During the course of the meeting, Councillor Smith disclosed, in the interest of transparency and in relation to Minute 58, that he was a member of the Ilkley Wharfedale Rotary Club and Ilkley Warehouse.

Action: City Solicitor

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

(Access to Information Procedure Rules – Part 3B of the Constitution)

To hear questions from electors within the District on any matter this is the responsibility of the Committee. 

Questions must be received in writing by the City Solicitor in Room 112, City Hall, Bradford, BD1 1HY, by mid-day on Tuesday 2 April 2019.

(Jane Lythgow - 01274 432270)

No questions were submitted by the public.

Previous reference: Minute 42 (2017/18)

The Strategic Director, Place, will submit a report,  (Document “AA”) which provides information on the Capital Highway Maintenance funding element of the Local Transport Plan for 2019/20 and makes recommendations on the allocation for Non-Classified Road Resurfacing Schemes and Surface Dressing Sites in the Keighley constituency. 

The report also provides information relating to the Department for Transport (DfT) additional highway maintenance funding 2018/19 and makes recommendations on the allocation for Non-Classified Road Surfacing Schemes in the Keighley constituency.

Recommended –

That the proposed programme of works for 2019/20 as shown in Appendices 2 and 3 of Document “AA” be approved.

(Andy Fisher – 01535 618297)

The Strategic Director, Place, submitted a report,  (Document “AA”) which provided information on the Capital Highway Maintenance funding element of the Local Transport Plan for 2019/20 and made recommendations on the allocation for Non-Classified Road Resurfacing Schemes and Surface Dressing Sites in the Keighley constituency. 

The report also provided information relating to the Department for Transport (DfT) additional highway maintenance funding 2018/19 and made recommendations on the allocation for Non-Classified Road Surfacing Schemes in the Keighley constituency.

To enable them to have an understanding of the measures used to prioritise allocations Members were informed of a new asset management system  used to survey and analyse the condition of roads against a grading criteria which, along with in-house inspections, was used to prioritise roads for maintenance.  Members were shown an example of the mapped grading analysis for information. 

The cost of the new system was queried and it was reported that this had been at a cost of £75,000 during the first year of operation and had reduced to £55,000 in the current year. It was explained that the system allowed the authority to achieve the requirements of the self assessment for the DfT’s Incentive fund.  The assessments could also be used to bid for additional DfT monies and would also enable Members to explain to their constituents the rationale for the decisions made.

In response to questions it was confirmed that the system would identify potholes and that it was cross referenced with officer inspections.  The system would also detect the condition of footpaths, however, the budget under discussion did not include footpath repairs.  Following discussions about insurances claims.  It was confirmed that the number of claims was decreasing. 

Resolved –

That the proposed programme of works for 2019/20 as shown in Appendices 2 and 3 of Document “AA” be approved.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Regeneration and Environment

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

The Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing, will present a report

(Document “AB”) which informs Members of the work of Public Health and in particular how the work contributes to the health and wellbeing of the population of the Keighley area.

Recommended –

(1)  That the report be welcomed.

(2)  That the views and comments of Members expressed at the meeting be noted.

(Ralph Saunders – 01274 434782)

The Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing, presented a report

(Document “AB”) which informed Members of the work of Public Health and in particular how that work contributed to the health and wellbeing of the population of the Keighley area.

Appended to the report were health profiles concentrating on the whole of the Keighley Constituency area population and outlined the main health issues identified by statistical evidence.  These included:-

·         Infant Mortality

·         Mortality due to cancer and/or cardiovascular disease for under 75 year olds

·         Excess weight/obesity amongst children aged 4-5 and 10-11 years old.

The report revealed the Keighley Constituency was performing better than that nationally, and compared to other constituencies in the District, against a number of targets.  There were some issues which appeared less favourably and the rationale for that and interventions to tackle those were reported.

Members welcomed the improvements demonstrated in the report, however, the rationale for that progress was queried.  In response it was explained that there had been a lot of partnership work conducted across the Keighley constituency involving Public Health, General Practitioners and the Council. It was explained that public health initiatives would take longer to impact whilst Clinical Commissioning Group initiatives had a more immediate effect.

The detrimental impact of air pollution was raised and Members were advised that the Council had been mandated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to reduce air pollution.  Funding to the value of £1.2m had been provided for those measures. A Member suggested that access to roads during school drop off and pick up times be restricted to prevent pollution and in response to questions about progression of that suggestion he was advised to contact the Director of Public Health.

