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 must consider their interests, and act according to the following:

(2)      Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)      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. 

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

There were no declarations of interest received in relation to any items on the agenda.

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2023 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Su Booth / Louis Kingdom – 07814 073884 / 07890 416570)

No resolution was passed on this item.

Members are requested to consider how they wish to deal with referrals.

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.

The following referral has been made:

At the meeting of full Council on July 2023 the following motion was considered and referred to the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

Making our neighbourhoods and green spaces nature-friendly.

The Council notes that:

Reduced mowing in carefully planned areas of green spaces as part of ‘No Mow May’ has been one example of a range of activities we are undertaking to improve the local environment for residents, boost biodiversity and tackle the climate emergency.

A growing body of research shows there are substantial positive effects from this nature-friendly approach, such as increasing plants and insects to benefit the food chain; extending and connecting nature-friendly areas creates an important mosaic of habitats especially in urban and semi-urban areas; and a reduction in pesticides supports a healthier environment for plants and all living things.

The benefits to mental and physical health of greater biodiversity and a more
pleasant living environment for us all cannot be overstated.

There are potential economic as well as social and environmental benefits from adopting a more nature-friendly approach and shifting to low carbon technologies.

Making the whole district more nature-friendly is also a matter of social justice as part of our work to tackle health inequalities, because national research shows that the least privileged communities are impacted the most by environmental harm and a lack of access to nature and green spaces.

Nature-friendly measures the council is undertaking with partners include but are not limited to:

·     Reduced mowing to better meet the needs of people and nature.

·     Planted a tree for every child – the creation of new woodland, school trees and 40 school orchards (blossom for pollinators).

·     Encouraging nature and play opportunities on the doorstep of new housing and commercial developments.

·     New wildflower strips and meadow development.

·     A shift to herbaceous planting in the city centre.

·     The conversion of conifer plantation woodlands to semi-natural woodlands at
St Ives.

·     Ilkley Moor restoration.

·     Reduced use of glyphosate.

·     Measures to clean up the air we all breathe.

·     Working with businesses and partners in the Bradford District Sustainable Development Partnership

Council therefore resolves to:

·      Declare a biodiversity emergency – this will help to harness the collective
powers of partners across the district and accelerate our efforts

·     Task officers with developing a Bradford Parks Strategy with widespread stakeholder consultation, including the aims of: deepening our partnerships with Friends groups; formalising our approach to improving biodiversity and environmental renewal; recognising its strong links to residents’ physical and mental wellbeing; and supporting new jobs and opportunities for residents and businesses through the emergent clean growth economy.

·     Request officers present a report to Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee assessing the impact to date of the measures we are taking and setting out new ideas and  ...  view the full agenda text for item 28.

At the meeting of full Council on July 2023 the following motion was considered and referred to the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

Making our neighbourhoods and green spaces nature friendly.

The Council notes that:

Reduced mowing in carefully planned areas of green spaces as part of ‘No Mow May’ has been one example of a range of activities we are undertaking to improve the local environment for residents, boost biodiversity and tackle the climate emergency.

A growing body of research shows there are substantial positive effects from this nature-friendly approach, such as increasing plants and insects to benefit the food chain; extending and connecting nature-friendly areas creates an important mosaic of habitats especially in urban and semi-urban areas; and a reduction in pesticides supports a healthier environment for plants and all living things.

The benefits to mental and physical health of greater biodiversity and a more
pleasant living environment for us all cannot be overstated.

There are potential economic as well as social and environmental benefits from adopting a more nature-friendly approach and shifting to low carbon technologies.

Making the whole district more nature-friendly is also a matter of social justice as part of our work to tackle health inequalities, because national research shows that the least privileged communities are impacted the most by environmental harm and a lack of access to nature and green spaces.

Nature-friendly measures the council is undertaking with partners include but are not limited to:

·     Reduced mowing to better meet the needs of people and nature.

·     Planted a tree for every child – the creation of new woodland, school trees and 40 school orchards (blossom for pollinators).

