The newly elected Mayor for West Yorkshire will be invited to share initial thoughts on priorities for her term of office and opportunities for working in partnership with Bradford District.  The report of the Chief Executive is submitted (Document “A”).

Recommended -

That the Executive thank the newly elected Mayor for attending the meeting to discuss our shared priorities.

                                                            (David Walmsley - 01274 432131)

The newly elected Mayor for West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin attended the meeting to share initial thoughts on priorities for her term of office and opportunities for working in partnership with Bradford District.  The report of the Chief Executive was submitted (Document “A”).

The Leader referred to three key priorities for the District namely transport, skills and culture.  She highlighted the importance of Northern Powerhouse high speed rail line and that a stop was vital for the District as Bradford was the biggest city in the UK that was not on the Main Line train Network.  She stressed the need to ensure that people have the right skills to succeed in the workplace as Bradford was the City with the youngest population in the UK.  She expressed her belief in the people of the District and welcomed the Mayor’s support for the Capital of Culture bid.

The Education, Employment and Skills Portfolio Holder referred to the Government Kick Start scheme but felt that there was a need for something that was more tailored to the needs of Bradford.  He invited the West Yorkshire Mayor to visit the Skills House project that was targeting those unable to access the jobs market to increase their skills and find sustainable jobs.

The Regeneration, Transport and Planning Portfolio Holder referred to the Towns Fund and reported that it had been announced that Shipley was to be allocated £25m and Keighley £33m and thanked all those involved in the securing the funding.  He also referred to the Projects supported by the Combined Authority.

The Healthy People and Places Portfolio Holder referred to the need for partnership working with the West Yorkshire Mayor, for example, on Capital of Culture, which if successful would attract investment, enhance employment opportunities and bring businesses into the District which would in turn improve the mental and physical wellbeing of the people of the District.  She referred to the District’s response to the climate emergency in planting trees and moving to a cleaner transport fleet.

The Neighbourhoods and Community Safety Portfolio Holder stressed that one of his key priorities was to crack down on dangerous driving and anti-social behavior and referred to Bradford’s unique partnership with the police on operation Steerside.

The Chief Executive referred to the huge pool of talent and energy in the District with a young and diverse population, and the need to realise their full potential.  She added that the covid19 pandemic had hit the District hard and exposed the fault lines of socio economic disadvantage, including low pay and the impact on mental health.  She stressed the need for major investment in raising education attainment and addressing the levels of youth unemployment to move the District forward.  She added that progress being made in the areas of domestic violence and poverty had been affected by the pandemic.  She referred to the accolades bestowed on the District and the potential of Yorkshire Water’s proposed Green Science Park and housing development at Esholt.

The Education Employment and Skills Portfolio Holder noted that the Adult Education budget had been affected by the pandemic and that he wanted to ensure that a share of the West Yorkshire adult education budget was allocated to the district.  

The West Yorkshire Mayor thanked the Council for its work in the pandemic and confirmed that the priorities outlined for the District were in line with her ten point manifesto pledges.  She added that securing a Northern Powerhouse rail stop would open up opportunities in the District.  She referred to the transformational effect of adult education and the establishment of a digital academy for disadvantaged children, especially girls. She announced that annually £6m would be allocated by the Combined Authority leading to the creation of 2,500 jobs.   She was grateful that the Council had recognised the impact of Covid 19 on the creative industries; £5m had been earmarked by the Combined Authority, £1m of which would be allocated to each of the constituent authorities.  She confirmed her support for the Capital of Culture bid.  She praised Born in Bradford and stressed the importance of early intervention in improving life chances.     

She referred to her manifesto pledges of 1,000 jobs for young people, 5,000 sustainable and affordable homes, support for local businesses, and leading a creative new deal. Anew Creative Committee was to be established which she would chair and she would appoint an inclusivity champion.  She referred to the effects of climate change and in particular, flooding and the need for the green agenda to be integrated into everything the authority did. She intended to work towards Combined Authority control of bus operations.

She announced that she had appointed Alison Lowe Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime and added that 750 more police would be appointed and that the safety of girls would be at the heart of everything that was done.  She supported the work being done to address the issue of dangerous driving and make streets safer.

Resolved -

That the newly elected Mayor be thanked for attending the meeting to discuss our shared priorities.

ACTION: Chief Executive