Local democracy

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Keighley Town Hall. View directions

Contact: Jane Lythgow 

Items
No. Item

42.

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:

No disclosures of interest in matters under consideration were received.

 

43.

MINUTES

Recommended –

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2019 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

 

(Jane Lythgow – 01274 432270)

Minutes:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2019 be signed as a correct record.

 

44.

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. 

 

(Jane Lythgow - 01274 432270)

 

Minutes:

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

 

45.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

(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 Friday 17 January 2020.

 

(Jane Lythgow - 01274 432270)

 

Minutes:

There were no questions submitted by the public.

 

46.

ILKLEY TOWN HALL, LIBRARY, KINGS HALL AND WINTER GARDEN - NOMINATION TO LIST PROPERTY AS AN ASSET OF COMMUNITY VALUE pdf icon PDF 110 KB

The report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources, (Document “S”) informs Members that the Council has received a nomination to list Ilkley Town Hall, Library, Kings Hall and Winter Garden as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act 2011.

 

Document “S” considers whether the nomination and nominated asset meet the Asset of Community Value criteria set out in the Localism Act 2011. 

 

Members are asked to make a recommendation to the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources, to approve or not to approve the nomination. 

 

Recommended –

 

That it be recommended to the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources, that in accordance with option 1, contained in Document “S, the nomination of land at Ilkley Town Hall, Library, Kings Hall and Winter Gardens be approved as an Asset of Community Value on the grounds that it does meet the criteria and definition of an Asset of Community Value as set out in the Localism Act 2011.

 

(Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Nigel Giillat – 01535 618297)

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources, (Document “S”) informed Members that the Council had received a nomination to list Ilkley Town Hall, Library, Kings Hall and Winter Garden, as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act 2011.

 

Document “S” considered whether the nomination and nominated asset met the Asset of Community Value criteria set out in the Localism Act 2011 and Members were asked to make a recommendation to the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources, to approve or not to approve the nomination. 

 

The nomination was appended to Document “S” and an assessment of that nomination was provided in the report.  It was reported that the asset had been listed on 19 February 2015 and that listing expired on 19 February 2020.  Council officers had assessed that the criteria for listing had been met and recommended that the asset be listed as an Asset of Community Value.

 

An Ilkley Ward Member had questioned the statement contained in the report that Ward Members had been contacted and that no comments had been received.  It was explained that contact had been made with Members but that this had been after the report had been submitted and they had not had the opportunity to comment.  Apologies were made for any confusion which had been caused.

 

Members questioned if there had been any interest in purchasing the buildings nominated and were advised that the Council had no plans to sell those properties. In response to concerns that the tenants of the Town Hall may be affected it was confirmed that if the nomination was approved there would be no detrimental impact on tenants. 

 

Following discussions about the consequences of listing as an ACV it was explained that the listing of land or property as an Asset of Community Value had the effect of preventing owners from disposing of their listed property without first notifying the Council of their intention to sell. The notification of intention to sell would trigger a six week moratorium on disposal during which local community groups and parish councils were able to express an interest in bidding for the property. If no expressions of interest were received the owner would be free to dispose of property at the end of the six week period. If an expression of interest was received the initial six week moratorium extended to six months to allow community groups and parish councils to prepare to bid for the property or to negotiate with the property owner. At the end of the six month period the owner would be able to sell the property to whoever they wanted and by whatever means they wished. If the property was not sold within 18 months of the notification of intention to sell the disposal process must start again. Once sold the property would be removed from the list.

 

Resolved –

 

That it be recommended to the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources, that in accordance with option 1, contained in Document “S, the nomination of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

47.

BRADFORD OPPORTUNITY AREA - KEIGHLEY BRIEFING pdf icon PDF 541 KB

The report of the Strategic Director, Children’s Services,(Document “T”) advises Members that Bradford has been identified as one of twelve, “Opportunity Areas”  for which the Department for Education (DfE) funds a small team to work with the District to agree and deliver priorities in improving social mobility.  The work is driven by an Opportunity Area Board made up of key stakeholders from across Bradford.  The group identified four priority areas of work:-

 

·         Strengthening school leadership and quality of teaching

·         Improving literacy and oracy (spoken English) including a focus on parental engagement

·         Helping young people access rewarding careers

·         Removing health related barriers to learning

 

Appended to the report are details of investment in a wide range of activity specifically focused on the Keighley area.

 

Recommended –

 

That the progress outlined in Document “T” be noted and the use of the Social Mobility Dashboard, Appended to Document “T” and  to support the work of the Area Committee, be endorsed. 

 

(Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Kathryn Loftus – 01274 434590)

 

 

Minutes:

The report of the Strategic Director, Children’s Services, (Document “T”) advised Members that, as an ‘Opportunity Area’, the Department for Education (DfE ) funded a small team to work with Bradford, to agree and deliver priorities in improving social mobility.  Its work was driven by an Opportunity Area board made up of key stakeholders from across Bradford and that board had identified four priority areas to address:

 

  • Strengthening school leadership and the quality of teaching,
  • Improving literacy and oracy (spoken English), including a focus on parental engagement
  • Helping young people access rewarding careers,
  • Removing health-related barriers to learning.

 

The document also revealed that the programme had invested in a wide range of activities including delivery in the Keighley Area.  Members were advised that the DfE had published its Bradford Opportunity Area plan in January 2018.  The DfE had committed an extra £6m of funding and a tilting of more national programmes into Bradford until 2020.  By the end of August 2020 Bradford Schools will have been direct recipients of over £9m additional funding since the start of the Opportunity Area programme.

