The Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee received a 12 month update report on a review of biodiversity in March 2019.  The Committee requested an update in a further 12 months on the Government’s consultation on Biodiversity Net Gain.  The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “BQ”) provides this update.

Recommended –

That the Committee considers the issues outlined in the report.

(Danny Jackson – 01274 431230)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “BQ”) was submitted to the Committee to update Members regarding the biodiversity review as requested in the previous year.

The Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee received a 12-month update report on a review of biodiversity in March 2019 (which had been undertaken by the Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee in 2018) and had requested an update in a further 12 months on the Government’s consultation on Biodiversity Net Gain, secured through development. 

The Council, in common with other public authorities, has a legal duty with regard to biodiversity which is set out in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC) 2006. This states that:

“Every public authority must, in exercising its functions, have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity”.

A review of biodiversity in the Bradford District undertaken by the Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee in 2018, recognised that the Council had a key role through its planning function, to influence the conservation of biodiversity. 

References in the NPPF afforded the principle of biodiversity net-gain substantial weight and it was firmly established in policy.   It was however, not a legal requirement. The consultation on net gain launched in December 2018, asked whether such a principle should become mandatory. This built on a commitment in the Government 25 Year Environment Plan published in 2018.

The consultation attracted almost 500 responses. Almost half came from planning authorities and conservation bodies but only 8% from developers. Fewer than 5% of developers thought that net gain should become mandatory compared to almost 70% of conservation bodies. The outcome of the consultation was, however, picked up in an Environment Bill, which included a commitment to apply a requirement for biodiversity net gain of 10% for developers through the planning system.

If, as seems likely, the Environment Bill became law, net-again would become mandatory and the Council would need to ensure that all developments comply with the legal requirements.

Resolved –

The Committee notes the report and requests that officers bring a report back to the Committee when the Environment Bill is enacted.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

The Bradford Beck Pilot Study was first discussed by members in April 2013 and has been before the Environment & Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee on an annual basis since then. It was resolved on 16^th April 2019 that the ongoing collaboration between officers and Friends of Bradford Beck be supported; also that the Friends of Bradford Beck be congratulated for the work they have undertaken throughout the years.

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “BR”) outlines progress made in the financial year 2019- 2020.

Recommended –

(1)       That the Friends of Bradford’s Becks and the Strategic Director,           Place be requested to work jointly on studies and proposals for      the Canal Road Area.

(2)       That the Friends of Bradford’s Becks be invited to report back in a       year’s time.

(3)       That this report be noted and that the ongoing collaboration       between officers and the Friends of Bradford’s Becks be             supported.

(Edward Norfolk – 01274 433905)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “BR”) was submitted to the Committee to provide Members with an outline of the progress made in the 2019-20 financial year following ongoing collaboration between Officers and Friends of Bradford Beck

As discussed in previous reports, following the floods of December 2015 it was recognised that there was a need need for a long term strategic approach to managing flood risk and associated environmental impacts across the Bradford district. In idenitifying this need the Council worked with the Environment Agency to scope and develop a Bradford Flood Programme Board. The Programme Board were able to secure local levy funding from the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Costal Committee to help deliver a range of aspirations.

CBMDC, The Environment Agency (EA), The Friends of Bradford Beck and the Wild Trout Trust were working in partnership to deliver a £90,000 EA funded scheme to re-naturalise the northern length of Bradford Beck. 

Working with the Highways Majors Team in the Bradford to Shipley Improvement Scheme, a section of Bradford Beck between Poplars Road and Briggate was identified to be re-naturalised by diverting the watercourse around a dilapidated culvert.

The Council were within their fourth year of the sixth year BEGIN (Blue / Green infrastructure through social innovation) project which was approved in early September 2016 to EU North Sea Region Secretariat; The Lead Partner being the Municipality of Dordrecht in the Netherlands. The project was progressing and would help support the aspirations of the Councils Green Infrastructure Study.

The Council’s Drainage and recycling team worked with the Aire Rivers Trust and community volunteers to create “Fish on a Bike” land art alongside the River Aire in Shipley for the UCI World Road Cycling Championships (27/08/19). 

The Friends of Bradford Beck provided a breakdown of the work carried out by them in a document appended to the main report.  Members were also provided with a list of pollution incidents that were reported on Bradford Beck in a second document appended to the main report.

Resolved –

(1)  That the report be noted and that ongoing collaboration between officers and the Friends of Bradford’s Becks be supported.

(2)  That the Friends of Bradford’s Becks and the Strategic Director, Place be requested to work jointly on studies and proposals for the Canal Road area.

(3)  That the Friends of Bradford’s Becks be invited to report back in 12 months time.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

Active Bradford is a partnership of agencies from across the District that are committed to working together to increase the number of people being active and playing sport across the Bradford District.