A Member requested that future reports include identification of the areas of the constituency which were experiencing the worst health issues in order for resources to be utilised effectively. 

Concerns that the quality of cancer services for people in the Keighley constituency had declined since services had been located into Leeds from Airedale Hospital were raised by Members. 

The fall in vaccination rates was discussed and Members were advised that vaccinations were the responsibility of NHS England, however, statistics could be obtained if required.  It was acknowledged that there were cohorts of the population which it was known were under vaccinated. 

Increases in alcohol consumption were discussed and it was explained that Public Health were aware that nationally consumption was rising.  Those issues were being monitored and treatment services were available. 

Resolved –

(1)  That the report be welcomed.

(2)  That it be noted that there are clear positive downward trends in some of the previous areas of concern with strong networking between Public Health, General Practitioners and the Council.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Health and Social Care

ACTION: Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “AC”) outlines the work of the Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office in the period October 2018 to March 2019 to support ward priorities within the Keighley Area Ward Plans 2018-19.

Recommended –

That the work of the Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office in the period October 2018 to march 2019 to support ward priorities within the Keighley Area Ward Plans 2018-19 be noted.

(Jonathan Hayes – 01535 618008)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “AC”) outlined the work of the Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office in the period October 2018 to March 2019 to support ward priorities within the Keighley Area Ward Plans 2018-19.

Appended to the report were highlighted, selected, pieces of work which reflected the types of activities and actions that had been undertaken during that period within Wards that had contributed to addressing the priorities within the Keighley Area Ward Plans 2018-19. They were not an exhaustive list of actions but were intended to give a flavour of the nature of activities that had been undertaken.  It was explained that Ward Officers had completed full ward plan reports and these would be emailed to the respective Members for information. 

The Keighley Area Co-ordinator expressed his thanks to the Ward Officers for all their hard work and that sentiment was echoed by Members.

Resolved –

That the work of the Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office in the period October 2018 to March 2019 to support ward priorities within the Keighley Area Ward Plans 2018-19 be noted.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Corporate

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “AD”) presents six new Ward Plans for 2019-20 for consideration and adoption by Keighley Area Committee.

Recommended –     

(1)       That the six Ward Plans for 2109/20 as set out in Appendix A of Document “AD be approved and adopted.

(2)       That the Keighley Area Co-ordinator be requested to submit progress reports at six monthly intervals outlining the progress made in addressing the priorities contained in the Ward Plans 2019/20.

(Jonathan Hayes – 01535 618008)

The Strategic Director, Place, submitted a report, Document “AD”) which presented six new Ward Plans for 2019-20 for consideration and adoption by Keighley Area Committee.  The report explained that the Ward Plans were designed to inform ward working and included action planning and decision making.  The Plans provided an opportunity for the co-ordination of services at a local level. 

Resolved –                

(1)       That the six Ward Plans for 2109/20 as set out in Appendix A of Document “AD be approved and adopted.

(2)       That the Keighley Area Co-ordinator be requested to submit progress reports at six monthly intervals outlining the progress made in addressing the priorities contained in the Ward Plans 2019/20.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Corporate

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

The Strategic Director, Place, will present a report (Document “AE) which provides information about community engagement activities undertaken by Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office during the period October 2018 to March 2019.

Recommended –

That the constructive engagement with a wide range of the public undertaken through community engagement activities by Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office in the period October 2018 to March 2019 be noted.

(Jonathan Hayes – 01535 618008)

The Strategic Director, Place, presented a report (Document “AE) which provided information about community engagement activities undertaken by Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office during the period October 2018 to March 2019.

It was explained that due to the ill health of the Ward Officer for the Keighley East and Ilkley Wards no activities had been listed during the period under discussion.  It was acknowledged that initiatives such as the Riverside Gardens Project and youth activities had continued.

A Member questioned the attendance figures at an event in Lawkholme and it was explained that this had involved a door knocking initiative and that was the reason the involvement had been very high.

The rationale for holding less scheduled Neighbourhood Forum meetings was questioned and it was explained that some Wards held Ward Forums annually but as there were now many more effective ways to communicate with residents other forms of communication were utilised.

Resolved –

That the constructive engagement with a wide range of the public undertaken through community engagement activities by Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office in the period October 2018 to March 2019 be noted.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Corporate

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

The Chair expressed the appreciation of the Committee to Councillor Smith who was not standing for office at the forthcoming elections.  Councillor Smith’s considerable experience and immense local knowledge was acknowledged and he was thanked for his service to the District.