Minutes of a meeting of the Bradford South Area Committee held on Thursday 23 July 2009 at City Hall, Bradford
Commenced 1705 Concluded 1935 PRESENT – Councillors
Apologies: Councillor Walls Councillor Johnson in the Chair
20. DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST
The following disclosures of interest were received:
(i) Councillors Robinson and Warburton disclosed personal interests in the item relating to the Petition for Additional Changing Facilities, Wyke Recreation Ground (Minute 23) as they had previously discussed this issue with Wyke Rugby Club.
(ii) Councillor Berry disclosed a personal interest in the item relating to Education Standards in Bradford South Secondary Schools (Minute 24) as he was the Vice Chair of Governors at Grange Technology College.
(iii) Councillors Dodds disclosed a personal interest in the item relating to the Restructure of the Neighbourhood Service (Minute 30) as her son is a Neighbourhood Warden who will be working in the Bradford South area.
As the above interests were not prejudicial in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct (Part 4A of the Constitution) Members remained to participate in the meeting when the items were considered.
Action: Assistant Director Corporate Services (City Solicitor)
LABOUR BRITISH NATIONAL
Dodds L Cromie
Flowers Green Johnson Robinson Berry Warburton
21. INSPECTION OF REPORTS AND BACKGROUND PAPERS
There were no appeals submitted by the public to review decisions to restrict documents.
22. PUBLIC QUESTIONS
There were no questions submitted by the public.
23. PETITION FOR ADDITIONAL CHANGING FACILITIES, WYKE RECREATION GROUND
The Strategic Director Culture, Tourism and Sport submitted a report (Document “N”) which requested the Committee to consider an 88 signature petition from Wyke Rugby Club seeking support from the Council for the provision of new changing facilities at Wyke Recreation Ground.
The Parks and Recreational Spaces Manager attended the meeting to give an overview of the proposed project. He stated that following a meeting with Wyke Rugby Club it had been established that the project would assist the club in its aim to continue its growth within the local community owing to the increasing membership of the club as well as the present facilities being limited in size.
It was further explained that a contribution could be made from “Section 106” funding but that the remainder of the funds required would have to be secured through other external funding.
In response to Members questions the following responses were given:
• That the facility would require a long term lease from a minimum of 21 to a maximum of 25 years in order to secure considerable funding for the project.
• In order to secure a long term lease, the Council would need an agreement which spelt out the long term goals of the club, however this letter of intent would only be taken as a later stage to avoid unnecessary costs to the club.
• Most external funders support clubs that had long term growth plans. Wyke Rugby Club was unique with only a limited space to expand facilities for the community.
Therefore, in consultation with officers who deal with external funding, the club’s application would have to be reconfigured in a manner which met these requirements.
• The cost of the new facility would be an expensive process, subject to the range of features within the proposed project, and the costs were at present based on other similar facilities. The costs could still be varied depending on planning conditions.
Resolved –
(1) That the petition be noted and the provision of new changing facilities for Wyke ARLFC, subject to all necessary statutory and legal approvals being granted, be supported.
(2) That officers continue to work with and support the Club to help raise funding for new changing accommodation.
(3) That the provision of a 25 year lease for changing accommodation to Wyke ARLFC be supported, subject to planning permission being granted and on terms and conditions to be negotiated by the Assistant Director Corporate Services (City Solicitor).
IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE: Regeneration and Economy ACTION: Strategic Director Culture, Tourism and Sport
Assistant Director Corporate Services (City Solicitor)
24. EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS IN BRADFORD SOUTH SECONDARY SCHOOLS
The Assistant Director – Localities (Services for Children & Young People) and the Director of School Improvement (Education Bradford) presented a report (Document “M”) which gave a summary of the Key Stage 4 GCSE results in English and mathematics for the six mainstream secondary schools in Bradford South.
The Director of School Improvement (Education Bradford) reported that the six secondary schools referred to in the report were:
• Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College
• Grange Technology College
• Queensbury School
• Tong High School
• Wyke Manor School
• Yorkshire Martyrs’ Catholic College
She added the following specific school contexts:
• Queensbury School has been in the Ofsted special measures category since May 2008.
• Wyke Manor School was judged to be satisfactory and improving in January 2009 and was removed from Ofsted’s notice to improve category. The school will close at the end of this academic year (summer 2009) and will reopen as Appleton Academy.
• Yorkshire Martyrs’ Catholic College will close in August 2010 as part of the reorganisation of Catholic secondary schools in Bradford.
