Local democracy

Agenda item

MEMBER QUESTION TIME (Standing Order 12)

To deal with supplementary questions to the Leader of Council and portfolio holders providing advance notice has been given by the Member asking the supplementary question by 1000am on Monday 15 March arising from the attached questions of which written notice has been given. 

 

Notes:

 

(i)         Answers to written questions shall be circulated to Members on Friday 12 March.

 

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

 

1.         Councillor Carol Thirkill

Can I have an update on the roll-out of electric car charging and in particular what is being considered for on-street charging for residents who don’t have a driveway?

 

2.         Councillor Mike Pollard

It is noted that, as of 26 February, only approximately £0.4 million of the Government’s allocation to Bradford Council of £15.59 million in respect of Additional Restrictions Grant has been distributed to local businesses. Would the Leader of the Council please explain the nature of the barriers causing the undue delays in distributing this important Government support? Compared with Bradford Council’s rather less than 3% distributed, the equivalent figure nationally at the same date, albeit still unsatisfactory, was approximately 13%?

 

3.         Councillor Rachel Sunderland

We have seen an increase in the number of people enjoying our parks over the past twelve months as a place for exercise and leisure. I am sure the Portfolio Holder will join me in thanking all those involved in keeping our parks clean and tidy, in my Ward the work of the Friends of Peel Park volunteers have been invaluable. But will the Portfolio Holder recognise that there are some issues that are beyond the role of a volunteer and consider focusing additional investment into our major parks and look at introducing a pilot scheme for Park Warden in Peel Park, specifically to tackle the behaviour of the few users whose bad behaviour impact negatively on the experience of so many?

 

4.         Councillor Martin Love

Does the Leader of Council agree that it is inappropriate for the Council to allocate housing in the Shipley ward for two greenbelt sites (SH4/H and SH5/H) and one greenfield site (SH3/H) as part of the draft Local Plan, plus other greenbelt sites elsewhere across the district, bearing in mind that (a) we are likely to see more opportunities to convert existing retail space into residential accommodation in our post-Covid economy; (b) developing these greenbelt sites will result in the loss of valuable green space and habitat and add hugely to local traffic pressures; (c) the greenfield site in the Wycliffe neighbourhood is a valuable and much-loved area of recreational land for local residents; and (d) there is an excellent brownfield site by the Valley Road, until recently used for housing, that should be allocated for much-needed housing rather than being used by the Council to widen the existing road (and increase traffic and local air pollution as a result)?

 

5.         Councillor David Warburton

At the present time government rules prevent local election candidates from either delivering newsletters or manifestos. What is the Council doing to support all candidates at the upcoming local elections in May?

 

6.         Councillor David Warburton

What measures are the Council putting in place to protect staff and constituents from exposure to the coronavirus at Polling Stations and at the Election Count?

 

7.         Councillor John Pennington

As £40m was originally allocated for the provision of new swimming pool facilities for Bradford District, could the Portfolio Holder for Healthy People and Places, confirm how much of that money is coming to Bingley either to maintain the existing pool or provide a new facility?

 

8.         Councillor David Warburton

This Tory Government has promised record infrastructure investment as part of its "levelling up" agenda, but we’ve now seen Network Rail’s 2019-24 budget cut by £1bn – a cut not mentioned in Spending Review documentation which stressed record investment in strategic road and rail projects. Now there’s also a 40% cut to Transport for the North’s budget, from £10m in 2020/21 down to £6m in 2021/22. What effect will this have on our ambitions for Northern Powerhouse Rail and other major improvements?

 

9.         Councillor Richard Dunbar

Would the leader agree that the budget presented by the Chancellor did little to address the widescale inequality in society and did nothing to reward our public service heroes – the very people who have got this country through the pandemic?

 

10.       Councillor Robert Hargreaves

Given that £40m was allocated for the provision of new swimming pool facilities for Bradford District, could the Portfolio Holder for Healthy People and Places, confirm what plans the Council has put in place for primary schools that previously used Queensbury Pool to deliver swimming as part of the curriculum?

 

11.       Councillor Richard Dunbar

‘Culture is our Plan’ is the recently approved ten year strategy for cultural development in our district. Please can the portfolio holder explain the key themes and anticipated outcomes and why culture is so central to Bradford’s economic recovery and future prosperity?

 

12.       Councillor Geoff Reid

Now that many of our bus services in Bradford have returned to pre-pandemic frequencies, will the Director of Public Health be issuing fresh guidance for the use of public transport in the light of the possible easing of lockdown restrictions?

 

13.      Councillor Paul Godwin

Keighley Library is a jewel in the crown for the district and I know the portfolio holder will join me in welcoming our recent and continuing investments in it – please could you tell us about the improvements that have been made?

 

14.       Councillor Debbie Davies

Can the Leader of the Council confirm why it has taken over three months to provide answers to questions submitted to the December meeting of Full Council for written reply?

 

15.      Councillor Mohammed Shafiq

How many food parcels and meals has the Council delivered to help prevent children and families going hungry in this pandemic and what plans do we have in place for the next school holidays?

