The following declarations of interest were received:

 

(i)           The following members had disclosed a personal interest in the item on the agenda relating to the Budget  2019 – 20  and of the nature and description indicated by each category:

 

1.         Members with a spouse, partner or close relative in the employment of the Council

 

Cllr Imran Khan Cllr Jabar

2.         Members employed by or who have a spouse, partner or close relative employed by a voluntary organisation/public body funded by the Council.

Cllr Imran Khan

3.         Members who occupied land or who had a spouse, partner or relative who did or who were directors of companies or sat on the management committee of an organisation that occupies land under a lease or licence granted by the Council.

Cllr Imran Khan Cllr Ross-Shaw

4.        Members of other public authorities.

           

            Airedale Partnership

            Cllr Ross-Shaw

                                   

            Bradford Business Improvement District

            Cllr Ross-Shaw

 

            Bradford Economic Partnership

            Cllr Hinchcliffe

            Cllr Ross-Shaw

           

City Regions Board (LGA)

            Cllr Hinchcliffe

           

            Drake and Tonson Foundation

            Cllr Farley  – Not appointed by the Council but approached by the   Chair.

           

Haworth Exhibition Trust

Cllr Farley

 

Key Cities

Cllr Hinchcliffe

Cllr I Khan  

 

Leeds Bradford International Airport – Consultative Committee

Cllr Ross-Shaw

 

Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership

Cllr Hinchcliffe

                       

            Sir Titus Salt Trust

            Cllr Hinchcliffe

           

            University of Bradford – Court

            Cllr Hinchcliffe

West Yorkshire Combined Authority   

Cllr Hinchcliffe

Cllr I Khan 

 

            West Yorkshire Combined Authority Inclusive Growth and Public Policy

            Cllr Ross-Shaw

 

West Yorkshire Combined Authority West Yorkshire & York Investment Panel

Cllr Ross-Shaw

 

            West Yorkshire Combined Authority Business Innovation and Growth Panel

            Cllr Ross-Shaw

 

            West Yorkshire Combined Authority  Business Investment Panel

            Cllr Ross-Shaw

 

            West Yorkshire Combined Authority Employment Skills Panel

            Cllr Hinchcliffe

            Cllr Imran Khan

 

            West Yorkshire Combined Authority Governance and Audit

            Cllr Hinchcliffe

            Cllr Imran Khan Substitute

 

            West Yorkshire Combined Authority Green Economy Panel

            Cllr Ferriby

 

            West Yorkshire Combined Authority Leeds City Region Partnership

            Cllr Hinchcliffe

 

            West Yorkshire Combined Authority Place Panel

            Cllr Hinchcliffe

            Cllr Ross-Shaw       

 

            West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee

Cllr Hinchcliffe

Cllr Imran Khan

 

Wrose Carnival Management Committee

Cllr Hinchcliffe

Cllr Ross-Shaw

 

Yorkshire Libraries and Information

Cllr Ferriby

 

Yorkshire Regional Flood & Coastal Committee

Cllr Farley (Sub Member)

 

           

5.         Members who sit on the management committee/ trustee volunteer of a voluntary organisation in receipt of Council Funding.

 

Cllr Ferriby Cllr Hinchcliffe Cllr Jabar Cllr Imran Khan

6.         Members who are members of a Council funded organisation.

           

Cllr Imran Khan Cllr Ross-Shaw

7.         Members appointed by the Council to a public body with an interest in the Council’s budget

 

Keighley Business Improvement District Board

Cllr Ross-Shaw

 

8(i)       Members who are appointed to external bodies

 

Bradford City Challenge Foundation Limited

Cllr Imran Khan

 

Canal Road Urban Village

Cllr Ross-Shaw

 

City of Film

Cllr Ferriby

 

Friends of Brackenhill Park

Cllr Jabar

 

Great Horton Partnership

Cllr Jabar

 

Ummid/Himmat Management Board

Cllr Jabar

 

 

8(ii)     Other Interests

           

Unison Calderdale

Cllr Jabar

 

9.         Members who are school governors.

Cllr Farley Cllr Ferriby

10.       Members entitled to receive an allowance paid by the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

Recommended –

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2019 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

 

(Jill Bell - 01274 434580)

 

Resolved –

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2019 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

 

ACTION: City Solicitor

 

(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. 

 

(Jill Bell - 01274 434580)

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

 

To note any recommendations to the Executive that may be the subject of report to a future meeting.  (Schedule to be tabled at the meeting). 

 

 (Jill Bell - 01274 434580)

 

1.  CHILDREN’S SERVICES O&S COMMITTEE - 13 FEB 2019

 

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITY REFORMS

 

Resolved –

 

(1)          That the draft SEND Action Plan be referred to the Executive.