The Director of School Improvement continued by reporting that all six schools were part of the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) National Challenge initiative and had National Challenge advisers. It was explained that the initiative mainly focused on schools where the number of students achieving 5A*-C GCSEs including English and mathematics was below the Government floor target of 30%. In Bradford South’s case four of its six secondary schools were below the floor target. However, it had been decided to include the other two schools, Grange Technology College and Queensbury School, in the initiative although their results were above the floor target.
A Member of the Committee commented that in previous years the results of Grange Technology College had been disappointing. However, last year the school had made significant improvements in Key Stage 4 results and was one of the most improved schools in the country. He added that there appeared to be a problem in the remaining secondary schools and an overall comparison of Key Stage 4 results in Bradford South with neighbouring areas seemed to show that the results were lower than expected when based on outcomes of the area’s primary schools.
In response it was explained that the results may not be an accurate reflection of progress between primary and secondary school as the pupils attending the secondary schools were from all areas of Bradford as opposed to being solely from the area’s primary schools. Nevertheless raising standards at Key Stages 3 and 4 was a priority.
Other members expressed concern that the Key Stage 4 results for 2008 showed that all six of the Bradford South schools were below the Bradford average for the number of students achieving 5A*-C GCSEs including English and mathematics.
The Director responded by explaining that each of the schools had been working closely with their National Challenge Adviser (NCA) to write and implement effective Raising Attainment Plans (RAPs) to ensure that barriers to improvement were overcome. It was reported that the plans had been approved by the DCSF.
The Director of School Improvement further reported that there was a clear focus on the achievement of the current Year 11 students and also on planning ahead for Year 9 and Year 10. A range of strategies had been put in place to raise attainment and all six of the Bradford South secondary schools were forecasting improvement this year. This was set out in a table in Appendix 1 to Document M.
The Chair spoke of the Committee’s great concern about the attainment levels at Key Stage 4 in Bradford South. He added that the data in the report showed that the gap between the Bradford and National average had increased each year between 2006 and 2008 for the number of students achieving 5A*-C GCSEs grades including English and mathematics. In 2006 there was an 8% gap between the Bradford and National average, in 2007 the gap had widened to 10% and in 2008 the gap was wider still at 11%. Having said that, the Chair welcomed the forecast of improvements from Bradford South secondary schools for the 2009 Key Stage 4 results and requested that a report on the unvalidated Key Stage 4 results be presented to the November meeting of the Committee.
The Chair also requested that the report should provide data on the number of students who having achieved a level 4 in English and mathematics separately at Key Stage 2 went on to achieve a GCSE A*-C grade.
Resolved –
(1) That the report be noted.
(2) That a report on the unvalidated 2009 Key Stage 4 results be presented to a meeting of this Committee on Thursday 19 November 2009.
IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE: Young People and Education
ACTION: Assistant Director – Localities (Services for Children & Young People)
25. 2009/10 SMALL PARKS & RECREATION GROUND BUDGET PROJECT PROPOSALS
The Strategic Director Culture, Tourism and Sport submitted a report (Document “O”) which requested the Committee to consider and approve a list of proposed schemes to be delivered during the 2009/10 financial year at small parks and recreation grounds in the Bradford South constituency as part of the Council’s Local Area Management initiative.
Resolved –
That the list of proposed projects identified in appendix A to Document “O” be delivered as part of the Small Parks & Recreation Ground budget.
IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE: Regeneration and Economy ACTION: Strategic Director Culture, Tourism and Sport
26. ACTION ARISING FROM PETITION TO COUNCIL: DISORDER IN WIBSEY The Strategic Director Adult and Community Services submitted a report (Document “P”) which gave details of actions undertaken by West Yorkshire Police and Bradford Council in relation to tackling disorder in Wibsey Village.
A Policy Officer from Safer and Stronger Communities attended the meeting and gave an update on the current position. He proposed that monitoring be continued and be kept under constant review.
Resolved –
That the actions undertaken in response to public concern regarding disorder in Wibsey be noted, and it be requested that West Yorkshire Police and Bradford Council continue to monitor and respond to levels of crime and disorder in the area.
IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE: Safer and Stronger Communities ACTION: Strategic Director Adult and Community Services
27. COMMUNITY CLEAN UPS 2010-2011
The Strategic Director Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report (Document
“Q”) which considered the current financial, environmental and operational aspects of the current Community Clean Up operation and suggested options that accommodate the requirement to design cleanup activities that are sustainable, financially and environmentally.
Resolved –
(1) That alternatives such as “Days of Action”, increased enforcement and “one Stop Static Cleanups” be offered to community groups, rather than bulky waste cleanups as highlighted in Option 1, paragraph 4 to Document “Q”.
