Content

Under Council
Standing Order 9.1.2 a vote was taken to reorder the business on
the agenda to move Motions 12.3 and 12.6 (below) to the start of
the Notices of Motion Item.
 
Resolved –
 
That under Council Standing
Order 9.1.2 Motion 12.3 (Changes to the Winter Fuel Payment and
Protecting Pensioners from fuel poverty) and 12.6 (Defend the
Winter Fuel Allowance and Protecting Bradford District Pensioners
from Fuel Poverty) be moved to the start of the Notices of Motion
Item.
 
Under Council
Standing Order 9.1.4 a further vote was taken to combine Motions
12.1, 12.3 and 12.6 (below).
 
Resolved –
 
That under Council
Standing Order 9.1.4 Motions 12.1 (Winter Fuel Payments), 12.3
(Changes to the Winter Fuel Payment and Protecting Pensioners from
fuel poverty) and 12.6 (Defend the Winter Fuel Allowance and
Protecting Bradford District Pensioners from Fuel Poverty) be
combined.
 
 
 
12.1    WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS        

12.3    CHANGES TO THE WINTER FUEL
PAYMENT AND PROTECTING PENSIONSERS FROM FUEL POVERTY
12.6    DEFEND THE WINTER FUEL ALLOWANCE AND
PROTECTING BRADFORD DISTRICT PENSIONERS FROM FUEL
POVERTY 
                                   
Motion 12.1
 
As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.1
was moved by Councillor Stubbs and seconded by Councillor Riaz
Ahmed.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  an amendment
(additional published papers Amendment A) was moved by
Councillor Edwards and seconded  by Councillor Caroline
Whitaker.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  a second
amendment (additional published papers Amendment B) was moved
by Councillor Kamran Hussain and seconded  by Councillor
Ferriby.
 
Following
a number of speakers in accordance with
Council Standing Order 18.12 Amendment B as set out below was then
put to the vote, was carried and became the substantive motion,
was then voted on and was
carried.         
 
 
Motion 12.3
 
As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.3
was moved by Councillor Poulsen and seconded by Councillor
Coates.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  an amendment
(additional published papers Amendment D) was moved by
Councillor Edwards and seconded  by Councillor Caroline
Whitaker.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  a second
amendment (additional published papers Amendment E) was moved
by Councillor Kamran Hussain and seconded  by Councillor
Ferriby.
 
Following
a number of speakers in accordance with
Council Standing Order 18.12 Amendment E as set out below was then
put to the vote, was carried and became the substantive motion,
was then voted on and was
carried.         
 
 
Motion 12.6
 
As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.6
was moved by Councillor Edwards and seconded by Councillor Caroline
Whitaker.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  an amendment
(additional published papers Amendment I) was moved by
Councillor Edwards and seconded  by Councillor Caroline
Whitaker.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  a second
amendment (additional published papers Amendment J) was moved
by Councillor Kamran Hussain and seconded  by Councillor
Ferriby.
 
Following
a number of speakers in accordance with
Council Standing Order 18.12 Amendment J 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 of the following words, the motion be amended to read as
follows:
 
Council notes:
 
That Bradford district values our older people
and the contribution they have provided to this district in the
past and continue to provide to our communities today.  They are our respected elders.
 

This Council is providing 13,650
pensioners with Council Tax reduction this year totalling
£15.5m. 70% of these pensioners receive the maximum award of
100%.
This Council allocated
£330,000 this year to offer warm and welcoming spaces all
year round.
13,500 pensioner households on the
lowest incomes were issued with a direct payment in June to support
with the cost of food and fuel. This totalled £680,000 with a
further payment planned for November.
This Council provides £120.7m
for care for the elderly and £1.3m in grants to voluntary
sector organisations to support the elderly.
This Council funds a free West
Yorkshire bus pass for every pensioner over the age of 67.

 
This council’s extensive work with
partners to support the most vulnerable people in the district,
including elderly residents, through the cost of living has
included the delivery of around £34.2m of Household Support
Fund money since October 2021 to provide emergency cost of living
support, with approximately 43,500 households receiving a direct
grant to help with food and fuel bills. 
 