Last year Active Bradford presented to the scrutiny committee an update on the planning and development phase of JU:MP the Bradford Local Delivery Pilot.

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “BS”) sets out the progress JU:MP has made since June 2019 and the strategic developments that Active Bradford are undertaking.

Recommended –

That Members of the Committee note the current progress of Active Bradford.

(Zuby Hamard – 01274 432671)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “BS”) was submitted to the Committee to provide Members with an update on progress made on the JU:MP project to increase the number of people being active and playing sport.

The most recent Sport England Active Lives survey showed a 5.2% reduction in the number of inactive adults (those doing less than 30 minutes a week) over the last three years which was pleasing to note. However, there remained around 160,000 adults in the District whose health would be significantly improved by becoming more active.

JU:MP aimed to test and learn more about what helped children aged 5 – 14 years and their families to be active. Sport England were investing up to £8 million of Lottery Investment in the JU:MP programme over the following five years to evaluate the impact of taking a whole systems approach to physical activity in a defined area of North Bradford. Born in Bradford, a research programme hosted at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, were leading the pilot on behalf of Active Bradford.

The pilot aimed to increase children’s physical activity levels by working across four themes; family, community, organisations and environment.  JU:MP is the public-facing name of the Bradford Local Delivery Pilot. Join Us: Move. Play is the campaign behind the programme to inspire, energise and support our children, families and communities to be active.

The JU:MP research and implementation teams has been established and the programme mobilised with action now taking place.  The report provided a breakdown of what actions had been taken and which organisations were involved, plus details on funding investment in the project.  It also gave an overview of the next steps planned.

Resolved –

(1)  That the Committee thanks partners for attending the meeting, and welcomes the progress made to date.

(2)  That Members look forward to receiving an update on Active Bradford, along with details of the “Accelerator Phase” of the JU:MP Programme.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “BT”) will update the Committee on progress of the Delivery Plan for the Bradford District Economic Strategy 2018-2030. The report provides an overview of the delivery plan and highlights the key achievements to date, future priority actions and areas of focus for the Bradford Economic Partnership moving forward.

Recommended –

(1)       Members note and comment on the report.

(2)       That a further annual report be brought in 12 months’ time.

(Mark Clayton – 01274 434558)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “BT”) was submitted to the Committee to provide Members with updates on progress of the Delivery Plan for the Bradford District Economic Strategy 2018-2030. The report provided an overview of the delivery plan and highlighted the key achievements to date, future priority actions and areas of focus for the Bradford Economic Partnership moving forward including a timeline of key delivery milestones to 2030.

The Bradford Economic Partnership was formed on 6^th March 2018 to oversee the development and delivery of an economic strategy for Bradford District.  The Strategy was endorsed by Council Executive and launched in March 2018 and set out an ambition to be the UK’s fastest growing economy over the coming decade, increasing the value of our economy by £4 billion, getting 20,000 more people into work and improving the skills of 48,000 residents.

It was the intention that the Economic Strategy and delivery plan would be refreshed in 2021 to take account of the final Brexit withdrawal agreement, the Leeds City Region HS2 Growth Strategy, the publication of the preferred route options for Northern Powerhouse Rail, a potential City Region devolution agreement and an increased focus on environmental sustainability following the climate emergency declaration by the Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Refreshing the Economic Strategy in 2021 would also enable a stronger alignment with Leeds City Region Local Industrial Strategy

The delivery plan developed by the Bradford Economic Partnership set out the key projects, programmes and actions being delivered by the Council, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), the private sector and partners including Bradford Chamber of Commerce, University of Bradford, Further Education colleges and community organisations.  The report also detailed the progress made since the launch in 2018 with a significant number of headline projects and initiatives.  It also provided information around the Economic Strategy’s five strategic targets to address the ambition to raise productivity, increase employment, improve skills levels, raise earnings and ensure growth was environmentally sustainable.

Future work that was due to be undertaken going forward was provided under an additional eleven headings and included details of the type of scheme and funding.  Documents appended to the main report contained the Bradford District Economic Strategy Delivery Plan 2018-2030 in full and Bradford District Economic Strategy Delivery Plan Timeline Summary.

Resolved –

(1)  That the Committee thanked Partners for their attendance at the meeting.

(2)  That the Committee welcomed the positive information detailed in the report, and looks forward to receiving a further Annual report in 12 months’ time.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

The report of the Chair of the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Document “BU”) presents the Committee’s Work Programme 2019-20.

Recommended –

That the Work programme 2019-20 continues to be regularly reviewed during the year.

(Licia Woodhead – 01274 432119)

The Report of the Chair of the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Document “BU”) was submitted to the Committee to provide Members with the latest updates to the Work Programme for 2019-20.

Resolved –

That the Work Programme 2019-20 continues to be regularly reviewed during the year.

ACTION: Overview and Scrutiny Lead