Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: July 8, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Motion 12.4 -      BRADFORD’S RESPONSE TO THE NATIONAL AUDIT ON GROUP-BASED CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE Motion 12.8 -      BRADFORD DISTRICT’S RESPONSE TO BARONESS                               CASEY NATIONAL AUDIT ON GROUP-BASED CHILD                     SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE   Motion 12.4 As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.4 was moved by Councillor Poulsen and seconded by Councillor Falak Ahmed.   In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4  and 18.8  an amendment (additional published papers Amendment H) was moved by Councillor Hinchcliffe and seconded  by Councillor Duffy.     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 and deletion of the appropriate words, the motion be amended to read as follows:   Council notes:   ·         Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime that blights the lives of victims. ·         Bradford invited the Home Secretary to visit Bradford and subsequently welcomed Baroness Casey as part of the Bradford district safeguarding partnership when she did her National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. ·         We have already provided Baroness Casey with the 74 reports and independent investigations that have already been published on CSE in Bradford district. These include statistical data on perpetrators and victims and their ethnicity. ·         We strongly support the police in securing justice for victims and survivors. To date 52 perpetrators have received prison sentences totalling 570 years from prosecutions of non-recent cases in our district. More prosecutions are pending. ·         We welcome the findings of the independent National Audit into Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse carried out by Baroness Casey. ·         We welcome the Prime Minister’s endorsement of all Baroness Casey’s recommendations including to hold a national inquiry. ·         We have said we will play our full part in any national inquiry, accepting that the terms of reference and Chair is yet to be announced. ·         West Yorkshire is one of only three police force areas cited in Baroness Casey’s Audit which, going back years, does capture the ethnicity data of perpetrators and victims, hence why Baroness Casey determines that disproportionate numbers of men from Asian ethnic backgrounds were amongst the suspects for group-based child sexual exploitation. West Yorkshire Police are cited as an example of good practice. ·         We welcome government’s commitment to take forward the recommendations from Professor Alexis Jay’s Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse which was published in 2022. That report took seven years, heard 7,000 personal testimonies and considered two million pages of evidence.  Council resolves to:   ·         Take a full part in any national inquiry once this is ready to set terms, appoint a Chair and start. ·         Urge Government to conduct such an inquiry speedily to make sure victims and survivors can give their testimonies now and not wait more years to do so. ·         Ask the Chief Executive to review Baroness Casey’s Audit and recommendations; and to see how we measure against those locally, making improvements where we have the power to do so. ·         Continue to press Government to implement all 20 existing recommendations from the Baroness Jay Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse which was published in 2022. ·         Continue following the example of former Keighley Labour MP Ann Cryer in always keeping victims, survivors and their families front of mind,providing practical as well as therapeutic support. ·         Continue to: a) work with the police to support survivors in securing justice in non recent cases; and b) work with district partners and national bodies to share and improve practice in protecting children at risk today. ·         Press government for the national investment that is required to ensure high-quality mental health and trauma-informed support is available for victims and survivors of these horrific crimes. ·         Not let the depravity of a minority of men, condemned by all people in the Bradford district, marginalise whole communities.   To be actioned by: Chief Executive/Strategic Director Children’s Services/All Strategic Directors    Motion 12.8   As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.8 was moved by Councillor Hinchcliffe and seconded by Councillor Duffy.   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 Falak Ahmed.     Following a number of speakers in accordance with Council Standing Order 18.12 the Amendment and Motion were put to the vote. Amendment “L” was put to the vote and lost.  Motion 12.8 as set out below was put to the vote and was carried.                