Local democracy

Agenda item

MEMBER QUESTION TIME (Standing Order 12)

To deal with supplementary questions arising from the attached questions of which written notice has been given. 

 

Notes:

 

(i)         Answers to written questions shall be circulated at the commencement of the meeting.

 

(ii)        The Lord Mayor will have regard to the list of questions and the political composition of the Council in calling on Members to put their supplementary question to the Leader of Council and Portfolio Holders.

 

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

 

QUESTIONS TO MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE

 

1.         Councillor Tait

2018 has been named the Year of Engineering. Does the Leader agree with me that science and engineering offer huge value and can benefit our district in all kinds of ways including education, skills and the economy?

 

 

2.         Councillor Heseltine

Would the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning & Transport, detail the free parking offer for Christmas shoppers in Bingley and the rest of the district and can she confirm that the Labour Group’s Executive, is considering spreading Christmas cheer in years to come, by removing Christmas Parking Concessions from next year?

 

 

3.         Councillor Fear

To ask the portfolio holder: Once the Council acquires the NCP car park on Hall Ings, will be run as a Council car park, including discounted or free parking for Council staff and elected members?

 

 

4.         Councillor Warnes

Now that Smart Parking’s unlawful signs, cameras and ticketing machines have been removed from the Oastler Road car park near Saltaire, can the Leader of Council please outline what measures Bradford Council is undertaking to ensure that a fully operational car park is re-established at this location and managed responsibly for the benefit of local residents, tourists, shoppers and nearby small businesses?

 

 

5.         Councillor Aneela Ahmed

Does the Leader have an update on the University of Bradford’s bid to set up a medical school?

 

6.         Councillor Mohammad Shabbir

Does the Leader share my major concerns around the misuse of fireworks and related antisocial behaviour that we’ve seen not just at bonfire night but throughout the year, and how are we supporting the police and fire services to tackle it?

 

 

7.         Councillor Davies

Given the Baildon sinkhole has now been there for three months and local shops and businesses are severely impacted by the reduction in parking for customers, would the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning & Transport consider the Council providing compensation in a similar way as utility companies are required to make when roadworks over-run?

 

 

8.         Councillor Jamil

Will the portfolio holder join me in congratulating Horton Park Primary (in the top 40 state primaries in the country), Ilkley Grammar (the best comprehensive school in the region) and Bradford Grammar School (independent secondary of the year) after their inclusion in the Sunday Times’ top schools rankings?

 

 

9.         Councillor Wainwright

After the Autumn Budget does the Leader agree that the government continues to favour tax cuts for bankers and the rich over proper funding for local government and public services?

 

 

10.       Councillor Cooke

Would the Leader of the Council confirm whether she considers it to be open and transparent, for a single member of the Council Executive Committee, along with an officer of the Council, to take decisions to purchase properties, without the knowledge or involvement of any other Councillors

 

 

11.       Councillor Berry

Can the portfolio holder give an update on the numbers of young people who are “NEET” in the district and the measures being put in place to support those who have complex needs or who have not been able to be supported in mainstream provision?

 

 

12.       Councillor Fear

To ask the portfolio holder how many downloads there have been of the Bradford Council app in each of the last three years as well as any data on the number of active users and incidents reported through the app?

 

 

 

13.       Councillor Nazir

Will the portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport give us a progress update on the proposed Odeon scheme and tell us what kind of impact he sees for Bradford if it goes ahead?

 

 

14.       Councillor Pennington

Further to the announcement that after 22 years, the Council is to evict the much used News Kiosk from Centenary Square, would the Leader of the Council confirm whether she agrees with me that many of the people attending the events that we try so hard to attract people to, held on and around the Square, may well find this an inconvenience and can she confirm whether any consideration has been given to offering the tenant a sensible relocation?

 

 

15.       Councillor Nazir

Will the portfolio holder for education, employment and skills give an update on the situation at Bradford College?

 

 

16.       Councillor Wainwright

Would the portfolio holder comment on the possible impact in Bradford arising from the little-publicised plans by the government to remove refugees and other forms of short-term supported housing from the welfare system?

 

 

17.       Councillor Riaz

In Bingley Rural Ward, there has been a spate of burglaries and car jackings. This has even been raised in Parliament, by our local MP. Residents report concerns that rural crime and policing are often forgotten due to the prominence given to urban crime and policing. Obviously, this issue is primarily a policing issue, and not the Council, but as, crime is a holistic problem, I would like to ask The Leader of the Council to advise members regarding what action could be taken by Bradford Council itself, to respond to this spike of crime in my Ward?

