The Council meeting included the presentation of a revised 2024-25 budget and a number of notices of motion on matters of public interest. It also included the consideration of a petition to Reconsider cuts to the school bus services that serve St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College and a recommendation to approve a new Statement of Licensing Principles for the district.

School Bus Services

Councillor Matt Edwards submitted a motion expressing concern at proposed cuts to school bus services at Bingley Grammar School and St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College.

The notice of motion highlighted the environmental and social costs of moving children from school buses to private cars, and pointed out that the council is legally required to provide free transport for some children:

Councils are required by law to provide free transport to some young people, such as children under eight who live over two miles away from school, those from low-income families and those with special needs or a disability.

The motion also claimed that faith schools were being disproportionately affected by cuts to school bus services. The motion requested that the Leader of the Council write to the Mayor of West Yorkshire and the Secretary of State for Transport to ask for funding to protect school bus services.

Reinstatement of the School Bus Service to St Bede's and St Joseph's

Councillor Mohammed Ali Islam's motion on school bus services focused on St. Bede's and St. Joseph's Catholic Academy (SBSJ) and reiterated Councillor Edwards' environmental, safety and equality arguments:

The proposed changes undermine the inclusivity and multicultural nature of SBSJ, which draws students from across Bradford. Removing access will have negative consequences for the cohesion and diversity of the school community and broader city-wide education.

Councillor Islam's motion resolved to conduct a comprehensive review of the proposal to withdraw school bus services to SBSJ and re-evaluate the decision with a view to reinstating the services.

Supporting Our Rural Communities

Councillor Rebecca Poulsen's motion highlighted the impact of the recent budget on rural communities in Bradford. In particular it focused on the impact on local farmers:

The recent Government budget was a shameless betrayal of our local farming community and the nation, farmers having been hit with IHT, the loss of Agriculture and Business Property Relief, the NI hike, double cab pick-up trucks tax, fertiliser tax and cuts to the basic payment scheme.

The motion resolved to lobby the government to protect farmers and food security and work with partners to ensure that rural communities are supported.

Violence Against Women and Girls

Councillor Kamran Hussain's motion noted the growing problem of violence against women and girls and the efforts that are being made to tackle the issue. It resolved to support West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin's plan to address the issue, deliver a strong action plan and pilot new and innovative ways of working.

Mismanaged Decline

Councillor Mike Pollard's motion was a response to the recent budget. It criticised the government's plans to increase employer national insurance contributions and to give new employees the same rights as permanent employees from day one. It argued that these policies would lead to job losses, business closures and price rises. It also argued that the government's decision to impose VAT on private school fees would lead to a transfer of children from private education to the state system. It resolved to ask officers to prepare briefing papers outlining the projected direct and indirect financial costs to the council and local economy of the changes.

Tackling the Epidemic of Violence Against Women and Girls

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe's motion on violence against women and girls focused on recent work by Bradford Council and partners to make women and girls feel safer in the district:

The launch of the Safety of Women and Girls (SOWG) Plan in August which sets out how Bradford Council, the police and partner organisations will strive to make the district safer for women and girls, combat misogyny and challenge harmful attitudes.

The motion resolved to consistently support the police to reduce the incidents of all violence against women and girls using council processes to support holding perpetrators to account and to work with partners to make sure that people from across the country and the world have a positive experience of Bradford district .

Mental Health Support for Young People

Councillor Janet Russell's motion expressed concern at the bad mental health amongst children, young people, and adults in Bradford. It resolved to request that the portfolio holder for youth services meet with a cross-party councillor group to discuss youth services and mental health support for children and young people in Bradford. The motion also asked that the Leader of the Council write to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the Home Secretary describing the problems faced by young people in Bradford.

Parking Charges in Idle

Councillor Alun Griffiths' motion expressed concern at the impact of parking charges in Idle which had been introduced in September 2024. The motion argued that businesses in Idle were experiencing reduced footfall and profits:

Businesses in Idle report almost without exception decreased footfall and significantly reduced profits, with no shows for appointments becoming more frequent.