Nationally we know that the new Labour
Government is grappling with the nation’s finances having
been left with a £22bn black hole left by the previous
Conservative Government. On top of this the country is dealing with
the impact of the cost of living crisis
after an unprecedented fall in living standards under 14 years of
consecutive Conservative led governments.
 
That Winter fuel allowance as a universal
benefit was introduced by a Labour government in 1997.
 
 
 
Council
welcomes:
 
The new Labour Government’s commitment
to the “triple lock” on pensions for the lifetime of
this parliament meaning that the new full state pension will rise
by £460 a year from April 2025.
 
The new Labour Government’s commitment
to ensure all pensioners eligible for Pension Credit are signed up
to ensure they receive the Winter Fuel Payment and other benefits
linked to Pension Credit.
 
The new Labour Government’s commitment
to extend the Household Support Fund which will further help
support those in need across Bradford district this winter.
 
The recent letter to our Chief Executive from
Anna Dixon MP offering to work in partnership with the council to
raise awareness of the services on offer to those who are most in
need including Pension Credit entitlements.
 
That the Council has already
contacted 2,658 households who are in receipt of Council Tax
Reduction, but do not receive Pension Credit and may be entitled to
it, to encourage them to apply with a further 950 letters being
issued to potentially eligible pensioner households this
week.
 
Council resolves
to:
 

Ask councillors to work with their
local partner organisations and constituency MPs to help signpost
the local support available to older people and how to claim
Pension Credit, as seen in the recent work in Keighley and Ilkley
led by Keighley Labour councillors together with partner
organisations CAB and Age UK.
Continue to promote the council-led
awareness campaign to alert those eligible for Pension Credit to
apply, and ensure Customer Service staff
are trained to assist in queries and to assist with
applications. 
Neighbourhood teams to promote
Pension Credit uptake through local charities and community
organisations to ensure that all eligible pensioners in Bradford
district are supported in claiming their entitlement.
Call on the government to make sure
the Winter Fuel Payment is easily available for those pensioners
that need it, put in place a programme to insulate homes, extend
the Warm Homes Discount, a windfall tax on giant oil and gas
companies and to reduce everyone’s energy bills for good with
clean homegrown energy.
Ask for an urgent meeting for the
Leader with the energy companies to see what more they can do over
and above what the council is already doing, to support Bradford
district pensioners.
Include support from
the Household Support Fund to those pensioners on the lowest
incomes and this includes those who are not in receipt of Pension
Credit but are entitled to Council Tax Reduction. This will be
issued following the council’s take up activity to encourage
those pensioners who might be eligible for support to
apply.

 
To be actioned
by:  Councillors/Leader of the
Council/Strategic Director Corporate Resources/Strategic Director
Place
 

12.2    A CATALOGUE OF FAILINGS
 
A motion as set out in the published agenda
was moved by Councillor Poulsen and seconded by Councillor
Pollard.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  an amendment
(additional published papers Amendment C)  was moved by
Councillor  Edwards and seconded 
by Councillor Griffiths .
 
Following
a number of speakers in accordance with
Council Standing Order 18.12 Amendment C and Motion 12.2 were put
to the vote and were both
lost.         

           
Resolved –
 
Following a recorded
vote the above motion moved by Councillor Poulsen and seconded by
Councillor Pollard and the amendment moved by Councillor Edwards
and Councillor Stubbs and seconded by Councillor Whitaker and
Griffiths was lost.
 
 
12.4    BINGLEY
POOL     
 
A motion as set in with the published agenda
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 F)  was moved by
Councillor Sunderland and seconded  by Councillor Stubbs.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  a second
amendment (additional published papers Amendment G) was moved by
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw and seconded by Councillor Wheatley.
 
