No disclosures of interest in matters under consideration were received.

No Action

(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. 

(Asad Shah - 01274 432280)

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

NO ACTION

Any referrals that have been made to this Committee up to and including the date of publication of this agenda will be reported at the meeting.

There were no referrals submitted to this Committee.

NO ACTION

This report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “AD”) covers initial draft Department of Place budget proposals for consultation pertaining to theRegeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and for consultation with the public, interested parties, staff and Trade Unions for 2019-2021.

Recommended –

That Members of the Committee note the budget proposals and provide comment to inform the consultation process.

(Steve Hartley - 01274 434748)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “AD”) covered initial draft Department of Place budget proposals for consultation pertaining to the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and for consultation with the public, interested parties, staff and Trade Unions for 2019-2021.

The Strategic Director, Place was present and gave a synopsis of the rely. He explained that since 2010, the Council had approved £262m of budget savings and cuts, and had invested £56m into priority areas largely to help cover the impact of demographic growth. This financial plan identified a further £33.4m on top of the £262m. In response, this report was the refresh of the financial component of the Council Plan 2016 to 2020 and aligned resources with priorities. Due to new and emerging pressures and changes to funding assumptions, together with targeted investment, the revised gap had been refreshed. The plan showed a balanced budget for 2019/20 after using reserves but the gap had risen to £28.8m for 2020/21. In the medium term, the effect of these changes represented a structural gap of the order of £20m-£25m which would require corrective action.

Following introduction, a question and answer session ensued:

·         Were there proactive considerations towards income generating?

o   There were a large number of properties that commanded income on a commercial basis which included museums, the receipt of grants and the increasing of charges through partnership working;

·         Was there access to alternative funding?

o   Yes this was also on an increasing level such as directing people within own respective communities to take responsibility of certain measures in order to avoid costs. This entailing the cleaning of own streets and the Council was doing the best it could for the city;

·         What was the rationale behind larger cuts to services in comparison to less cuts to other services?

o   Trailing back to 2017/18, large proportionate cuts made previously had lesser cuts made more recently but following a number of years of cuts there was an equal balance of cuts made throughout Council services;

·         Due to the ever-increasing number of young people in Bradford and the cuts made, how did the Council expect to assist young people for the future?

o   The Youth Service budget was £2 million and the Council was committed to meet its statutory obligations towards youth services. There were other factors being considered in this area such as further collaboration with schools. Overall, the whole concept of delivering vital services had changed throughout the country in response to cuts but all cities were concentrated in pulling services together in providing joint services to its citizens. Albeit the fact that many Councils had reduced its Youth Service provisions significantly in comparison to Bradford; and,

·         What had been in response to the statement of the Police who had stressed on the fact that the Youth Service was in desperate need of significant further funding?

o   The absolute need in reorganising the Youth Service had been recognised and the current flow of services would be delivered through  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “AE”) is a proposal that responds to the need to realign the library service to deliver savings of £950k, in 2019/20.

Recommended –

That Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee consider the content of this report.

(Maggie Pedley – 01274 432626)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “AE”) was a proposal that responded to the need to realign the library service to deliver savings of £950k, in 2019/20.

Phil Barker, Maggie Pedley, Jackie xx were present and jointly invited by the Chair to present the report. They commenced by stating that libraries formed libraries form part of the district Cultural strategy and contribute to four of the five Council priorities: (a) better skills, more good jobs and a growing economy, (b) a great start and good schools for all our children, (c) better health, and better lives and, (d) safe, clean and active communities.

Further highlighted that Bradford Libraries statement of purpose was “to enhance the quality of life of citizens and communities and support their learning, skills development and wellbeing by promoting access to relevant ideas, information and works of imagination through a high quality library service.”

In response to proposals supported the delivery of savings of £950k to be delivered in 2019/20. Proposals for future years would be subject to further detailed planning following the agreement of the savings target by the Executive at the end of February 2019.

The changes included in these proposals would lead to the development of a comprehensive library service delivered through a network of community managed libraries supported by the development of 3 Community Hub libraries located in Keighley, Shipley and the City Centre and operating on a cluster basis, as well as the retention of 7 existing Council run libraries.

Following a detailed presentation, the Chair commented on the fact that Bradford possessed a unique diversified population and the expectation of a more diverse needs would have to be delivered. In terms of the library services, there was a large proportion of Bradford’s citizens that attended library services on a intense passionate level.

Following introduction, a question and answer session ensued:

·         In relation to 9.3.4.1 of the report “part of the initial consultation process” had the consultation process been extended to respective Ward Councillors?

The timings of meetings was publicised through the media and pinned notices but there had been no direct communication with Councillors. Nevertheless all future consultations would be communicated with Councillors;

·         Had the consultation been accessible in terms of engagement with the diverse makeup of individual communities such as the Bradford West constituency?

Not directly aware who had attended the consultation meetings but assuming library users and all elements of change would be considered for future consultation work;

·         The library in the Manningham Ward covered a vast area consisting of many diverse communities yet no consultation had been undertaken with the people of Manningham or the adjoining wards?

o   This could be addressed in future considerations of the consultation process;

·         How had libraries remained open with less staff?

o   Libraries had remained open in communities with volunteers who had taken the opportunity to react positively to resident needs, with support of existing library staff, ward officers and other partners;

·         For this model to progress positively  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “AF”) is to provide information to this committee regarding the Street Lighting Strategy. It provides details of the Invest to Save proposal to replace all street lighting lanterns with energy efficient LED units and the replacement of life expired street lighting columns.