 

Appended to the report were a briefing on activities in Keighley; details of the Bradford Opportunity Area Board Membership and the Keighley Social Mobility Index.  It was explained that the index had been used to break down social mobility issues at a constituency level and had been produced by the Social Mobility Commission.  It was intended that an updated version of the current 2015 to 2017 data would be produced and would help to identify targets to improve social mobility in the district. 

 

It was noted that the Board membership included the Chief Executive of an Academy Trust and assurances were provided that all disadvantaged pupils would be supported irrespective of their school status.  In response to questions about the schools which had received support it was explained that the proxy measure for social mobility was pupils receiving free school meals.  In additional all schools received a minimum of £2,500 from the Essential Life Skills fund. 

 

Members raised concerns that not all pupils who were eligible were claiming free school meals and it was acknowledged that the use of free school meals as an indicator of deprivation could be an imperfect measure.   It was reported that there had been an element of underspend within the programme and proposals for that funding were being discussed at a partnership board meeting board being held shortly. 

 

In response to questions Members it was clarified that the Bradford Opportunity Area programme was for a three year period.  The potential for a fourth year was being discussed and the DfE were discussing proposals for the Bradford District.

 

A Member acknowledged the value of the Mobility Index but questioned the rankings in the report.  He believed that children from affluent families could also be in need of support.   In response it was confirmed that there was a total of £20,000 available for youth engagement and empowerment.  It was reported that a Youth Summit had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

48.

KEIGHLEY AREA WARD PLANS 2019-20 UPDATE pdf icon PDF 5 MB

Previous reference: Minute 59 (2018/19)

 

The Strategic Director, Place, will present Document “U” which outlines the work of the Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office in the period April to September 2019 to support Ward priorities within the Keighley Area Ward Plans 2019-20.

 

Recommended –

 

That the work of the Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office in the period April to September 2019 to support Ward priorities within the Keighley Area Ward Plans 2019-20 be noted.

 

(Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Jonathan Hayes – 01535 618008)

 

Minutes:

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “U”) outlined the work of the Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office in the period

April to September 2019 to support Ward priorities within the Keighley Area

Ward Plans 2019-20.

 

Appended to the report were selected pieces of work which reflected the types of activities and actions that had been undertaken, between April to September 2019, within Wards that had contributed to addressing the priorities within the Keighley Area Ward Plans 2019-20. Members were advised that 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 the report was being presented later than would normally happen due to the pre-election period.  Members were advised that new ward plans for 2020/21 were currently being prepared, Members would be involved in that process and the plans would be presented to Committee in March 2020.  

 

The work of the Ward Officers was commended and the best wishes of the Committee were sent to the officer for the Ilkley Ward who was currently suffering ill health. 

 

Resolved –

 

That the work of the Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office in the period April to September 2019 to support Ward Priorities within the Keighley Area Ward Plans 2019-20 be noted.

 

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Corporate

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

 

49.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, APRIL - SEPTEMBER 2019 pdf icon PDF 126 KB

Previous reference – Minute 60 (2018/19)

 

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “V”) provides information about community engagement activities undertaken by Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office during April – September 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 April to September 2019 be noted.

 

Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Jonathan Hayes – 01535 618008)

 

 

 

Minutes:

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “V”)  provided information about community engagement activities undertaken by Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office during April - September 2019.

 

Appended to the report were details of community engagement activities that had been undertaken by Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office between April – September 2019.  These included ‘traditional’ Neighbourhood Forums, public meetings organised by KACO staff open to all but run on a different format to a Neighbourhood Forums, meetings targeted at particular ‘people  groups’ (e.g. young people), attendance at meetings and other events organised by partner agencies or community groups, door-knocking and ‘street consultations’.

 

The variety of approaches had proved much more effective at reaching a wider and more diverse range of the general public than normally attended Neighbourhood Forums.

 

It was explained that the Area Co-ordinator’s Office would continue to identify ways of making Neighbourhood Forums, and other forms of consultation and community engagement, relevant to the interests and character of each particular neighbourhood and to work with elected Members on ways of increasing public attendance and engagement.

 

Officers continued to have the flexibility to arrange public meetings in response to local issues that arose outside of the planned schedule of engagement activities, where a majority of Members representing the relevant Ward considered that a public meeting was required.

 

The importance of the use of the internet and Social Media (e.g. Facebook and Twitter) as a means of communication and consultation was recognised by the Area Co-ordinator’s office, and staff now regularly used digital media as a means of engagement alongside meetings, events and activities. To date the Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s Office had 853 followers on Twitter and 331 members of its Facebook group.  Members were encouraged to sign up to the Facebook page. 

 

Members requested that future reports identify if community engagement activities had been instigated by the Area Co-ordinator’s Office or were community led. 

 

A Member reported that an issue which continued to be raised by residents at his surgeries was fly tipping.  He requested if items which should be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HMRC) could be collected twice per year from residents’ homes.  In response it was explained that Council policy encouraged residents to be responsible for their own waste and to take it to the Household Waste Recycling Centre or to arrange a collection through the Council’s Waste Service.  The trial of a recycling service at the HMRC at Bowling Back Lane in Bradford was discussed.  It was not known if that service had been continued and the Area Co-ordinator agreed to investigate if that service had been continued and extended.

 

Members raised an issue with delays to street lamp bulb replacement and the Chair reported that sodium lamps were being replaced with LED and he believed that delays had occurred in obtaining the correct bulbs.  

 

Issues with fallen leaves on streets which were not swept resulting in blocked gullies were raised.  Members referred to complaints they received from residents and suggested that engagement was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

50.

CHAIR'S NOTE

Minutes:

Members observed a minute’s silence in memory of the former Lord Mayor and long serving Councillor Barry Thorne who had passed away on Christmas Eve 2019.  Barry represented the Keighley West ward between 1973 and 1976 and again from 1978 until 2004. 

 

Gratitude was placed on record for Barry’s many years of service to the people of Keighley and the Bradford district.