Following
a number of speakers in accordance with
Council Standing Order 18.12 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 of the following words, the motion be amended to read as
follows:
                                                                       
Council notes:
 
·        
The long-running campaign to re-open
Bingley Pool, led by residents, the Friends of Bingley Pool group
and Cllr Marcus Dearden along with other local
councillors
·        
The submission by Bradford Council of a
bid to restore and re-open Bingley Pool as part of the
Council’s Levelling Up Fund round two proposals, which was
initially rejected by government.  Later
the Government admitted retroactively changing the rules so that
all proposals from a council successful in round one would
automatically be rejected, creating huge waste across the
country.  Councils were encouraged to
draft funding bids without being told that their submissions were
never going to be considered
·        
Despite this truth the former MP for
Shipley, Philip Davies went out of his way to claim that the
council had not been successful because of a poor quality bid.
·        
A year later the government then approved
the bid, unedited. Revitalising Bingley was one of only two
“shovel ready” schemes in the country to receive
funding in that budget, with the Treasury acknowledging that the
project was a “high scoring, low-cost bid”,
“under £15m and at a place most in need of levelling
up”.
·        
The Government also said that the scheme,
“demonstrated overwhelming support from residents and
stakeholders” and “aligned with local economic
strategies. The proposed interventions would help improve the local
economy and the health and wellbeing of its
residents”.
·        
At the meeting of the Executive Committee
held on Tuesday 5th June 2024, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader
of the Council said, “We’ve all been wanting this to
happen for some time, so seeing this investment is positive”,
whilst Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for
Regeneration, Planning and Transport said, “We’re
extremely keen to get this over the line”.
·        
More recently Anna Dixon, Labour MP for
Shipley, has stated, “I recognise the vital contribution to
health and well-being of access to swimming facilities and the
wider benefits of this redevelopment to Bingley. I will do all I
can to secure a future for Bingley Pool working with local
councillors”.
·        
The Labour Councillors for Bingley Ward
have the words, “With two bids in review and competition for
government funding (Bingley Pool and Squire Lane) we need to ensure
our message is loud and clear that Bradford Council needs to put
its' support behind the Bingley bid" on their social media
pages.
·        
Nationally we know that the new Labour
Government is grappling with the nation’s finances having
been left with a £22bn black hole left by the previous
Conservative Government.  On top of this
the country is dealing with the impact of the cost of living crisis after an unprecedented fall in
living standards under 14 years of consecutive Conservative led
governments.
·        
Britain deserves a pay rise after years
of high inflation and public sector pay restraint. Settling
long-running pay disputes allows public services and transport to
function properly for the first time in years. The cost to the UK
of the rail strikes alone has been £1bn, with then Rail
Minister, Huw Merriman, admitting it would have been cheaper to
agree a deal. This is on top of the costs of all the other strikes
across the public sector in the last few years.
 
Council resolves:
 
•       
To continue making the case for all
Levelling Up Fund awards, including Keighley and Bingley to be
funded by the government, alongside Squire Lane, as part of their
mission to unlock economic growth, something this Labour Council is
already on record as saying alongside local Councillors and the new
Labour MP for Shipley, Anna Dixon.

•       
That Anna Dixon MP, the Leader of the
Council, the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and
Transport and the elected members representing the Bingley and
Bingley Rural Wards press the new Labour Government for early
confirmation that they can fund what was an unfunded pre-election
giveaway for Bingley Pool.

 

To be actioned by:  Leader of the Council/Regeneration Planning and
Transport Portfolio Holder/ Bingley and Bingley Rural Ward
Councillors
 
 
12.5  HWRC PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR                       
           
HACKNEY CARRIAGE, PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES AND
          
NON-  COMMERCIAL TYPE VEHICLES
DISPLAYING
          
LIVERY
 
As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.5
was moved by Councillor Majkowski and seconded by Councillor
Pollard.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  an amendment
(additional published papers Amendment H) was moved by
Councillor Ferriby and seconded by Councillor Hinchcliffe.
 
Following
a number of speakers in accordance with
Council Standing Order 18.12 Amendment H
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 of the following words, the motion be amended to read as
follows:
 
Council notes:
 
The majority of residents and businesses, including our residents who
are taxi drivers, dispose of their waste responsibly. We are
committed to enforcing against those people who do not.
 
Resident permits are
issued to all households which allow them to use any of the
district’s household waste and recycling centres
(HWRC).
 
