(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.

No disclosures of interest in matters under consideration were received.

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2019 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Yusuf Patel – 01274 434579)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2019 be signed as a correct record.

(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)

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 22 October 2019.

(Yusuf Patel - 01274 434579)

There were no questions submitted by the public.

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “N”) which details how the service currently manages the Local Highway Maintenance (LHM) function and allocates resources.

It also updates the committee with regard to current operations being undertaken on the network and the indicative costs of works undertaken in the current financial year.

Recommended –

(1)       That the Bradford South Area Committee notes the current operational methods adopted for Local Highway Maintenance.

(2)       That the Bradford South Area Committee notes the indicative costs to date for the current financial year.

(3)       That the Bradford South Area Committee approves the list of current and proposed CAT3/4 works as shown in Appendices 5 and 6 to Document “N”.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Regeneration & Environment

(Andrew Whelan - 01274 434409)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “N”) which detailed how the service currently managed the Local Highway Maintenance (LHM) function and allocated resources.

It also updated the committee with regard to current operations being undertaken on the network and the indicative costs of works undertaken in the current financial year.

During the discussion a Member stated that in relation to pothole repairs he had reported a location over 18 months ago and no action had been taken to repair the pothole. In response the Principal Engineer Highway Maintenance stated that once a pothole has been reported the pothole is then categorised and depending on its severity, remedied within a set timeframe.  He suggested that the Councillor emails him with the details of the location, so he can investigate the matter further, adding that most reports were received from Members of the public as well as inspections undertaken by the Council.

In response to a question on road markings and that a number of locations needed urgent attention, the Principal Engineer stated that given the reduced budget in this area, lining schemes were having to be prioritised.

Resolved –

(1)       That the current operational methods adopted for Local Highway Maintenance be noted.

(2)       That the indicative costs to date for the current financial year be noted.

(3)       That the list of current and proposed CAT3/4 works as shown in Appendices 5 and 6 to Document “N” be approved.

ACTION:       Strategic Director Place

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Regeneration & Environment

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “L”) which gives an update of some of the work undertaken by the Bradford South Area Neighbourhood Policing Team and an overview of the Bradford South Constituency Performance data.

Recommended –

(1)       That Bradford South Area Committee notes the work undertaken by the Bradford South Neighbourhood Policing Team from April 2019 to September 2019 that contributed to addressing priorities within the ward plans for the Bradford South Area.

(2)       That the Bradford South Area Committee notes the positive partnership working that has been established with Elected Members, Council Officers, community organisations, volunteers and residents within the Bradford South Area.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Corporate

(Mick Charlton – 01274 431155)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “L”) which gave an update of some of the work undertaken by the Bradford South Area Neighbourhood Policing Team, and an overview of the Bradford South constituency performance data.

During the discussion, a Member commented that it was useful to have crime breakdown by ward, however this information was not available at partnership ward meetings.  In response the Police representative stated that there were no reasons why this information could not be made available in the future.

A Member stated that the violence against a person category covered a plethora of crimes and it was difficult to gauge specific crime type.  The Police representative acknowledged that the heading was based on the Home Office categorisation, however there was a rise in instances of domestic violence.

A Member commented that in order to strengthen work in schools, PCSO link in schools was crucial in strengthening preventative work and that Ward Councillors should be made aware of which PSCO’s were linked to which schools.

A Member raised a concern regarding a spike in supermarket thefts in the Queensbury area.  In response the Police representative stated that they worked closely with the Supermarkets to address the issues they faced with theft, however the supermarkets could employ additional security to address the problem. 

In response to a question on arrest and convictions, the Police representative agreed to let Councillors have information regarding detection rates.

A Member stated that in areas where there was a troubled relationship with the Police, communication was key as well as publicising positive stories of what the Police were doing, in order to change perceptions.

The Chair expressed concerns that some schools were not proactively engaging with PCSOs and that more effort should be made to address this.  In response it was acknowledged that in some instances this was the case, however engagement was primarily dependent on the senior leadership team and it was suggested that Ward Councillors could assist in forging a better relationship.

Resolved –

(1)       That the work undertaken by the Bradford South Neighbourhood Policing Team from April 2019 to September 2019 that contributed to addressing priorities within the ward plans for the Bradford South Area be noted.

(2)       That the positive partnership working that has been established with Elected Members, Council Officers, community organisations, volunteers and residents within the Bradford South Area be noted.

ACTION:       Strategic Director Place

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Corporate

On the 3 April 2018, the Council’s Executive agreed to implement the Family Hubs model for delivering prevention and early help to babies, children and young people from October 2018.

On the 9 June and 9 July 2019, the Council’s Executive also agreed a number of recommendations to implement changes across the 41 children centre sites.

The Strategic Director Children’s Services will submit a report

(Document “M”) which provides an update on implementation and Children’s Centre estates changes.

Recommended –

Bradford South Area Committee is asked to note the report, progress to date and provide support and guidance on the on-going co-production of the Family Hubs offer.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Children’s Services

(Anne Chester-Walsh - 01274 432904)

On the 3 April 2018, the Council’s Executive agreed to implement the Family Hubs model for delivering prevention and early help to babies, children and young people from October 2018.

On the 9 June and 9 July 2019, the Council’s Executive also agreed a number of recommendations to implement changes across the 41 children centre sites.

The Strategic Director Children’s Services submitted a report

(Document “M”) which provided an update on implementation and Children’s Centre estates changes.  It was stressed that the partnership model was key in the successful delivery of the new family hubs.

During the discussion, Members made the following comments:

The Chair stated that in some instance the Families First Programme was not supporting the most vulnerable families.  In response it was stressed that payment was by results and that the Programme was fully audited.

In response to a question regarding hard to reach families, it was stated that outreach work was undertaken, sometimes involving health visitors, but in some cases engagement or the lack of was a real concern.

In response to a discussion on poor dental hygiene and high levels of obesity, it was stated that a number of initiatives were on going to address the issue, including more out of school activities as well as encouraging walking to school.  In respect of dental hygiene it was suggested that collaborative work between schools could yield some benefits.

A Member requested that further analysis needed to be undertaken regarding the issues highlighted in Tong Ward to establish causal links and a plan of action to tackle them.

Resolved –

(1)       That the progress made to date be noted and that future reports           include more analysis around the comments and concerns raised by Members.

(2)       That officers look into how engagement with partners can be     improved including working closer with Neighbourhoods.

ACTION: Strategic Director Children’s Services

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Children’s Services

The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “O”) which presents information about the work of the Environmental Enforcement Team and the Neighbourhood Wardens.

Recommended –

That the Bradford South Area Committee notes and welcomes the information in this report.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Regeneration and Environment

(Jonathan Summers - 01274 437459)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “O”) which presented information about the work of the Environmental Enforcement Team and the Neighbourhood Wardens.

It was stated that despite some issues around staff sickness absence, the closer working arrangements with the enforcement team was paying dividend.  Additional work had also been undertaken with landlords with a view to them taking more responsibility for their tenants’ actions.

Members welcomed the progress made in this area particular the work done in the Great Horton ward in dealing with litter and bulky waste, which had resulted in good engagement with the community.  It was acknowledged that further work was needed, particularly in relation to litter in the vicinity of some of the businesses in the area.

Resolved –

That the Bradford South Area Committee welcomes the information contained in the report and that staff be commended for their hard work during the transition period.

ACTION: Strategic Director Place

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Regeneration and Environment