Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Received from Councillors Beckley, Benington, Charsley, Ellis, McMull, Owen and Payne.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jane Beckley, Julian Benington, Roger Charsley, Judi Ellis, Diana McMull, Tony Owen and Ian Payne.

Confirmed, subject to the addition of Councillor Buttinger as present at the last meeting.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 28^th June 2010 were confirmed, subject to the addition of Councillor Buttinger as present at that meeting.

A number of members declared interests.

Councillor Auld declared an interest in item 4 (Petition on the Home Care Service) as his wife was employed in the Adult and Community Services Directorate.  Councillors Peter Dean and John Getgood declared interests in item 4 (Petition on the Harris into Beckenham Campaign) as Governors of Kelsey Park Sports College.  Councillors Stephen Carr, Simon Fawthrop, Julian Grainger and Sarah Philips declared interests in item 11 (Capital Programme) as parents with a child attending one of the schools affected.  Councillor Roxy Fawthrop also declared a similar interest as she had a sister attending one of the schools affected.  Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP declared an interest in item 11 as a Governor of Langley Park School for Girls.  Councillor Stranger declared an interest in item 14 (Statement Licensing Policy 2011-14) as Secretary of the Orpington Conservative Club.

Several members declared interests in item 15 (Investment Sub-Committee – Change or Name) as members of the Council’s Pension Fund.

Two Petitions were received in accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, as follows:

A)  ‘Harris into Beckenham Campaign’ - Two representatives addressed the Council seeking support for the aims of their petition.  

  Following formal debate by Council it was agreed to take no further action on this matter.

B)  Home Care Service – a representative addressed the Council seeking support for the aims of their petition.

  Following formal debate by Council it was agreed to take no further action on this matter.

Two Petitions were received in accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, as follows:

A)  ‘Harris into Beckenham Campaign’ - Two representatives addressed the Council seeking support for the aims of their petition.

A motion to take no further action on this matter was duly proposed and seconded.  The Motion was CARRIED.

B)  Home Care Service – a representative addressed the Council seeking support for the aims of their petition.

A motion to defer this matter for further consideration was proposed by Councillor Getgood and seconded by Councillor Fookes.

On being put to the vote the motion was LOST.

(Councillor Getgood asked for the recording of his vote in favour of the motion.)

A motion to take no further action on this matter was duly proposed and seconded.  The Motion was CARRIED.

(Councillors Adams, Bance, Fookes Getgood and McBride asked for the recording of their votes against the decision.)

There were no questions from members of the public.

There were no questions from members of the public.

10 oral questions had been submitted and were responded to .

The oral and written questions are attached at Appendices A and B.

A Statement was made by the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Safety, Councillor Peter Morgan, on the Safer Bromley Partnership’s intention to launch a tough enforcement clampdown on drug dealing in the Borough.

A Statement was made by the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Safety, Councillor Peter Morgan, on the Safer Bromley Partnership’s intention to launch a tough enforcement clampdown on drug dealing in the Borough.  He outlined the approach being taken in conjunction with the Police, the publicity campaign being launched ‘Enough is Enough’ and responded to various questions from members.

Further representations on the Bromley Area Action Plan are due to be considered at a special meeting of the Executive on 20^th October 2010.

It was agreed that the Bromley Town Area Action Plan be adopted.

Consideration was given to a report proposing the formal adoption of the Bromley Town Centre Area Action Plan as the final stage of the Local Development Framework process.

The Mayor drew attention to the fact that legal representations concerning the Action Plan had been received last week and these were considered at a special meeting of the Executive held on 20^th October 2010.  The minutes of that meeting had been circulated, together with further advice from the Director of Legal and Democratic Services.

A motion to approve the following recommendation was proposed, seconded and adopted –

That the Bromley Town Centre Area Action Plan (BAAP) be adopted as a statutory local Development Framework Development Plan Document for the purposes of informing any future proposals for redevelopment in the area and a material consideration for the purposes of determining future planning applications.

The Treasury Management Annual Report 2009/10 was noted.  

An amendment was proposed by the Portfolio Holder for Resources to secure a better return on Council investments at minimal additional risk to increase the Council’s investment limits for the UK Banks and Building Societies that remain on the lending list, as follows:

Lloyds TSB & RBS – increase from £30m to £40m (c.20% of current portfolio total of £200m)

Barclays & HSBC – increase from £25m to £30m

Santander, Clydesdale & Nationwide – increase from £15m to £20m.

The proposal was agreed.

An amendment to the Strategy was proposed by the Portfolio Holder for Resources to secure a better return on Council investments at minimal additional risk to increase the Council’s investment limits for the UK Banks and Building Societies that remain on the lending list, as follows:

Lloyds TSB & RBS – increase from £30m to £40m (c.20% of current portfolio total of £200m)

Barclays & HSBC – increase from £25m to £30m

Santander, Clydesdale & Nationwide – increase from £15m to £20m.

A Motion to approve the amended recommendation on the Annual Investment Strategy was duly proposed and seconded.  The Motion was CARRIED.

The recommendation to amend the Capital Programme to include Bullers Wood Secondary School as a separate scheme (£1.7m) was agreed.

A Motion to approve the recommendation on the Capital Programme to include Bullers Wood Secondary School as a separate scheme (£1.7m) was duly proposed and seconded. The Motion was CARRIED.

The standard conditions and guidance for animal welfare licenses was approved and adopted with effect from 1^st January 2011.

