Decision

Under Council Standing Order 9.1.2 a vote was taken to re-order the business on the agenda to move Motions 12.6 (Local Decision-Making and Access to Services) and 12.7 (Cohesion, Division and the Flag Protocol) to be considered immediately after Motion 1 (The Future of Bingley Pool).

Resolved –

That under Council Standing Order 9.1.2 the business on the agenda be reordered to move Motions 12.6 (Local Decision-Making and Access to Services) and 12.7 (Cohesion, Division and the Flag Protocol) to be considered immediately after Motion 1 (The Future of Bingley Pool).

1. 1    THE FUTURE OF BINGLEY POOL

As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.1 was moved by Councillor Wheatley and seconded by Councillor Fricker.

In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4 and 18.8 an amendment (additional published papers Amendment A) was moved by Councillor Judson and seconded by Councillor Walker.

Following a number of speakers in accordance with Council Standing Order 18.12 Amendment A was put to the vote and lost. The Motion as set out below was then put to the vote and was carried.

Resolved –

Bradford Council notes:

This motion represents the shared collective ambition of all the Councillors of the Bingley East and West to work together to secure the future of Bingley Pool.

That Bingley Pool has remained closed since 2020 and was marked for disposal by the Council's Corporate Landlord Board in October 2025, despite retaining Asset of Community Value status and strong community support for its retention.

For more than a decade local residents, community organisations, local District Councillors and Bingley Town Council have campaigned to preserve affordable swimming provision in Bingley, with the Friends of Bingley Pool leading on this work.

That the Council has twice previously supported the principle of retaining swimming provision in Bingley: first through the Community Asset Transfer process, which progressed to an approved business plan and agreed transfer in 2020, and second through the successful £14.4 million Levelling Up Fund bid, which proposed a major redevelopment of the site before the funding was subsequently withdrawn by central government.

That evidence presented by the Friends of Bingley Pool demonstrates substantial public demand for a local swimming facility, including a petition supported by more than 10,000 people, consultation showing overwhelming support for reopening the pool, and continued backing from schools, swimming clubs, health professionals, businesses and community organisations.

The Council's own policy documents identify Bingley as a Principal Town and a key location for leisure, health and wellbeing facilities, while Sport England's Facilities Planning Model highlights continuing shortages in swimming water space across the district. These documents also align with the emerging Bingley Neighbourhood Plan, which identifies swimming in Bingley as a protected service.

Bradford Council believes:

The improved three year local authority funding settlement (including the local authority deprivation funding) and the £2 billion in flexible devolution funding to WYCA through the Integrated Settlement, represents an improved financial backdrop for new capital funding project support to be considered.

That access to affordable swimming and leisure facilities delivers significant health, wellbeing, educational and social benefits for residents of all ages, helping tackle inactivity, improve physical and mental health, and support community cohesion.

Bingley should continue to play its role as a Principal Town serving the wider district, with access to leisure facilities comparable to those available in other principal towns.

That the principal barrier to reopening Bingley Pool is the challenge of securing capital investment rather than any lack of demand, community support or operational potential.

That a refurbished and financially sustainable Bingley Pool, whether operated directly by the Council or through a community partnership model, could make a valuable contribution to the health, wellbeing and regeneration objectives of both Bingley and the wider Bradford District.

Bradford Council resolves:

To request Executive:

1. To pause any disposal or sale of Bingley Pool and remove the site from active disposal consideration whilst future options are examined.
2. To request that officers prepare a report setting out viable options for restoring swimming provision at the site, including a Council-led refurbishment/redevelopment and operation model, together with community-led alternatives.
3. To request officers to establish a Bingley Pool Project Board comprising representatives of Bradford Council, Bingley Town Council, the Friends of Bingley Pool and other relevant stakeholders to oversee the development of future proposals.

Through its Executive:

1. To support the preparation of updated surveys, feasibility studies, business planning and funding assessments required to establish the most cost-effective route to deliver an affordable swimming provision.
2. To work proactively with local, regional and national partners to identify potential sources of capital investment and external grant funding, with the objective of securing the long-term future of affordable swimming provision in Bingley.

