There were no disclosures of interest received for matters under consideration.

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 “Q”) will be submitted to the Committee to provide an update on the work done by the Environmental Enforcement Team in relation to fly tipping and provides information on the number of fly tips reported to the Council and an analysis of relevant waste data.

(Armjad Ishaq/Stuart Russo – 01274 433682/437146)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “Q”) was submitted to the Committee to provide an update on the work carried out by the Environmental Enforcement Team in relation to fly tipping, including the number of incidents and relevant waste data analysis.

The report detailed the area of responsibility in the context of waste management and how the Enforcement Team and associated workforce was structured and located.  The report provided details of initiatives to raise awareness of recycling and to promote the bulky waste collection service.  It covered a number of activities undertaken throughout the year and how problems around waste were being addressed.

Investment in CCTV – the Environmental Enforcement Team was allocated funding to allow proactive targeting of fly tippers in hotspots to deter and detect offenders.  CCTV was also deployed to detect fly tipping on and around bonfire night, these included commercial dumping of toxic and hazardous waste which were all subject to investigation.

Capital funding had been allocated to remove waste and undertake works to defend land that was historically targeted for fly tipping.

A Police led initiative aimed at tackling vehicle crime named ‘Operation Steerside’ included multi agency collaboration to stop and search vehicles to check for compliance with the law.  This has assisted in identifying vehicles illegally carrying waste with notices to produce waste carriers licences and waste transfer notes being issued. 

In addition, the teams from Operation Steerside had worked together to seize vehicles involved in fly tipping.  Four of the five vehicles seized this year were crushed as they were of no commercial resale value or were not roadworthy.  Publicity was provided by local media receiving local and national coverage and encouragement from the public who welcomed the action being taken against environmental criminals.

The disposal of waste from cannabis farms had also contributed to the problem of fly tipping and a partnership approach with the Police was being explored to ensure that landlords disposed of the waste legally after Police had removed any evidence items from sites raided.  A statutory notice would be issued that obligated the landlord to provide waste transfer notes or receipts to show that the waste from any farm had been legally disposed of and not simply dumped as commercial waste.

As part of the funding given to the Council to aid Covid recovery, an Environmental Task Force would operate for a period of 18 months to respond to environmental quality issues, litter and fly tipping and would also be involved to improve environmental quality across the District.

Officers also confirmed that a ‘Caught on Camera’ facility was being investigated and the matter had been referred to the legal team to check compliance with GDPR.

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

Members asked how the decision was made where to deploy CCTV camera and were advised that information was acted upon from a number of sources e.g. officers, street  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

The report of the Assistant Director, Place (Document “R”) will be submitted to the Committee  to advise Members of a forthcoming tender opportunity, Managed Migration Resettlement Service, with a value in excess of £2 million in line with therequirements of Contracts Standing Orders (CSO 7.2.1) prior to the commencement of theprocurement process.

(Yusuf Karolia - 01274 434362)

The report of the Assistant Director (Document ”R”) was submitted to the Committee to advise Members regarding a forthcoming tender opportunity

in compliance with Contracts Standing Orders as the value exceeded £2 million.

Bradford participated in contracts to resettle refugees on a voluntary basis and all costs were met by central Government.  The existing contract was due to end on 31 July 2022.  The report included the details of people who had been resettled by the Council between 2016-2021 which totalled 704 in all.

The tender would include taking into account the government’s resettlement commitment and would consist of five elements including  housing, wrap around support, English language lessons (ESOL) and Employment support .  There would be other additional elements that would be contracted out including school places, healthcare, therapeutic support, social care needs and early help support.  For clarification the report included the definition of what is meant by asylum seeker and refugee and the differences between them.  It also covered the legal and financial implications so that Members would be informed in relation to all implications of the contract.

Officers further advised that the government was committed to resettling 20,000 Afghan citizens by 2025.

Members were then given the opportunity to comment or ask questions, the details of which and the replies received are as below:

In relation to ESOL classes, how would Officers ensure that people attended them?  Officers responded that participation was generally high in this particular group and there was a focus on women and children.

Resolved –

That the comments made by Members be considered as part of the procurement process.

Action: Assistant Director, Place

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

(Caroline Coombes - 07970 413828)

The report of the Chair (Document “S”) was submitted to provide Members with the work plan for the current municipal year for review and comment.

Resolved –

That the Work Programme continued to be regularly reviewed during the year.

Action: Overview and Scrutiny Lead