In the interests of transparency, Cllr Cunningham declared that he was an employee of the Bradford Culture Company (minute number 64)

Action: City Solicitor

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 October 2021 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Su Booth – 07814 073884)

That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 October 2021 be signed as a correct record.

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 to the Committee.

(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. 

(Su Booth – 07814 073884)

There were no appeals submitted to review decisions to restrict documents.

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “I”) provides Members with a further update relating to the Council’s involvement with high rise residential buildings following the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Recommended –

That the Committee note the report and request that a further update in the form of an electronic briefing be provided should there be any implications for local authorities of the Building Safety Bill following its enactment.

(Chris Eaton/Julie Rhodes – 01274 432843/431163)

HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “I”) was submitted to the Committee to provide Members with a further update on the Council’s involvement with high rise buildings following the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Officers advised that the Improvement notice in the report under item 2.5 which had been served had since been revoked on 15 November 2021 as building owners had complied with it.  They further advised that the Safety Bill contained in paragraph 6.4 of the report had progressed to report stage in the House of Commons.

The report advised that there were two buildings which had been subject to remedial works to remove and replace ACM materials used in cladding.  Funding had been granted from Central Government to meet the significant cost to those who would be responsible for replacement in both cases.

An Improvement Notice was served by the Council in January 2019 in respect of Landmark House as fire hazards were identified including the presence of ACM cladding which required removal.   This notice was revoked on 15 November 2021 as all the works had been completed. 

In respect of the other building (Appleton Point), a Prohibition Notice was served by WYFRS and was still in force and still prevented the building from being occupied.  Significant progress had been made and the Council and WYFRS continued to work with the building owner and representatives to monitor the work required.

Further enquiries had been registered to the Department of Levelling up, Housing and Communities for the Building Safety Fund and the process was being led by WYFRS to work with the nine enquirers.

The Council’s Building Control service was appointed to undertake the building control function for remedial works carried on the nine buildings in question.  The work was ongoing

Significant changes had taken place since the previous annual report was submitted to the Committee as both buildings in the district had both remediated and changes to legislation clarified that WYFRS were the lead enforcement body.

Members were then given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments.  The details of these and any responses received are as below:

·         A Member expressed concern regarding national legislation regarding permitted development rights in planning and asked what proactive steps were being taken to reduce the risk of another similar tragedy to Grenfell? 

·      Officers responded that whilst they themselves were not Planning Officers that the Housing and Planning teams were working together to comment on and address potentially problematic applications.  Officers advised that recent changes to the rules around permitted development relating to space standards and natural light should also improve the quality of developments. Officers also advised that Fire Safety was dealt with as part of  the planning application process as a result of the introduction of new safety regulations.  Further changes to  building control regulations were expected in 2022

·         A Member asked about the sixteen properties documented in the report in section 2.1.2 which had reduced to nine and asked why the number had gone  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “J”) provides Members an overview of the approach and plans to manage the use and impact of single-use plastics, problem plastics and plastic waste by the Council and others for the District. A substantial part of the report updates members on key Government related policy and regulatory reform. This forms part of an overall approach to sustainability and clean growth set out in the Council Plan 2021-2025. It reflects on the Scrutiny Review 2018 report and recommendations.

Recommended –

That Members of Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee note the report.

(Susan Spink – 01274 434779)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “J”) was submitted to the Committee to provide an overview to Members on the strategy and plan to manage the use and impact of single-use plastics, problem plastics and plastic waste by the Council and others in the District.  The report provided updates on key Government related policy and regulatory reform and reflected the recommendations from the Scrutiny review in 2018.

Since the report was written some key legislation was finalised in Parliament and Officers provided an update on the significant developments arising from the Environment Act which passed into law on 10 November 2021.  Legislative changes had implications for materials in addition to single use plastics and it was noted that there was now a dramatic change with some major companies taking back and managing plastic materials and taking a commercial approach to the issue.

The impact on the Council’s progress as a result of Covid 19 affected its response as well as the significant increased use of PPE and the changes in household and retail use of products,  waste and recycling.  This was brought to the attention of Members in the context of the report.

The report also contained appendices with details of key matters for Members to be aware of.  The Local Government Association (LGA) had been calling for waste prevention to be given equal priority with strategies to increase recycling and continued to lobby central Government.

The report aimed to provide a position of where the Council was in terms of the Scrutiny review and with Government legislation, looking at new activity and development work which would be embedded in the Council’s plan.

