Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Judy Ellis, Samaris Huntington-Thresher, David Jefferys and Kate Lymer.  Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Judy Ellis, Samaris Huntington-Thresher, David Jefferys and Kate Lymer.  Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe.

The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 24^th October 2012 were confirmed.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 24^th October 2011 were confirmed.

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.

The following additional personal interests were declared:

Councillor Simon Fawthrop declared an interest in relation to item 13 (Motion: Extension of Selective Academic Education) as he had a child attending a grammar school in the Borough.  Councillor Roxanna Fawthrop also declared a similar interest as she had a sister attending one of the grammar schools in the Borough.  Councillor Grainger also declared an interest in relation to item 13 (Motion: Extension of Selective Academic Education) as he had two sons at St Olave’s Grammar School and was also a Governor of the School.  He also had a daughter at Newstead Wood Grammar School and his wife was an independent school auditor. Councillor Papworth declared an interest in respect of item 9 (Council Tax 2012/13) as his wife was Treasurer of the Friends of Crystal Palace Park.  Councillor Sarah Phillips declared an interest in relation to item 13 (Motion: Extension of Selective Academic Education) as she had two children at Grammar Schools in the Borough.  Councillor Reddin also declared an interest as a non LEA appointed Governor of St Olave’s Grammar School.

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 one member of the public who attended to ask an oral question at the meeting.

There was one member of the public who attended to ask an oral question at the meeting, details of which are attached as Appendix A to the Minutes.

There were 11 questions asked.

These are attached as Appendices B and C.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources updated members on the position in Bromley in respect of the transfer of responsibility for Public Health to the Council’s control.

The Portfolio Holder for Renewal and Recreation informed members of his recent visit to the Bromley Valley Gymnastics Centre in Cotmandene and spoke of the high level of work undertaken at the Centre and its successes.

a)  Public Health

The Portfolio Holder for Resources updated members on the position in Bromley in respect of the transfer of responsibility for Public Health to the Council’s control.  Non acute care and community services would be transferring to the Council’s control with the merger of Social Services and Community Services from next year.  In preparation for this major step a shadow Health Board had been operating bringing together the elements of public health and establishing the model for taking things forward.  The Health and Wellbeing Board had pooled its resources both in terms of finance and staffing.  The shared agenda had been informed by the first Joint Needs Assessment and a Public Health Director had been appointed as a shared post.  Next month the 40 plus remaining staff of the PCT structure would transfer to the Council’s site.  Whilst welcoming the changes the Portfolio Holder highlighted that the finance attached to this was still unclear.  Indicative figures had been released with Bromley allocated a very meagre amount. There were significant variations in the funding ranging from £20 per head at the lowest end to £122 at the highest.  Funding for the current year was still held by the PCT and they had been cooperating closely with the Council to ensure a smooth transition.  There was also a move towards a closer commissioning process to build on joint expertise. The Portfolio Holder stressed the need to watch the situation closely and to state clearly that we would not take on any responsibility which was not properly funded.  Bromley was joining with London Councils to call for a minimum grant per head to ensure fairness and also to receive a realistic slice of the total fund.  Councillor Arthur would be attending a pan London event the next day to assess the progress that had been by each Borough and he was pleased to say that Bromley was some way ahead of other boroughs due to a mixture of shared functions in previous years and the willingness of Health Partners to bring a positive and fresh attitude to the table.  There were no questions on the Statement.

b)  Bromley Valley Gymnastics Centre

The Portfolio Holder for Renewal and Recreation informed members of his recent visit to the Bromley Valley Gymnastics Centre in Cotmandene.  Councillor Morgan reported that he and his wife had attended a gymnastics display at the Centre, which he had not know about before, and had been very impressed by the high standard of skill of the club members.  They had members ranging from the age of 3 years up to senior class who were trained to the very highest of levels and the club had won national and international competitions. It was a privately run club attracting a wide membership and did not receive any form of subsidy from the Council.  The premises they used were a former school gymnasium which they rented from the Council.  Councillor Morgan went on to mention some of the successes of the Club  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

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

• Capital Programme Monitoring Quarter 3 2011/12 and Annual Capital Review 2012-2016
• Council Tax 2012/13 (the revised legal implications were circulated at the Executive meeting, published on the website and are circulated to all members as a separate background paper with this agenda).

1)  Council Tax 2012/13

The recommendations of the Executive meeting on 1^st February 2012, amended by updated information on levies, were agreed:

A nil increase in Bromley’s Council Tax for 2012/13 compared with 2011/12 and a 1% reduction in the GLA precept (overall Council Tax reduction of 0.2%) which for Band D Council Tax is set out below – full details of the decision are set out in the Minutes.

2)  Annual Capital Programme Review 2012-2016

The recommendation was agreed.

1)  Council Tax 2012/13

A report of the Finance Director amending the recommendations of the Executive meeting on 1^st February 2012 concerning the Council Tax 2112/13 had been circulated which included the position on levies as follows:

The Mayor drew attention to recent technical changes arising from the Localism Act that had to be taken into account in the way the budget requirements were presented and the revised legal implications that had been circulated at the Executive meeting and re-circulated for this meeting.

A Motion to receive and adopt the recommendations, including the revised recommendations of the Executive, was proposed by Councillor Carr and seconded by Councillor Colin Smith.  During his introduction to the Motion, the Leader of the Council was pleased to announce that arising from underspends on this year’s budget it would be possible to fund a serious of one-off initiatives next year further details of which would be made available following this meeting.