 

(2)          That the Committee requests that the role of the Overview and

Scrutiny Committee be added to the governance structure of the

SEND Strategic Partnership Board.

 

(3)          That  representatives of the service users be invited to attend a

meeting of the Committee to share their views as soon as possible

in the new municipal year.

 

Note: in noting the receipt of the above recommendation the Leader requested that the item be included on the forward plan for a future meeting of the Executive. 

 

2.  CORPORATE O&S COMMITTEE – 14 FEB 2019

 

BREXIT PREPAREDNESS

 

Resolved –

 

(1)       That this Committee requests a report to be presented which             specifically focuses             on the community cohesion issues across the        district related to Brexit.

 

(2)       That a verbal update on Brexit be presented at the 21 March meeting          of the Committee.

 

(3)       That it be recommended to the Executive that the status of          Looked After Children be adopted by the Council.

 

Note: in noting the receipt of the above recommendation the Leader noted that every looked after child had the right to settled status and that this would be included in the report to be presented to the Executive on 5 March on Brexit Preparedness.

 

ACTION:        Interim Strategic Director of Children’s Services (1) SEND

                        Strategic Director of Corporate Services (2) Brexit Preparedness

(Councillor Hinchcliffe)

The report of the Director of Finance (Document “AZ”) provides Members with details of the Council’s Revenue Estimates for 2019/20 and 2020/21.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL -

 

Executive is asked to approve the recommendations set out in 8.1 to 8.6 Document “AZ”

 

(Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee)     

 

(Tom Castleton – 01274 434472)

 

The report of the Director of Finance (Document “AZ”) provided Members with details of the Council’s Revenue Estimates for 2019/20 and 2020/21.

 

The Director of Finance presented the report and advised members that the budget remained materially the same as the one that was published for public consultation in December except for the issues reported to Executive on 5 February regarding additional income from the North and West Yorkshire Business Rate Pool Pilot; the improvement to the 2019/20 New Homes Allocation and further investment in Children’s Services being considered by the Executive.  He noted that future pay awards should read 2% not 1% and that this was subject to future negotiations.

 

The resolution to this item was presented and agreed in the light of the Labour Group’s amended budget recommendations to Council (See Minute 95).  this was followed by agreement on the Schools Budget and the Capital Investment Plan proposals.

 

The report of the Director of Finance (Document “BA”) seeks Executive approval of the recommendations of Bradford’s Schools Forum in allocating the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for 2019/20 and subsequent recommendation to Full Council.

 

 

Recommended that the Executive asks Council to:

 

 

a)    Accept and approve the proposals from the Schools Forum for the allocation of the 2019/20 DSG as set out in Document BA.

 

b)   Approve the total amount of £551.819m to be appropriated in respect of all schools covered by the Bradford Scheme for the Local Management of Schools, so as to establish the Individual Schools Budget for 2019/20.

 

 

(Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee)

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

 

 

The report of the Director of Finance (Document “BA”) sought Executive approval of the recommendations of Bradford’s Schools Forum in allocating the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for 2019/20 and subsequent recommendation to Full Council.

 

The Director of Finance noted the continued acute pressure in the High Needs Block that required on going monitoring and  structural change over time.

 

Resolved-

 

That it be recommended to Council to:

 

a)    Accept and approve the proposals from the Schools Forum for the allocation of the 2019/20 DSG as set out in Document BA.

 

b)   Approve the total amount of £551.819m to be appropriated in respect of all schools covered by the Bradford Scheme for the Local Management of Schools, so as to establish the Individual Schools Budget for 2019/20.

 

Action:            Director of Finance

 

The report of the Director of Finance (Document “BB” ) presents the Capital Investment Plan for 2019-20 to 2022-23.

Recommended -

 

That the Executive requests Council to approve that :

 

a)    The Capital Investment Plan as set out at Appendix 1 to Document “BB” is adopted. Commitments against reserve schemes and contingencies can only be made after a business case has been assessed by the Project Appraisal Group and approved by Executive.

 

b)   Approve the following capital expenditure schemes:

 

·         £2m Property Programme to maintain Council assets, subject to final Project Appraisal Group appraisal.

·         £1.961m for the restoration of the former Sugden End Landfill Site.

 

c)    The Chief Executive, Strategic Directors and Directors enter into commitments on capital schemes within the Capital Investment Plan subject to approval of business cases by Executive up to the approved amounts each year except that, where it is indicated that schemes are funded or partly funded from specific resources such as capital grants or contributions, revenue or capital receipts, the approved amount will be subject to the securing of those resources and be adjusted to reflect the amounts actually received.

