Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies received from Councillors Katy Boughey, Lydia Buttinger and Russell Jackson.  Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Samaris Huntington-Thresher.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Katy Boughey, Lydia Buttinger and Russell Jackson.  Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Samaris Huntington-Thresher.

The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 25^th October 2010 were confirmed, subject to two minor amendments.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 25^th October 2010 were confirmed, subject to the following amendments:

i)  Appendix A – Oral Questions by members of the Council – Question 3: reply by the Chairman of the Development Control Committee; last sentence to read ‘Councillor Michael commented that her menu choices contributed £8.30 to the bill total.  The bill was paid by Peter Martin of the Planning Department.’

ii)  Appendix – Statement of Licensing Policy 2011-14: alter date for commencement of the scheme to 7th January 2011. 

A number of members declared interests.

Members were advised that under the Code of Conduct they would not have a prejudicial interest in setting the Council Tax or a precept under the Local Government and Finance Act 1992. 

Those members who were appointed by the Council as Governors of local schools and members of the local government pension scheme declared personal interests and a list of this information had been circulated. 

The following additional personal interests were declared:

Councillor Auld as his wife was an employee of the Council;  Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP as a Governor of Langley Park School for Girls which was not shown on the list circulated;  Councillor Judy Ellis who had a son working as a teacher at a Bromley School;  Councillor Simon Fawthrop as a parent of a child attending a Bromley School;  Councillor Roxanna Fawthrop whose sister attended a Bromley School;  Councillor Peter Fookes who was a Trustee of Penge and Anerley Age Concern;  Councillor Julian Grainger as a parent of three children attending Bromley Schools; Councillor Samaris Huntington-Thresher as a non elected Governor of Orpington College; Councillor Paul Lynch as a parent of a child attending a Bromley School;  Councillor Diane McMull as a Governor of Langley Park School for Girls which was not shown on the list circulated; Councillor Peter Morgan who was a Trustee of Bromley and Downham Youth Club which received a small grant from the Council; Councillor Tony Owen who had a daughter teaching at a Bromley School; Councillor Ian Payne who was a school Governor at Edgebury Primary School which was not included on the list circulated; Councillor Sarah Phillips who had two children attending Bromley schools and was a school governor at the Bromley Adult Education College.  Councillor Neil Reddin who had one child about to start at a Bromley School and was also a non LEA Governor of St Olave’s Grammar School; Councillors Colin and Diane Smith who had a daughter working at Bromley Library; Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe who had two children attending Bromley schools; and Councillor Turner who was a Trustee of Bromley and Downham Youth Club which received a small grant from the Council.

Councillor Bance declared a prejudicial interest in item 12 – Motion: Community Infrastructure Levy and left the room during consideration and discussion of this matter.

There were no petitions to report to this Council Meeting.

Members were informed that there were no petitions to report to this Council Meeting.

There was 1 written question and three members of the public attended to ask oral questions at the meeting.

There was 1 written question and three members of the public attended to ask oral questions at the meeting – these are attached as Appendix A to the minutes.

There were 10 questioned asked.

These are attached as Appendices B and C.

The Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Safety reported that it had been possible to find funding from various grant sources to support several different Community Safety areas of work, which he outlined.

The Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Safety reported that it had been possible to find funding from various grant sources to support several different Community Safety areas of work, including continuing with the Domestic Abuse Advocates and the Safer Bromley Van.  Application had been made for Community Safety Funding to support various work in the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit.  Councillor Morgan also advised that he would be reporting to the Public Protection and Safety PDS Committee on proposals to expand the Mentoring Scheme for young people.  