By definition a HWRC is for household waste. Business, trade or
commercial waste of any kind is not permitted at any
HWRC.
 
ANPR cameras and
CCTV are in use at HWRCs at all times to
identify abuse of the HWRC policy.
 
Commercial waste is
only accepted at two main Transfer Stations where there are
weighbridges in place and payment can be taken.
 
A businessperson
would need to be registered as an ‘Upper Tier’ Waste
Carrier to transport a householder’s waste to a HWRC on their
behalf on a commercial basis.
 
Residents can check
if their waste carrier is registered to dispose of waste online
at:
https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers
 
However there
are occasions when a private individual not acting in a commercial
capacity can legitimately take another person’s household
waste to a HWRC, for example to help an elderly parent who would
otherwise find it difficult to take their own waste to a
site.
 
An HWRC policy must
therefore be pragmatic in supporting all residents who are trying
to legitimately dispose of their waste while preventing and
enforcing against commercial operators who don’t play by the
rules.
 
Sometimes a resident
uses a vehicle such as a van or a taxi for their own private
use.
 
A taxi must always
be kept clean and safe for the travelling public as per the
statutory requirements for a Private Hire Vehicle (S 48 LGMPA
1976).
 
Bradford Council is
committed to ensuring that the public is provided with a Hackney
Carriage and Private Hire Service which conforms to the required
standard of safety and comfort.
 
Council resolves to:
 
Strategic Director
Place to consider the issues
raised in this motion when undertaking their review of the HWRC
policy.
 
Strategic Director
Place to ensure any updated policy is clear, robust and supports
the fair and responsible use of HWRCs.
 
Request Strategic
Director Place to request officers from waste and taxi and private
hire teams to work together and take into consideration the
concerns raised about the abuse of HWRCs by commercial operators
and also have regard for neighbouring
authorities’ policies in ensuring best practice.
 
To be actioned by: Strategic Director
Place
 
 
12. 7   CHANGES TO
SCHOOL TRANSPORT PROVISION FOR   
  
           
CHILDREN WITH SEND IN BRADFORD DISTRICT
 
As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.7
was moved by Councillor Ros Brown and seconded by Councillor
Sutcliffe.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  an amendment
(additional published papers Amendment K) was moved by
Councillor Duffy and seconded by Councillor Hinchcliffe.
 
Following
a number of speakers in accordance with
Council Standing Order 18.12 Amendment K 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 of the following words, the motion be amended to read as
follows:
 
Council notes –
 
• Bradford
Council has a statutory duty to provide home to school transport
to
  children assessed as being “eligible”.
The categories of eligibility are
  established in legislation.
 
• Eligibility
is assessed by the Travel Assistance Service (TAS) and the
offer
  will be made as set out in the policy. This may
include:
 
• a bus pass
for independent travel
• a place on a
Passenger Transport Service bus
• a place in a
shared taxi and in exceptional circumstances (and according
to
  assessed need) students may be offered a taxi on
their own.
• or parents
can be offered a PTAB (personal transport assistance
budget).
 
• As of
December 2023 there were 6,800 children
with an EHC Plan. The
  number has risen steadily since 2019 and has
increased by 100% in the past
  five years.
 
• Over the last
two years, the taxi related costs have increased
significantly
  due to the increase in fuel costs as well as the
increase in numbers,
  although the number of children in taxis has
remained proportionately the
  same.
 
• Due to
increasing demand, children who have more complex needs, the
cost
  of fuel, personnel and general living costs, this
increase shows no sign of
  reducing.
 
• The Local
Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) published a
  focus report on school transport in 2017. The
report emphasised the need
  for Local Authorities to make decisions about
school transport in a fair, lawful
  and transparent manner, and offered advice and
guidance to parents and
  Local Authorities about the school transport
decision-making process. The
  LGSCO report resulted in several revisions to the
statutory national
  Transport Guidance, the latest of which occurred
in January 2024.
 
• In
addition the Isos Partnership report
into the SEND system nationally,
 commissioned by the County Councils Network and
Local Government
 Association, has reviewed the impact of the 2014
legislation and identified a
 number of national challenges, including home to
school transport.
 
• It is widely
accepted that nationally the SEND system is not delivering
the
  best possible outcomes for children and is not
financially sustainable in its
  current form. As a council we have repeatedly made
this point over recent
  years and will continue to press for much-needed
reforms.
 
Council also notes –
 
• Parents or
guardians are responsible for ensuring their child gets to
and
  from school safely. The Local Authority has a duty
to assist parents or
  guardians where a child has SEND or in other
specific circumstances, for
  example they are a child in care).
 
• In January
2024, the Department of Education updated its ‘Travel to
School’
  guidance regarding accompaniment of children with
SEND and Bradford
  Council has updated its own policies in response
to this.
 
• The new
guidance states that “A child will not normally be eligible
for free
   travel to school on the grounds of their
special educational needs, disability
   or mobility problem, or on the grounds that
the route is unsafe, if they would
   be able to walk to school if they were
accompanied.”
 
• When the
Council revised the policy to take account of the national
changes,
   the Council implemented this for all new
transport requests, but has
   reviewed existing arrangements on an
individual basis to determine if their
   needs have increased, remained the same,
decreased or the child is no
   longer eligible under the revised
policy. Around 130 children were assessed
   in the Summer Term and parents were informed
of the outcome
   accordingly. Other children are being
assessed as part of the annual
   process of reviewing transport.
 
• The challenge
of stress and hardship on many families across Bradford
   District who are no longer eligible for free
school transport due to the
   changes following the new national
guidance.
 
• The
significantly increased workload for SEND staff in schools and
the
   council supporting these families. In 2018
there were circa 800 children with
   SEND receiving transport assistance and in
2023 this number was circa
   1500.
 
• Since the new
guidance took effect, there have been 130+ Stage 2
appeals
  since 16th July with the District Appeals Panel
(DAP) meeting twice weekly
  up to the end of October to deal with the volume
of appeals. However, due to
  the increased workload, the DAP web pages do not
show the dates of these
  meetings or their agendas masking the impact on
families of the Council’s
 decisions.
 
Welcomes the good
intent already expressed by Bridget Phillipson MP, the new
Secretary of State for Education, who has said: “This
government’s ambition is that all children and young people
with SEND or in alternative provision receive the right support to
succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. We are
committed to improving inclusion and expertise in mainstream
schools."
 
Council resolves to –
 
• Leader of
Council write to local MPs asking for their support in calling on
the
  government to address the unsustainable pressures
on the SEND system
  and support our case that councils must be
adequately resourced to meet
  the greatly increased levels of need and the
duties arising from the new
  legislative framework.
 
• Requests the
Strategic Director of Children’s Services includes
information
  on SEND Transport as part of the wider annual
report on the progress and
  delivery of SEND provision and services across the
district to Overview and
  Scrutiny, including information of the work being
undertaken to support
  young people with SEND on the preparation for
adulthood. 
 
• Task the
Strategic Director with ensuring the District Appeals
Panel
  webpages and other key communications are kept
updated to support the
  transparency and accountability of the SEND system
and appeals process.
           
 
To be
actioned by:  Leader of the
Council/Strategic Director Children’s Services/Interim
Director of Legal and Governance
 
 
12.8    CALL TO
DIVEST THE WEST YORKSHIRE PENSION FUND FROM
          
COMPANIES THAT ARE COMPLICIT IN OR PROFIT FROM THE
          
VIOLATION OF PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS, INTERNATIONAL
          
LAW AND ACTS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING
 
A Motion as set out in the published agenda
was moved by Councillor Ward and seconded by Councillor Ishtiaq
Ahmed.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  an amendment
(additional published papers Amendment L) was moved by
Councillor Poulsen and seconded  by Councillor Pollard.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  a second
amendment (additional published papers Amendment M) was moved
by Councillor Thornton and seconded  by Councillor
Hinchcliffe.
 
Following
a number of speakers in accordance with
Council Standing Order 18.12 Amendment M 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 of the following words, the motion be amended to read as
follows:
 
 
Council notes:
 
That here in
Bradford district our heart goes out to all those who have been
killed or have lost someone in this ever
escalating conflict.
 
