Local democracy

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Ernest Saville Room - City Hall, Bradford. View directions

Items
No. Item

32.

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 interest of transparency Councillor Sunderland disclosed an interest in the item relating to Mid Year Finance and Performance Statement 2017-18 as she was involved in 2 community asset transfers in her ward.

 

ACTION: City Solicitor

33.

MINUTES

Recommended –

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 October 2017 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

 

(Yusuf Patel – 01274 434579)

Minutes:

Resolved –

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 October 2017 be signed as a correct record.

 

34.

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. 

 

(Yusuf Patel - 01274 434579)

 

Minutes:

There were no appeals submitted by the public to review decisions to restrict documents. 

 

35.

REFERRALS TO THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

No referrals were made at the time of publication.

 

Minutes:

There were no referrals made to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

36.

MID-YEAR FINANCE AND PERFORMANCE STATEMENT FOR 2017-18 pdf icon PDF 1 MB

The Strategic Director Corporate Services will submit a report (Document “Q”) which provides Members with an overview of the forecast financial position of the Council for 2017-18 and a mid-year performance report.

 

It examines the latest spend against revenue and capital budgets and forecasts the financial position at the year end. It states the Council’s current balances and reserves and forecasts school balances for the year. 

 

The report was considered by the Executive at its meeting held on 7 November 2017.

 

Recommended –

 

That the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee review and comment on the Mid Year Finance and Performance Statement for 2017-18.

 

(Andrew Cross and David Preston - 01274 436823 / 01274 431241)

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Strategic Director Corporate Services submitted a report (Document “Q”) which provided Members with an overview of the forecast financial position of the Council for 2017-18 and a mid-year performance report.

 

It examined the latest spend against revenue and capital budgets and forecasted the financial position at the year end. It stated the Council’s current balances and reserves and forecasted school balances for the year. 

 

The report was considered by the Executive at its meeting held on 7 November 2017.

 

In relation to performance, in many key areas performance was improving and remained on target, although there continued to be areas where the district faced significant challenges, and where performance was either deteriorating or was not improving quickly enough in order to meet the Council Plan targets.

 

In relation to Finance, at the mid year point, a £3.8m projected overspend was being predicted above the approved budget of £375.2m, a significant improvement since the last quarter reporting stage.  Areas of projected overspend principally related to adult and children social care, reasons which had been linked to increase demand in those service area and savings not being delivered as planned.

 

During the discussion, Members asked a number of questions, the questions together with the responses are detailed below:

 

The Chair stated that in previous performance report red, amber and green ratings gave a flavour of how the Council was performing, however this report did not adequately set out a direction of travel.  In response the Assistant Director stated that this could be added in future reporting of performance data.

 

A Member highlighted that a number of service areas were performing below target, such as the number of looked after children, and ascertained the reasons for this underperformance.  In response the Strategic Director Children’s Services stressed that in comparison to other local authorities, Bradford’s performance was good, acknowledging that some areas did require improvement.  He acknowledged that the number of children in care had increased, however weekly performance management meetings were held with the Portfolio Holder and plans were in place to closely monitor the situation.

 

In relation to a question regarding comparisons with other local authorities, the Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder stated that more work was needed to achieve stability in placements, as evidence showed that children flourished in a stable environment.

 

A Member raised a number of issues; in relation to fly tipping in Keighley West, she commended officers for the work they had done to tackle the problem, however more work was need to encourage people to recycle more.  In relation to the Council’s sickness absence figures, the Member ascertained what measures were being put in place to address the issue of stress and mental health.  In response the Strategic Director Place confirmed a lot of effort had gone in to address the issue around fly tipping across the district, which had yielded some very positive results as well as successful prosecutions,  in relation to the issue of stress, the Strategic Director Children’s Services alluded to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

37.

ARRANGEMENTS BY THE COUNCIL AND ITS PARTNERS TO TACKLE CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION pdf icon PDF 939 KB

The Strategic Director Children’s Services will submit a report (Document “R”) which provides an update to the report previously presented to the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the 6th October 2016 and subsequently to the Districts Area Committees regarding the issue of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). It particularly focuses on the 9 Point Strategic Response to CSE and how it is used by BSCB and partners in working together to drive improvements across the District’s safeguarding partnership and to hold agencies to account for their work in their area.

 

Recommended –

 

(1)       The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee is invited to    endorse that the 9 Point Strategic Response to CSE be reviewed        and replaced with a new Strategic Response to CSE.

 

(2)       The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee is invited to note       the comments from this report and shall receive a further update            on the progress of the response to CSE in 12 month’s time. 

 

(Mark Griffin – 01274 434361)

Minutes:

The Strategic Director Children’s Services submitted a report (Document “Q”) which provided an update to the report previously presented to the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the 6th October 2016 and subsequently to the Districts Area Committees regarding the issue of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). It particularly focused on the 9 Point Strategic Response to CSE and how it is used by BSCB and partners in working together to drive improvements across the District’s safeguarding partnership and to hold agencies to account for their work in their area.