 

d)   Where necessary, the payments arising under the Capital Investment Plan are met from loans.

 

e)    In order to provide the flexibility necessary to manage effectively the Capital Investment Plan, the Chief Executive, Strategic Directors and Directors be specifically empowered to advance or defer approved schemes subject to consultation with the Director of Finance and the availability of resources.

 

f)     Additional capital schemes shall only commence where the scheme is wholly funded from specific resources on the approval of the Director of Finance in accordance with Financial Regulations. Also the Section 151 Officer be granted delegated powers up to the authorised limit to approve new schemes subject to Executive approval and taking into account latest revenue budget projections.

 

g)   The Borrowing Limits and Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix 2 to Document “BB” are adopted by the Council. 

 

h)   The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy as set out in paragraph 6 of Document “BB” be approved.

 

(Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee)

(James Hopwood – 01274 432882)

 

The report of the Director of Finance (Document “BB” ) presented the Capital Investment Plan for 2019-20 to 2022-23.

 

The Director of Finance reported that the most notable of the capital schemes was the invest to save in street lighting.  The Leader commended the scheme and noted that energy costs had risen by 16% in the last year.  She added that money would be saved that could be spent in other areas.  The Regeneration, Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder pointed out that it would improve infrastructure and response times to repairs.

 

Resolved -

 

That Council be requested to approve:

 

a)    The Capital Investment Plan as set out at Appendix 1 to Document “BB” is adopted. Commitments against reserve schemes and contingencies can only be made after a business case has been assessed by the Project Appraisal Group and approved by Executive.

 

b)   Approve the following capital expenditure schemes:

 

·         £2m Property Programme to maintain Council assets, subject to final Project Appraisal Group appraisal.

·         £1.961m for the restoration of the former Sugden End Landfill Site.

 

c)    The Chief Executive, Strategic Directors and Directors enter into commitments on capital schemes within the Capital Investment Plan subject to approval of business cases by Executive up to the approved amounts each year except that, where it is indicated that schemes are funded or partly funded from specific resources such as capital grants or contributions, revenue or capital receipts, the approved amount will be subject to the securing of those resources and be adjusted to reflect the amounts actually received.

 

d)   Where necessary, the payments arising under the Capital Investment Plan are met from loans.

 

e)    In order to provide the flexibility necessary to manage effectively the Capital Investment Plan, the Chief Executive, Strategic Directors and Directors be specifically empowered to advance or defer approved schemes subject to consultation with the Director of Finance and the availability of resources.

 

f)     Additional capital schemes shall only commence where the scheme is wholly funded from specific resources on the approval of the Director of Finance in accordance with Financial Regulations. Also the Section 151 Officer be granted delegated powers up to the authorised limit to approve new schemes subject to Executive approval and taking into account latest revenue budget projections.

 

g)   The Borrowing Limits and Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix 2 to Document “BB” are adopted by the Council. 

 

h)   The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy as set out in paragraph 6 of Document “BB” be approved.

 

Action:            Director of Finance

The Chief Executive will submit a Second Addendum if any – (To be

tabled) to the report presented to the meeting of Executive on 5

February 2019 (Document “AR”), which provides additional feedback

received from the public engagement and consultation programme

and sets out a summary of the equality assessments carried out on the Executive’s Budget proposals for 2019-20 and 2020-21.

 

Recommended –

 

That in accordance with Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, the

Executive has regard to the information contained in Document

“AR”, the appendices and equality assessments to that report and

the First Addendum presented to Executive on 5 February 2019,

together with the information contained in this Second Addendum

when considering the recommendations to make to the Council

on a budget for 2019-20 and 2020-21 on 21 February 2019.

 

(Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee)

 

(Kathryn Jones – 01274 433664)

 

The Chief Executive referred to the report presented to the meeting of Executive on 5 February 2019 (Document “AR”), which provided feedback received from the public engagement and consultation programme and set out a summary of the equality assessments carried out on the Executive’s Budget proposals for 2019-20 and 2020-21.  It was noted that no further feedback had been received and that the equalities assessment had been updated and would be published on the Council website that day.

 

 

Resolved –

 

That in accordance with Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, the

Executive had regard to the information contained in Document

“AR”, the appendices and equality assessments to that report and

the Addendum presented to Executive on 5 February 2019

when considering the recommendations to make to the Council

on a budget for 2019-20 and 2020-21 on 21 February 2019.

