Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: December 10, 2024

Purpose:

Content: The Leader of the Council provided written responses as well as an oral response to Question 5 to the following public questions that had been submitted:   Question 1   What action is being taken to ensure the preservation of the Grade 2* listed Cotton Mill on Low Mill Lane in Keighley, which is also regionally significant as Yorkshire’s oldest Cotton Mill?   Response   Council Officers are aware that various third parties are actively looking at proposals which would involve conversion of the Grade II* listed building to the east of Gresley Road, known both as the Old Cotton Mill and Low Mill, although we are not currently dealing with any live planning applications. Our planning enforcement team have been involved in the recent past to ensure that the Grade II* listed Old Cotton Mill remains in a safe condition, but there has been no recent activity or notice served. Our Building Control team periodically check the condition of the building to assess if it presents any danger to the public. At present it is not considered dangerous, but we continue to carefully monitor the status of the property.   Separately the Council has highlighted the importance of bringing the Old Cotton Mill back into use as part of its vision for the future of Keighley as part of its wider town centre regeneration programme and are working with partners and funding organisations to determine ways forward for bring the mill back into use.     Question 2   Has the Council considered the impact that the removal of the dedicated bus service to St Bede's/St Joseph's and subsequent increase of pupils on public transport may have and the additional time this would add to the journey for children, how do the Council plan to work with First Bus to manage the large numbers of children that would be leaving sites at St Bede's and St Joseph's at 3:30 which could lead to safety issues particularly due to the narrow footpath on Keighley Road where the public bus stop is located as well as overcrowding on the existing public bus services and constant bus services cancellations?     Response   Following the consultation any recommendations and views will be taken into account and more detailed work will need to be carried out in relation to locations (school sites), pickups, and transport provision. Although an options appraisal was carried out previously, journeys may have changed due to the new academic year and new pupils/leavers will need to be factored into this.   The Council is and will continue to work with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the schools to address issues that may arise as a result of these proposals.   Question 3   We know that pressure on secondary school places in Bradford over the next three years is significant. Parents being unable to send their young people to St Bede’s and St Joseph’s will inevitably put significant pressure on secondary school places in other schools across the City leading to an increased cost for the council in creating capacity for all these additional pupils. In the light of the council’s potential decision to remove the dedicated school transport to St Bede’s and St Joseph’s, to ease the councils financial outgoings in the short term, can Council explain what due diligence and impact assessment has been undertaken to balance this short term gain for the council, against the risk of a school closure of one of largest Catholic schools in the country which provides a high quality education for a significant number of families in the City. It is clear if these cuts were undertaken families would be unable to send their young people to the school for financial, safeguarding and logistical problems.   Response   This is consultation and as such the Council is listening to all stakeholders before making a decision.  Both schools are very much valued as part of the Bradford district family of schools.  However, the costs of this subsidised transport has escalated to such an extent that it has to be considered as part of the council’s financial planning.    The school draws children from all over the city and serves both local and district wide families, as attendance at this school is often a parental preference.    We don’t anticipate a reduction in applications for school places at this good school as the school is oversubscribed year on year. An equality impact assessment has been produced and will be further worked on during the consultation period.   As part of the consultation alternative, commercial bus services that can be taken from all areas of Bradford to the school have to be looked at as well as any restrictions in young people accessing routes to school. Commercial train travel options are also considered during the review.   As part of the consultation CBMDC will continue to work with WYCA to look at all routes in terms of availability and capacity.     Question 4 – Deferred at the request of the resident.       Question 5 What assurances can the Leader of Council and the Portfolio Holder give to local businesses who have been impacted by the introduction of parking charges in Idle, and who are concerned about the future viability of their business due to loss of trade?”   Response   The Council will continue to review income and occupancy levels at The Green car park in Idle and considers any information submitted as part of that process.   Car parks play an essential role in the careful management of our rural and urban centres. They can help encourage a healthy turnover of vehicles and shoppers to support the viability of local businesses. We understand the concern people in Idle may have on these and other proposals, however, given the financial situation at local authorities across the country we're having to consider many difficult decisions in the budget.   Car parks are not free for Councils to maintain and the vast majority of council owned car parks across the district have parking charges. This includes our village and town centres like Haworth, Silsden, Shipley, Bingley and Baildon.   The charges were introduced on 1 October 2024, this was followed by a 2-week monitoring period and enforcement didn’t commence until 15th October. We regularly monitor levels of usage for all car parks, however it is too soon to collect data from this particular location. There are number on-street locations available in Idle village where parking is not restricted, this offers options for visitors who wanted to visit the businesses and not use the car park.