(Members Code of Conduct – Part 4A of the Constitution)

To receive disclosures of interests from 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 must consider their interests, and act according to the following:

(2)           Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)           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.

(4)           Officers must disclose interests in accordance with Council Standing Order 44.

To receive any apologies for absence.

(Fatima Butt – 07970 411746)

(To be circulated before the meeting).

(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. 

(Fatima Butt – 07970 411746)

To consider up to five requests for the Council to receive petitions in accordance with Standing Orders. 

i)              Council Neglect of Allotments

ii)            Raising of the Palestinian flag on the Town Hall on the 29^th  November 2025 on the United Nations International Day of solidarity with Palestine.

If any further requests are received, in writing, by mid-day three working days before the meeting (Thursday), details will be circulated.

(Su Booth – 07814 073884)

(1)              Council Neglect of Allotments

Resolved –

That the petition be referred to the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To be actioned by:  Strategic Director Place/Interim Director of Legal and Governance

(2)       Raising of the Palestinian flag on the Town Hall on the

     29^th  November 2025 on the United Nations International Day

          of solidarity with Palestine.

Resolved –

That the petition be referred to the Interim Director of Legal and Governance.

To be actioned by:  Interim Director of Legal and Governance

There are no public questions.

(Fatima Butt – 07970 411746)

To consider any motions (i) to appoint members to a Committee or a Joint Committee; or (ii) to appoint Chairs or Deputy Chairs of Committees (excluding Area Committees).

(a)  That Councillor Dearden remain on the Area Planning Panel (Keighley, Ilkley and Shipley) as an Independent Councillor for the remainder of the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

(b)  That Councillor Dearden remain on the Licensing Committee as an Independent Councillor for the remainder of the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

(a)  That Councillor Dearden remain on the Licensing Committee as an Independent Councillor for the remainder of the 2024/25 Municipal Year.

(b)  That Councillor Sullivan (Conservative and Queensbury Independent Group) replace Councillor Dearden (Independent) as a Member of the Area Planning Panel (Keighley, Ilkley and Shipley) for the remainder of the 2024/25 Municipal Year.

(c)  That Councillor Firth (Labour Group) be removed as an alternate on the Area Planning Panel (Keighley, Ilkley and Shipley) for the remainder of the 2024/25 Municipal Year.

(d)  That Councillor Wheatley (Independent) replace Councillor Rowe (Labour Group) as a Member on the Shipley Area Committee for the remainder of the 2024/25 Municipal Year. 

(e)  That Councillor Fulzar Ahmed (Labour Group) replace Councillor Wheatley (Independent) as a Member of the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the remainder of the 2024/25 Municipal Year.

(f)   That Councillor Wheatley (Independent) remain on the Bradford District Appeals Panel as an Independent Member for the remainder of the 2024/25 Municipal Year.

To be actioned by: Interim Director of Legal and Governance

A written report by the Leader of Council giving an update on key issues will be circulated before the start of the meeting.  There shall be a period of up to 15 minutes during which any Member of Council may ask the Leader of the Council (or a Member of the Council nominated by the Leader) a question on any matter arising out of the written report.

To deal with supplementary questions arising from the attached questions of which written notice has been given. 

Notes:

(i)         Answers to written questions shall be circulated at the commencement of the meeting.

(ii)        The Lord Mayor will have regard to the list of questions and the political composition of the Council in calling on Members to put their supplementary question to the Leader of Council and Portfolio Holders.

(iii)       A period of up to 30 minutes shall be available for supplementary questions to Members of the Executive.

1.    Councillor Ralph Berry

In seeking to address dumping and litter in our communities, the challenge of overflowing, abandoned and poorly sited clothes recycling containers has become a real challenge. Can the portfolio holder advise on steps that can be taken to relocate and if need be remove poorly sited and untended units on public and private land and encourage the use of charity shops and collections that actively upcycle and recycle textiles and clothing?

2.    Councillor Andrew Loy

Would the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport be so kind as to provide the number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued for parking contraventions in the last full year where figures are available, the number of those PCNs which were appealed and the number of the appeals which were successful, along with a breakdown of how many appeals were granted for the relevant reasons?

3.    Councillor Anna Watson

The plans for the Town Centre of Shipley include a fixed canopy. Who will maintain this canopy, which department’s budget will this come from, and which department's budget will cover the maintenance of the garden areas created in the town centre?

