The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to discuss a range of topics, including the Allotments Service, the Anti-Poverty Strategy, and the Workforce Learning and Development Programme. The committee was also expected to review and adopt the Annual Overview and Scrutiny Report for 2024-25, and to consider its work programme for the upcoming year. Councillor Nazam Azam, Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, was expected to submit reports on the Annual Overview and Scrutiny Report and the Committee Work Programme.

Bradford District Anti-Poverty Strategy 2022-2027 Progress

The Strategic Director, Adult Social Care, was scheduled to present a report on the progress of the Bradford District Anti-Poverty Strategy 2022–2027. The report included an overview of poverty in Bradford District and a summary of the work of the District Anti-Poverty Coordination Group (DACG).

The report stated that Bradford has high rates of child poverty:

Both relative and absolute poverty rates for Bradford are more than double the national average. The fact that absolute poverty rates are almost the same as the relative poverty suggests children in Bradford are experiencing deep poverty leading to severe hardship for them and their families.

The report also noted that the Anti-Poverty Strategy has adopted the socio-economic duty, and that low income is a locally agreed protected characteristic.

The report included updates on initiatives and programmes related to:

• Financial inclusion
• Education
• Employment
• Health 
• Housing
• Support for vulnerable groups
• Participation and voice

The committee was asked to consider the report, provide feedback, and agree to receive an update on progress in twelve months' time.

The Allotments Service

The Interim Strategic Director Corporate Resources was scheduled to submit a report providing an update on work and engagement with petitioners and Allotment Site Contacts, following a previous meeting of the Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 24 April 2025.

The report noted that one Allotment Officer manages 29 allotment sites across the district, comprising 1,186 allotment plots. It also noted that additional management resource has been put in place to support this role.

The report also provided updates on:

• Cost increases
• The removal of rental concessions
• Empty plots
• The inspection process of occupied plots
• The new Allotment Policy
• Allotment investment

The report stated that the council has made available circa £300,000 of funding to support improvements to seven allotment sites across the district, including the clearance of overgrown allotment plots. The following sites were identified as benefitting from the available funding:

• Haworth Rd, BD9 Allotments
• Bowling Park, BD4 Allotments
• Bullroyd, BD8 Allotments
• Cecil Avenue, BD7 Allotments
• Derby Road, BD3 Allotments
• Harewood Street, BD3 Allotments
• Stanacre, BD3 Allotments

The committee was asked to note the update on work undertaken by the Allotment Service, and the work in progress to engage with existing plot holders, ward members and other interested parties in the development of a new Allotment Policy and Guidance document.

Workforce Learning and Development Annual Performance Update 2025

The Interim Director of Human Resources was scheduled to present a report detailing the progress made in the Workforce Learning and Development programme from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

The report included updates on:

• The purpose of Annual Reviews and requirements to increase completion rates for 2025
• The development of the Workforce Learning strategy
• Performance related pay and 1:1 meetings between staff and managers

The report noted that Workforce Learning and Development provide a consistent and accessible learning offer for all Bradford Council staff and external partners, and that 68% of individual staff members have a recorded learning activity on the Learning Management System (LMS).

The committee was asked to provide feedback on the report, identify any areas where further focus or analysis would provide useful information, and note the achievements and progress made in 2024/25.

Annual Report for Overview and Scrutiny 2024-25

Councillor Nazam Azam, Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, was scheduled to submit a report presenting the Draft Annual Overview and Scrutiny Report for 2024-25.

The Annual Report summarised the key activities of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees in 2024-25, and included a foreword from all the Overview and Scrutiny Chairs.

The committee was asked to adopt the proposed Annual Report with any amendments, and to refer the Annual Overview and Scrutiny Report for 2024-25 to Council for consideration.

Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Work Programme 2025/26

Councillor Nazam Azam, Chair of the Corporate Overview, was also scheduled to submit a report including topics for the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme for 2025/26.

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

The proposed work programme included items on:

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

The list of unscheduled topics included:

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