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

“The following changes be made to the recommended budget for 2012/13 and indicative budget for 2013/14:

 2.1 (b)

  xvii)    that the savings of £500k per annum from 2013/14 relating to older people’s day care do not proceed (ref 32);

xviii)  that the savings of £50k in 2012/13 and £100k per annum from 2013/14 relating to support planning and brokerage service for ineligible users (ACS) do not proceed (ref 38);

  xix)  that the savings of £75k per annum from 2013/14 for mental health day and support services do not proceed (ref 39);

xx)  that the savings of £49k per annum from 2013/14 relating to street scene and green space parks do not proceed (ref 18); 

  xxi)    that the savings of £50k per annum from 2012/13 relating to SEN and inclusion do not proceed (ref 22);

xxii)  that the savings of £45k per annum from 2012/13 relating to safeguarding and social care do not proceed (ref 25);

xxiii)  that the savings of £25k in 2012/13 and a further £50k per annum from 2013/14 (total of £75k from 2013/14) relating to learning and development do not proceed (Executive February 2011 and ref 17);

xxiv)  that the savings of £90k per annum from 2013/14 relating to the amalgamation of the Penge and Anerley libraries do not proceed (ref 38);

xxv)  that the savings relating to children’s social care workforce of £25k per annum from 2012/13 do not proceed (appendix A); 

  xxvi)  that the following savings, totalling £46k, used to offset reductions in Community Safety Grant, as part of the 2012/13 Budget, by the Public Protection and Safety Portfolio Holder do not proceed:

   1. Safer Neighbourhood Grants (£3k) 

  2. Operation Payback (£9k)

  3. Discretionary Fund to finance specific projects (£25k)

  4. Crime Prevention Communication Budget (£9k)

  (NB.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

The recommendation to adopt the Treasury Management Statement and the Annual Investment Strategy for 2012/13, including the prudential indicators and the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement was agreed.

A Motion to approve the Treasury Management Statement and the Annual Investment Strategy for 2012/13, including the prudential indicators and the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement was duly proposed and seconded.

    The Motion was CARRIED.

The recommendations were agreed.

A Motion approving the minor changes to the Council’s Constitution as proposed was moved, seconded and adopted.

The recommendation was agreed.

A Motion to note the decisions made by the Urgency Committee was moved, seconded and adopted.

Notice of 1 Motion had been received and this was agreed as follows:

    “This Council notes that the Secretary of State for Education has indicated that existing selective schools may expand their provision by the creation of satellite campuses;

it further notes that parents in the neighbouring district of Sevenoaks, with the support of the local Member of Parliament, Michael Fallon and members of Kent County Council, are actively pursuing such an option;

further notes that demand for places by Bromley parents at the two selective schools within the borough and for places in neighbouring authorities far outweighs the number of available places;

resolves to support, in principle, any move by either of the two selective schools in the borough or by schools in neighbouring districts (including independent selective schools) to provide additional selective places in Bromley and particularly in those parts of the borough most distant from existing provision of selective places.”

Notice of one Motion had been received as follows:

The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP and seconded by Councillor Wells:-

“This Council notes that the Secretary of State for Education has indicated that existing selective schools may expand their provision by the creation of satellite campuses;

it further notes that parents in the neighbouring district of Sevenoaks, with the support of the local Member of Parliament, Michael Fallon and members of Kent County Council, are actively pursuing such an option;

further notes that demand for places by Bromley parents at the two selective schools within the borough and for places in neighbouring authorities far outweighs the number of available places;

resolves to support, in principle, any move by either of the two selective schools in the borough or by schools in neighbouring districts (including independent selective schools) to provide additional selective places in Bromley and particularly in those parts of the borough most distant from existing provision of selective places.”

  On being put to the vote this Motion was CARRIED.

a)  An additional Council Meeting has been called for Monday, 26^th March 2012 to primarily consider actions required by the Council arising from the Localism Act.

  b)  The meeting of the Council shown on the published programme of Meetings scheduled for Monday 30^th April 2012, which is the week of the Greater London Authority elections, has been moved to Monday, 23^rd April 2012.

The additional Council Meeting in March and the change of date of the April Council Meeting as set out below were noted:

a)  An additional Council Meeting has been called for Monday, 26^th March 2012 to primarily consider actions required by the Council arising from the Localism Act.

  b)  The meeting of the Council shown on the published programme of Meetings scheduled for Monday 30^th April 2012, which is the week of the Greater London Authority elections, has been moved to Monday, 23^rd April 2012.

The additional Council Meeting in March and the change of date of the April Council Meeting as set out below were noted:

a)  An additional Council Meeting had been called for Monday, 26^th March 2012 to primarily consider actions required by the Council arising from the Localism Act.

  b)  The meeting of the Council shown on the published programme of Meetings scheduled for Monday 30^th April 2012, which was at the beginning of the week of the Greater London Authority elections, had been moved to Monday, 23^rd April 2012.

The Mayor thanked everyone who supported the Quiz Evening on 10^th February 2012 where between £1300 to £1500 was raised.

The Deputy Mayor had arranged for a Barn Dance to be held in the Great Hall, Civic Centre on Friday 11^th May, full details would be publicised shortly.

The Mayor referred to the visit of Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to the Borough on 15^th May 2012 and advised that he would write on the Council’s behalf sending the congratulations of the Borough in respect of Her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.  A more formal resolution would be taken at the March Council Meeting.

The Mayor thanked everyone who had supported the Quiz Evening on 10^th February 2012 when between £1300 to £1500 was raised.

It was reported that the Deputy Mayor had arranged for a Barn Dance to be held in the Great Hall, Civic Centre on Friday 11^th May, full details would be publicised shortly.

The Mayor referred to the visit of Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to the Borough on 15^th May 2012 and advised that he would write on the Council’s behalf sending the congratulations of the Borough in respect of Her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.  A more formal resolution would be taken at the March Council Meeting.