 

Action:            Chief Executive

 

The Director of Human Resources will submit an Addendum

(to be tabled at the meeting) to the report presented to the meeting of

Executive on 5 February 2018 (Document “AS”), which provides

further feedback from the Council’s Trade Unions on the Council’s

budget proposals for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 Council Budget for

consideration by Executive.

 

Recommended –

 

That Executive has regard to the further feedback received from the Council’s Trade Unions contained in the addendum presented (Document “AS” Second Addendum) together with the information contained in the Report, appendices and First Addendum presented to Executive on 5 February 2019 (Document “AS”) when considering its recommendations to Council on the Council’s budget for the financial years 2019/20 and 2020/21.

 

(Corporate Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee) 

                                                                                         

                                                            (Michelle Moverley – 01274 437883)

 

The Director of Human Resources submitted an Addendum (that was tabled at the meeting) to the report presented to the meeting of Executive on 5 February 2018 (Document “AS”), which provided further feedback from the Council’s Trade Unions on the Council’s budget proposals for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 Council Budget for consideration by Executive.

 

The Director of Human Resources reported that no major areas had been identified.  She added that consultation would continue with the Trade Unions on the impact on the workforce and mitigation against the necessity for compulsory redundancies.

 

The Leader recognised the dedication of the workforce in the face of changes to working practices and reducing resources.  She commended their commitment in working together to achieve the best for the District.

 

Resolved –

 

That Executive had regard to the further feedback received from the Council’s Trade Unions contained in the addendum presented (Document “AS” Second Addendum) together with the information contained in the Report, appendices and First Addendum presented to Executive on 5 February 2019 (Document “AS”) when considering its recommendations to Council on the Council’s budget for the financial years 2019/20 and 2020/21.

 

Action:            Director of Human Resources

The Leader tabled the Labour Group’s amendments to Document “AZ”.  She stated that this was the 9^th year of austerity and that £13m would have to be taken out of the budget in 2019/20 and £20m in 2020/21.  She added that the budget gap in year 1 was being met using reserves and that there would be a funding gap of £28m in year 2.  She went on to say that Councils throughout the Country had said that the government need to address the issue of funding local services in the next spending review.  She stressed that since 2011, Bradford had to find £262m of budget cuts and that it would be half the size in 2010 than it was in 2010.  She illustrated the level of cuts and the speed with which they were being implemented by stating that in 2013-14 the authority had received £183m in government funding and this would be nil in 2020.  She added that the Local Government Association had identified a £2billion funding gap in children’s social services nationally.  She added that relying on Council Tax was not sufficient and pointed out that a 1% rise in Council Tax in Bradford would raise £1.9m but a 1% rise in Surrey would amount to £7m. 

 

The Leader reported that the issue that has raised the most representations in the consultation was Welfare Advice.  She added that it was being proposed to add £500,000 to welfare advice to support the most venerable.  She reported that  £500,000  had been added to street cleansing and that changes were being made in Children’s Social Care to address the issues raised in the recent OFSTED inspection.  She urged the Government to support the authority so that the District would prosper and stressed that Government would continue to be lobbied on this issue.

 

The Children and Families Portfolio Holder reported that a new one-off investment of £6.5m would be made into a Children’s Services  fund in addition to the £5.5m on going investment into children’s social care, of which £1.2m was being released immediately for Social Worker recruitment.  He stated the commitment to the young people of the district to give them the best start.

 

The Education, Employment and Skills Portfolio Holder referred to the additional investment in Children’s Social Care which would allow resources to be redirected to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.  He acknowledged the pressures on the High Needs Block and thanked the Schools forum for the work they did with resources that reduced every year.

 

The Healthy People and Places Portfolio Holder noted that better and more personalised plans were being produced in Adult Social Care.  She commented that the Adult Social Care Green Paper had been awaited since 2017 and that a long term sustainable plan was needed from Government to support adults in the District.

 

The Neighbourhoods and Community Safety Portfolio Holder stressed that welfare advice was a vital service and referred to the introduction of Universal Credit and cuts in government funding that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94.

The Director of Finance submitted an extract from Council Document “U”              in the light of the Labour Group’s amended budget recommendations to Council and it was therefore:

 

Resolved –

 

That it be recommended to Council that:

 

(1)       REVENUE ESTIMATES 2019/20

 

              (a)     That the Base Revenue Forecast of £384.022m for 2019/20 as set out in the extract from Council Document “U” (Revenue Estimates) be approved.

 

(b)      That the extract from Council Document “U” and the consequent net reduction in investments of £0.947m in 2019/20 be approved.

 

(c)       That the extract from Council Document “U” and the service savings and additional income of £23.164m in 2019/20 be approved.

 

(d)      That it be noted that within the revenue budget there is a net use          of  £1.460m in revenue reserves in 2019/20.