 

16.       Councillor Nazam Azam

Can the portfolio holder give an update on the works to make way for the new Darley Street Market?

 

17.       Councillor David Heseltine

Would the Portfolio Holder for Healthy People and Places please confirm what happened to the proposed new Squire Lane leisure facility?

 

18.       Councillor Taj Salam

The Council has invested in various schemes to promote walking and cycling in recent months – can the portfolio holder give an update?

 

19.       Councillor Tariq Hussain

Will the portfolio holder update us on progress in getting blight sites cleaned up and back into use, as it continues to be a key concern for the council and for residents?

 

20.       Councillor Alun Griffiths

What percentage of staff in children’s homes have had a first coronavirus immunisation?

 

21.       Councillor Mohammed Shafiq

How many laptops or other devices have been sent out to support children’s learning since the pandemic started in the district and what more can be done to tackle the digital divide?

 

22.       Councillor Mike Pollard

Would the Regeneration, Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder kindly provide a breakdown of actual spending to date and projections on future spending, on the Darley Street Market?

 

23.       Councillor Angela Tait

I was pleased to support our additional investment in footpaths and rights of way which have been so heavily used by people exercising during the lockdowns. How will we be using this and other planned investments to improve our walking routes, parks and green spaces in the coming year?

 

24.       Councillor Kevin Warnes

Can the Leader of Council explain how doubling the number of flights to and from Leeds-Bradford airport is consistent with decarbonising our economy and addressing the ‘climate emergency’ declared by Bradford Council in 2019?

 

25.       Councillor Tariq Hussain

What has the City of Culture bid achieved so far in terms of drawing in new funding to the district and promoting new cultural activities, and what are the next steps?

 

26.     Councillor Kyle Green

Would the Regeneration, Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder, advise members how much revenue has been raised by after 6pm parking charges, broken down by individual car parks?

 

27.       Councillor Aneela Ahmed

Can I have an update on our work in partnership with the police and other partners to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour?

 

28.       Councillor Nussrat Mohammed

What progress are we making on our plan to ‘plant a tree for every child’ and how else can we engage with children and families in our actions to improve the environment?

 

29.       Councillor Alun Griffiths

Given the rapid decline of Covid infection rates and the remarkably high uptake of Covid vaccination, can the portfolio holder explain what youth Covid ambassadors will do after November to justify an additional £300,0000 expenditure?

 

30.       Councillor Aneela Ahmed

The Council has recently announced additional investment for mental health and suicide prevention work which is likely to be seeing increased pressures given the pandemic. Can we have some detail of how these investments will be used to improve the provision?

 

31.       Councillor John Pennington

As The Prince of Wales Park Lodge in Bingley is in a very poor dilapidated condition and possibly abandoned, could the Leader of the Council, please confirm who is responsible for its upkeep and repair?

 

32.       Councillor David Warburton

Can I have an update on our work to tackle fly-tipping and prosecute the culprits and how our recent additional budget investment will help in cleaning up our streets and neighbourhoods?

 

33.       Councillor Kyle Green

What funding will be made available to support life saving measures for the River Wharfe in Ilkley where bathing status has been granted?

 

34.       Councillor Tariq Hussain

Can the portfolio holder for healthy people and places tell me about the £5,000 grants we are offering to community groups to support climate action projects and how they go about bidding?

 

35.       Councillor Debbie Davies

Could the Leader of the Council confirm whether the Council maintains Performance Indicator records or other Service Standard measurements for Customer Service e.g. a Customer Charter, detailing target and actual times to answer telephone calls, emails, paper correspondence etc and if so, how is the Council performing against these targets?

 

36.       Councillor Jeanette Sunderland

To the Portfolio holder for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety. In November 2020 you were featured in the press sharing with the public that a significant impact was being made with an initiative to tackle serious and organised crime in Bradford East. 

 

Can you please advise what actions have been taken to reduce serious and organised crime? Please include the number of people been charged with offences and the type of offence committed.?

 

37.       Councillor Debbie Davies

Would the Leader of the Council acknowledge that there is a danger, that Bradford introducing the only Clean Air Zone in West Yorkshire will act as a disincentive to set up a new business in the district, because of the risk of increased costs e.g. for suppliers?

 

38.       Councillor Angela Tait

With the news that the new Infrastructure Bank will be located in our region, how might it support this Council’s infrastructure investments in particular our work to urgently address the climate emergency?

 

39.       Councillor Robert Hargreaves

Would the Leader of the Council be so kind as to reassure the residents of Queensbury, regarding what steps the Council has taken in the past 12 months, towards securing the future of Queensbury Tunnel as a cycle / greenway and what are its plans for the future, given that the Local Plan Consultation states “The Local Plan will protect the Queensbury Tunnel which runs under the settlement as part of a wider connection with the Great Northern Trail”?

Minutes:

Council Document “H” details the questions from Members to the Leader of Council and Portfolio Holders and the answers given.

Supporting documents: