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 Wainwright

Does the Leader wish to comment on the outrageous proposal by the Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust to set up a company to employ most of the staff at BRI? Bearing in mind Bradford Councillors at the last Full Council meeting voted to oppose the Airedale NHS Trust’s similar proposals.

 

2.         Councillor Martin Smith

Can the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, advise who has been invited to respond to the Council’s consultation on a methodology for determining green belt boundaries in Bradford and is it appropriate, that on a matter as significant as potential changes to the boundaries of Bradford’s green belt, the consultation period is limited to just six weeks, two of which were over Christmas and New Year?

 

3.         Councillor Griffiths

To the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety.  On 22 December 2017 the Telegraph and Argus reported comments made by Members of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee about community cohesion in the District.  Can the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Neighbourhoods advise the Council what additional action is he taking in the light of these comments?

 

4.         Councillor Love

Can the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Sport and Culture tell us what impact on our waste service will be of the announcement by the Chinese government that China will severely restrict the amounts of waste plastic that it can import for recycling?

 

5.         Councillor Hawkesworth

Given that:-

1.            The Leader and the Executive are pursuing a scheme to lend a sum of at least £12 million to a private sector company to develop the Odeon site as an events arena to accommodate approximately 4,000 people

2.            The Council owns and operates two performance venues in central Bradford the Alhambra (at present fully operational) and St Georges Hall (which will be reopened after full refurbishment in 12 to 18 months time)

3.            The operations of the Odeon when opened could well adversely affect the profitability and/or viability of the two Council owned venues

4.            The Leader and the Executive have so surrounded the proposals in secrecy that most members of Council let alone members of the public have no meaningful financial information about the proposals

5.            Members of Council will be required to vote on the Council’s 2018/9 budget the papers for which will contain reference to the Odeon proposals

 

Will the Leader please state whether or not before proposals to provide financial assistance to the Odeon scheme were brought to the Executive a proper and objective assessment of the likely impact of the opening of the Odeon venue on the profitability and/or viability of the Alhambra and/or St Georges Hall was produced and considered by the Leader, the Executive and the Council’s officers?

 

6.         Councillor Dunbar

Following our accreditation as a White Ribbon Authority can the portfolio holder list the actions that will take place over the next year with partners to successfully uphold this status? 

 

7.         Councillor Dunbar

2018 is the bi-centenary year of Emily Bronte’s birth.  As one of Thornton’s famous daughters will the portfolio holder explain what plans there are across the District to celebrate this occasion?

 

8.         Councillor Whiteley

Could the Portfolio Holder for Health & Wellbeing confirm that the Council will examine the feasibility of mirroring the practice of some neighbouring councils, who provide Voluntary Sector providers of services to support people at home, in order to reduce hospital admissions and support independence, with ten year funding figures in order that they can better manage their capacity and in some cases even continue to provide the services?

 

9.         Councillor Hassan Khan

Can the portfolio holder give an update on our campaign for a Bradford stop on Northern Powerhouse Rail?

 

10.       Councillor Jamil

With the concerning national increase in the number of people begging and sleeping rough, could the portfolio holder tell us what the Council is doing to support and assist homeless people in Bradford?

 

11.       Councillor Mike Pollard

Given that Bradford reportedly has the third largest number of homes in the country (approximately 4414) that have been empty for more than 6 months, whilst appreciating that revision to the Regulations in 2012 extended the period of a property remaining empty before Orders could be sought, to 2 years, could the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport please advise me how many Empty Dwelling Management Orders have been issued in the current 2017/18 financial year and in light of the simpler rules for the Compulsory Purchase programme, can we have details of the Council’s actions relating to repayable grants or purchases, to bring homes in Bradford back into use?

 

12.       Councillor Dunbar

Will the Leader provide an update on the full roll out of Universal Credit in Bradford and any issues she anticipates as a result?

 

13.       Councillor Fear

To the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Sport and Culture. Given the recent announcement by the Chinese Government to restrict the importation of plastics can the Portfolio Holder advise the Council of any implications for the waste treatment and disposal contract due to commence in April 2018?

 

14.       Councillor Peart

Will the portfolio holder give an update on the plans to improve the Interchange and Forster Square stations?

 

15.       Councillor Davies

In light of the fact that the recent consultation on restructuring the SEND Specialist Teaching Support Services, resulted in 79 responses, with 72 of these from employees and just 3 from schools and 2 from parents, does the Portfolio Holder for Education, Employment and Skills consider it to be time to revisit how consultations are carried out in order to increase engagement?

 

16.       Councillor Dunbar

Will the Leader join me in condemning the national shame that is period poverty and support the campaign calling for free menstrual products for children in receipt of free school meals?

 

17.       Councillor Greenwood

Can the portfolio holder for education, employment and skills tell us what the Opportunity Area scheme will mean for Bradford?

 

18.       Councillor Whiteley

In light of the implications of the adoption of Bradford’s Local Plan with applications which will attract a Community Infrastructure Levy, coming before the Regulatory and Appeals Committee, can the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, please explain  how the Council will ensure that the at least 75% of the levy which will be retained centrally, will be utilised for infrastructure projects for the areas that the levy relates to, as those areas will experience the greatest impact from any houses that are built and any amounts going to Parish Councils will not sufficiently mitigate the additional pressure on infrastructure that large developments will bring and some areas of the district have no parish councils or indeed a Neighbourhood plan? 

 

19.       Councillor Hassan Khan

With the good news that Bradford was named by Barclays Bank as the best place in the country to start a business, can the portfolio holder tell us what support the Council is offering to attract and encourage new business in the district?

 

20.       Councillor Thirkill

Can the Leader tell us the Council’s position regarding the campaign to convert the disused Queensbury Tunnel into a cycle route?

 

21.       Councillor Jeanette Sunderland

To the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport.  Given the approximately 4000 empty homes in Bradford is greater than the approximately 3882 people on the open housing register who have been assessed as being in the greatest need what plans has the Portfolio Holder to introduce the use of Empty Dwelling Management Orders to take over residential properties that have been empty for longer than six months and so ease the burden on those in greatest need of a home?

 

22.       Councillor Aneela Ahmed

Does the Leader join with me in congratulating all the people in the District who have received an honour in the New Year’s honours list this year?

 

23.       Councillor Poulsen

Can the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning & Transport, provide details about when and which pavements are gritted during snowy / icy weather, how locations are prioritised, how refills are scheduled and can be requested and whether any actions such as the provision of grit etc., are being taken to encourage the “People Can” and “People Will” initiatives which encourage community spirit and neighbourliness?

 

24.       Councillor Dodds

Could the Leader advise what we are doing in the District this year to mark the end of the First World War?

 

25.       Councillor Hassan Khan

In view of the comments from Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England regarding children being “ill-equipped” to be able to cope with the sudden demands of social media, can the portfolio holder advise what we are doing in Bradford to educate young people about how to keep themselves safe online?

 

26.       Councillor Bacon

There has been much in the press recently regarding pressures on the NHS during the winter months and we’ve all become more familiar with the measure of delayed transfers of care where the social care system is too slow at enabling someone in hospital to go back home.  Can the Leader tell us how Bradford is doing on this measure?

 

27.       Councillor Mike Pollard

In the light of the proposals for Council to undertake an increased level of property investment activity, could the Portfolio Holder please comment on whether or not a recent press report stating that; following the recent consultation, the DCLG is likely to introduce new limitations on such activities and that in any case, local government financial regulations prohibit Councils "borrowing solely to invest in yield bearing opportunity” being deemed “borrowing in advance of need," is correct?

 

28.       Councillor Mullaney

Could the Leader let the Chamber know what events are taking place in Bradford this year 2018 to mark the centenary of women’s suffrage?

 

29.       Councillor Farley

Now we are in the third year of celebrating the birth of the Brontes, will the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Sport & Culture join with me in welcoming the 200^th anniversary of Emily Bronte’s birth, congratulating the Bronte Society on the great work they are doing and providing support for their programme of work which helps further raise Haworth’s profile as a major tourist destination?

 

30.       Councillor Stubbs

To the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Sport & Culture.  Given the recent announcement by the Chinese Government to restrict the importation of plastics can the Portfolio Holder advise the Council of any implications for the disposal of plastic waste from Bradford?

 

31.       Councillor Farley

Can the Portfolio Holder comment on the campaign to re-open the Skipton-Colne line, its potential impact on Keighley and the wider Bradford District, and whether Bradford Council supports the campaign?

 

32.       Councillor Hawkesworth

Since publication of any such document could not conceivably have any adverse effect on negotiations with third parties regarding the Odeon site, will the Leader please confirm that any impact assessment the Council has produced or has had produced regarding any possible effects the opening of the Odeon venue might have on the profitability and/or viability of the Alhambra and/or St Georges Hall will on demand by a Member be identified and a copy or copies provided to Members on demand?

 

33.       Councillor Cooke

Could the Leader of the Council outline the methodology used to assess whether, and any evidence to indicate, that the Council’s ban on new fast food businesses near schools, parks and other places used by young people, has reduced levels of childhood obesity?

 

34.       Councillor Warburton

Can the portfolio holder update members on progress with the new leisure and sports development at Sedbergh Fields?

 

35.       Councillor Davies

Can the Portfolio Holder for Education, Employment & Skills confirm what is being done to improve the Education Psychologist Service, given that in 2012, 88% of children were seen by the requested date, compared to only 51% in 2016?

 

36.       Councillor Ward

Can the Portfolio Holder advise how many children in Bradford spent the festive period in temporary accommodation such as B and B’s and hostels and hotels?

 

37.       Councillor Martin Smith

Further to the great expense to local taxpayers, of the survey of June 2017, can the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport advise Members of when some options on the car parking issues in Ilkley will be proposed, so that we may have a meaningful consultation with the residents?

 

38.       Councillor Jeanette Sunderland

Can the Leader comment on the recent criticism of spending by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority which included £750,000.00 on networking events (much of it in Cannes in the South of France), £40,000.00 on a ‘Council of the North’ Conference which has yet to materialise, £25,000.00 on an aborted rebranding exercise, £100,000.00 on Executive Coaching and more than £7000.00 on two Leeds City Region lunches in Mayfair?

 

39.       Councillor Davies

How many school governor vacancies are there across the District’s schools and what is being done to encourage people to volunteer their time and skills in this way?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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