Resolved –   Council notes:   ·   Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime that blights the lives of victims. ·   Bradford invited the Home Secretary to visit Bradford and subsequently welcomed Baroness Casey as part of the Bradford district safeguarding partnership when she did her National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. ·   We have already provided Baroness Casey with the 74 reports and independent investigations that have already been published on CSE in Bradford district. These include statistical data on perpetrators and victims and their ethnicity. ·   We strongly support the police in securing justice for victims and survivors. To date 52 perpetrators have received prison sentences totalling 570 years from prosecutions of non-recent cases in our district. More prosecutions are pending. ·   We welcome the findings of the independent National Audit into Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse carried out by Baroness Casey. ·   We welcome the Prime Minister’s endorsement of all Baroness Casey’s recommendations including to hold a national inquiry. ·   We have said we will play our full part in any national inquiry, accepting that the terms of reference and Chair is yet to be announced. ·   West Yorkshire is one of only three police force areas cited in Baroness Casey’s Audit which, going back years, does capture the ethnicity data of perpetrators and victims, hence why Baroness Casey determines that disproportionate numbers of men from Asian ethnic backgrounds were amongst the suspects for group-based child sexual exploitation. West Yorkshire Police are cited as an example of good practice. ·   We welcome government’s commitment to take forward the recommendations from Professor Alexis Jay’s Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse which was published in 2022. That report took seven years, heard 7,000 personal testimonies and considered two million pages of evidence.   Council resolves to:   ·   Take a full part in any national inquiry once this is ready to set terms, appoint a Chair and start. ·   Urge Government to conduct such an inquiry speedily to make sure victims and survivors can give their testimonies now and not wait more years to do so. ·   Ask the Chief Executive to review Baroness Casey’s Audit and recommendations; and to see how we measure against those locally, making improvements where we have the power to do so. ·   Continue to press Government to implement all 20 existing recommendations from the Baroness Jay Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse which was published in 2022. ·   Continue following the example of former Keighley Labour MP Ann Cryer in always keeping victims, survivors and their families front of mind, providing practical as well as therapeutic support. ·   Continue to: a) work with the police to support survivors in securing justice in non recent cases; and b) work with district partners and national bodies to share and improve practice in protecting children at risk today. ·   Press government for the national investment that is required to ensure high-quality mental health and trauma-informed support is available for victims and survivors of these horrific crimes. ·   Not let the depravity of a minority of men, condemned by all people in the Bradford district, marginalise whole communities.   To be actioned by:  Chief Executive/Strategic Director Children’s Services/All Strategic Directors     Motion 12.6 – CONDEMNATION OF ISRAEL’S GENOCIDE IN GAZA,                     ILLEGAL MILITARY ASSAULT IN IRAN, AND THE UK                  GOVERNMENT’S COMPLICITY OF WAR CRIMES AND                           BREACHES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW   Motion 12.10 – MIDDLE EAST FOCUS MUST REMAIN ON GAZA   Motion 12.6   As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.6 was moved by Councillor Saleem and seconded by Councillor Saddiq.   Following a number of speakers Motion 12.6 was put to the vote and  was lost.   Motion 12.10   As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.10 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 N) was moved by Councillor Hinchcliffe and seconded  by Councillor Imran Khan.     Following a number of speakers in accordance with Council Standing Order 18.12 Amendment N 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:   The deaths of so many civilians show why we must all push for peace and stop the violence.  Even the UK’s Attorney General is reported to have raised questions about whether Israel’s attack on Iran was a breach of international law.  After the US joined its might to the war, the UN Secretary General rightly said that we should all be gravely alarmed by this use of force by Netanyahu’s government, which was a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge. The situation became so volatile that air space in the region was closed.  As a result, Bradford residents were prevented from coming home.  They were left without adequate advice and support.   Now, through its actions Netanyahu’s government is clearly demonstrating that what is being prosecuted in the region is a war of aggression.    The new attacks on Iran are masking an ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza.  We must not look away.   