CHILDREN’S services in the district are showing signs of improvement, according to inspectors. But Ofsted, in its latest report, adds that progress in social work practice has been “too slow for children and families”. The inspection team was delivering its fifth report since Bradford Council children’s services department was judged to be ‘inadequate’ in 2018. Although there are positives in the document, many issues highlighted during previous visits – from struggles to recruit experienced social workers to assessments taking too long – remain. In a letter to the council, Ofsted says the “slow pace of change” is partly down to a mix of pressures caused by the Covid pandemic and “due to the breadth and depth of the inadequacy identified in 2018”.
Councillor Sue Duffey COUNCILLOR Sue Duffy (Lab, Thornton and Allerton) has been named as the new Executive Member for Children and Families at Bradford Council. She fills the role left vacant after the previous portfolio holder, Councillor Adrian Farley, lost his seat on the Council at this month s local elections. The portfolio includes Children s Services - a department that is attempting to turn itself around after being judged inadequate by Ofsted in 2018. Cllr Duffy, a councillor for Thornton and Allerton ward since 2015, has held a number of positions including Chair of Employee Appeals for the past five years, Deputy Chair of Corporate Scrutiny, on school appeals and as Executive Assistant she has been working with Public Health on the Living Well strategy. She has also taken on a number of outside responsibilities including Chair of school governors at Sandy Lane Primary, on West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee and on Yorkshire and Humber Employers Associati
The election count at Sedbergh Leisure Centre WITH Labour retaining a majority on Bradford Council, with almost the same number of Councillors as after the last local election, you d be forgiven for thinking that there weren t many surprises this year. However, there were a number of big scalps when the results were announced, along with some subtle shifts in the political make up of the Council. After today s count Labour has 51 seats on the 90 seat Council. Just 46 seats were needed for the party to hold an overall majority. The Conservatives remain the opposition party with the most seats - 25. Liberal Democrats have seven seats, Greens three, Independent Socialists one and the remainder made up of independents.
The barn at Back Shaw Lane in Keighley A PLANNING panel has raised concerns over plans to turn a barn at a rural Keighley site into a four-bedroom house. Bradford Council s District Planning Panel discussed an application to convert the building at Back Shaw Farm, which lies within the Green Belt, into residential at a meeting last week. They heard that changes to planning rules brought in by the Conservative Government in 2013 meant agricultural buildings could be converted into housing without the need for planning permission - even if they lie in protected Green Belt. Instead the work would be allowed under permitted development.
“It is not a particularly attractive building.” Askar Mahmood, speaking on behalf of the applicant, argued that the building did not harm the Green belt, and was not easily visible from the road. He added: “It is no different than an allotment shed - it only takes up a small portion of the site.” He suggested that if needed the shed could be “camouflaged” with grass. He added: “If these plans are refused we would have to put the dogs in a residential area, which would lead to neighbours complaining.” Mr Khan said walking the dogs had proved beneficial to his health, and keeping them was a hobby, not a business.