Ilkley councillor, Andrew Loy, used the first meeting of the Bradford Council's new Executive committee to ask about changes to financial plans.
Bradford's leading Reform group have appointed their Executive, but its leader said it was too early to say whether they will make any major changes to the Authority’s financial plans.
The first Executive meeting since May’s local elections was held in Bradford City Hall on Tuesday morning.
During the meeting, Reform, which has the most seats on the Council, appointed its decision-making Executive.
They also received an update on the Council’s most recent financial situation and the most up to date Ofsted report into Children’s Services.
Councillor Stephen Place (Royds) is the Council Leader, with Councillor Andrew Judson (Keighley West) appointed Deputy Leader and portfolio holder for Economy, Regeneration and Planning.
Councillor Ian Eglin (Baildon) will be Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources. Cllr Eglin was not present at the meeting and sent his apologies.
Councillor Sally Birch (Windhill and Wrose) is the Executive for Children and Families, Councillor Ian Walker (Wyke) will be Executive for Neighbourhoods and Communities and Councillor Jayne Morgan (Eccleshill) was appointed Executive for Healthy People.
The first order of business at the meeting was the Year End Financial Statement, the report said the Council required £127.1m in borrowing last year to balance it’s budget. However, it underspent its predicted budget by £16.7m.
The report said increased Central Government funding for the District, announced earlier this year, meant Bradford was now in a much better financial situation, and it would be able to come out of its “exceptional financial support” arrangement earlier than expected.
It would, however, still need to make £60m of cuts this year, along with £50m of cuts the following two years. This is in addition to £100m of asset sales required as part of the national support.
[Cllr Loy [middle] with fellow councillors outside the old HWCC in Ilkley]
Addressing the new Executive, Councillor Andrew Loy (Cons, Ilkley) said:
"This financial plan was drawn up under the previous Executive. Is it the new Executive’s plan to stick to that strategy or to make any divergences from it?”
Cllr Place replied:
“We’re at week three. So we have to take more evidence and look more closely at the strategy, but we will report back by the time of the first Council meeting on July 15.”
Councillor Imran Khan (Lab, Bowling and Barkerend) said:
“Can I just thank you for recognising all the good work that took place under the previous Labour administration, and I’m encouraged by the fact you intend to build upon it.
“This report points out that the Labour Government is increasing funding to Bradford Council by a huge 57 per cent after a decade of cuts and underfunding by Tory Governments. Do you agree we need to give credit where it’s due and thank the Labour Government for this investment?”
Cllr Place responded:
“There has been an increase in funding thank you, yes.”
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