Israel is perpetrating genocide in the Gaza Strip right now, according to a study published on December 5 by the human rights organization Amnesty International.   UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese is now reporting: “Patterns of violence against the group as a whole warrant the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in order to cease, prevent and punish genocide in the whole of the occupied Palestinian territory” Tirana Hassan, Executive director at Human Rights Watch said. “This isn’t just negligence; it is a calculated policy of deprivation that has led to the deaths of thousands from dehydration and disease that is nothing short of the crime against humanity of extermination, and an act of genocide.”   We condemn the disgraceful comments about turning Gaza into an investment opportunity as a holiday camp which amount to ethnic cleansing and apartheid. This morning the latest idea from Israeli Defence Secretary Katz is that Palestinians should be moved into an open air prison on what’s left of Raffah and not let out.  This is outrageous and must be universally condemned.    At least 57,000 people have been killed in Gaza during the war, according to the territory’s health ministry including thousands of innocent women and children.   Starvation is being used as a weapon of war which in itself is a war crime.  There is forced displacement and attacks on healthcare workers.  As a result children are starving and when they try and access aid they are at risk of being shot and killed.   We welcome the action by the UK Government in many areas of this war, these are steps in the right direction but it must go further   UK Government has sanctioned two of the right-wing members of the Israeli Government. This has to be a starting point.  We want to see widespread sanctions. withdrawing export licences for arms that Israel could use in Gaza.  We want a stop to all arms sales to Israel supporting the ICC and ICJ in prosecuting war crimes – we want to see more support for these organisations from the UK Government to effectively prosecute their cases. commitment to a two-state solution with a full independent, sovereign state of Palestine – the time for recognition is now and cannot wait. condemnation of illegal settlement expansion which is undermining the establishment of two states.  Settler violence is shocking and must be stopped.   The very foundations of the international rules-based order is under threat.   The recent ICJ Advisory opinion details the legal consequences arising from the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination from its prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of Palestinian territory.   We ask the world to wake up.  Don’t look away from what is happening to people in Gaza, starving with no safe access to food and water.    We are grateful to Bradford Labour MPs for their support to Bradford residents who were stranded in the Middle East.  We are thankful these residents are now home.  But the FCDO must learn from this episode and provide more comprehensive support for UK citizens stranded abroad in conflict.   Council resolves to ask the UK Government to:   Push for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. Learn lessons from residents from the Bradford district and UK citizens who were stranded.  End all arms sales to Israel. Provide immediate humanitarian aid to Gaza. Support UNWRA to provide this humanitarian aid, not the latest GHF which puts people at risk of losing their lives when they seek food. Ask the Government to immediately respond with rigour and action to the ICJ advisory opinion on the occupied territories Bring in widespread sanctions against Israel Demand all hostages be released. Immediately recognise Palestine as an independent sovereign state. Push to quickly reconvene the conference in New York which was postponed in June.  This was led by Macron to recognise the state of Palestine. Support the ICC and ICJ in prosecuting war crimes. Set out a plan for how the UK will uphold its responsibilities under international law, including how it will use the mechanisms at its disposal to uphold the independence, mandates and decisions of the international courts including the ICJ advisory opinion. Denounce the building of settlements in the West Bank and outline what tangible steps it will take to oppose further settlement activity   We re-commit ourselves here in Bradford to being a City of Sanctuary, a place where all our residents are welcome, no matter what their faith or race, a place where Islamophobia and Antisemitism are not tolerated.   At this point under Council Standing Order 9.1.2 a vote was taken to re-order the business on the agenda to move Motion 12.9 (Working to Eliminate Child Poverty)to be the next Motion to be considered.   Resolved –   That under Council Standing Order 9.1.2 to re-order the business on the agenda to moveMotion 12.9(Working to Eliminate Child Poverty) to be the next Motion to be considered.     12.9    WORKING TO ELIMINATE CHILD POVERTY   As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.9 was moved by Councillor Kamran Hussain and seconded by Councillor Duffy.   In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4  and 18.8  an amendment (additional published papers Amendment M) was moved by Councillor Loy and seconded  by Councillor Felstead.    Following a number of speakers in accordance with Council Standing Order 18.12. Amendment “M” was put to the vote and lost.  Motion 12.9 as set out below was put to the vote and was carried.         Resolved –   Council notes:   Entrenched poverty is an indictment of our country. We have a duty to support all children to have a good start in life.   Poverty is of great cost to the country. There is a moral and financial imperative to tackle its root causes.   The new Unicef UK report ‘Held back from the start: the impact of deprivation on early childhood’, has found that across a range of key indicators, young children living in areas with higher levels of deprivation and child poverty have poorer outcomes. They are more likely to experience obesity and severe dental decay and present in emergency health settings; and are less likely to reach a ‘good level of development’ in school reception class.   There are 55,330 children in the Bradford district - 44.2% of all 0-15 year olds - living in relative poverty, compared to 34.2% in 2015.   63% of children in relative poverty are in working households.   There is significant inequality in the country and in our district. The proportion of children in relative poverty is as high as more than 70% in Manningham and over 65% in Bradford Moor, Toller and Keighley Central.   We are committed to delivering regeneration and creating more good jobs, which is key to improving people’s lives in the longer term.   We provide a range of support services with our partners to tackle and alleviate poverty in the Bradford district. This includes:   ·   The auto-enrolment of children on free school meals, increasing uptake to improve children’s health and learning while easing the financial burden on hard-pressed families ·   Our delivery of a cost of living action plan in the winter months, including advice and support with energy bills, help with home insulation, welfare and debt advice, the provision of warm spaces and access to affordable food. ·   Our provision of food support to Food pantries and Foodbanks, expansion of our Fuel Poverty Service and the provision of cots and child beds, baby bedding and household safety bundles to 910 families identified as in-need by child health and social care professionals and community organisations, through the Household Support Fund ·   Delivery of the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme – 12,641 children participated in 4,006 activities last summer ·   Our provision of free doorstep play spaces for children through Play Streets ·   Our rollout of the Living Well schools programme, including Poverty Awareness training for school staff, 14 Poverty Toolkits for senior leaders, commissioning a 'Nearly new uniform and school resource' network for all schools and providers, providing a free Support Directory of Providers and Resources to help schools reduce the impacts of poverty in their communities, developed a Pupil Voice survey to help schools gather insights from pupils themselves around poverty. ·   Extension of the Warm Homes Discount, meaning an extra £150 per eligible household.   Council also notes the Labour government’s fifth mission of government “to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child, at every stage and shatter the class ceiling”.   Council welcomes the government’s measures so far to tackle child poverty, including opening free breakfast clubs in every primary school, cutting the cost of school uniforms, increasing the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes and ensuring over half a million more children can access a free school meal.   Council resolves:   ·   To ask officers to review the council’s approach to tackling child poverty as a district dedicated to giving all children the best possible start in life ·   To invite the Government Minister leading on the child poverty taskforce to visit Bradford and work with her to build on our actions to mitigate and tackle root causes of child poverty ·   To call on government to remove the two-child benefit cap as part of our shared mission to lift children out of poverty and to consider children when developing policies and making decisions across government departments.   To be actioned by:  Strategic Director, Children’s Services   At this point under Council Standing Order 9.1.2 a vote was taken to further to re-order the business on the agenda to move Motion 12.7 (Restoring Youth Provision and Tackling Youth Crime/ASB in the Bradford District)to be the next Motion to be considered.   Resolved –   That under Council Standing Order 9.1.2 to re-order the business on the agenda to move Motion 12.7 (Restoring Youth Provision and Tackling Youth Crime/ASB in the Bradford District) to be the next Motion to be considered.       12.7    RESTORING YOUTH PROVISION AND TACKLING YOUTH           CRIME/ASB IN THE BRADFORD DISTRICT    As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.7 was moved by Councillor Islam and seconded by Councillor Uddin.   