The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “Q”) gives a progress update of the integrated Communities Programme which is a part of the Stronger Communities Strategy and Delivery Plan, produced by the Bradford Stronger Communities Partnership. 

Recommended –

Bradford West Area Committee is asked to note the progress the Integrated Communities Programme, Bradford For Everyone has made in the last 9 months against the Stronger Communities Together Strategy developed by the Stronger Communities Partnership.

Zahra Niazi – 01274 436082

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “Q”) gave progress update of the integrated Communities Programme which was a part of the Stronger Communities Strategy and Delivery Plan, produced by the Bradford Stronger Communities Partnership.

The Project Lead was in attendance and with the invitation of the Chair, provided the committee a glossary of the contents outlined in the report:

·         The work undertaken by the Stronger Communities Delivery Team was overseen by the Stronger Communities Partnership Board and independently chaired by the Bishop of Bradford.  The Deputy Chair was Deputy CEO of Incommunities.  The Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods & Community Safety and Councillor Sinead Engel were represented on both the Partnership Board and Steering Group that formulated the Delivery Plan and the five years Strategy.  The Board formally adopted its responsibilities and duties from June 2019.  Please see Appendix A for Staffing and Governance Structure.  This Board was one of five strategic partnerships that contribute to the Bradford District Plan 2020 and is involved in the development of the 2040 Plan;

·         The Strategy comprised of four key priority areas; Employment, Education, Social Mixing and Perceptions of the Other which built on existing strategic priorities across the District, incorporating good practice as well as innovative ideas to test and learn from what works and what does not in improving and removing barriers to integration;

·         The Stronger Communities Partnership’s strategy and delivery plan incorporated delivery of local interventions following Bradford’s designation as one of five ‘Integrated Communities Pilot Areas’. Funding had been provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) as part of a ‘test and learn’ programme to deliver some of the interventions in the Stronger Communities Together Strategy and delivery plan;

·         The Strategy was supported by a range of projects, supported by the Council’s existing areas of work such as People Can, Remembrance Days and Great get Togethers.  It was also supported by the Integrated Communities Programme, known as Bradford for Everyone which was funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and would run from April 2019 to March 2021 as well as the Controlling Migration Fund which would end in March 2020. The Strategy also included wider work taking place in the District that contributed to the impact such as Believing in Bradford and local initiatives by VCS groups; and,

·         The definition articulated in the Strategy of what makes stronger, happier and well integrated communities “was of a place where everyone felt that they belong, were understood, felt safe and were able to fully participate in the opportunities the District offered.”  The report outlined the priorities of the Strategy.

Following the aforementioned, a question and answer session ensued:

·         Would resident in communities that would be directly impacted, be involved in the delivery of the strategy?

o   To ensure that activities involved local residents, a recruitment process had been undertaken to appoint people across the Bradford District who would make up sub-groups, Bradford West residents were. A retired professional and lived in Manningham.  He had been involved with many projects such as the Race Equality Network previously known as Consortia of Ethnic Minority Organisations. A professional who lived in City as Manager of Refugee Action as well as running 10 by 9 at Speakers Corner.  She arrived in the country 14 years ago from the states. A Bradford resident who worked with Incommunites and lived in Toller.  She had a passion for writing and social media. A lay person who had been involved with Better Start Bradford as parent champion and lived in City. A professional who worked for the NHS Trust and lived in City.  He had a passion for arts and culture;

·         How were the various delivery strategies being delivered?

o   The Delivery Plan entailed the commissioning of projects advertised through a tenders’ process. Commissioning, procurement rules and regulations which ensured a fair process was followed. The Panels involved included a mixture of Ward Officers, Area Coordinators, Stronger Communities staff, local people and Board members during each stage of the appraisal; and,

·         Were themes around integration being addresses?

o   There was some provision for grant funding set aside for community organisations to undertake projects with support from Partner Forum. This provision offered learning, collaboration, design thinking and co-design solutions to support improvements to integration.  The Partner Forum had successfully now engaged with over 180 organisations.

The Chair thanked the Project Lead for the detailed contents contained in the report. However there was a lack of information on the activities that had been undertaken in Bradford that led to the successful implementation of the strategy to date, and therefore:

Resolved –

(1)       That the progress on the Integrated Communities Programme, Bradford For Everyone has made in the last 9 months against the    Stronger Communities Together Strategy developed by the   Stronger Communities Partnership be noted.

(2)       That a further report be presented to the Bradford West Area         Committee in March 2020 that gives a breakdown of the activities   taking place in Bradford, the work that has been delivered and the    positive impact that has been made in the communities during  the             delivery of the Integrated Communities Programme.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place