The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss a performance report on domestic abuse and sexual violence, the council plan, and the committee's work programme for the coming year.

Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Performance Report

The Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (DASV) Board was scheduled to present a report updating the committee on work and progress to tackle domestic abuse and sexual violence across the Bradford district.

The report states that people in Bradford's most disadvantaged communities are disproportionately affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence, facing barriers to accessing support. The DASV partnership aims to challenge these inequalities by developing inclusive, trauma-informed services.

The report highlights that between July 2024 and June 2025, police recorded 18,335 domestic abuse incidents, a 2.1% increase from the previous year, with children present at 25.1% of these incidents. There were also 607 serious sexual offences recorded from April to June 2025.

The report also refers to Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs), statutory multi-agency reviews conducted when a person dies as a result of violence, abuse, or neglect by a related person, intimate partner, or household member. These reviews aim to identify lessons learned and improve responses to domestic abuse.

The report also details three commissioned services:

• Staying Put, which delivers a specialist support service for individuals (including families) experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse and/or sexual violence.
• The Bridge Project, which delivers a reducing violence and victimisation service.
• The Bridge Project, which delivers specialist services for individuals at risk of or engaged in sex work.

The report states that the local authority received £1.7 million in funding from the Home Office to enhance support within safe accommodation. This 'New Burdens' funding is being used to commission local providers, expanding the availability and quality of support services.

The report also refers to the Bradford Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy (2021– 2024), which outlines a framework for tackling domestic abuse and sexual violence across the district, and is currently undergoing review. The renewed strategy will build on the district's commitment to prevention, early intervention, and survivor-led approaches, ensuring services are responsive, inclusive, and effective.

The report details the work of the Support and Protection Sub-Group, the Sexual Violence Sub-group, the Early Intervention and Prevention Sub-group, and the Behaviour Change Sub-group.

The report also provides a financial and resource appraisal, stating that the main contract, devised into three lots, is co-commissioned with the council, the Integrated Care Board (ICB), and the Children and Families Trust. The total annual value of the contract is £2,486,257.

The report also states that the Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence Board reports through to the Community Safety Partnership (Safer Bradford) governance arrangements.

The report recommends that the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee acknowledges this report and recognises the wider work of the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence team, in delivering improved results.

Council Plan - Full-Year Performance Report 2024-25

The Assistant Director Office of the Chief Executive was scheduled to submit a report providing an overview of performance against the council's Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) set out in the Council Plan for the full municipal year 2024-25, along with a summary of some of the council's high-level achievements throughout the plan's lifespan.

The report notes that the 2021-2025 plan was developed whilst the council and its partners were dealing with the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also states that during 2024-25 the council has undertaken a comprehensive review of its performance management, and that the development of the new District Strategy 2025-2035 has set the context for the new Council Plan which will run from 2026-2030.

The report also refers to the creation of the Bradford Children's and Families Trust (BCFT), which came into operation on 1 April 2023, taking on responsibility for delivering children's early help and social care services.

The report highlights good performance in homelessness prevention, improvements to existing homes, air quality improvements, reduced council carbon emissions, domestic council tax collection, spending with the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE), and adults with learning difficulties able to live in their own homes.

The report also notes areas where positive progress has been made, but where targets have not been met, including people aged 16-64 qualified to Level 3 and targeted initiatives to attract and retain a workforce that better reflects the district's population.

The report also identifies areas of concern where performance targets have not been met, including the reduction in years of healthy life expectancy since 2017, the total number of additional homes delivered in 2024- 25, adult physical activity, recycling rates, and road safety.

The report also details key achievements from 2021-25, including:

• Regeneration projects such as Bradford Live, Darley Street Market, and One City Park.
• Bradford securing the UK City of Culture 2025 designation.
• Skills and employment initiatives such as the Skills for Work programme and Keighley College's Centre of Excellence.
• The Adult Social Care's innovative hospital discharge process, Bradford Respite Intermediate Care Support Services (BRICSS).
• Parks and leisure improvements, including Green Flag status for six parks in the district.
• Sustainability initiatives such as the Bradford Clean Air Zone and the HyBradford project.
• The council's comprehensive transformation programme aimed at restoring financial stability.

The report includes a RAG rating against KPIs in each outcome area, and performance against KPIs.

The report recommends that the committee notes the performance against the key performance indicators in the 2021-25 Council Plan, and that members comment on the council's performance over the last 12 months.

Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Work Programme 2025/26

Councillor Nazam Azam, Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, was scheduled to submit a report which includes topics for the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme for 2025/26. The committee was asked to consider the work programme.

The report notes that the council constitution requires all Overview and Scrutiny Committees to produce a work programme, and that best practice suggests that work programming should be a continuous process .

The report states that the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee has responsibility for the strategies, plans, policies, functions and services directly relevant to the corporate priority about customer services and e-government, that improve the Councils ability to deliver, govern and change, community cohesion and all other corporate matters not falling within the responsibility of any other Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The report recommends that members consider and comment on the areas of work in this municipal year, and that members consider any detailed scrutiny reviews that they may wish to conduct.

Appendix One of the report lists the 2025-26 Work Programme for the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, including agenda items such as:

• Finance Position Statement for 2024-25.
• Quarter 1 Finance Position Statement for 2025-26.
• Meduim Term Financial Strategy 2026-31.
• Council Tax and Business Rates.
• 2025-26 Draft Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme.
• Draft Cohesion Strategy.
• Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence.
• 2024-25 Annual Performance Outturn.
• Allotments
• Anti-Poverty Strategy.
• Workforce Development Strategy.
• District Plan.
• Draft Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25.
• Quarter 2 Financial Position Statement 2025-26.
• Equality, Inclusion and Diversity Plan.
• Hate Crime.
• Road Safety.
• West Yorkshire Joint Services.
• Safer Communities Performance Plan.
• Gambling.
• Armed Forces Covenant.
• Implementation of Universal Credit across the District.
• Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Service.

Appendix Two of the report lists unscheduled topics, including:

• Domestic Abuse Scrutiny Review.
• ISG.
• The Social Value and Procurement Policy.