The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “I”) will be submitted to the Committee as the annual update on the work undertaken within the catchment since the previous report in September 2021.

Recommended –

1.          That The Friends of Bradford’s Becks and the Strategic Director, Place be requested to work jointly on studies and proposals.

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

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

4.          That the Committee express Bradford Council’s support and appreciation to Friends of Bradford’s Becks for the work to tackle pollution, promote community engagement and restore and improve the beck and its catchment.

(Edward Norfolk – 01274 433905)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “I”) was submitted to the Committee as the annual update on the work undertaken within the catchment since the previous report in September 2021.

The Friends of Bradford Becks update report was also provided as an appendix to the main report with the work undertaken during the year along with details of pollution incidents reported to the Environment Agency (EA) during the year.

Officers summarised the reports and highlighted some of the foci including work done on sustainable drainage, catchment of storm water to reduce the volumes going into sewers including the focus on sustainable drainage in particular.

Other highlights included:

·            Increased work in partnership with Yorkshire Water to reduce flood and discharge

·            Habitat improvement schemes

·            Naturalising Bradford Becks (by-passing culverts etc)

·            Progress on works feasible under permitted development

·            Improvements to access to the Beck, to encourage better use

·            Dealing with blockages

·            Enhancement of water systems in Horton Park

·            Work on the re-modelling of Bradford Becks as part of strategic flood risk assessment work

The representative from the Friends of Bradford Becks then addressed the Committee and provided highlights of the work undertaken over the previous 12 months.  They also asked for assistance to request fencing on Yorkshire Water land to tackle an ongoing flytipping problem at Hunters Park Avenue.  Details of clearance work completed at Bull Greave Beck were also included in the Bradford Becks report document which was appended to the main report.

The representative from FOBB raised the issue of ongoing water pollution by sewage.  Yorkshire Water was recently fined for a major pollution incident in 2018.  FOBB found that pollution was still continuing and was working with Yorkshire Water to locate and rectify sources.

A bid was put into WYCA for natural flood management measures for 3 projects in the Bradford District for which business cases were being prepared for funds to be drawn down once formal approval was received.

As Bradford Beck was not a main river, the Environment Agency were not taking responsibility for it.  The Chief Executive of the Council had been approached and an update on progress was requested.

Several other matters of interest were mentioned, including the opportunities that the City of Culture 2025 may present, restoration of Horton Park Water courses, pollution hunting, raising awareness of Bradford Becks and what support the Scrutiny Committee could provide, such as writing to Yorkshire Water regarding the erection of fencing as previously specified.

Members were then given the opportunity to comment and ask questions, the details of which and the responses given are as below.

A Member asked about the current condition of the beck following the pollution event in 2018 which killed all the fish and invertebrates.  The representative from FOBB stated that the fish had returned due to improvements made downstream.  He further stated that its’ condition was considered as chronic rather than catastrophic but sewerage and industrial pollution still needed eradicating.

A Member asked if there was an ambition to get to a ‘good’ ecological status and what would that mean.  The representative from FOBB advised that the Beck would never be completely natural and referred Members to the first page of their report where the ambitions of FOBB were listed. 

A Member asked which Committee would have discussed making the Beck a main river as the issue had been raised with the Chief Executive of Bradford Council.  The representative of FOBB stated that this had not been specified and needed further discussions as it was a complex issue.

The question of using security cameras to tackle fly tipping was raised.  Yorkshire Water were deemed approachable to request the fencing previously discussed and FOBB were asked if it had been requested.  The Member also asked whether the Beck could be fished.  In response, the representative from FOBB stated that cameras were used at outfalls but not for tackling fly-tipping.    Fishing was possible from the bank between Canal Road and Dock Lane but there were no angling clubs with fishing rights.  The Assistant Director, Place was in attendance and confirmed that a request for cameras would be submitted to the relevant Council Officer.

The report stated that only 14% of rivers were judged as ‘good’ and 36% of rivers were damaged as a result of water companies discharging human waste in the waterways.  Members asked if there had been any improvement as these levels related to 2019 and 2020 respectively.  The representative from FOBB advised that there was no improvement.

Members asked about the types of engagement used and were advised that these comprised of school visits and Science fairs but access was difficult as FOBB was made up by volunteers who had limited availability.  It was suggested that engagement could take place as part of schools’ other offsite activities but investment was needed to resource representatives to attend.

Resolved –

1.          That The Friends of Bradford’s Becks and the Strategic Director, Place be requested to work jointly on studies and proposals.

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

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

4.          That the Committee express Bradford Council’s support and appreciation to Friends of Bradford’s Becks for the work to tackle pollution, promote community engagement and restore and improve the beck and its catchment.

5.          That a report considering the issue of main river status for Bradford Beck be presented to the Committee within 12 months.

Action: Interim Strategic Director, Place