In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4  and 18.8  an amendment (additional published papers Amendment J) was moved by Councillor Davies and seconded  by Councillor Winnard.   In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4  and 18.8 a further amendment (additional published papers Amendment K) was moved by Councillor Kamran Hussain and seconded  by Councillor Duffy.   Following a number of speakers Under Council Standing Order 18.16.5  a vote was taken to adjourn the debate.   Resolved –   That under Council Standing Order 18.16.5 the debate be adjourned for 20 minutes.   After reconvening and 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 and deletion of the appropriate words, the motion be amended to read as follows:   Council notes:   Antisocial behaviour continues to be a concern for residents and businesses in the district and across the country.   Youth provision is an important part of a comprehensive multiagency approach to tackling ASB and supporting young people to enjoy fulfilling and productive lives.   We are committed to supporting our young people to enjoy a good start in life.   Youth services have been cut across the country in the Conservative government’s austerity years, however here in Bradford we have successfully protected our youth services from those cuts more than most. During the last 10 years there has been no loss of support for young people in the Bradford district.   Bradford Council youth service has maintained a face-to-face youth work budget of approximately £2 million, ensuring weekly youth provision throughout the district.   We have grown and expanded the youth provision into new areas of work including partnerships with all secondary schools, public health and neighbourhood policing teams. As a result, Bradford Youth Service provides over 20,000 youth sessions each year, supports over 1,800 referrals for 1:1 support and works with local community based organisations to enhance the youth offer.   We also invest in the specialist Breaking the Cycle service which works within the Bradford Children and Families Trust to support young people at risk of being exploited. The team provides direct 1:1 intensive support that seeks to build trust and safeguard children from harm.   The Safer Bradford Partnership was recently awarded up to £200,000 by the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership to be a pilot area for ‘Prevention Panels’. These Panels seek to reduce street violence and knife crime by working with young people at an early stage so they do not get drawn into gangs or organised crime.   The SAFE Taskforce is working with 10 district secondary schools to reduce youth violence. Improving attendance and reducing exclusions and suspensions is known to reduce serious youth violence and the taskforce has achieved impressive results with a vulnerable cohort.   The big reduction in spending on youth services nationally through Conservative austerity had a secondary impact on investment into Youth Work education and training, with very few students looking to get youth work qualifications. In Bradford we have addressed this since 2017 by having apprenticeship programmes and Youth Ambassadors which enables us to 'grown our own' youth workers.   Knife crime is a concern among young people, as noted in our recent motion of 11 March in which we committed to supporting our youth service, working with the West Yorkshire Mayor on implementing the serious violence strategy, working with Youth Justice to prevent reoffending, working with the VCS on evidence-based support and prevention activities and working with schools and other partners to identify further opportunities to help protect young people and invest in their futures.   By speaking positively about our young people and celebrating their talents, together we can foster a brighter future for the next generation, ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to succeed.   Council resolves to:   ·         Call on the government to prioritise the needs of young people in all its investment decisions and in its funding allocations to local authorities.   ·         Continue working with the Mayor and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the police, health and VCS partners on a multiagency basis and through the Violence Reduction Partnership to ensure Bradford has a fair share of investment and deploys good practice to address knife crime, antisocial behaviour and youth disengagement.   ·         Take the time to celebrate our young people and the local community activists and organisations that tirelessly work to support and empower them. Their dedication in providing support, mentorship and resources helps create an environment where our youth can thrive and reach their full potential. By recognising and honouring the efforts of these individuals and groups, we not only show our appreciation but also inspire further commitment to the positive development of our community.   