4.    Councillor Ishtiaq Ahmed

What prompted the resignation of three key directors (Chris Morrell, Lee Craven, and Kirsten Branston) on February 3, 2025, and how has their departure affected the strategic oversight and governance of Bradford Live? With only two directors remaining and no individual holding overall control, how does the Council intend to secure robust, independent management of the venue?

5.    Councillor Brendan Stubbs

Following reports of damp and other building defect complaints from residents on the new Keepmoat development in the Fagley and Moorside area of Eccleshill ward, can the portfolio holder detail any work or advice that the Councils Housing Standards unit have do with the residents, housing associations or the developer to ensure that these homes are up to standard?

6.    Councillor Julie Lintern

Over recent years, there has been growing momentum among residents of Keighley expressing a desire to break away from Bradford Council. While such a move would be costly and likely passed on to taxpayers, can the Leader of the Council appreciate why many feel this way? With significant investment focused on the city centre, such as the seemingly unlimited funding for projects like Bradford Live, residents in other parts of the district, such as my own, often feel they are paying more yet receiving less in return. Rather than pursuing the creation of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

To consider any recommendations arising from meetings of the Executive and Committees.

(a)  RECOMMENDATION FROM REGULATORY AND APPEALS COMMITTEE - AMALGAMATION OF AREA PLANNING PANELS

At the meeting of the Regulatory and Appeals Committee held on 5 December 2024 the Committee considered Regulatory and Appeals Committee Document “H”which recommended the merger of the two Area Planning Panels (Keighley, Ilkley and Shipley (formerly known as Keighley and Shipley) and Bradford) into one single Planning Panel.

Recommended –

(1)  That the Regulatory and Appeals Committee recommend to Council that the two existing Area Planning Panels (Keighley & Shipley and Bradford Area Panels) be amalgamated to form one single Planning Panel to be effective from the beginning of the municipal year 2025-2026 and comprising 12 Members with the quorum of new single Planning Panel being 7 Members.

(2)  That the Officer Scheme of Delegation be amended to allow the Ward Councillors for that particular ward containing the relevant application and Ward Councillors from adjoining wards, to request through the Chairs of the Regulatory & Appeals Committee and the Planning Panel (whichever is the relevant body,) for any planning application to be referred to their Committee/Panel for determination.

(Fatima Butt – 07970 411746)

(b)  RECOMMENDATION FROM GOVERNANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE -PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE AMALGAMATION OF THE AREA PLANNING PANELS

At the meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee held on 25 February 2025 the Committee considered Governance and Audit Committee Document “AN”which provided Members with proposed amendments to the Constitution should Council agree to the recommendation from the Regulatory and Appeals Committee that the two existing Area Planning Panels (Keighley, Ilkley and Shipley previously known as Keighley and Shipley and Bradford Area Panels) be amalgamated to form one single Planning Panel to be effective from the beginning of the municipal year 2025-2026 and comprising 12 Members with the quorum of the new single Planning Panel being 7 Members.

Recommended –

(1)That it be recommended to Council that the proposed amendments to Article 8 of the Constitution as set out in Appendix 1 be adopted should Council agree to the recommendation of the Regulatory and Appeals Committee to amalgamate the two existing Area Planning Panels to form one single Planning Panel.

(2)  That it be recommended to Council that the proposed amendments to Part 4B of the Constitution, the Member and Officer Planning Code of Conduct as set out in Appendix 2 be adopted, should Council agree to the recommendation of the Regulatory and Appeals Committee to amalgamate the two existing Area Planning Panels to form one single Planning Panel.

(3)  That the Interim Director of Legal and Governance be granted delegated authority to make consequential amendments to the Constitution as a result of any recommendations approved by full Council.

(4)  That the Interim Director of Legal and Governance ensures that any agreed amendments are implemented.

            (Fatima Butt – 07970 411746)

(a)  RECOMMENDATION FROM REGULATORY AND APPEALS COMMITTEE - AMALGAMATION OF AREA PLANNING PANELS

Resolved –

(1)  That the two existing Area Planning Panels (Keighley & Shipley and Bradford Area Panels) be amalgamated to form one single Planning Panel to be effective from the beginning of the municipal year 2025-2026 and comprising 12 Members with the quorum of new single Planning Panel being 7 Members.

(2)  That the Officer Scheme of Delegation be amended to allow the Ward Councillors for that particular ward containing the relevant application and Ward Councillors from adjoining wards, to request through the Chairs of the Regulatory & Appeals Committee and the Planning Panel (whichever is the relevant body,) for any planning application to be referred to their Committee/Panel for determination.