The Bradford Labour
Group has brought three motions on standing up for Gaza and
Palestinians since the conflict began, one of the first councils in
the country to pass such motions.  These
are listed here: 
 

·        
This
Council calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in
Gaza

·        
Bradford
Council calls for end to violence, making way for Peace

·        
Supporting
peace, justice and the rule of law
These motions were
explicit from the beginning in their demands for:
 
•       
An
immediate and permanent ceasefire
•       
The
immediate and unconditional release of all hostages
•       
Immediate,
urgent, humanitarian aid to the Palestinians and funding to help
them restore water, food, electricity and homes
•       
Ending the
bloodshed
•       
UK arms
sales not to be used in acts that amount to war crimes under
international law
There has been a
huge policy shift with the new Government from the previous
Government on this issue. The new Government has:
 
•       
Called for
an immediate ceasefire in Palestine and Lebanon
•       
Restored
funding to UNWRA, the UN’s aid agency for Gaza
•       
Completed a
review of UK arms exports licensing to Israel and has suspended 30
export licenses where there was a clear risk that exports, where
used for military operations in Gaza, might be used in serious
violations of International Humanitarian Law.
•       
Dropped the
challenge of the previous Government to contest the right of
the International Criminal Court to seek an arrest warrant for
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant. (ICC
Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan is also seeking an arrest warrant for
three top Hamas Leaders.)
This Council further notes:
 

1.   
That the
West Yorkshire Pension Fund’s investments are not controlled
by Bradford district councillors. 

2.   
The Supreme
Court held, in its judgment on the Palestine Solidarity Campaign
case, that pension funds cannot take into consideration political
preferences over what is required under their fiduciary
duty.

3.   
That WYPF
has a fiduciary duty to its pensioners and participating employers
whose money it invests on their behalf. 
This is not council money.

4.   
That WYPF
discloses all investments
on its website. This is updated at each financial year
end.

5.   
The United
Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) publishes a database of
companies involved in ‘specified activities’ in the
occupied Palestinian territory. WYPF does not have holdings in any
of these companies.
This Council resolves to:
 

1)   
Call on the
new UK Government to ensure that arms and military equipment either
designed or built in whole or in part in the UK is not used in acts
that amount to war crimes under international law.

2)   
Urge WYPF to uphold the highest standards
in its stated commitment to being a responsible investor taking
account of social, environmental and corporate governance
considerations in the selection, non-selection, retention and
realisation of investments for the benefit of its
members.

3)   
Call on the
new UK Government to comply with international law, and to abide by
any instructions or arrest warrants issued by the International
Criminal Court with regards to the ongoing investigation into war
crimes, including providing any and all support needed for the
“Application of the Convention on the Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip” before
the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal
Court’s investigation into war crimes in
Palestine.
 

4)   
Repeat our
calls for an immediate, permanent and lasting ceasefire in Gaza,
and an end to the collective punishment of Palestinians. Reiterate
the UK’s clear obligations under international law to support
international institutions, including the International Court of
Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court
(ICC).
 
To be actioned by: 
Director of West Yorkshire Pension Fund (2 above)
 
 
12.9
   STRENGTHENING BRADFORD’S
COMMITMENT                
   
           
TO ELIMINATING HATE CRIME IN BRADFORD DISTRICT
 
A Motion as set out in the published agenda
was moved by Councillor Kamran Hussain and seconded by Councillor
Hinchcliffe.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  an amendment
(additional published papers Amendment N) was moved by
Councillor Ishtiaq Ahmed and seconded  by Councillor
Elahi.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  a second
amendment (additional published papers Amendment O) was moved
by Councillor Pollard and seconded by Councillor Sullivan.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  a third
amendment (additional published papers Amendment P) was moved
by Councillor Watson and seconded by Councillor Edwards.
 
Following
a number of speakers in accordance with
Council Standing Order 18.12 Amendment P 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 of the following words, the motion be amended to read as
follows:
 
Council notes:–  
 
A series of
far-right racist riots took place across England this summer. The
riots caused destruction, distress and serious threats to public
safety.  
 