·     Encouraging nature and play opportunities on the doorstep of new housing and commercial developments.

·     New wildflower strips and meadow development.

·     A shift to herbaceous planting in the city centre.

·     The conversion of conifer plantation woodlands to semi-natural woodlands at St Ives.

·     Ilkley Moor restoration.

·     Reduced use of glyphosate.

·     Measures to clean up the air we all breathe.

·     Working with businesses and partners in the Bradford District Sustainable Development Partnership

Council therefore resolves to:

·      Declare a biodiversity emergency – this will help to harness the collective powers of partners across the district and accelerate our efforts

·     Task officers with developing a Bradford Parks Strategy with widespread stakeholder consultation, including the aims of: deepening our partnerships with Friends groups; formalising our approach to improving biodiversity and environmental renewal; recognising its strong links to residents’ physical and mental wellbeing; and supporting new jobs and opportunities for residents and businesses through the emergent clean growth economy.

·     Request officers present a report to Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee assessing the impact to date of the measures we are taking and setting out new ideas and options for future activities to build on our progress.

Resolved –

That the matter be amalgamated with the Biodiversity and Environment Act report to be presented to the Committee on Tuesday 30 January 2024.

To be actioned by: Strategic Director, Place/Scrutiny Lead

(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 / Louis Kingdom – 07814 073884 / 07890 416570)

No requests to view documents or reports were received.

The report of the Strategic Director, Place will be submitted to the Committee and provides an update on the outcome of the delivery programme for the Highways and Transportation teams’ capital work programmes during the 2022/23 financial year.

An indication of the forward programme of capital works is also provided against emerging and existing funding streams and Council priorities including details of any funding bids which have been submitted.

Recommended –

That progress on the transport programmes across both the programmes described in this report be noted.

(John Davis – 07970 596213)

Resolved –

That the item be deferred to the meeting on Tuesday 5 December 2023.

To be actioned by: Strategic Director, Place/Scrutiny Lead

The report of the Assistant Director, Office of the Chief Executive (Document “N”) will be submitted to the Committee to provide an update on Skills for Work - the Council’s delivery arm for Apprenticeships, and Adult, Family and Community learning, including details of learner participation, achievements, and future plans.

Recommended –

1.          That the report be noted including the challenges posed by the pandemic to the service, and the significant progress made with recovery

2.          That the continued success of SfW’s Apprenticeships programme across the District, and the progress made in recovering Adult and Community Learning provision in 2022/23 to date;

3.          That the Committee promote and support the Community and Family learning provision available in localities to stimulate residents’ engagement with the programme

4.          That Members consider current delivery data and community settings (Appendix 4) and facilitate appropriate connections to additional venues and/or community groups that may increase the reach of the service within disadvantaged communities.

(Phil Hunter – 07896 727653)

The report of the Assistant Director, Office of the Chief Executive (Document “N”) was presented to the Committee to provide an update on the work of the Council’s delivery arm for Apprenticeships and Adult, Family and Community Learning.  Also included for Members information were details of learner participation, achievements and future plans.

The Skills for Work (SfW) provision contributed to the Council Plan priorities to develop and improve skills for more good jobs and for a growing and prosperous local economy.

The programme is divided into 2 distinct areas, one delivering apprenticeships and the other to develop and improve adult and community learning, based in Bradford City Centre and a number of locations around the District.

SfW was a fully traded service aiming to meet the needs of the most disadvantaged in local communities and to facilitate apprenticeships that mapped to local need.

SfW was also within the scope of the Ofsted education inspection framework achieving a ‘Good’ rating in 2017 with a further self-assessment also judged as ‘Good’.  This report represented the strategic annual report in compliance with Ofsted requirements.                                                                       

These achievements sat alongside the ‘Matrix’ accreditation, a recognised sector quality mark that had been won and successfully retained.  Feedback from the most recent inspection, provided by learners noted that staff were caring.

