The Bradford Beck Pilot Study was first discussed by Members in April 2013 and has been before the Environment & Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee on an annual basis since then. It was resolved in April 2018 that the ongoing collaboration between officers and Friends of Bradford Beck be supported; also that the Friends of Bradford Beck be congratulated for the work they have undertaken throughout the years.

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “AR”) outlines progress made in the financial year 2018- 2019.

Recommended –

(1)       That the Friends of Bradford’s Becks and the Strategic Director,           Place be requested to work jointly on studies and proposals for      the Canal Road Area.

(2)       That the Friends of Bradford’s Becks be invited to report back in a       year’s time.

(3)       That the report be noted and that the ongoing collaboration        between officers and the Friends of Bradford’s Becks be             supported.

(Edward Norfolk – 01274 433905)

The Bradford Beck Pilot Study was first discussed by Members in April 2013 and had been before the Environment & Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee on an annual basis since then. It was resolved in April 2018 that the ongoing collaboration between officers and Friends of Bradford Beck be supported; also that the Friends of Bradford Beck be congratulated for the work they have undertaken throughout the years.

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “AR”) outlined progress made in the financial year 2018- 2019.

Council representatives were invited by the Chair to introduce report. It was explained that following the floods of December 2015 it was recognised that there was a need for a long term strategic approach to managing flood risk and associated environmental impacts across the Bradford district. In identifying this need the Council worked with the Environment Agency to scope and develop a Bradford Flood Programme Board. The Programme Board was able to secure local levy funding from the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Costal Committee to help deliver a range of aspirations and the following pieces of work had been funded through the governance structure within the financial year 2018/19.

Following presentation, a question and answer session ensued:

·         Further to The Friends of Bradford Beck and the Wild Trout Trust who are working in partnership to deliver a £90,000 EA funded scheme to re-naturalise the northern length of Bradford Beck, during what period was the spending to take place?

o   This was over a 3 year period;

·         What activities had been addressed to tackle pollution?

o   The Environment Agency had failed to respond early in order to address problems;

·         It was well known that The Environmental Protection Agency listed sediment as the most common pollutant in rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs. Was it possible to insert a condition during planning stages before sediments started or was it a matter of changing policy?

o   It was a difficult task in inserting conditions on separate elements however the request for planning conditions on temporary drainage schemes to ensure no pollution in future of the scheme;

·         What was entailed with the European Projects?

o   The Council was within its third year of the four year BEGIN (Blue / Green infrastructure through social innovation) project which was approved in early September 2016 to EU North Sea Region Secretariat; The Lead Partner being the Municipality of Dordrecht in the Netherlands. The BEGIN project also aimed to engage with communities to increase awareness of the Beck and its catchment.

o   The Council was also within its first year of the four year SCORE (Smart Cities and Open date REuse) project which had been approved in early September 2018 to EU North Sea Region Secretariat and runs until 2022; The project had progressed and aimed to improve the delivery of public services based on innovative software solutions and data sharing. The work undertaken by the SCORE team, relevant to the Bradford Beck catchment, was detailed under the ‘Monitoring and Data’ heading below;

·         Would Yorkshire Water be addressing the 53 sewage overflows in Bradford?

o   Yorkshire Water had project in Bradford and one was about looking into the sewage overflows with the Council including the amount of water that overflowed; and,

·         On a whole factor, was Yorkshire Water efficient in overseeing and addressing problems?

o   In reflection, it had a good track record.

Resolved –

(1)       That the Friends of Bradford’s Becks and the Strategic Director,           Place be requested to work jointly on studies and proposals for      the Canal Road Area.

(2)       That the Friends of Bradford’s Becks be invited to report             back in a year’s time.

(3)       That the report be welcomed and that the ongoing collaboration           between officers and the Friends of Bradford’s Becks be      supported.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place