To be actioned by: Strategic Director, Place   At this point under Council Standing Order 9.1.2 a vote was taken to further re-order the business on the agenda to move Motion 12.3 (Allying with Disabled People in Bradford)to be the next Motion to be considered.   Resolved –   That under Council Standing Order 9.1.2 to re-order the business on the agenda to move Motion 12.3 (Allying with Disabled People in Bradford) to be the next Motion to be considered.     12.3    ALLYING WITH DISABLED PEOPLE IN BRADFORD   As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.3 was moved by Councillor Ros Brown and seconded by Councillor Love.   In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4 and 18.8 an amendment (additional published papers Amendment E) was moved by Councillor Pollard and seconded by Councillor Felstead.   In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4 and 18.8 an amendment (additional published papers Amendment F) was moved by Councillor Ferriby and seconded by Councillor Duffy.   In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4 and 18.8 an amendment (additional published papers Amendment G) was moved by Councillor Ross Brown and seconded by Councillor Love.     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 and deletion of the appropriate words, the motion be amended to read as follows:   This Council notes:?    Government proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper on disability benefits cuts published on 18th March set out a planned net reduction in welfare spending of £4.8 billion per year by 2029-30. These proposals will narrow the eligibility criteria to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and reduce health-condition related Universal Credit (UC-H). By 2030 they are expected to result in:?  reduced payments to 3.2m families, with an average income loss of £1720 per year?  250,000 individuals driven in to relative poverty?  700,000 families falling further below the poverty line?  30% of families with a disabled member being worse off as a result of the changes?  More women will be affected by the loss of PIP than men??  According to the Resolution Foundation 200,000 families stand to lose, on average, £4,200 per year, and 600,000 families stand to lose £4,940 from the combined PIP and UC-H cuts.?  In addition to the above national funding cuts,?people paying for daycare services in the Bradford District will be affected by the removal of the “discretionary buffer” to the Minimum Income Guarantee, negatively affecting their disposable income, and increasing their payments for services over two years by £10 - £50 per week.?    This Council further notes that:    More than 120 Labour MPs signed an amendment declining to give the Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill a second reading in the House of Commons due to the impact of the bill on people living with disabilities.    That the Bill was significantly amended by the Labour Government, on 1st July at the last-minute following this “rebellion”.     That the Bill committed more money upfront to support disabled people finding work.    The Bill now:    Will delay the changes to restrict eligibility for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) until after a review of the disability benefit instead of coming into force in November 2026.  Commits to the co-production of the review with disabled people  However, the bill is still bringing in huge cuts to Universal Credit for disabled people. New health element claimants will receive half the amount of support that current claimants get.    Disability charities, such as SCOPE, are still calling for the Bill to be scrapped due to the impact on disabled people and the fact that the changes to UC-H will still push some of the most vulnerable people in society further into poverty.  The DWP has published the Terms of Reference for review of PIP assessment. It says the review will be co-produced with Disabled people through wide engagement with stakeholders starting with the timetable over the summer.    PIP is not an ‘out of work benefit’ but a payment to support independent living whether in or out of work, and in fact makes working possible for many.?  Over 150,000 unpaid carers are at risk of losing this support if the person they care for no longer qualifies for PIP. In Bradford, families already stretched by the cost-of-living crisis may be forced to give up work to take up more caring responsibilities or seek emergency support from our already stretched local services.?  For local authorities, the costs incurred could still be huge. The Disability Policy Centre estimates that for every £1 lost in disability benefits, councils will face £1.50 in additional care costs. In Bradford — where adult social care is under extreme pressure — this cost-shifting exercise could jeopardise Bradford Council’s ability to deliver essential services and fulfil its statutory duties.?  If the changes to PIP still go ahead, even after the review, the long-term strain on the NHS will be severe.  An estimated £1.2 billion in additional NHS costs is expected due to deteriorating health among disabled people losing PIP. This will mean more hospital admissions, delayed discharges, and increased demand on GPs and mental health services — the impacts in Bradford, where NHS resources are already overstretched, would be strongly felt.?  ?  This Council believes:?    Disabled people have the right to live with dignity and respect.??  The proposed cuts to the health-condition related element of Universal Credit (UC-H) still amount to an unacceptable attack on Disabled people of all ages.   PIP is essential for many to live independently and to participate in work, education and society. Removing it will deepen hardship and cost more in the long run?  These cuts are not meaningful reform — they will only offload national costs onto people with disabilities, carers, local councils and the NHS.?  Disabled people must not be made to pay the price for a broken and underfunded care system.??    This Council further believes:    That the proposed cuts are also likely to have wider adverse impacts on our community, our local economy and the council’s finances. These include:?    Reduced local spending - Disabled residents spending income in local shops and on local services.?  Increased pressure on social services - the council has the same statutory responsibilities under the Care Act 2014 but residents’ ability to contribute to care costs is reduced.?  Increased use of food banks and food hubs - 75% of food bank visits are from households with one or more Disabled members.?    This Council resolves to:?     ?1. Request the Leader of the Council writes to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, urging them    To withdraw the proposed UC-H cuts, citing their damaging impact on health, wellbeing, local government finances in Bradford and the unwelcome creation of a discriminatory two-tier benefits system.  To commit to reaching out to Disabled people in Bradford and the local organisations supporting those with disabilities to ensure stakeholders within the Bradford District co-produce the review the Minister has promised.   ?2. Request the Leader of the Council writes to Bradford’s Members of Parliament, calling on them to oppose these proposals in Parliament, engage in the co-production of the review with Disabled people and stand up for the needs of their constituents.?    3. Assess and publish urgently the likely impact of the proposed changes to residents in our council area.?    4. Commit to supporting Bradford residents affected by the changes, including:?    Ensuring access to advice and guidance,?  Signposting to financial support,?  Working with local voluntary and community organisations to respond to existing and rising needs.?  Making sure re-assessments for financial support for those on very low incomes do not reduce access to daycare. ?    To be actioned by: Strategic Director Adult Social Care and Health/Strategic Director of Corporate Resources/Strategic Director Place   MOTION 12.2 -         SUPPORTING ON-STREET AND NEAR-HOME EV CHARGING  ACROSS THE DISTRICT     As set out in the published agenda Motion 12.2 was moved by Councillor Brendan Stubbs and seconded by Councillor Griffiths.   In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4  and 18.8  an amendment (additional published papers Amendment C) was moved by Councillor Sullivan and seconded  by Councillor Russell Brown.   In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4  and 18.8  an amendment (additional published papers Amendment D) was moved by Councillor Ross-Shaw and seconded  by Councillor Ferriby.   After the moving and seconding of the Motion 12.2 and the Amendments, in accordance with Council Standing Order 19 Councillor Stubbs proposed and Councillor Warnes seconded that the Motion and amendments be immediately moved straight to the vote.   Resolved –   That under Council Standing Order 19 the Motion and amendments be put to the vote immediately.     In accordance with Council Standing Order 18.12 Amendment D 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:    This Council Notes:   The UK Government’s large-scale funding for EV charging: a £381 million Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund is being used to install “tens of thousands of local chargepoints” across England, targeting areas with low levels of off-street parking.   In June 2025, Ministers announced a plan for over 100,000 new local chargepoints, especially for drivers “without access to off-street parking”. The OZEV On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS, 2017–2024) also funded over 12,000 on-street chargers (£44 m) to help those without home chargers.   National grants now include a £350 EV home-charging grant for households installing a cross-pavement charging solution where they only have on-street parking.   ‘EV equity’ campaigns have highlighted the issue: for example, Vauxhall’s “Electric Streets of Britain” campaign stresses that approximately 40% of UK households lack a driveway. It also highlights that Bradford is barely ahead of demand for on-street charging, and less than 20% of homes are within a ‘4-minute walk’ of street charging points.   Transport for the North reports that 47% of Northern households lack driveways (compared to 40% nationally), noting that this causes a “significant disadvantage” in EV charging costs and access.   