Award winning Action on lower carbon, cleaner air, better health.
 Bradford's outstanding work to cut emissions, improve health and reduce inequality through it's Clean Air Plan has scooped a national award winning the Local Government Chronicle's top prize for Climate Response. The plan will include a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in the light of a Government requirement to reduce pollution. The zone will reduce air pollutants from traffic and cut dangerous greenhouse gases.
- The Clean Air Zone (CAZ) will reduce concentrations of nitrogen dioxide by up to 35% at key locations and slash carbon dioxide by 147,000 tonnes.
- Grant funding and exemption packages will help local businesses to adapt.
- Clean Air funding is ensuring that all scheduled and tendered bus services are meeting emissions standards and upgrading 20% of HGVs registered in the District.
- £3m of Council investment will develop an Advanced Fuel Centre in partnership with Northern Gas Networks and Yorkshire Water to help HGV operators upgrade to bio methane and hydrogen fuelling.
- Investments will be made in projects that improve air quality such as an electric bus route from Keighley to Bradford
- The Council will develop the anaerobic digestion of organic waste that could generate sufficient energy to power its heavy-duty vehicles.
The impact of air pollution on health cannot be underestimated - it is linked to conditions such as asthma, heart disease, cancer and stroke. It contributes to as many as 40,000 deaths in the UK every year. We also know that it can harm unborn babies and affect brain development. Local research and analysis undertaken by Born in Bradford shows that:
- 1 in 5 children in Bradford has a wheezing disorder and 38% of all childhood asthma could be down to air pollution
- Local air pollution levels increase the rates of small birthweight babies with smaller head circumference.
- Bradford has higher than national and regional rates of asthma and hospital admissions for respiratory conditions.
Born in Bradford will carry out an extensive health impact assessment of the Bradford CAZ that the Government has described as a project of national importance.
Cleaner air delivers economic benefits too, research by the Confederation of British Industry found that meeting World Health Organisation guidelines could deliver a £1.6bn a year boost to the UK economy and that 3 million working days could be gained by reducing absence due to sickness or sick children.
With the publication of the Government's Integrated Rail Plan looming, Bradford's case for a new station on the proposed Northern Powerhouse line has been strengthened by research revealing it has the worst rail connections of Britain's 20 biggest cities despite being its 7th largest.
The city lacks direct routes and suffers slow connections. A new city centre station would be potentially the country's number one levelling up opportunity. It would have a transformational impact, unleashing the full productive potential of the country's youngest city and boosting Bradford's economy by in excess of £30bn over a decade, bringing over £167bn of annual economic output within a 35-minute journey, unlocking a regeneration site three times the size of Canary Wharf and supporting clean and sustainable growth.
Building a Clean Growth future
Bradford Councillors have stated their commitment to making the District the UK's leading location for clean growth. This means cutting carbon and other greenhouse gases, using renewable energy, reducing waste, adapting to climate change and using resources sustainably. The District's strategic partnerships have also committed to using sustainable development principles to guide investment and activity Recent research by the Local Government Association demonstrates the importance of Councils in showing local leadership as they are far more trusted to deliver on climate action than national government and international leaders.
Action that the Council and its partners have undertaken or are progressing includes:
- Keyland Developments and Yorkshire Water developing an exemplar scheme for sustainable living and an eco-industrial park at Esholt offering a clean growth testbed of national significance.
- Major investment through West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA). This includes the recent announcement of £830m to create a low-carbon, high quality, affordable mass transit system connecting Bradford District to Kirklees and Leeds.
A shared Climate and Environment Plan has been approved through WYCA with a core focus on de-carbonising buildings and housing, power, industry, land use and transportation.
- Lobbying for the Northern Powerhouse Rail route and new station for Bradford to underpin and unlock clean growth potential.
- Resetting of West Yorkshire bus services to provide low-carbon and affordable travel.
- Investment in and promotion of walking and cycling
- Electric Vehicle charging provision on all new developments. This is in addition to key charging infrastructure on council sites and public car parks.
- The new Darley Street Market will support sustainable food and local retailers.
- Colleges, schools, the University and the Council are working together to make sure that we have the skills and expertise available to make the transition to a clean growth economy.
- A Tree for Every Child is planting 55,000 trees
- Climate Change Grant is delivering support for community based climate action.
- The Sustainable Development Partnership, a business led collaboration, is supporting the sustainable food strategy, unlocking business decarbonisation and key commercial opportunities to deliver on clean growth.
- The Council continues to support businesses on Covid recovery and sustainability.
- The District's Cultural Strategy "Culture is our Plan" has set out how arts, cultural and creative organisations, events and practices are to support and deliver on sustainability and this is a key part of Bradford's City of Culture 2025 Bid.
These are just some of the things that are going on and obviously there is much more to do to meet the challenge of climate change. However, Bradford District is home to exemplary businesses, a vibrant community sector and committed public services offering investment, expertise and leadership; working together we can achieve our clean growth goal.
Spending Review: £20m Pool, Health and Enterprise success but local finances remain tight.
A successful Council led bid to the Government's Levelling Up Fund will see a new £20m leisure and wellbeing centre transform a vacant plot of land in inner Bradford. The complex at Squire Lane, Toller will host a new pool and leisure facilities, health services and support for enterprise and skills.
Bradford's Jubilee Centre also secured £335K from the Community Ownership Fund and a number of local projects subsequently benefited from the Community Renewal Fund.
The announcement formed part of the Chancellor's Spending Review. While offering some degree of certainty around funding for local government and welcome investments in areas such as early years, SEND, skills, and the green economy, the Spending Review left a number of concerns unanswered particularly around social care and the likelihood that the Health and Care Levy will be insufficient to reform the system. Inflationary pressures will continue to see Councils operate in a very tight financial environment. Estimates of Council spending power are based on an apparent assumption that Councils will increase Council tax and add a Social Care precept. Bradford's low council tax and high proportions of properties falling below the Band D average mean that it is unable to raise as much money locally as many other authorities so the case will continue to be made for this factor to be fully taken into account in decisions around national funding.
Bradford is one of just 13 places in England chosen by Government to test out new ways of working between central government and local Councils, agencies and communities. The Partnerships for People and Place programme seeks to find better ways to tackle issues such as unemployment, health inequality, poverty and crime through more joined up working, greater flexibility in funding and better use of data.
Bradford's pilot will operate in part of Keighley and in Manningham and will target people with high needs to improve mental health and social and economic outcomes for individuals while reducing demand on public services. The project represents a partnership between Bradford Council, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford NHS Trust and Keighley based Project 6. Partners will work with a number of Government Departments. Initial Government funding will support set-up costs with further funding of up to £350K on submission of more detailed plans.
The University of Bradford will showcase research into antibiotic resistance as part of World Antibiotic Awareness Week beginning on November 17. People with mild colds and coughs are being urged to seek advice from pharmacists before visiting their GP, as part of a new campaign to retain the effectiveness of antibiotics. University of Bradford Assistant Professor Sandra Martin, lecturer in pharmacy practice in the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences and a registered pharmacist, said the main aim of the campaign was to make people aware of the need to preserve the efficacy of antibiotics.
Antibiotic resistance is caused by the overuse of antibiotics or where they are used incorrectly (such as people not completing the course). Organisers are asking people to take a pledge such as:
- self-treating colds, sore throats and coughs for five days before visiting a GP
- speaking to a pharmacist before visiting a GP
- safely disposing of unused antibiotics by taking them to a pharmacy
- if the NHS offers a flu vaccination, accepting it
- Taking antibiotics as prescribed
A number of events will take place to raise awareness, as follows:-
November 17, 11:00-14:00: there will be an information stand in the University's Atrium
November 18, 11:00-14:00: research showcase event, again in the Atrium, showing some of the work the University is doing in relation to antibiotic resistance
November 18, 18:30-20:00: Cafe Scientifique public lecture, Mass Vaccination: The Bradford Story, presented by Dr Dinesh Saralaya, BRI respiratory consultant, and Faiz Ilyas, one of the first people to contract covid in Bradford, who is now a vaccine ambassador
Armed Forces Covenant: Bradford Goes for Gold
 November is of course, a time of remembrance of all those who have sacrificed their lives in the service of the country. It's fitting then that Bradford Councillors have renewed their commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.
The covenant is a promise by the nation that people who serve and have served and their families should be treated fairly and offered practical support recognising that they often experience circumstances and issues that are not fully understood by the wider public. Ten years ago Bradford was one of the first Councils to sign the Covenant and three years ago it secured the Silver award in the Defence Employer Recognition scheme.
The scheme acknowledges employers who have provided exceptional support to the Armed Forces Community both within their organisation and within their local community. Councillors, led by Cllr Joanne Dodds, the Armed Forces Champion, have now decided to aim for Gold Award status which recognises outstanding commitment to support those who serve and have served and the communication of that commitment internally to employees and to the wider community. Only 494 organisations and public bodies have achieved the Gold Award since the scheme's introduction in 2015.
Seeing Bradford in a new Light
 Residents and visitors alike were seeing stars as the aurora borealis lit up the skies above City Park as part of Bradford is LiT a District wide festival of light that also featured some of our unique local folklore in the shape of the Bradford Boar and Rombald the Giant of Ilkley Moor.
New voluntary and community sector grant
Bradford Council is offering grants of up to £25,000 to help the District's voluntary and community sector organisations to adapt to conditions following the impact of Covid-19. Small grants of up to £4000 are available for support including:
- Professional consultancy for one-off bespoke business advice or enterprise advice.
- Digital transformation - software licenses, IT equipment, connectivity contracts, staff training and development.
Larger grants between £5000 and £25,000 are available to:
- Restart trading capacity, to support communities and the recovery
- Launch new or improved services for communities to support the recovery and inclusive economic growth
Applications are open and will close on 8 December. Find out more and apply here.
Shared Values campaign
Bradford District Shared Values is a people-led campaign that inspires and aspires to get all communities and organisations in the Bradford District to live and celebrate the four human values - Respecting, Caring, Sharing and Protecting - that bring us together. If you are a business, an organisation, a group or partnership then we want to hear from you! You can support our campaign by introducing these values into your own practices.
Email us at sharedvalues@bradfordforeveryone.co.uk to find out more. Alternatively visit our website where you can make a promise to live and celebrate the values and tell us what you are doing to make this happen, download free resources to promote the campaign and continue to read regular updates.
Bradford projects commended in National Awards
Two local projects earned commendations at the Local Government Chronicle Awards. The Stronger Communities, Bradford for Everyone Ambassador Programme came highly commended in the Community Involvement category.
The work aims to create equal access to employment and opportunities, education, housing, health, leisure and 'life opportunities' The Breaking the Cycle project, which helps draw vulnerable young people in the District away from a life of crime, came highly commended in the Innovation category.
Cathedral's Christmas Programme
Bradford Cathedral is gearing up for Christmas, you can find the full programme of events here.
Helpful coronavirus links
UK Government guidance and support
NHS coronavirus advice and information
Bradford district coronavirus advice and information
Support for local businesses
For regular updates about Covid-19, you can subscribe to email updates about Coronavirus for people who live and work in the Bradford district.
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