The riots did not
take place in our district, however they
were a shocking reminder of the ongoing need to take a zero
tolerance stand against hatred and violence and to build cohesive
communities.  
 
We thank our
partners who work with the Council across a
number of strategies including Hate Crime, Roma, and
Stronger Communities.  
 
We work closely with
VCS partners including Bradford Hate Crime Alliance (BHCA), Race
Equality Network (REN) and Hope Not Hate. West Yorkshire Police
also have a dedicated Hate Crime Officers and Community Engagement
Team.  
 
Events coming up
before the end of the year including:  
 

National Hate Crime Awareness Week 12th to 19th
October when the Council will be holding a series of events with
our colleagues from schools, area offices and partners including
Incommunities and
WYP.  

Black History Month in October with a series of
events planned. 

Islamophobia Awareness month in November when the
Council will be holding a number of
events to raise awareness of Islamophobia.  

The unveiling of the Commonwealth War Memorial on
6th November which will include a talk on the contribution of
Commonwealth soldiers from all across
the Commonwealth who fought heroically to support Britain in the
two world wars.  

As a council with
our partners we are also proud to be a
Local Authority of Sanctuary.  
 
Hate crime, defined
as any criminal act motivated by prejudice or hatred against an
individual or group based on characteristics such as race,
religion, sexual orientation, disability, or gender identity, poses
a significant threat to the safety and cohesion of our
communities.  
 
According to the
latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS),
reported hate crimes in England and Wales have increased by over
10% in the last year alone. Campaigns such as Kick it Out (founded
by the late, respected Lord Herman Ouseley) contribute to increasing the confidence of
victims to report.  
 
The ONS data
reveal that England and Wales continues
to become a less safe place for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people.
Hate crimes on the basis of sexual
orientation are up by 112% in the last five years. The increase in
hate crimes against trans people by 11% in a year, and by 186% in
the last five years. 
 
Council resolves to take the following further
actions to tackle hate in Bradford -  
 

Back the strengthened Bradford district Hate Crime
Strategy from the Bradford Hate Crime
Alliance.  

Develop the Bradford Council Cohesion strategy to
include strategies and systems to mitigate against conflict and
against incidents of racial discrimination. 

Repeat our commitment to working with people of all
faiths and none to make sure that Bradford District has a zero
tolerance of Islamophobia and Antisemitism and all types of racism
and discrimination. 

To continue the support for the LGBTIQA+
Community by supporting Bradford Pride, Keighley Pride and Ilkley
Pride (and look for new ways to increase support) and raising Pride
flags at appropriate occasions.  

Reaffirm our zero tolerance of hate and violence in
all its form by working closely with West Yorkshire Police and
other partners.  

Work with our partners to encourage reporting of
hate crime by promoting enhanced reporting
mechanisms.  

Launch targeted awareness campaigns to educate the
public about hate crime, its effects, and how to combat
it.  

Do training with community leaders on recognising,
responding to, and preventing hate crimes.  

Ensure a robust system is in place to monitor and
evaluate the effectiveness of our initiatives against hate crime,
including regularly review and report on the progress made to the
Overview Scrutiny Committee to ensure accountability and
transparency.  

Support victims – work with the police and
Victim Support to ensure comprehensive support services for victims
are easily accessible and sensitive to the needs of diverse
communities. 

By adopting this
motion, Bradford Council reaffirms its commitment to creating a
safe, inclusive and harmonious community for all its residents. We
recognise that tackling hate crime and racism requires a collective
effort, and together, we can work towards a future where everyone
in Bradford district feels welcome and valued. 
 
To be actioned by: Strategic Director
Place
 
 
After the moving
and seconding of Motion 12.10 and the amendments (Repairing Broken
UK Public Service Finances) the time reached 10pm.  A bell was
rung in accordance with council standing order 20.1.  No
further discussion was held and the
Motion was voted on without debate.
 
In accordance with
standing Order 20.2 Items 13 (Food Safety) and 14 (Review of
Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations 2024) were
deemed formally moved and seconded and voted on without debate.
 