Recommended –

(1)       The Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny        Committee    note the proposed investment strategy for the Council’s street lighting asset, the outline programme for delivery         and welcome the proposed approach.

(2)       It is the intention of the Strategic Director, Place to award a          contract for the surveying, design and installation of street             lighting columns and lanterns to deliver the Street Lighting             Replacement Strategy over a 5 year period. As the estimated     value of the contract is in excess of £5 million this matter is          therefore reported to the Committee in accordance with             Paragraph 4.6 of Part 3G of the Council’s Constitution (Contracts          Standing Orders).

(Allun Preece – 01274 434019)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “AF”) is to provide information to this committee regarding the Street Lighting Strategy. It provides details of the Invest to Save proposal to replace all street lighting lanterns with energy efficient LED units and the replacement of life expired street lighting columns.

Following a synopsis of the report by the Principal Engineer, a question and answer session ensued:

·         Was the installation of new columns for the whole district?

o   Yes this correct and the strategy had commenced 3 years ago;

·         Why had the works gone out to tender and not completed works in-house?

o   The Council’s operation team was not big enough to install 50,000 lights hence the tender for works;

·         Why had this Council not go through a PFI process similar to other Councils?

o   Many PFI street lighting was not LED based and therefore many Councils have had to redo works. Our commencement was later than other Councils and had managed to reduce costings due to ensuring the correct installation of lighting as opposed to other Councils;

·         What was the quality of new lighting?

o   Better quality and longer life;

·         Would present columns that were next to curbs be moved further away from roads in order to avoid accidents?

o   This was part of the implementation of the strategy;

·         What plans were in place for unadopted roads?

o   The present lighting would be maintained; and,

·         Was it possible to reduce timings of new lighting installation?

o   Normal use of lighting would be applied and the consideration of traffic volumes and individual communities would be taken into consideration.

Resolved –

That the officer be thanked for the informative report and the Committee looks forward to receiving progress on the Street Lighting Invest To Save Strategy, as appropriate.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “AG”) updates the committee on the outcome of the delivery of the 2017/18 programme of schemes of the Local Transport Plan and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s progress towards adoption of the replacement Transport Strategy for West Yorkshire.

Recommended –

(1)       That progress on transport programmes across both Integrated           Transport Block and Highways Maintenance Block allocations in the 2017/18 financial year be noted.

(2)       That a further report on the progress of delivering the first year of         the next 5-year Implementation Plan of the replacement WYTS be presented to a future meeting of this committee.

(Richard Gelder – 01274 437603)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “AG”) updated the committee on the outcome of the delivery of the 2017/18 programme of schemes of the Local Transport Plan and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s progress towards adoption of the replacement Transport Strategy for West Yorkshire.

The Highways Services Manager was present and invited by the Chair to present the report. He explained that he third West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan (LTP), which covered the years from 2011 to 2026, was approved by the then West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) in March 2011. The objectives of the plan entailed (a) to improve connectivity to support economic activity and growth in West Yorkshire and the Leeds City Region; (b) to make substantial progress towards a low carbon, sustainable transport system for West Yorkshire, while recognising transport’s contribution to national carbon reduction plans and, (c) to enhance the quality of life of people living in, working in and visiting West Yorkshire.

Progress on the capital schemes that had been, or were being, implemented by the Council were shown in Appendix A of the report.  Further information about the work that had been undertaken by Bradford during 2017/18 through the Local Transport Plan and a number of related funding streams had also been listed in Appendix B.  The funding allocation for the 2017/18 programme was shown in Appendix C.

Following introduction, a question and answer session ensued:

·         How was the backlog of lists being dealt with?

o   More could be done but the increase of works surpassed funding that was available;

·         Was the Council in a position to deliver transport works as listed in appendices?

o   The Council was not worse and equally not better however was in a position to carry out transport works which required immediate attention; and,

·         What were reasons behind the delay of delivering the Canal Road cycle lane?

o   Unexpected problems but investigations were still ongoing at present.

Resolved –

(1)       That progress on transport programmes across both        Integrated Transport Block and Highways Maintenance Block    allocations in the 2017/18 financial year be welcomed.

(2)       That a further report on the progress of delivering the first           year of the next 5 year Implementation Plan of the replacement         WYTS be presented to a future meeting of this committee.

ACTION – Strategic Director, Place

The report of the Chair of the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Document “AH”) includes the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme for 2018/19.

Recommended –

(1)       That members consider and comment on the areas of work included in the work programme.

(2)       That members consider any detailed scrutiny reviews that they may wish to conduct.

(Mustansir Butt – 01274 432574)

The report of the Chair of the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Document “AH”) included the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme for 2018/19.

Resolved –

That Councillors Dodds, Love and Mohammed be appointed on the Members Resources Waste Strategy Working Group to develop a new Waste Strategy for the district.

ACTION: Overview and Scrutiny Lead