Local democracy

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: the Banqueting Hall - City Hall, Bradford. View directions

Contact: Su Booth - 07814 073884 

Items
No. Item

1.

DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST

(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 may remain in the meeting and take part fully in discussion and voting unless the interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an interest which the Member feels would call into question their compliance with the wider principles set out in the Code of Conduct.  Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

 

(2)       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. 

 

(3)       Members are also welcome to disclose interests which are not disclosable pecuniary interests but which they consider should be made in the interest of clarity.

 

(4)       Officers must disclose interests in accordance with Council Standing Order 44.

 

Minutes:

In the interests of transparency, the following declarations were received:

 

Councillor Dearden declared that he was a food business owner (minute no.5)

 

Councillor Herd declared that he was a food business owner (minute no.5)

 

Action: Interim City Solicitor

2.

MINUTES

Recommended –

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2022 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

 

(Su Booth – 07814 073884)

Minutes:

Resolved –

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2022 be signed as a correct record.

 

Action: Interim City Solicitor

3.

REFERRALS TO THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

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.

Minutes:

There were no referrals to the Committee.

4.

INSPECTION OF REPORTS AND BACKGROUND PAPERS

(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)

 

Minutes:

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

5.

FOOD SAFETY IN THE BRADFORD DISTRICT pdf icon PDF 2 MB

The report of the Director of Health and Wellbeing (Document “A”) will be submitted to the Committee as the Council is required by the Food Standards Agency to have a documented and approved Food Safety Service Plan. This report is brought to Members to seek support for that plan.

 

Recommended –

 

1.            That the views and comments of Members are sought in relation to the contents of this report.

 

2.            That the work of the Food Safety Team as documented in the Food Safety Service Plan be supported.

 

3.            That the proposed approach is agreed for performance monitoring, management of resources and provides the necessary assurance that the delivery of food safety controls are in line with expectations.

 

(Angela Brindle – 01274 433985)

Minutes:

The report of the Strategic Director of Health and Wellbeing (Document “A”) was submitted to the Committee as the Council was required to have a documented and approved Food Safety Service Plan by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).  The object of a plan was to safeguard food and drink produced, prepared or sold within the district.

 

The report informed Members of what was included in the Plan and it included a copy of it appended to the main report.  Members were asked to consider the contents of the plan which would also need approval at full Council as part of the policy framework.

 

In light of the Covid 19 pandemic, no plan was produced for 20/21 and 21/22 as staff were re-deployed to enforcement of pandemic regulations.  The impact of this was recognised by the FSA and guidance and advice from this body was set out for July 2021 to the end of 2023/4.  The Recovery Plan was also contained in the main Food Safety Service Plan.

 

Officers stated that there were significant challenges as the number of businesses registered had increased and they were facing a backlog of inspection work.  They were also working to encourage businesses to improve food safety standards and bring about a reduction of food borne illness.  Since the scheme was adopted there was a continued increase in the number of establishments achieving a rating of 3 or higher with the FSA collecting evidence to enable a statutory scheme whereby businesses would be required to display their rating on their premises and online.  The final decision would be made by Government Ministers not the FSA or the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

 

Officers also stated that the team was under-resourced and faced challenges to recruit qualified and experienced Environmental Health Officers and contract staff were used when available.  Eighteen full time equivalent staff were required in order that statutory requirements were met. 

 

The report contained a review of work carried out and the service plan which showed a drop in percentages of visits and food sampling, due to the increased numbers of businesses operating in the district.  There was also the possibility of increased scrutiny for those involved with exporting to the EU.  The team were focussing on addressing the backlog in the 22/23 action plan as well as participation in a pilot project with the FSA concerned with food quality in schools.

 

Members were then given the opportunity to comment and ask questions, the details of which and the responses given are as below.

 

·     As salaries in other nearby local authorities were more attractive, was this affecting morale in the team, were they aware of the salary differences?

·     Officers advised that staff were aware of the position relating to salaries, in addition to salary issues, the Bradford district was a challenging area to work in.  It did provide a great opportunity for trainees but there was a sense of frustration.

 

·     What was the staff retention/turnover rate?

 

·     Members were informed that there were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY CONTRACT 2023-2027 pdf icon PDF 237 KB

The report of the Director of Corporate Resources (Document “B”) will be submitted to the Committee to provide Members with an explanation of the process and background of the procurement path for the intended new electricity contract with N-Power.

 

Recommended –

 

That the report be noted and Members to provide comments on the planned contract procurement.

 

(Neill Morrison – 07582 109862)

Minutes:

The report of the Strategic Director of Corporate Resources (Document “B”) was submitted to the Committee to provide Members with an explanation of the process and background for the procurement path relating to the intended, new electricity contract with N-Power.  The new electricity contract would run from April 2023 to March 2027.

 

The Council had previously procured its energy through the YPO frameworks to minimise staff time involved in procurement processes, the economies of scale available from the size of contract being procured through YPO as well as Bradford being a founder member.  The water supply contract was also supplied as this would run alongside following deregulation and issues caused by rising inflation.

 

The Council was continuously approached by energy brokers and sales people and used these opportunities to carry out soft market testing to ensure we were still receiving the best value for money.  Whilst the normal level of price comparisons was not possible in the previous year, spot checks indicated that the YPO framework had still outperformed possible contracts that comparisons were made with.

 

Officers advised that the anticipated drop in energy prices did not happen due to the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine.  In addition to the low domestic price cap that worked against the wholesale market, there was no longer the option of re-circulating air in the wake of the Covid pandemic for health reasons.  Energy consumption in Council operated buildings had not decreased, apart from during the first lockdown.  With more employees returning to work, lighting etc still needed to be switched on. 

 

Members were then given the opportunity to comment and ask questions, the details of which and the responses given are as below.

 

·     A Member asked if savings would be made with the new street lighting programme and was told that savings would be made and there was also a framework on how buildings would be more energy efficient when renovated.  LED conversion would be rolled out wherever possible.  When asked what the plan was if energy prices remained high, Officers stated that there was a plan to get alternative sources of electricity, such as solar and money was available to do a large scale solar project.  Suitable sites were being sourced.

 

·     A Member asked whether N Power were buying alternative sources of energy and was advised by Officers that they were buying certificates of renewable energy but the sources could not be separated from the national grid.

 

·     A Member asked if Bradford had invested in off-shore re-newable energy and was informed that there were discussions underway with WYCA as part of a multi Council investment opportunity, which would be a parallel project with Bradford’s solar farm.

 

Officers also stated that since working from home, there was a drop in carbon literacy training when asked about the mindset of people in Council buildings.

 

Officers were asked if quotes were obtained for energy and confirmed that the contract would be with N-Power through the YPO framework.  A benchmarking exercise was due to take  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

PROGRAMME OF MEETINGS FOR 2022-2023

Members are asked to note the following dates for the 2022/23
Municipal Year for meetings of this Committee scheduled to take place
at 5.30 pm.

 

26 July

20 September

18 October

15 November

6 December

17 January

21 February

21 March

18 April

(Su Booth – 07814 073884)

Minutes:

 

Resolved:-

 

That the programme of meetings for 2022-23 be noted.

8.

WORK PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 144 KB

The report of the Chair of the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Document “C”) will be submitted to present a draft work programme for 2023-23 for adoption by the Committee.

 

Recommended –

 

1.            That the Committee notes the information in Appendix A and that it, along with any amendments or additions is adopted as the Committee’s Work Programme 2022/23.

 

2.            That the Work Programme 2022/23 continues to be regularly reviewed during the year.

 

(Caroline Coombes – 01274 432313)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Interim City Solicitor (Document “C”) was submitted to the Committee to provide Members with the details of the draft work programme for 2022/23.

 

Resolved:-

 

(1)  That Appendix A to Document “C” be adopted as the Committee’s Work Programme 2022/23, and;

 

(2)  That the Work Programme 2022/23 continues to be regularly reviewed during the year.

 

Action: Overview and Scrutiny Lead