The motion resolved to request that the portfolio holder review the car park charging regime in Idle and consider introducing concessions such as free short-term parking periods.

Reaffirming Bradford's Commitment as a City of Sanctuary

Councillor Sirferaz Siddique's motion reaffirmed Bradford's commitment as a City of Sanctuary and pledged to support refugees and asylum seekers in the district. It resolved to work with local health services, education providers, charities and community groups to ensure that refugees and asylum seekers have equitable access to services.

Getting Ready for UK City of Culture 2025

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw's motion highlighted the opportunities presented by Bradford's year as UK City of Culture in 2025. It resolved to work with partners to ensure that people from across the country and the world have a positive experience of Bradford district next year and to use the opportunity to position Bradford as a place of opportunity for investors .

Revised Budget

The council considered a report on the Treasury Management Mid-Year Review up to 30 September 2024. The report showed that the Council’s Capital Financing Requirement (CFR) was estimated to be £1,102.5m, up £20m from the original budget of £1,082.5m. This was due in part to an additional £101m required for a Capitalisation Direction to meet underlying deficits in the General Fund budget. The report also highlighted that the ratio of capital financing costs to the net revenue stream could exceed 24% in the medium term if no action was taken to reduce costs. The report proposed a number of measures to improve the affordability of the Council's capital programme including reducing the capital programme, generating more capital receipts and reviewing the Council’s Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy.

Cessation of the use of Glyphosate

The meeting considered a call-in of a decision taken by the Executive Committee in October 2024 relating to the use of Glyphosate for weed control. The original report had recommended a trial cessation of the use of glyphosate in parks and one cemetery in Shipley in 2025 but Councillor Anna Watson and Councillor Joe Wheatley had called for the immediate cessation of its use in parks and cemeteries across the district. The Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee referred the decision back to the full council for consideration.

Statement of Licensing Principles

The Council considered a recommendation from the Licensing Committee to approve a new Statement of Licensing Principles.

The Gambling Act 2005 requires that each licensing authority prepare a statement of principles that they propose to apply to the regulation of gambling. The main changes to the new policy statement included updates to information about the district and the addition of information on cumulative impact.

The Statement of Licensing Principles sets out the authority's approach to promoting the three licensing objectives set out in the Gambling Act 2005:

• Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime
• Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
• Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

Keighley and Ilkley Area Committee

The meeting considered a recommendation to change the name of the Keighley Area Committee to the Keighley and Ilkley Area Committee to reflect the name change for the Keighley and Ilkley Parliamentary Constituency. It also considered a recommendation to change the name of the Area Planning Panel (Keighley and Shipley) to the Area Planning Panel (Keighley, Ilkley and Shipley).

Changes to the Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The meeting considered a recommendation to appoint Councillor Winnard as Chair of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the remainder of the 2024/25 Municipal Year in place of Councillor Davies. It also considered a recommendation to appoint Councillor Davies as an alternate member of the committee in place of Councillor Winnard.

Questions from the public

Members of the public submitted questions on the following issues:

• The future of the Grade 2* listed Cotton Mill on Low Mill Lane in Keighley
• The potential impact of cuts to the dedicated school bus service to St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College
• The impact of parking charges on businesses in Idle
• The reasons for the delays to the Community Asset Transfer of the Hive Charity in Silsden

Questions from Councillors

Councillors submitted a total of 34 questions on a range of issues including the following:

• The future of the Victoria Hall in Queensbury
• The cost to the council of looking after separated migrant children
• The impact of the recent budget on the farming community
• The future of the former Bingley Pool building
• The timing of the Bradford2025 Community Information and Engagement event at Listers Mill
• The introduction of a charge for residents' parking permits.

Petition

One petition, submitted by 1500 people, requested that the council reconsider cuts to the school bus services that serve St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College. Because it has over 1,500 signatures, it qualified for a debate.