All Members are requested to bring with them to the meeting their copies of the Director of Resources’ reports to the Executive on the following:

• Capital Programme Monitoring – 3^rd Quarter 2010/11;
• 2011/12 Council Tax Report; and
• Capital Programme Review 2010

Amended recommendations were agreed that:

A nil variation in Bromley’s element of Council Tax for 2011/12, compared with 2010/11, and a nil increase in the GLA precept be set as follows:

(1)  2011 COUNCIL TAX

  A report of the Director of Resources amending the recommendations of the special Executive meeting on 14^th February 2011 concerning the Council Tax 2011/12 had been circulated which included the final position on levies as follows:

  A motion to receive and adopt the recommendations, including the revised recommendations of the Executive, together with an additional amendment to recommendation (b) was proposed by Councillor Carr and seconded by Councillor Arthur.

  The following amendment to the recommendations of the Executive (as amended by the Director of Resources) was proposed by Councillor McBride and seconded by Councillor Adams-

  “The following changes be made to the recommended budget for 2011/12 and indicative budget for 2012/13:

(a)  Do not proceed with the following savings:

  (i)   Positive Activities for Young People (£38k in 2011/12);

  (ii)  Connexions and Targeted Youth Support (£1,200k in 2011/12);

(i)  Reduce spend on Private Sector Renewal Grant (£350k  in 2011/12);

(ii)  Reduce funding for sheltered housing (£500k in 2011/12);

(iii)   Review rangers service and park security contract (£156k in 2011/12);

(iv)   Playground repairs/bins in parks (£20k in 2011/12);

(v)   Reduce non-routine maintenance of street lights and signs (£25k in 2011/12);

(vi)   Parks strategy and Friends Groups etc. (£10k in 2011/12);

(vii)  That the unallocated balanced of £255k, included in the Director of Resources report, is utilised towards partly meeting the net impact of the proposals above

(b)  Establish a libraries trust with savings of £93k in 2011/12 and £373k in the full year);

(c)  Delete provision of £500k in 2011/12 Central Contingency Sum for risk/service pressure;

(d)  Reduce by £221k the provision for uncertain items in the 2011/12 Central Contingency Sum (balance remaining of £279k);

(e)  Reduce the Council’s annual contribution towards the pension fund deficit by £950k resulting in extending the deficit recovery period from 12 to 15 years;

As a consequence of the changes above the existing recommendations, after allowing for the report of the Director of resources re item 9, be amended as follows:

Recommendation (b)

  That the draft revenue budget be increased by £280k in 2011/12;

Recommendation (f)

The following further amendments be included within the 2011/12 Budget: 

 Approve a central contingency sum of £7,074k to reflect the changes in (b) above;

Recommendation (n)

  A budgeted withdrawal of £280k from General Fund Balances be approved for 2011/12 to support the 2011/12 revenue budget (the full year savings from the Libraries Trust result in one year funding only from balances).”

  On being put to the vote this Amendment was LOST.

  The following amendment to the recommendations of the Executive (as amended by the Director of Resources) was proposed by Councillor Getgood and Councillor Fookes -

  “The following changes be made to the recommended budget for 2011/12 and indicative budget for 2012/13:

(a)  Do not proceed with the following savings:

(ii)  Pupil clothing and footwear grant totalling  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

The recommendation was agreed.

A Motion to formally approve the Member’s Allowances Scheme 2011/12 (Appendix F) was proposed, seconded and adopted.

The recommendation was agreed.

A Motion to approve the recommendation on the Treasury Management Statement and Annual Investment Strategy was duly proposed and seconded.

The Motion was CARRIED.

The recommendations were agreed.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources spoke of his work with Mr Paul Dale, Director of Resources, and had found his advice and assistance invaluable. He thanked Mr Dale for all his support and wished him well for the future.

A motion to approve the delegations was proposed, seconded and adopted.

Notice of 2 Motions had been received but Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP advised that he had withdrawn the motion on membership of the Pensions Investment Sub-Committee which would now be dealt with by the General Purposes and Licensing Committee on 7^th April 2011.  

Members considered the following Motion which was agreed:

“This Council believes the imposition of a Community Infrastructure Levy as a means of funding the Cross Rail project as outlined in the Mayor’s consultation documents is fundamentally flawed and unfair as there can be no obvious benefit to Boroughs such as Bromley.

