At its meeting held on 30 September 2021, this Area Committee received a report from the Strategic Director Place (Document “I”) which outlines 1) the District wide approach emerging from the Review, 2) considers the data available to support the process and 3) presents some options on how to develop the approach in Bradford South. The report:

Recommended –

(1)       That the committee notes the Localities Review and implications for            Bradford South Area Committee.

(2)       That the Committee chooses one of the three approaches to             develop a       localities plan for Bradford South.

(3)       That the Area Coordinator is asked to lead on the approach and develop an engagement plan, keep Councillors updated on progress and report back progress to the committee in March 2022.

After considering the report the Area Committee resolved:

That the Chief Executive be invited to the next meeting of Bradford South Area Committee to respond to Councillors concerns about the implications of the Locality Review.

In line with the above resolution the Chief Executive will attend the meeting of the Area Committee.

Overview & Scrutiny Area: Corporate

(Mick Charlton - 01274 431155)

At its meeting held on 30 September 2021, the Area Committee received a report from the Strategic Director Place (Document “I” resubmitted) which outlined 1) the District wide approach emerging from the Review, 2) considered the data available to support the process and 3) presented some options on how to develop the approach in Bradford South. The report recommended:

(1)       That the committee notes the Localities Review and implications for            Bradford South Area Committee.

(2)       That the Committee chooses one of the three approaches to             develop a       localities plan for Bradford South.

(3)       That the Area Coordinator is asked to lead on the approach and develop an engagement plan, keep Councillors updated on progress and report back progress to the committee in March 2022.

After considering the report the Area Committee resolved:

That the Chief Executive be invited to the next meeting of Bradford South Area Committee to respond to Councillors concerns about the implications of the Locality Review.

In line with the above resolution the Chief Executive was unable attend the meeting, however the Assistant Director Neighbourhoods was present to give an overview of the new Locality Working approach and respond to Member’s questions.

In explaining the rationale behind the new approach, it was stated that the premise was to have in place a structure that was more responsive and better linked and aligned with our health priorities and early help offer, so that a more connected service was offered to residents and one which provided better outcomes.

Although challenges remained, a number of different approaches had been trialled in other parts of the district, to see what worked and what could be altered, the ambition was that localities working would bring positive changes in terms of service delivery, in that it would be more responsive.

During the discussion some Members expressed a number of reservations around the proposed approach in particular as a policy was already agreed  and in motion around locality working, and why was there the need now to change this direction of travel; that the current arrangements and the relationship with our health partners on how we better managed and deliver services was already confusing, so this added linkage may not offer anything additional; that in consulting with the Area Committee Chairs and Deputies in effect would bar any consultation with the other Ward Members across the district; that if there was a communication issue between the Council and its Partners then that should not require a wholesale change in what was agreed policy; that the issues in the respective wards and the data was already available.

In response, the Assistant Director stated that it was important to collect data as to what was important in the respective wards and then create a structure that is more responsive; that Area Committee Chairs/Deputies would be widely consulted on the new approach; that partnership working would be key in delivering services in the future; that the respective Chairs would report back to their Area Committees on developments, so Area Committees would be briefed accordingly; that the role of the Area Committees would be reinforced as officers shared information and intelligence with our partners and provide a more coherent response; acknowledge that the data was available, however a better analysis of the data was required as well as dealing with issues, so that they don’t become major issues.

Following the discussion it was felt that a Bradford South approach was required which would inform the localities working, and it was therefore:

Resolved–

(1)       That the Localities Review and implications for Bradford South            Area Committee be noted.

(2)       That Option 3: Proposed Bradford South approach set out in     Document “I” be chosen to develop a localities plan for Bradford     South.

(3)       That the Area Coordinator be asked to lead on the approach and develop an engagement plan, keep Councillors updated on progress and report back progress to the committee in March 2022.

ACTION: Area Coordinator