 

 

18.       Councillor Farley

Almost two years on from the Boxing Day floods of 2015, will the Leader assure us of the steps the Council has taken to prepare for any future incident?

 

 

19.       Councillor Bacon

In these challenging times for local authority workers with growing demands and reduced resources it was good to see the Council’s employee awards event held recently to recognise the hard work of staff – will the Leader tell us about the successful award winners this year?

 

 

20.       Councillor Ward

To ask the portfolio holder for Education: What due diligence measures did the Portfolio holder take to ensure that Wakefield City Academies Trust (WCAT) was a suitable sponsor for Bradford schools and has the Portfolio holder followed Wakefield Council’s lead in referring WCAT to the police?

 

 

21.       Councillor Farley

Will the portfolio holder give an update on the road improvements being made at North Street in Keighley town centre?

 

 

22.       Councillor Barker

In relation to the freehold transfer of Burley Library to the Burley in Wharfedale Parish Council, can the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Sport and Culture please provide an update of when the work, comprising the ‘asset lock’ governing this process, will be completed? 

 

 

23.       Councillor Nazir

Does the portfolio holder welcome the news that Bradford is the joint fourth most improved local education authority area in the country on the Progress 8 measure and can he tell us how schools are working to make further improvements?

 

 

24.       Councillor Warnes

Can the Leader of Council please tell us how many street trees have been removed across Bradford District over the past five years; and how many new street trees have been planted?

 

 

25.       Councillor Bacon

Will the Leader tell us about the main aims of the new “Bradford Pound” social value policy and what opportunities it might offer residents, local businesses and the Council?

 

 

26.       Councillor Berry

Can the portfolio holder provide an update on the numbers of looked after children placed out of the district over the last 6 months?

 

 

27.       Councillor Davies

Are there any plans to introduce a ‘live chat’ option on the Council’s website to enable improved interaction with residents?

 

 

 

28.       Councillor Nazir

Will the portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport give an update on the planned revamp of Forster Square station?

 

 

29.       Councillor Azam

Will the portfolio holder outline the support the Council has been providing to the Oastler market and top of town businesses in recent months and in the run-up to Christmas?

 

 

30.       Councillor Reid

To the Portfolio Holder: What proportions of the properties on Bradford’s Empty Homes Register were reported to the Council (a) by members of the public? (b) by Members of Council?

 

 

31.       Councillor Farley

In spite of the government cuts can the portfolio holder assure us that we will maintain substantial gritting coverage across the district this winter?

 

 

32.       Councillor Pennington

Would the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning & Transport provide members with details of any measures that are to be taken to ensure the continued operation and success of Uriah Woodheads, when the installation of the Cycle Super Highway prevents the company from receiving deliveries and collections etc from large vehicles?

 

 

33.       Councillor Poulsen

Would the Leader of the Council, confirm in which areas businesses have been approached to sponsor Christmas Trees for this year and how were these areas chosen?

 

 

34.       Councillor Heseltine

Can the Leader of the Council confirm that any proceeds from the sale of Priestthorpe Annex, the building owned by the trust, will be administered by the trust and income generated used for the benefit of Priestthorpe School, as per the discussions that have previously taken place with the school?

 

 

35.       Councillor Stelling

Events, such the recent Illuminate Bradford, saw huge numbers of people drawn into town creating a real buzz. Do we know what the economic boost these events bring to businesses in the City Centre?  Have there been any conversations with City businesses to see how this could be maximised?

 

 

36.       Councillor Heseltine

In response to questions asked by residents of Bingley Ward, can the Leader of the Council list the funds that have been paid over the last 5 years and any that are currently identified for payment till the end of the funding streams and specify what the funding was for, to companies operating in Bradford City Centre that are non footsie multinationals or footsie 250 and companies with a turnover of £1 million plus?

 

 

37.       Councillor Heseltine

Can the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Sport and Culture confirm that Bingley Music Live will take place in 2018?

 

 

38.       Councillor Rachel Sunderland

Noting the difficulties in getting a response from Officers, can the Portfolio Holder please provide me with an update on plans to repair the bridge in Peel Park, the associated costs and timescales associated?

 

 

39.       Councillor Poulsen

Would the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning & Transport, advise colleagues of the current average time between the need for a street light repair being reported and the light being repaired and how many are await repairs for over 28 days?

 

 

Minutes:

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

Supporting documents: