Issue - meetings

Report CSD19132

At the annual meeting of the Council each year Members were asked to approve the scheme of delegation for non-executive functions, and note the scheme of delegation for executive functions as submitted by the Leader. The scheme was essential to the smooth running of the Council, as it provided the underlying legal basis for all officers to carry out their duties, serving the residents of Bromley on behalf of the Council. In 2019, the scheme had been reviewed at the annual Council meeting on 8^th May, and then updated at the Council meeting on 15^th July 2019 to reflect the new officer structures. It was intended that, in future, the scheme would be submitted to this Committee before the annual meeting to allow more opportunity for examination. 

The Vice-Chairman, Councillor Stephen Wells, raised some issues in connection with the scheme. He had been assured by officers that the scheme was reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that it was as up to date as possible. He welcomed the proposal that the scheme would be submitted to this Committee before being considered at annual Council each year, giving Members more opportunity to scrutinise.  The scheme contained over 60 powers labelled as Council/Leader - it was noted that this meant that authority exercised by officers in these cases could be from both executive and non-executive sources.    

Councillor Wells called for an annual report to be made on licensing and health and safety matters administered by officers under the scheme. The Chairman suggested that this could be submitted to the Committee’s meeting in April.

The Chairman encouraged all Members to contact her with any queries or concerns about the scheme of delegation for inclusion in the annual review.  

RESOLVED that

(1) The intention to report the annual review of the Scheme of Delegation to Officers to this Committee in future be noted.

(2) an annual report be made to the Committee in April  summarising the licensing activities carried out by officers under delegated authority.