A Motion to approve the recommendation that the revised standard conditions and guidance for animal welfare licenses be approved and adopted with effect from 1^st January 2011 was duly proposed and seconded. The Motion was CARRIED.

The recommendation to formally adopt with effect from, 1^st January 2011 the following was agreed:

i)  The provisions of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 as amended by Section 27 Policing and Crime Act 2009 to require the licensing of sex entertainment venues.

ii)  The Policy for determining the number of sex establishments.

iii)  Standard licensing Conditions

iv)  Fees for Sex Establisments.

A Motion to approve the recommendations to formally adopt with effect from, 1^st January 2011 the following provisions was duly proposed and seconded.

i)  The provisions of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 as amended by Section 27 Policing and Crime Act 2009 to require the licensing of sex entertainment venues.

ii)  The Policy for determining the number of sex establishments.

iii)  Standard licensing Conditions

iv)  Fees for Sex Establishments.

 The Motion was CARRIED.

The attached report is due to be considered by the General Purposes and Licensing Committee on 20^th October 2010.

Council was informed that the General Purposes and Licensing Committee on 20^th October 2010 had approved the Statement of Licensing Policy 2011-14 subject to a number of amendments which were circulated at the meeting (see attached appendix):

Council agreed the amendments and to adopt the revised Statement of Licensing Policy 2011-14 to take effect from 7^th January 2011.

Members were informed that the General Purposes and Licensing Committee on 20^th October 2010 had approved the Statement of Licensing Policy 2011-14, subject to a number of amendments which were circulated at the meeting (set out in Appendix C):

A Motion to approve the recommendations, as amended, and to formally adopt the Revised Policy with effect from, 7th January 2011 was duly proposed and seconded.

The Motion was CARRIED.

It was agreed that Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution be amended to reflect the change of name from Investment Sub-Committee to Pensions Investment Sub-Committee.

A Motion to agree that Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution be amended to reflect the change of name from Investment Sub-Committee to Pensions Investment Sub-Committee was duly proposed and seconded.

The Motion was CARRIED.

The report was noted.

The report was NOTED.

Notice of three Motions had been received as set out below.  However, Councillor Fookes subsequently withdrew the third Motion (Social Enterprise).

i)  Anti Social Behaviour Orders – The Motion amended at the meeting (moved by Cllr Morgan, seconded by Cllr Stevens) was CARRIED as follows:

  “This Council notes the Home Secretary’s comments about ASBOs and other measures to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour and welcomes her intention to review the powers and interventions so that each local authority can tailor its response to the blight of anti-social behaviour and deliver a simple, clear and effective sanctions regime (including ASBOs and ABCs).”

ii)  Safer Neighbourhood Teams and Police Community Support Officers – The Motion amended at the meeting (moved by Cllr Morgan, seconded by Cllr Stevens) was CARRIED as follows:

  “This Council recognizes that Safer Neighbourhood Teams have played a key part in Crime reduction in Bromley and therefore regrets that the financial mismanagement of the last Labour Government has made it necessary to save taxpayers money in many areas, including policing.  However this Council welcomes the strenuous efforts being made by Boris Johnson’s administration to save money in back office functions so that the effect of savings may not mean any reduction in the number of PCSOs deployed in the Borough.” 

Notice of three Motions had been received by the deadline.  However, Councillor Fookes subsequently withdrew a third Motion (Social Enterprise).

i)  The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Peter Fookes and seconded by Councillor Kathy Bance:

“This Council calls on the Home Secretary to retain ASBO's in the fight against crime in Bromley.”

An Amendment was moved by Councillor Peter Morgan and seconded by Councillor Tim Stevens that the Motion be amended to read:-

  “This Council notes the Home Secretary’s comments about ASBOs and other measures to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour and welcomes her intention to review the powers and interventions so that each local authority can tailor its response to the blight of anti-social behaviour and deliver a simple, clear and effective sanctions regime (including ASBOs and ABCs).”

On being put to the vote this Amendment was CARRIED.

ii)  The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Peter Fookesand seconded by Councillor Kathy Bance:

“This Council recognises that Safer Neighbourhood Teams have played a key part in crime reduction in Bromley and calls on the Mayor of London to maintain them and the current level of Police Community Support Officers in the borough.”

An Amendment was moved by Councillor Peter Morgan and seconded by Councillor Tim Stevens that the Motion be amended to read:-

  “This Council recognizes that Safer Neighbourhood Teams have played a key part in Crime reduction in Bromley and therefore regrets that the financial mismanagement of the last Labour Government has made it necessary to save taxpayers money in many areas, including policing.  However this Council welcomes the strenuous efforts being made by Boris Johnson’s administration to save money in back office functions so that the effect of savings may not mean any reduction in the number of PCSOs deployed in the Borough.” 

On being put to the vote this Amendment was CARRIED.

The Mayor advised that there were still a few tickets available for his Charity Dinner at the House of Commons on 12^th November 2010.  If anyone would like to support this event they would need to get in touch with the Mayor’s Office by the end of the week.

The Mayor thanked all those who had played in the Mayor’s Bowls, Cricket and Golf Teams during the summer.

The Mayor advised that there were still a few tickets available for his Charity Dinner at the House of Commons on 12^th November 2010.  If anyone would like to support this event they would need to get in touch with the Mayor’s Office by the end of the week.

The Mayor thanked all those who had played in the Mayor’s Bowls, Cricket and Golf Teams during the summer.