Issue - meetings

Report HPR2023/008

The report sought authority to join the London sub-regional partnership.

In response to a question, the Leader received assurances that London Borough of Bromley could leave the Partnership with 12 months’ notice with any liabilities around issues such as redundancy being limited as these liabilities would only be in respect to core staff.  It was highlighted that most staff were from externally funded programmes.

The report had been scrutinised by the Renewal, Recreation and Housing PDS Committee at its meeting on 23 January 2023 and the Committee had supported the recommendations.

RESOLVED: That

1.  Approval be given to joining Local London and signing the Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) for the Local London Sub-Regional Partnership (appendix 1) so as to establish joint arrangements with the Local London Authorities including the formation of a Joint Committee with its terms of reference as set out in the IAA;

2.  Approval be given to the annual membership fee, currently £50K per annum, for the duration of Bromley’s membership, noting interdependencies with UK Shared Prosperity 3-year period (3.7) and Local London’s current strategy period 2022-2025 (3.5);

3.  Authority be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Renewal and Recreation to determine continuing membership annually, on review of value added;

4.  Authority be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Renewal and Recreation to be the Council’s Member at the Local London Joint Committee and make decisions where there are no direct implications for LBB finances (3.14) and to appoint the Leader to be the Reserve Member; and,

5.  The benefits of joining Local London, as set out in paragraphs 3.8-3.13 of the report be noted.

Report HPR2023/008

The report sought authority for the Local Authority to join the Local London sub-regional partnership which brought together local authorities primarily to access funding.  The Local Authority had been a nominal-member of Local London for several years to access devolved employment and skills programmes and full membership would enable Bromley’s businesses and residents to benefit from the full range of funding programmes.

Whilst not objecting to joining Local London, the Vice-Chairman underlined the need for reassurance in a number of areas, including the annual contribution and insurance clause.  The Head of Economic Development confirmed that Legal Services had reviewed the Inter Authority Agreement, including the annual contribution and insurance clause, and had identified no concerns which was set out in the report.  The annual contribution had remained the same since the establishment of Local London and there was therefore seemingly no appetite from other local authority members to increase this contribution in the short to medium-term.  Additionally, by joining Local London, the Local Authority would have access to new funding streams that would total significantly more than its annual contribution. 

In response to a question from a Member, the Head of Economic Development explained that the 12-month notice period to exit Local London reflected the nature of funding which was often delivered via schemes with a minimum one-year duration.  The Local Authority would be able to raise any concerns on the Inter Authority Agreement with Local London, and the Local Authority had already been approached to provide feedback. A Member requested that the worst-case exit cost be provided to the Council’s Executive to support its decision making.  Another Member requested an annual update be reported to the Renewal, Recreation and Housing PDS Committee in advance of membership renewal, and this was agreed by the Committee.

RESOLVED: That the Council’s Executive be recommended to:

·  Approve the Local Authority to join Local London and sign the Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) for the Local London Sub-Regional Partnership so as to establish joint arrangements with the Local London Authorities including the formation of a Joint Committee with its terms of reference as set out in the IAA;

·  Approve the annual membership fee, currently £50K per annum, for the duration of Bromley’s membership, noting interdependencies with UK Shared Prosperity 3-year period (Paragraph 3.7) and Local London’s current strategy period 2022-2025 (Paragraph 3.5);

·  Delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and Housing to determine continuing membership annually on review of value added;

·  Appoint the Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and Housing as the Local Authority’s Member at the Local London Joint Committee with authority to make decisions where there are no direct implications for the Local Authority’s finances (Paragraph 3.14) and appoint the Leader to be the Reserve Member; and,

·  Note the benefits of joining Local London, as set out in Paragraphs 3.8-3.13.