area Co-ordinator will present the recommendations of the GAG to the full Area Committee to enable agreement to proceed contracting.

The GAG recommendations for the allocation of funding were appended to the report and a Member questioned if all groups which had applied were detailed in that appendix.  In response it was confirmed that all applicants were included and noted that one of the applications had not been supported.

It was acknowledged that the Area Co-ordinator’s officer was receiving increased levels of funding for its approval and that the GAG had been developed to consider only Community Chest applications.  The Community Chest funding was awarded from base budget with GAG assisting the Area Co-ordinator’s in his ultimate decisions.

Funding being discussed at the meeting, and to follow, was delegated to the Area Committee via the Executive and Members were the decision makers.  Members were asked if they wished to continue with the GAG, which was not a constituted body, providing recommendations for approval or if they wished for all Members to consider all applications. 

In response to questions, it was reported that the GAG had met three times in the previous two months and would meet another four times in the coming six weeks.

Members acknowledge that the GAG considered each application received in depth.  It was confirmed that the group’s judgement was trusted and made in the best interest of the whole district and against the relevant criteria. 

It was agreed that if GAG decisions were trusted that those decisions, made in private, should not be unpicked in public. 

In response to questions about how Members would be aware of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.