Accordingly, the Council calls upon other like minded Councils and the Director of Legal and Democratic and Customer Services to explore the potential to challenge most vigorously the imposition of such a levy.”

Notice of two Motions had been received but Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP advised that he had withdrawn the motion on membership of the Pensions Investment Sub-Committee which would now be dealt with by the General Purposes and Licensing Committee on 7^th April 2011. 

The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Stephen Carr and seconded by Councillor Colin Smith:

“This Council believes the imposition of a Community Infrastructure Levy as a means of funding the Cross Rail project as outlined in the Mayor’s consultation documents is fundamentally flawed and unfair as there can be no obvious benefit to Boroughs such as Bromley.

Accordingly, the Council calls upon other like minded Councils and the Director of Legal and Democratic and Customer Services to explore the potential to challenge most vigorously the imposition of such a levy.”

  On being put to the vote this Motion was CARRIED.

(Councillor Bance left the Council Chamber during consideration of this item.)

a)  A special Council Meeting has been called for Monday, 21^st March 2011 commencing at 7pm (note earlier start time) to consider the Biggin Hill Airport proposals.  This will be followed by a meeting of the Executive who will make the final decision on the matter.

b)  The date of the Council Meeting on the published Programme of Meetings scheduled for Monday, 28^th March 2011 is before the meetings of the last Executive and General Purposes and Licensing Committee for this municipal year.  It is therefore proposed that the Council Meeting date be moved to Monday, 11^th April 2011 just in case there are any matters of business requiring a Council decision.  The new Programme of Meetings for next year has been amended to reflect this arrangement.

Changes to the following Council Meeting dates were noted:

a)  A special Council Meeting has been called for Monday, 21^st March 2011 commencing at 7pm (note earlier start time) to consider the Biggin Hill Airport proposals.  This will be followed by a meeting of the Executive who will make the final decision on the matter.

b)  The date of the Council Meeting on the published Programme of Meetings scheduled for Monday, 28^th March 2011 is before the meetings of the last Executive and General Purposes and Licensing Committee for this municipal year.  It was agreed that the Council Meeting date be moved to Monday, 11^th April 2011 in case there were any matters of business requiring a Council decision.  The new Programme of Meetings for next year has also been amended to reflect this arrangement.

Attention was drawn to the following changes to Council Meeting dates:

a)  A special Council Meeting had been called for Monday, 21^st March 2011 commencing at 7pm to consider the Biggin Hill Airport proposals.  This would be followed by a meeting of the Executive who would make the final decision on the matter.

b)  The date of the Council Meeting on the published Programme of Meetings scheduled for Monday, 28^th March 2011 was before the meetings of the last Executive and General Purposes and Licensing Committee for this municipal year in case there were any matters of business requiring a Council decision.  It was agreed that the Council Meeting date be moved to Monday, 11^th April 2011.  The new Programme of Meetings for next year had also been amended to reflect this arrangement.

The change of dates was NOTED.

The Mayor thanked members for their support for the dinner at the House of Commons and the successful Quiz Night held the previous week in aid of his Charity and the support from Councillor Ian Payne and his family for organising the quiz. 

He announced that on 25^th March 2011 Councillor Mellor had agreed to ‘teach’ guests about wine and that there would be a last charity dinner at

The Mayor added his personal thanks and paid tribute to the work of Mr Paul Dale, Director of Resources, as this was his last Council meeting before leaving Bromley.

The Mayor thanked members for their support for the dinner at the House of Commons and the successful Quiz Night held the previous week in aid of his Charity and the support from Councillor Ian Payne and his family for organising the quiz. 

He announced that on 25^th March 2011 Councillor Mellor had agreed to ‘teach’ guests about wine and that there would be a last charity bike ride on 1^st May 2011 in Jubilee Park.   

The Mayor added his personal thanks and paid tribute to the work of Mr Paul Dale, Director of Resources, as this was his last Council meeting before leaving Bromley.