To be actioned by: Interim Director of Legal and Governance

(b)  RECOMMENDATION FROM GOVERNANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE -PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE AMALGAMATION OF THE AREA PLANNING PANELS

Resolved –

(1)That the proposed amendments to Article 8 of the Constitution as set out in Appendix 1 be adopted and  the two existing Area Planning Panels be amalgamated to form one single Planning Panel.

(2)  That that the proposed amendments to Part 4B of the Constitution, the Member and Officer Planning Code of Conduct as set out in Appendix 2 be adopted, and the two existing Area Planning Panels be amalgamated to form one single Planning Panel.

(3)  That the Interim Director of Legal and Governance be granted delegated authority to make consequential amendments to the Constitution as a result of any recommendations approved by full Council.

(4)  That the Interim Director of Legal and Governance ensures that any agreed amendments are implemented.

 To be actioned by:  Interim Director of Legal and Governance

To consider notices of motion set out below:

11.1     ELECTED MEMBER HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING

To be proposed by:   Councillor Paul Sullivan

To be seconded by:   Councillor Rebecca Poulsen

Council notes:

• The increase in incidents of harassment, intimidation and in extreme cases, violence against elected representatives, with Election Commission research also finding that approximately 40% of election candidates reported having experienced intimidation whilst campaigning in 2022.

• Further to a Committee on Standards in Public Life review in 2017 into the intimidation of Parliamentary candidates during campaigns and more broadly in public life once elected and the “Protecting the debate: Intimidation, influence and information” consultation in 2018, the Elections Act 2022, updated the law on intimidatory behaviour towards election candidates and campaigners.

• The Elections Act 2022 also included the ability to ban anyone convicted of the harassment of members and candidates etc, from standing as a candidate themselves, for a period of five years.

• The recent convictions of the latest individuals who considered it appropriate to harass Naz Shah MP (amongst others) and the sentences given.

•  The various Member Safety guides published by the Crown Prosecution Service, the Local Government Association and other stakeholders

• Welcomes recent police operation to provide support and advice for elected members from the police.

Council resolves:

• To thank and support the Police and the Courts for their efforts to stem the increase in and ideally alleviate such unacceptable behaviour

• To promote the use of bans to prevent those who harass / intimidate members and candidates etc from being able to stand for election themselves.

• To request that the Chief Executive instruct appropriate officer(s) to ensure that the Council’s Personal Safety for Councillors Policy evolves to remain relevant to changing inter-relationships between members and the public.

• To provide a show of cross-party support for Naz Shah MP at this time and repeat this when any of the District’s MPs or other elected representatives find themselves in this unacceptable situation.

11.2     BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS (BESS)

To be proposed by:   Councillor Falak Ahmed 

To be seconded by:   Councillor Geoff Winnard

Council notes:

• Whilst a number of firefighters across Europe, the United States and further afield have been seriously injured and in worst-case scenarios killed, fighting BESS fires, the current UK regulations regarding the granting of permissions for BESS sites do not include Fire Authorities as statutory consultees.

• Captain Hunter Clare, Peoria Fire Medical Department, Arizona, was blown, unconscious and on fire, 80ft despite passing through a mesh net fence when a single battery exploded, thankfully in a remote location.

• When a site in Liverpool, containing a mere 4 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) units / cabinets caught fire creating a large blast, it took 5,500,000 gallons of water and 59 hours for huge Fire Brigade resources to extinguish.

• That, whilst the percentage of BESS sites experiencing catastrophic failures is declining, the number and size of such sites are increasing rapidly, so whilst the likelihood of each individual battery exploding is reducing, the scale of future incidents could be much  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

11.1    ELECTED MEMBER HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLBEING

As set out in the published agenda Motion 11.1 was moved by Councillor Sullivan and seconded by Councillor Poulsen.

In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4  and 18.8  an amendment (additional published papers Amendment A) was moved by Councillor Edwards and seconded  by Councillor Ros Brown.

In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4  and 18.8  a second amendment (additional published papers Amendment B) was moved by Councillor Griffiths and seconded by Councillor Naylor.

Following a number of speakers a suggestion was made to incorporate Amendment A and B into the original motion which was agreed by the mover of the Motion (Councillor Sullivan) and the mover of Amendment A (Councillors Edwards) and the mover of Amendment B (Councillor  Griffiths).  This was subsequently put to the vote and agreed.