To be actioned by: Strategic Director, Growth / Interim Strategic Director of Corporate Resources / S151 Officer

1. 6    LOCAL DECISION-MAKING AND ACCESS TO SERVICES

As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.6 was moved by Councillor Loy and seconded by Councillor Poulsen.

In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4 and 18.8 an amendment (additional published papers Amendment F) was moved by Councillor Wheatley and seconded by Councillor Salam.

In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4 and 18.8 a second amendment (additional published papers Amendment G) was moved by Councillor Place and seconded by Councillor Birch.

In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4 and 18.8 a third amendment (additional published papers Amendment H) was moved by Councillor Imran Khan and seconded by Councillor Jabar.

In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4 and 18.8 a fourth amendment (additional published papers Amendment I) was moved by Councillor Griffiths and seconded by Councillor Sunderland.

In accordance with Council Standing Order 18.10 Councillor Loy as the mover of the Motion with the consent of Councillor Griffiths as the mover of Amendment I and Councillor Wheatley as the mover of Amendment F agreed to incorporate Amendments I and F into the Motion.

Following a number of speakers in accordance with Council Standing Order 18.12 Amendment H was put to the vote and lost. Amendment G as set out below was then put to the vote, was carried and became the substantive motion, was then voted on and was carried.

Resolved –

That with the addition and deletion of the appropriate words, the motion be amended to read as follows:

Council notes:

• That Bradford District is one of the largest and most diverse metropolitan districts in England, comprising towns and communities with distinct characteristics and needs.
• That residents frequently express frustration that decisions affecting their local areas are overly centralised and insufficiently responsive to local circumstances, for example decisions about parking charges, planning applications, and household waste recycling centres (HWRCs).
• That Area Committees already play an important role in community engagement and local decision-making, but currently exercise limited meaningful control over local spending, assets, and policy.
• That town and parish councils can, where they wish to do so, play an enhanced role in the stewardship of valued local assets and services.

Council believes:

• That decisions should be taken at the lowest level consistent with effective governance.
• That stronger local accountability can improve public confidence, increase responsiveness to local concerns, and encourage more effective stewardship of public resources.
• That local decision-making and service provision is particularly important in a geographically large and diverse district such as Bradford.
• That outlying towns and rural communities have been disproportionately impacted by the removal of local facilities and services, including HWRCs.
• That where greater local responsibility is considered appropriate, any devolution of powers, budgets or responsibilities must be supported by robust governance arrangements, financial sustainability and clear accountability to residents.

Council therefore resolves:

To request officers to undertake a review of opportunities to strengthen local decision-making across the Bradford district, including through Area Committees, and, where appropriate, town and parish councils, ensuring that any proposals:

• Improve local accountability and responsiveness to residents;
• Represent value for money and are financially sustainable;
• Maintain appropriate governance, transparency and democratic oversight;
• Support effective delivery of local services across the district; and
• Are developed following appropriate consultation with ward members, Area Committees, town and parish councils and other relevant stakeholders.

The review should consider opportunities including, but not limited to:

• Greater involvement of Area Committees in local services priorities;
• Opportunities for appropriate local management of community assets;
• Strengthened engagement in highways, parking, public realm and neighbourhood priorities; and
• The future role of Area Committees and town and parish councils in supporting local regeneration and community development.

To be actioned by: Interim Strategic Director, Environment / Strategic Director, Growth / Director of Legal and Governance

1. 7    COHESION, DIVISION AND THE FLAG PROTOCOL

As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.7 was moved by Councillor Sullivan and seconded by Councillor Winnard.

In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4 and 18.8 an amendment (additional published papers Amendment J) was moved by Councillor Eglin and seconded by Councillor Place.

In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4 and 18.8 a second amendment (additional published papers Amendment K) was moved by Councillor Hickson and seconded by Councillor McInnes.

In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4 and 18.8 a third amendment (additional published papers Amendment L) was moved by Councillor Choudhry and seconded by Councillor Imran Khan.

Following a number of speakers in accordance with Council Standing Order 18.12 Amendments L and K were put to the vote and lost. Amendment J as set out below was then put to the vote, was carried and became the substantive motion.