(2) That in order to assist communities draw up their bids, a comprehensive list of “cleanup activities”, excluding bulky waste cleanups, be drawn up and costed by Waste Management and the Bradford South Area Co-ordinator’s Office.
(3) That the cleanup activities identified by the Neighbourhood Wardens and Community Groups, co-ordinated and advised by Neighbourhood Services and Waste Management staff, be carried out.
IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE: Environment and Waste Management ACTION: Strategic Director Environment and Neighbourhoods
28. PROGRESS REPORT - ALLOCATION OF WARD BASED INVESTMENT FUND IN BRADFORD SOUTH
The Strategic Director Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report (Document
“R”) which provided an update on the allocation of Ward Investment Fund in Bradford South Area up to 7th July 2009.
The Neighbourhood Management Programme Co-ordinator attended the meeting and gave a brief summary at the outset to the contents of the report. An error was identified in the table highlighted in paragraph 2.8 of the report and a correction was made verbally to the Committee of the alteration.
Resolved –
(1) That the report be received as information.
(2) That the Ward Councillors be congratulated for their hard work in developing proposals for funding that support the Area Committee Action Plan.
(3) That regular progress reports are presented to Bradford South Area Committee.
IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE: Corporate
ACTION: Strategic Director Environment and Neighbourhoods
29. 2009/10 WARD BUDGET ALLOCATIONS
The report of the Bradford South Area Co-ordinator (Document “S”) outlined a proposed project for young people and requested a decision on funding.
Resolved –
(1) That the proposed project outlined in Appendix 1 to Document “S”, to a maximum value of £2,000.00 be approved.
(2) That the Bradford South Area Co-ordinator presents a report to a future meeting of Bradford South Area Committee on progress made on the development of the TFD Boxing Club.
IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE: Corporate
ACTION: Assistant Director - Neighbourhood Services
30. RESTRUCTURE OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICE
The report of the Assistant Director, Neighbourhood Service (Document “T”) provided an update on the Neighbourhood Service restructure. The report stated that the restructure would enable a more focused approach to Ward Co-ordination, Community Planning and Local Action Planning managed by the Area Co-ordinator’s Office to support the implementation of the Bradford South Area Committee Action Plan 2009-11 and other resolutions of Bradford South Area Committee.
Members of the Committee expressed their concerns at the role of Ward Officer Teams as highlighted in paragraphs 2.10 and 2.11 of the report. Members were in agreement that the presence of Ward Councillors at partnership meetings had always been a positive one and an important part of the process. The removal of Ward Councillors from such meetings was seen as a step backwards.
Members agreed that the role of Ward Officer Teams was not clear and that the new structure suggested that Ward Officer Teams would be deciding and setting priorities without the direct involvement of Ward Members.
In response, the Bradford South Area Co-ordinator stated that the Neighbourhood Service was keen for Ward Officer Teams and Ward Members to be involved together.
The Chair stated that it was important for Ward Co-ordinators to differentiate their role to the role of Ward Members and that the implementation of a new restructure had to include ward Members setting the priorities.
Resolved –
(1) That the Committee notes and supports:
• the restructuring of the Council’s Neighbourhood Service;
• further development of community engagement and neighbourhood action planning;
• stronger vertical links between work being undertaken at Neighbourhood, Ward, and Area-levels and District-wide strategic thematic partnerships;
• closer partnership work with Neighbourhood Policing Teams in the development of “PACT” (Police and Community Together) opportunities as an element of Neighbourhood Forums and through other Police-led meetings.
(2) That the Assistant Director Neighbourhood Services presents a report to the meeting of Bradford South Area Committee on Thursday 24 September 2009, identifying further options with regard to the membership of Ward Officer Teams.
IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE: Corporate
ACTION: Assistant Director - Neighbourhood Services
31. 2009/10 COMMUNITY CHEST GRANTS
The report of the Bradford South Area Co-ordinator (Document “U”) detailed the Community Chest Grants awarded from applications received prior to the 31st May 2009 deadline for the benefit of communities within Bradford South.
Resolved –
(1) That the wide range of applications from groups, organisations and individuals across Bradford South be noted and welcomed.
(2) That the Bradford South Area Co-ordinator’s Office continue to ensure the effective allocation of the Community Chest budget by providing appropriate advice and support to applicants.
IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE: Corporate
ACTION: Assistant Director - Neighbourhood Services
Chair
Note: These minutes are subject to approval as a correct record at the next meeting of the Bradford South Area Committee.
i:\minutes\bso23Jul
THESE MINUTES HAVE BEEN PRODUCED, WHEREVER POSSIBLE, ON RECYCLED PAPER