In accordance with Council Standing Order 18.12 the Motion incorporating the amendments as set out below was then put to the vote, was carried and became the substantive motion, was then voted on and was carried.  

Resolved –

That the motion incorporating Amendment A and B be amended to read as follows:

Council notes:

Council believes

·         Members will be put at increased risk if they do not have the information needed to respond effectively to queries from the public.

·         Members should be made aware of any actual or implied criticism that has been reported to the council or other agencies. 

·   The increase in incidents of harassment, intimidation and in extreme cases, violence against elected representatives, with Election Commission research also finding that approximately 40% of election candidates reported having experienced intimidation whilst campaigning in 2022.

·   Further to a Committee on Standards in Public Life review in 2017 into the intimidation of Parliamentary candidates during campaigns and more broadly in public life once elected and the “Protecting the debate: Intimidation, influence and information” consultation in 2018, the Elections Act 2022, updated the law on intimidatory behaviour towards election candidates and campaigners.

• Recent report from the Local Government Association outlined that Women, those from BAME groups, members of our LGBT+ community and those with disabilities are being particularly targeted by harassment and intimidation. 

·   The Elections Act 2022 also included the ability to ban anyone convicted of the harassment of members and candidates etc, from standing as a candidate themselves, for a period of five years.

·   The recent convictions of the latest individuals who considered it appropriate to harass Naz Shah MP (amongst others) and the sentences given.

·    The various Member Safety guides published by the Crown Prosecution Service, the Local Government Association and other stakeholders

·   Welcomes recent police operation to provide support and advice for elected members from the police.

Council resolves:

• To take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of councillors and officers and to challenge the normalisation of abuse against councillors and officers. 
• To thank and support the Police and the Courts for their efforts to stem the increase in and ideally alleviate such unacceptable behaviour and to continue to work with the police to ensure  ...  view the full decision text for item 11.

The report (Document “G”) presents the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel in respect of the proposed single Planning Panel’s Chair’s and Deputy Chair’s Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs).  The Council is required by regulations to have regard to the recommendations before making any amendment to the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

Recommended -

(1)      That Council approves the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel as set out in paragraph 3.1 of Document “G” should Council approve the recommendation that there be a single Planning Panel, namely:

(1.1)    That the Chair of the single Planning Panel receives a Special

            Responsibility Allowance of 35% of the Leader’s SRA, amounting

           to £12,970 per annum.

 (1.2)   That no Special Responsibility Allowance be paid to the Deputy

           Chair of the single Planning Panel.

                                                                        (Mandy Hill – 07814 779101)

Resolved -

(1)      That the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel as set out in paragraph 3.1 of Document “G” be approved and that there be a single Planning Panel, namely:

(1.1)    That the Chair of the single Planning Panel receives a

            Special Responsibility Allowance of 35% of the Leader’s

            SRA, amounting to £12,970 per annum.

 (1.2)   That no Special Responsibility Allowance be paid to the

            Deputy Chair of the single Planning Panel.

To be actioned by: Interim Director of Legal and Governance

                                                              (Mandy Hill – 07814 779101)

To receive and consider a report (Document “H”) from the Interim Director of Human Resources, which provides details of the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2025/26 for Council approval.

Recommended –

That the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2025/26 as set out at Appendix 1 to Document “H” be approved.

                                                            (Richard Corbett – 07816 358924)

Resolved –

That the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2025/26 as set out at Appendix 1 to Document “H” be approved.

To be actioned by:  Interim Director of Human Resources

                                                        (Richard Corbett – 07816 358924)

Council is asked to approve the salary packages detailed in Document “I” for the new posts of Assistant Director Finance Management Accounting and Assistant Director Finance Corporate and Strategic in accordance with Article 4 of the Council’s Constitution and Section 7 of the Council’s Pay Policy Statement 2025/26.

Recommended -

That Council approves the salary packages for the posts of Assistant Director Finance Management Accounting and Assistant Director Finance Corporate and Strategic as detailed in paragraph 2.9 of Document “I”.

                                                            (Steven Mair – 07786 525809)

Resolved -

That the salary packages for the posts of Assistant Director Finance Management Accounting and Assistant Director Finance Corporate and Strategic as detailed in paragraph 2.9 of Document “I” be approved.

To be actioned by: Director of Finance

                                                            (Steven Mair – 07786 525809)