In accordance with Council Standing Order 25.3 Councillor Judson requested that a recorded vote be taken on the substantive motion which was supported.

A recorded vote was taken on the substantive motion (Amendment J) and was carried.

Resolved –

That with the addition and deletion of the appropriate words, the motion be amended to read as follows:

Council notes:       

• That Bradford Council’s current Protocol on the Flying of Flags, whilst intended to be inclusive, at times is perceived by some as unnecessarily stoking division.
• That the number of flags on the list of those which may be flown on different occasions is seen as excessive and residents may reasonably wonder why some national and campaign flags are included whilst others are not.   
• Some local authorities appear to use their flag protocols to signal their own “foreign policies” to express support for certain sides in selective overseas armed conflicts or disputes.
• Flying of flags on Bradford Council buildings and flag poles should be unifying communities and not be used to support politically contentious causes or campaigns.
• That the Union Flag is the national flag of the United Kingdom and represents the shared citizenship, values and traditions that unite all British people, regardless of their background, faith or heritage.

Council resolves to ask the Executive to consider:

The introduction of a new flag protocol that:

• Reaffirms that the Union Flag is the principal civic flag of the United Kingdom and should be displayed with pride on Bradford’s civic buildings as a symbol of our shared national identity and civic unity.
• Follows any special instructions from the Sovereign about flag flying.
• Revises the criteria for flag flying on specific days to include only those representing the United Kingdom’s constituent countries, its Armed Forces, nationally recognised civic commemorations including Remembrance events, the emergency services, Yorkshire, the Commonwealth, the memory of the victims of the Bradford City fire, and other civic occasions of significant importance to the Bradford District as determined by the protocol.
• Allows for relevant constituent countries flags to be flown in celebration of successes in major sporting events, such as a World Cup, European Championships, or the Olympics etc.
• That requests for any other flags to be flown will only be agreed following a positive vote of the Full Council.

To be actioned by: Director of Legal and Governance

1. 2    CELEBRATING PRIDE IN OUR PLACE AND OUR DISTRICT’S TRANSFORMATIVE REGENERATION

Under Council Standing Order 9.1.6 a vote was taken to withdraw the motion from the agenda.

Resolved –

That under Council Standing Order 9.1.6 Motion 12.2 (Celebrating Pride in Our Place and Our District’s Transformative Regeneration) be withdrawn from the agenda.

1. 3    BRADFORD DISTRICT PEOPLE CAN

Under Council Standing Order 9.1.6 a vote was taken to withdraw the motion from the agenda.

Resolved –

That under Council Standing Order 9.1.6 Motion 12.3 (Bradford District People Can) be withdrawn from the agenda.

1. 8    BRADFORD MATERNITY SERVICES – RESTORING TRUST, TACKLING INEQUALITY AND ENSURING SAFE CARE

Under Council Standing Order 9.1.6 a vote was taken to withdraw the motion from the agenda.

Resolved –

That under Council Standing Order 9.1.6 Motion 12.8 (Bradford Maternity Services – Restoring Trust, Tackling Inequality and Ensuring Safe Care) be withdrawn from the agenda.

1. 4    HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN AZAD JAMMU & KASHMIR AND THE IMPACT ON BRADFORD’S BRITISH KASHMIRI COMMUNITY

Under Council Standing Order 9.1.6 a vote was taken to withdraw the motion from the agenda.

Resolved –

That under Council Standing Order 9.1.6 Motion 12.4 (Humanitarian Situation in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and the Impact on Bradford’s British Kashmiri Community) be withdrawn from the agenda.

1. 5    PEOPLE’S EMERGENCY BRIEFING

As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.5 was moved by Councillor Warnes and seconded by Councillor Hickson.

In accordance with Council Standing Order 19 Councillor Hickson moved that the motion be taken straight to the vote without debate, this was seconded by Councillor Wheatley.

Resolved –

That the motion be put to the vote immediately without debate.

The motion was put to the vote and was lost.  

Resolved –

Motion 12.5 (People’s Emergency Briefing) is lost.