Following the Officers presentation and overview, Members were then given the opportunity to ask questions or comment.  The details of these are as below:

·         The quantities stated in 7.2 (Greenhouse Gas emissions Impacts) were queried – was it billions or millions?   The CO₂ generated was low in comparison to airports for example.  Officers advised that they were focussing on sustainability and there was no single solution.

There was a brief discussion regarding the lack of drinking fountains and where and how drinking water could be obtained by the general public when in the city centre.  There was a scheme whereby drinking bottles can be filled in shops so water was available without any health and safety implications and additional waste being generated.

A new plant in Keighley was discussed as one innovation and how collaborations would be key to find the numerous solutions needed to a complex issue.  The issue of exporting a large amount of plastic waste from the UK to other countries was also raised and Members were advised that there would be more legislation in 2022 which would put a constraint on the export of certain types of plastic.  The emphasis needed to be on minimum waste, maximum re-use and to address contamination which was an ongoing issue.  It was expected that there would be further limits placed on licences to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “K”) provides Members with an update on the Briefing Note sent to the Committee on 9^th January 2020 and reports progress within the District’s Museums and Galleries Service, future plans, regional context, current challenges and opportunities and an update on the transformation work undertaken since the last report.

Recommended –

1.    That the Regeneration and Environment Committee consider the content of this report and the positive work that is taking place in the Museum and Galleries Service.

2.    Endorse the direction of travel and the proposal to bid for National Portfolio Organisation status from February 2022, as well as noting the importance of the Museums and Galleries Service in the City of Culture 2025 Bid. The Committee’s views are sought on the challenges and opportunities facing the Service.

(Rosie Crook – 07815 681807)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “K”) was submitted to provide an update on the Briefing Note that was sent to the Committee on 9 January 2020.  The report contained details of progress within the District’s Museums and Galleries Service, included future plans, the regional context, challenges and opportunities as well as updating Members on the transformation work undertaken since the previous report.

Officers provided details of activities undertaken during the COVID pandemic and how it had addressed the limitations by increasing and developing digital interaction.  A recent funding grant had been awarded in the summer of 2021 and allowed the service to deliver on marketing reviews, to create a model of Covid safe events, improvements in facilities, training needs analysis, assist in the project to create a young, more diverse volunteer pool, digital plans for branding and a website as well as creating additional café space for Covid compliance and a new community space at the Bradford Industrial Museum.

Further funding bids were still in the pipeline at the time of writing the report including for NPO from the Arts Council which had national quality standards and prestige but was difficult to obtain.

Activities reported on also included the re-opening of 3 out of 4 museum venues in the District in the summer of 2020 which compared favourably in comparison with the district’s closest neighbours and was well received.  A wide range of community engagement activities were also undertaken to create exhibitions and collaborations with Mind the Gap theatre and Keighley Pride which it was hoped would create possibilities for communities to tell their stories in the District’s Museums and Galleries providing a new direction for the service.

Digital content had also been developed during 2021 with 21 new online exhibitions. Social media, Visit Bradford and the website provided a platform to feature exhibitions, collections, events and family activities alongside other new digital content.

The report also provided details of engagement with schools and families during the lockdown and restrictions with a featured ‘Just for Schools’ day on Tuesdays with a very popular, blended learning offer.

Members were then given the opportunity make comments or ask questions, the details of which, and the responses given, are as below:

There were clusters of ethnic minority communities in Bradford West and it was very important that the whole District was aware of its history, what engagement was being done with hard to reach groups?

Officers advised that there was a range of community projects such as listening to stories, providing comfortable environments, using local volunteers and members of communities who worked in the museums service who were from more diverse backgrounds, and invitations to Young Ambassadors being made.   There was a photographic exhibition (Belle Vue collection) which reflected diversity and more diverse art collections and artists would be featured.  The ‘Island to Island’ community project had a Caribbean focus with members of the community sharing their stories amongst different generations.  Activities were also set up using gazebos outside of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

The report of the Chair of the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Document “L”) presents the Committee’s Work Programme for 2021-22.

Recommended –

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

(Caroline Coombes – 07970 413828)

The report of the Chair, Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Document “L”) was submitted as the updated version of the 2021/22 work plan.

There was a brief discussion to update and remind Members relating to upcoming agenda items.

Resolved:-

That the Work Programme 2021-22 continues to be regularly reviewed during the year.

Action: Overview and Scrutiny Lead

(Caroline Coombes – 01274 432313)