Industry analyses (e.g., char.gy) warn of a charging “divide” where profitable areas receive chargers, while disadvantaged neighbourhoods (with more terraced housing and rentals) risk being left behind.   Other Councils are acting: Birmingham is piloting 560 lamppost chargers across streets with limited off-street parking. This is more difficult in Bradford as most of our lampposts are aligned away from the kerb. Manchester is trialling 45 on-street cable channels (flush to the pavement) to allow home charging cables to pass safely to on-street parked vehicles. Kensington & Chelsea have trialled street-light chargers after finding that up to 46% of inner-city households in London have no driveway.   Bradford Council is already implementing policies to improve access to EV charging. In 2013 we were one of the first Local Planning Authorities in the country to implement EV charge point standards for new developments, which has now seen over 10,000 charge points installed. We have partnered with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and GeniePoint to install 22 rapid (50kW) chargers across Bradford. We are using Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding to provide charging points in residential areas where off-street parking is limited, and surveying residents to suggest the best locations. Bradford Council declared a climate emergency, including the aim of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2038 and the promotion of EVs in all wards.   This Council Believes:   Access to cheap home charging is a key factor in EV uptake. Households without private parking face higher costs and inconvenience. Independent data show the typical EV owner without a home charger spends about £1,690/year on charging, roughly £1,000 more than someone who can charge at home. This cost gap is worsened by VAT (20% on public charging vs 5% at home), putting a disproportionate burden on those without driveways. This effectively constitutes a tax on individuals who cannot afford or access a home charger.   Lack of driveways suppresses EV ownership and equity. Many wards across the district have terraced houses and flats with no private parking. These areas often have lower incomes and poor air quality, and they are hardest hit by a lack of charging stations.   People without driveways are currently unable to legally run a charging cable across the pavement, forcing them to rely on scarce public charging points. We believe that every resident should have equitable access to EV charging, regardless of their home parking situation, and that addressing this gap is vital to meeting our Clean Air Zone, climate, and transport goals.   If many households cannot afford to charge at home, it creates a two-tier system where only better-off and suburban residents can easily switch to electric vehicles. Bradford’s CAZ and net-zero targets depend on city-wide EV adoption. Failing to provide on-street charging solutions risks uneven uptake and prolongs the use of petrol and diesel in the worst-affected areas.   This Council Resolves To:   Develop and pilot safe on-street cable solutions: A pilot policy for on-street EV charging is to be discussed at the Executive Committee shortly and work will continue to develop this policy further.   Maximise Government funding and grants:   ·         Continue applying for LEVI and successor funds for on-street charging, ensuring Bradford receives its full allocation. The success of securing funding alongside our Clean Air Zone means we now have the largest EV taxi fleet in the country outside of London. ·         Signpost residents to potential funding sources they can apply for. Ensure any council-operated charging points use transparent pricing designed to favour overnight charging (for instance, no higher than home electricity rates). Advocate for the adoption of flat-rate or capped tariffs to ensure predictable costs for residents.   Write to the Chancellor and the district's MPs to lobby for VAT parity, pressing for public EV charging VAT to be reduced to 5%, in line with domestic electricity. Ask them to support any national “Right to Charge” legislation or similar initiatives that remove barriers.   Publish annual data on on-street charger installations, usage and unmet demand (e.g. waiting lists) by ward. Update Bradford’s Transport Strategy or EV Charging Strategy yearly to reflect progress, ensuring the Council’s pledged actions (from the Climate Plan) are tracked. Include feedback from residents’ surveys, campaigns, and evaluation of any pilots (cable channels, lamppost chargers).   Roll out the LEVI funded 200 EV charge points across the district, which will greatly improve access to EV charging for all residents.   To be actioned by:  Strategic Director Place   MOTION 12.1           SAFEGUARDING BRADFORD’S COUNCIL HOUSING MOTION 12.5           EFFECTIVELY PROMOTING AND STRENGTHENING                                BRADFORD’ S ECONOMY   Resolved –   That under Council Standing Order 9.1.6 Motions 12.1 and 12.5 above be withdrawn from the agenda.