 

Representatives from West Yorkshire Police, and Barnardos were present at the meeting to give an overview of the work being undertaken and progress made in tackling CSE.  The following areas of work were highlighted:

 

·         That a Review of the Bradford Safeguarding Children Board had been undertaken in light of the Wood review and Children and Social Work Act in the structure and governance of the Local Children Safeguarding Boards

·         Refresh of the 9 Point Strategic Response to CSE had been undertaken.

·         Completion and publication of 2 serious case reviews around CSE.

·         Co-location of Local Authority and Police resources had taken place to oversee Missing Children.

·         Innovative methods of raising awareness through Safeguarding Stories, Mr Shapeshifter, Someone’s Sister and Someone’s Daughter and Police Cyber Teams

·         BarnadosNightwatch and Police Problem Solving Teams continued to work effectively with the industry sector and night time economy.

·         Increased communication and awareness through the BSCB and CSE campaigns.

·         Training had been delivered to elected members on CSE with a specific session on CSE and boys, to raise awareness of the issues relating to boys following the Jack Serious Case Review.

It was acknowledged that although the number of referrals were going up this had to be seen in a positive light, in terms of the increased reporting in CSE.

 

During the discussion, the Chair welcomed the progress made by the CSE Hub and urged the need to do further work with the new emerging communities.  In response the Assistant Director Children’s Services explained that some work was being undertaken in this area by the voluntary sector.

 

The Chair also highlighted the impact of the plays performed in schools to raise awareness around CSE and ascertained whether this would continue into the future.  In response the Assistant Director acknowledged that funding for the play had been time limited, however discussions would be had as how these messages could be communicated to children in the future.

 

In response to a question regarding resources, the Assistant Director acknowledged the budgetary pressures facing the services, however CSE would continue to be prioritised.

 

Resolved –

 

(1)       That the 9 Point Strategic Response to CSE be reviewed and     replaced with a new Strategic Response to CSE be endorsed.

 

(2)       That the report be noted and that a  further update on the            progress of the response to CSE be submitted in 12 month’s           time. 

 

ACTION:       Strategic Director Children’s Services

 

38.

FAMILIES FIRST PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 280 KB

The committee received a detailed report in January 2017 which included information about the Families First programme, progress with engaging families onto the programme and claiming payments up to Oct 2016, information about the new Targeted Early Help structure introduced from January 2017, national and local cost benefit analysis information and examples of outcomes for individual families.

 

The Strategic Director Children’s Services will submit a report (Document “S”) which provides an update on progress with the programme and related developments in early help services.  It covers national programme development, local progress made since the last report in January 2017 and provides examples of recent case studies which show how the programme has helped local families.     

 

Recommended –

 

The committee continues to support the implementation of Bradford’s

Families First programme to seek to deliver effective services to

families, avoid duplication and improve outcomes for families in the

district. 

 

(Martyn Stenton - 01274 432558)

 

 

Minutes:

The Committee received a detailed report in January 2017 which included information about the Families First programme, progress with engaging families onto the programme and claiming payments up to Oct 2016, information about the new Targeted Early Help structure introduced from January 2017, national and local cost benefit analysis information and examples of outcomes for individual families.

 

The Strategic Director Children’s Services submitted a report (Document “S”) which provided an update on progress with the programme and related developments in early help services.  It covered national programme development, local progress made since the last report in January 2017 and provided examples of recent case studies which showed how the programme had helped local families.     

 

In response to a question regarding outcomes and the type of engagement undertaken with families, it  was acknowledged that any number of avenues would be pursued in respect of individual families, however in essence constructive engagement with families was key to getting good outcomes, however this sometimes remained a challenge.

 

A Member stated that good family networks were sometimes key to resolving issues.

 

Resolved –

 

(1)       That officers be commended for the excellent work and progress         made by the Families First Programme and that a progress report be submitted in 12 months time.

 

(2)       That this Committee requests that the consultation relating to    Early Help be presented to this Committee in January 2018.

 

ACTION: Strategic Director Children’s Services

 

39.

CORPORATE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - WORK PROGRAMME 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 159 KB

The Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee will submit a report (Document “T”) which sets out the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme for 2017/18.   

 

Recommended –

 

(1)       That members consider and comment on the areas of work included in the work programme.

 

(2)       That members consider any detailed scrutiny reviews that they may wish to conduct.

 

(Mustansir Butt – 01274 432574)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee submitted a report (Document “T”) which set out the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme for 2017/18.  

 

Resolved –

 

That the work programme 2017-18 continues to be reviewed regularly

during the remainder of this Municipal Year.

 

ACTION:       Overview and Scrutiny Lead