Officers advised that qualifications ranged from entry level to level 5 in 30 different subjects and 5 apprentice subject areas.  Funding to carry out the work came from WYCA, Adult Education and DfE giving opportunities to upskill when other options not available, in a community-based environment.

These offered safe and warm spaces, especially during school holidays benefiting the wider community with hot meals provided for children when adults were accessing education.  Six out of ten people were considered to be deprived based on the WYCA definition with a third having no qualifications and the majority of learners starting at entry level.

Officers also advised that the Covid pandemic impacted on provision as access to learning was community-based.  A 3-year post pandemic improvement plan was put in place to bring the level of learners back up to pre-pandemic numbers.  Provision for 16–18-year-olds was also under discussion with the DfE, particularly with the aim of improving Maths and English qualifications for care leavers.  Achievement rates were affected by the pandemic, but apprenticeship achievement rates were still above the national average with 85-86% forecast to have successful outcomes for the 2023-24 academic year.  Adult community learning was also recovering to pre-pandemic numbers with a forecast of 75-78% of learners achieving a positive outcome in the current academic year.

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

A member enquired regarding some statistics in the Officers’ report and whether data was available to demonstrate the progress made towards a target and the contribution made by SfW including age profile information.  Officers responded with some additional contextual information and advised that data could be provided.  When asked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “O”) will be submitted to update the Committee on the current progress of the Darley Street Market development scheme.

Recommended –

1.          That the report be noted.

2.          That Members make a further visit to Darley Street Market to be organised in February/March 2024, prior to the opening of the market to the public.

(Colin Wolstenholme – 01274 432243)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “O”) was presented to the Committee to provide an update on the progress of the Darley Street Market development scheme.  There was a comprehensive re-cap of the procurement process and details of the layout and general categories that would make up the market.

Updated information regarding tenants and the process undertaken to partner with the best potential businesses with details of the numbers and which floor they would be on was also provided so Members had a clear indication of occupancy levels.

Officers advised that the market was scheduled to open in May 2024 and summarised the current position from the report provided.

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

The Chair commented that everyone involved should be thanked for the transformative progress made since September 2022.

A Member asked whether tenants would be protected if they wanted to move and given due consideration.  Officers advised that the application process was extensive and was open to all existing Ostler and Kirkgate traders as well as new businesses.  Each application was assessed on its own merits based on its business plan, business experience, marketing etc.  The new downsized facility would be selective to provide the most suitable tenant mix.  Tenants of the previous 2 locations were re-locating elsewhere, retiring, coming to the new site or taking on empty shops.  Landlords of properties either side of the new market were in discussions regarding refurbishment of their properties, making the location even more attractive.  The team were working with those who looked to re-locate if they so chose to. 

Members asked how many existing businesses would be in the new market and the length of leases issued.  Officers advised that 35 of 43 had applied and expected more to come through up to May.  Approaches were being made to businesses who had expressed interest and a reserve list was made up should any traders change their decision.  Leases would be granted for 3 years but would not be renewed automatically.  Meetings would be held to assess the traders’ performance throughout the lease to decide whether another would be issued.

A Member commented regarding how well planned and sustainable the project was and that the team should be proud of the achievement.  Officers were asked if anything had caused problems or delays as learning for any future projects and were advised that there could be unknown issues when projects involved older buildings as it was not always possible to foresee problems during demolition.  They then explained some of the issues encountered on this particular project due to the site and external influences. 

A member asked about the buildings either side of the new market and were advised that they had a good working relationship with them and they were in the process of applying for heritage funding.

A Member asked about the life span of the new market and was advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

The report of the Chair of the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Document “P”) will be submitted to Members and presents the Committee’s Work Programme for 2023/24.

Recommended –

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

(Caroline – Coombes – 07970 413828)

The report of the Chair of the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Document “P”) was submitted to the Committee and presented the Committee’s Work Programme for 2023-24.

Resolved –

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

To be actioned by: Chair, Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee