Agenda, decisions and minutes

Received from Cllrs Katy Boughey, Hastings, Papworth, Stranger and Pauline Tunnicliffe.  Apologies for lateness were received from Cllr Samaris Huntington-Thresher.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Katy Boughey, Hastings, Papworth, Stranger and Pauline Tunnicliffe.  Apologies for lateness were received from Cllr Samaris Huntington-Thresher.

i)  Meeting held on 29^th March 2010;

Confirmation is subject to the amendment of Minute 73 (a) Members Allowances Scheme 2010/11 Appendix C Schedule 1 –

The amount of Special Responsibility Allowance shown for Chairman of Portfolio PDS Committees should read £7,140.

ii)  Special Meeting and the Annual Council meeting held on 19^th May 2010.

i)  Confirmed, subject to the amendment of Minute 73 (a) Members Allowances 2010/11 Appendix C Schedule 1 – the amount of Special Responsibility Allowance shown for Chairmen of PDS Committees should be £7,140 not £7410.

ii)  Confirmed, subject to Councillor Michael Tickner’s name being added to the list of those present for the Annual Council Meeting on 19^th May 2010.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 29^th March 2010 were confirmed, subject to the following amendment:

Minute 73 (a) Members Allowances 2010/11 Appendix C Schedule 1 – the amount of Special Responsibility Allowance shown for Chairmen of PDS Committees should be £7,140 not £7410.

The Minutes of the Special Meeting and the Annual Council Meeting held on 19^th May 2010 were confirmed subject to Councillor Michael Tickner’s name being added to the list of those present for the Annual Council Meeting.

A number of members declared interests in item 11 either as Governors of Schools who had indicated an interest in Academy Status or as parents of a child attending a school that had registered such an interest. (Full details will be set out in the Mintues).

The following members declared an interest in item 11 – Capital Programme 2010/11 Revisions and Transfer of Learning and Skills Council Funding:

Councillor Benington declared an interest as a Governor of Charles Darwin School which had expressed an interest in becoming an Academy. Councillors Arthur, Carr and Simon Fawthrop declared interests as parents of a child attending one of the schools considering becoming an Academy. Councillor Roxy Fawthrop declared an interest as she had a sister at one of the schools interested in becoming an Academy. Councillor Evans declared an interest as a Governor of Ravenswood School which was considering becoming an Academy. Councillor Grainger declared an interest as a Governor of two schools and a parent of a child at a school all of which are considering Academy status.  Councillor Harmer declared an interest as she worked at Bromley College.  Councillor Lymer declared an interest as she had applied to be a Governor of Bickley Primary School. Councillor Morgan declared an interest as a Governor of Bromley College. Councillors Nicholas Bennett JP, McMull and Phillips declared interests as a Governor of a school which had also registered an interest as an Academy.  

There were none.

Eight oral Questions had been submitted and were responded to.

These are attached as Appendices A and B.

Councillor Nicholas Bennett reported that following several questions raised at various Council meetings concerning the situation at Rays Road in West Wickham he was pleased to advise that it had been repaired.  He wished to place on record his thanks to the Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Councillor Colin Smith, and the officers that after many years their efforts had finally got the work done to the great relief of local residents.

A Statement was made by the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Safety, Councillor Peter Morgan, on the tight controls in place over the use of RIPA powers by the Council following recent press statements inferring that they had been used inappropriately.

A Statement was made by the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Safety, Councillor Peter Morgan, on the tight controls in place over the use of RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000) powers by the Council following recent press statements inferring that they had been used inappropriately.  

It was agreed that the proposed Petition Scheme at Appendix 1 be adopted and added to the Council’s Constitution as an appendix with the following consequential amendments: -

i)  those set out in Appendix 2 being made to the Council’s Constitution;

ii)  the further amendments adopted at the meeting amending the thresholds (see attached); and

iii)  amendment of the flow chart showing the Petition Scheme Process – amend third level (box) should read ‘No’ and the figures need to be amended to correspond to the revised thresholds adopted.

A Motion to approve the Petition Scheme at Appendix 1 and for it to be added to the Council’s Constitution as an appendix with the following consequential amendments: -

i)  those set out in Appendix 2 being made to the Council’s Constitution;

ii)  the further amendments adopted at the meeting amending the thresholds as set out below:

Page 76, paragraph 3.4

Delete 50 signatures and insert 200

Delete 500 signatures and insert 2,000

Delete 1,000 signatures and insert 4,000

Delete 1,000 signatures and insert 4,000

So new paragraph will read -

• Qualifying as a valid petition under the scheme: 25/200 signatures
• Requiring consideration at a PDS Committee: 250/2,000 signatures
• Requiring consideration at a full Council: 500/4,000 signatures
• Requiring a Councillor or senior officer to give an account before a PDS Committee 500/4,000

Page 81 (Appendix 1)

First paragraph –

Line 2: Delete 50 signatures and insert 200.

Penultimate paragraph –

Line 3:  Delete (500 for an e-petition) insert (2,000 for an e-petition)

Line 5: Delete (1,000 for e-petition) and insert (4,000 for e-petition)

Line 11: Delete (1,000 for e-petition) and insert (4,000 for e-petition)

iii)  amendment of the flow chart showing the Petition Scheme Process – the third level (box) should read ‘No’ and the figures to be amended to correspond to the revised thresholds.

The Motion as amended above was proposed, seconded and adopted.

i)  Revision to Licensing Policy 2008-2011: Enforcement – Results of public Consultation

ii)  London Local Authorities Act 1991: Revision to Codes of practice for Special Treatments – see all reference reports giving the views of the Executive at its meeting on 26^th May 2010.

i)  Revision to Licensing Policy 2008-2011: Enforcement – results of Public Consultation.

Recommendations agreed.

ii)  The London Local Authorities Act 1991: Revision to Codes of Practice for Special Treatments

  Recommendation agreed.

i)  Revision to Licensing Policy 2008-2011: Enforcement – results of Public Consultation.

A motion to formally adopt the revision to the Licensing Policy 2008-2011 was proposed, seconded and adopted.

ii)  The London Local Authorities Act 1991: Revision to Codes of Practice for Special Treatments

  A Briefing Note had been sent to all members giving background information arising from the discussion of this matter at the Executive and had been re-circulated at this meeting.

  A motion to formally adopt the revisions to the above Codes of Practice for Special Treatments was proposed, seconded and adopted.

Recommendation agreed.

A Motion to adopt the delegations as set out in the report was proposed, seconded and adopted.

The following recommendations were agreed:

i)  inclusion in the Capital Programme of the following Schemes:

  a)  Bickley Primary School - £1,395,000

  b)  Princes Plain Primary School - £1,363,000

  c)  The Highway Primary School - £4,020,000

  d)  Hawes Down Co-location Project - £1.518m

  e)  Redevelopment of The Pavilion Leisure Centre - £5.5m; and 

ii)   the transfer of 16 – 19 Funding and Commissioning from the Learning and Skills Council to the Local Authority – adjustment of the CYP budget to reflect the payment responsibilities of £47m in total of which £31.4m  is in the approved budget to fund Bromley schools post 16 provision; the increase of £15.9m to be offset by a corresponding increase in YPLA funding.   

A Motion to approve the recommendations as set out in the report was proposed, seconded and adopted.

Two Motions had been received –

i)  Maximum Parking Standards – The Motion, amended at the meeting by moving one word, was CARRIED, as follows:

"This Council congratulates the Government on its quick decision to protect gardens from development by removing them from previously developed land status.  Furthermore this Council urges the Government now to take a further step and remove the maximum parking standards for new developments and replace them with either locally agreed standards or a minimum parking standard."

ii)  Academy Schools – The following Motion was deferred to the CYP PDS Committee meeting in July 2010 by which time it was hoped that more detail would be available for consideration.

“This Council urges Head Teachers and governors of Bromley schools not to apply for academy status under the scheme announced by the Conservative – Liberal Democrat government and requeststhe Chief Executive to write to all Bromley schools in these terms”.  

Notice of two Motions had been received, as follows:–

i)  Maximum Parking Standards

"This Council congratulates the Government on its quick decision to protect gardens from development by removing them from previously developed land status.  Furthermore this Council urges the Government now to take a further step and remove the maximum parking standards for new developments and replace them with either locally agreed standards or a minimum parking standard."

On being put to the vote this amended Motion was carried.

ii)  Academy Schools

“This Council urges Head Teachers and governors of Bromley schools not to apply for academy status under the scheme announced by the Conservative – Liberal Democrat government and requeststhe Chief Executive to write to all Bromley schools in these terms”.  

On being put to the vote consideration of the Motion was deferred to the CYP PDS Committee meeting in July 2010 by which time it was hoped that more details would be available for consideration.

The Mayor thanked all those Councillors and Officers who attended the Mayoral Civic Service which was held on 20^th June at St. Mary’s Church, Shortlands.

The Mayor reported the success of the Mayor’s cricket team, captained by Cllr Tim Stevens, in winning against Affinity Sutton.

A number of tickets were still available for the Mayor’s first charity event – dinner at Edward’s restaurant in East Street – on Monday 5^th July 2010 at 7.30 p.m.  Tickets were priced at £25.00 and all profit would be donated to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal, which was supporting the Prince’s Trust.

The Mayor had arranged for a tube of Smarties to be placed on each Councillors desk and he hoped members would enjoy them and return the empty packet filled with money which would be donated to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal.

The Mayor presented a Scroll to the past Mayor, Councillor Douglas Auld.

The Mayor thanked all those Councillors and Officers who attended the Mayoral Civic Service which was held on 20^th June 2010 at St. Mary’s Church, Shortlands.

The Mayor reported the recent success of the Mayor’s cricket team, captained by Councillor Tim Stevens, in winning against Affinity Sutton.

Members were reminded that a number of tickets were still available for the Mayor’s first charity event – dinner at Edward’s Restaurant in East Street – on Monday 5^th July 2010 at 7.30 p.m.  Tickets were priced at £25.00 and all profits would be donated to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal, which was supporting the Prince’s Trust.

The Mayor had arranged for a tube of Smarties to be placed on each Councillors desk and he hoped members would enjoy them and return the empty packet filled with money which could then be donated to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal.

The Mayor presented a Scroll to the past Mayor, Councillor Douglas Auld.