 
 
12.10 
REPAIRING BROKEN UK PUBLIC SERVICE FINANCES
 
A Motion as set out in the published agenda
was moved by Councillor Hinchcliffe and seconded by Councillor
Imran Khan.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  an amendment
(additional published papers Amendment Q) was moved by
Councillor Pollard and seconded  by Councillor Felstead.
 
In accordance with Council Standing Orders
18.4  and 18.8  a second
amendment (additional published papers Amendment R) was moved
by Councillor Neil Whitaker and seconded by Councillor Hickson.
 
Amendment R was put
to the vote and was lost.
 
Amendment Q was put
to the vote and was lost.
 
Motion 12.10 as set
out below was put to the vote and was
carried.         
 
RESOLVED - That with the
addition of the following words, the motion be amended to read as
follows:
 
Council notes -
 
This council is implementing a robust plan to
address the financial challenges and achieve sustainability while
delivering on our ambitions for the place.
 
We welcome the new Chancellor Rachel
Reeves’ recent statement when she confirmed that there will
be no return to austerity.
 
Councils across the country are at breaking
point in their finances after 14 years of Conservative government
austerity cuts and dire economic growth, high inflation and rising
demands for children’s and adults’ social care.
 
Since 2011 the council has budgeted to deliver
over £350m in savings to contend with the funding cuts,
inflation and additional demand.
 
National funding cuts have had a
disproportionate impact on Bradford. Sigoma research
found that England’s 10% most deprived councils have faced
cuts three times that of the most affluent.
 
Independent analysis found that implementation
of local government funding reforms - which were long promised by
the previous Conservative governments but never delivered - would
benefit Bradford by around £32m a year.
 
A Treasury audit has uncovered a £22
billion black hole in public finances left by the previous
government, which includes specific departmental budget overspends
that the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was not aware of
and a £9bn contingency fund already spent three times
over.
 
The NHS is straining at the seams. Wes
Streeting, the new Secretary of State for Health, has said:
“From today, the policy of this department is that the NHS is
broken.”  Restoring the NHS, improving people’s
health and saving money in the long term will depend on investing
in prevention and early help services, which councils have a
crucial role in delivering.
 
As outlined in the King’s Speech that
“England is one of the most centralised economies in the
world and has some of the highest levels of geographic inequality.
Westminster does not have the local knowledge, capacity and
flexibility needed to take advantage of every opportunity available
in every place”.
 
Council resolves to
-
 
Support the Chief Executive and s151 officer
to continue rapid and sustained delivery of the required actions to
address the short-term financial challenge we face.
 
Work with the new Government which is
demonstrating the drive, energy and good intent to mend our public
services.
 
Use the welcome extension of the Household
Support Fund to support the most vulnerable residents and families
in the district.
 
Welcome the commitment to end competitive
bidding, pitching councils against each other and spending precious
time and money bidding for much needed small pots of funding.
 
Work towards the promised multi year
financial settlement for councils after the Spending Review next
year so that the council can plan for the medium term.
 
Take full advantage of the government's
commitment to devolve more power, resources and decision-making to
Mayoral Combined Authorities and to our local councils and
communities.
 
Support the Council’s Executive in
meeting with Government to promote Bradford district and the
opportunities for funding and investment, including council
funding, so that Bradford district can play our full part in the
Government’s push for growth and the council can achieve a
sustainable financial position as quickly as possible.
 
Work as one united team, Bradford district, to
bring investment and prosperity to all our residents, no matter
where you live in our city, towns or villages.
 
Welcome Total Place budgeting which would
enable us to work more closely with the local NHS so that a more
integrated partnership can deliver better health outcomes for our
residents and better budgets for our respective organisations.
 
To be actioned by:
Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Strategic Director
Corporate Resources
 
12.11  TACKLING THE EPIDEMIC OF
VIOLENCE                            
           
AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS
 
Resolved –
 
That under Council
Standing Order 9.1.6 Motion 12.11 Tackling the Epidemic of Violence
Against Women and Girls be withdrawn from the agenda.