 

(e)       That the extract from Council Document “U” and the service savings proposals for 2020/21 be approved, requiring the Chief Executive, Strategic Directors and Directors to take necessary action during 2019/20 to ensure those savings are fully achievable for 2020/21.

 

(f)         That the comments of Director of Finance set out in Council Document “V” on the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of reserves taking account of the recommendations made at 1(a) to (e) above be noted.

(2)     PROPOSED COUNCIL TAX 2019/20

 

          That it be noted that the projected council tax base and expenditure       forecasts outlined in this report together with the 2019/20 resources        and the budget variations approved at 1(b) and 1(c) above produce a        proposed Band D council tax of £1,373.07 for 2019/20.

(3)    PAYMENT DATES FOR COUNCIL TAX AND NATIONAL NON-DOMESTIC RATES

 

          That the first instalment date for payment of National Non-Domestic Rates and Council Tax shall be specified by the s151 Officer.

(4)     DELEGATION TO OFFICERS

 

          That for the avoidance of doubt and without prejudice to any of the powers contained in Article 14 of Part 2 of the Council's Constitution on the Function of Officers, the s151 Officer shall have full delegated powers to act on behalf of the Council on all matters relating to the Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rates and Accounts Receivable Debtors including (without prejudice to the generality of the delegation) entry into the 75% business rate pilot, assessments, determinations, recovery, enforcement and, in accordance with the statutory scheme, full delegated powers to act on behalf of the Council with regard to all aspects of the granting of Discretionary and Hardship Rate Relief to qualifying ratepayers.

(5)       PREPARATION OF ACCOUNTS

 

           (a)         That in preparing the Final Accounts for 2018/19, the s151 Officer be empowered to take appropriate steps to secure the best advantage for the Council's financial position.

           (b)         That the s151 Officer be empowered to deal with items which involve the transfer of net spending between the financial years 2018/19 and 2019/20 in a manner which secures the best advantage for the Council's financial position.

           (c)         That the s151 Officer report any action taken in pursuance of 5(a) and 5 (b) above when reporting on the Final Accounts for 2018/19.

(6)         COUNCIL  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.

This report of the Director of Finance (Document “BC”) assesses the robustness of the proposed budget for 2019/20, the adequacy of forecast levels of reserves and associated risks. 

 

It concludes that the estimates are sufficiently robust for the Council to set the budget.  It also concludes that the General Fund and unallocated reserves should be maintained at their current levels over the period of the financial strategy to ensure the continued financial resilience of the Council.

 

 

Recommended –

 

(1)          That Members have regard to this report in setting the budget, and in particular note the conclusions that:

 

• the estimates presented to Council are sufficiently robust

 

• the reserves are adequate for the 2019/20 proposed budget

 

·         the projected corporate reserves, on current estimates, are adequate in the medium term, subject to the implementation of the rest of the proposed financial plan and identification of further proposals to mitigate the projected structural gap of £20-25m.

 

(2)          As with all budgets there is the potential for amendments to be proposed/agreed which could change the overall package of proposals. In that respect, it should be highlighted that this statement would be amended or added to if a decision was proposed that lead to the Council’s reserves falling below their recommended level. In addition, any other amendments would be considered against the scale of the overall budget and depending upon the extent and nature, may result in a revised statement.

 

 

(Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee)

(Andrew Crookham – 01274 433656)

 

 

 

The report of the Director of Finance (Document “BC”) assessed the robustness of the proposed budget for 2019/20, the adequacy of forecast levels of reserves and associated risks. 

 

It concluded that the estimates were sufficiently robust for the Council to set the budget.  It also concluded that the General Fund and unallocated reserves should be maintained at their current levels over the period of the financial strategy to ensure the continued financial resilience of the Council.

 

The Director of Finance would comment further on his substantive report to Council.

 

Resolved –

 

(1)          That Members have regard to Council Document “V” in setting the budget, and in particular note the conclusions that:

 

• the estimates presented to Council are sufficiently robust

 

• the reserves are adequate for the 2019/20 proposed budget

 

·         the projected corporate reserves, on current estimates, are adequate in the medium term, subject to the implementation of the rest of the proposed financial plan and identification of further proposals to mitigate the projected structural gap of £20-25m.

 

(2)          As with all budgets there is the potential for amendments to be proposed/agreed which could change the overall package of proposals. In that respect, it should be highlighted that this statement would be amended or added to if a decision was proposed that lead to the Council’s reserves falling below their recommended level. In addition, any other amendments would be considered against the scale of the overall budget and depending upon the extent and nature, may result in a revised statement.

 

Action:            Director of Finance