Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Humphrys, Jefferys, Noad, Catherine Rideout, Charles Rideout and Wells.  Apologies for lateness were are received from Councillor Jackson.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Humphrys, Jefferys, Noad, Catherine Rideout, Charles Rideout and Wells.  Apologies for lateness were are received from Councillor Jackson.

The Minutes of the last meeting were confirmed.

The Minutes of the last meeting were confirmed.

Councillor Auld declared an interest as his wife was an employee of the Council; Councillor Carr declared an interest as his daughter did casual work for Bromley Mytime Active; Councillor Simon Fawthrop declared an interest as his wife worked for Bromley Adult Education; Councillor Lymer declared an interest as her mother worked in Public Health and Councillors Colin and Diane Smith declared interests as their daughter worked part time for the library service.

Councillor Auld declared an interest as his wife was an employee of the Council; Councillor Carr declared an interest as his daughter did casual work for Bromley Mytime Active; Councillor Simon Fawthrop declared an interest as his wife worked for Bromley Adult Education; Councillor Lymer declared an interest as her mother worked in Public Health and Councillors Colin and Diane Smith declared interests as their daughter worked part time for the library service.

One member of the public attended the meeting to ask an oral question.

One member of the public attended the meeting to ask an oral question details of which are set out in Appendix A to these Minutes.

There were no petitions for consideration at this meeting.

There were no petitions for consideration at this meeting.

There were 8 oral Councillor questions that had been received.

These are attached at Appendices B and C.

No Statements were made.

No Statements were made.

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

·  2013/14 Council Tax

·  Capital Programme Monitoring Q3 2012/13 & Annual Capital Review 2013 to 2017

1)  2013/14 Council Tax

The recommendations of the Executive meeting on 6^th February 2013, amended by updated information on levies, were agreed.

A 1.89% increase in Bromley’s Council Tax for 2013/14 (including levies) compared with 2012/13 and a 1.21% reduction in the GLA precept.  This resulted in an overall increase (including GLA precept) of 1.16% which for Band D Council Tax will be as set out below – full detail of the decision are set out in the Minutes.

2.  Capital programme Monitoring Q3 2012/13 & annual Capital Review 2013 - 2017

The recommendation was agreed.

1)  2013/14 Council Tax

The Finance Director circulated further changes to the levies, as set out below, and the consequent proposed amendments to be made to the recommendations of the Executive meeting on 6^th February 2013.  It was noted that there were no changes to the final Mayoral precept that had been accepted by the London Assembly on 25^th February 2013. 

A Motion to receive and adopt the recommendations, including the revised recommendations of the Executive, was proposed by Councillor Carr and seconded by Councillor Arthur.

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 2013/14:

New Recommendation (3)

Council to agree:

(a) That the following revenue savings in 2013/14 do not proceed: 

(b)   In recognition of "red" rag status for minimising the use of temporary accommodation, reported previously to Care Services PDS Committee, to agree that a sum of £8.1m be utilised in 2013/14 for the provision for temporary accommodation to reduce the use of nightly paid accommodation to meet statutory housing duties. Based on savings already reported to Executive from the utilisation of Bellegrove (Executive, 9 January 2013), potential savings of £810k may be realised which can be utilised to offset the impact of the above savings not progressing. 

(c)   The additional costs arising from any delays in acquiring the sites and achieving the savings will be met from general fund balances.  

(d)  To agree the utilisation of funding as follows:

(i)  £8.1 million from use of invest to save fund;

(ii)  A sum of £0.3m is set aside from general fund balances to reflect any delay in implementation of the proposals in 2013/14.’

On being put to the vote this Amendment was LOST.

Councillor Fookes advised that he would not be submitting alternative budget recommendations on behalf of his Party but made a speech on the issues that he was most concerned about.

The Recommendations of the Executive (as amended) were, after debate, put to the vote and CARRIED as follows:

Amended Recommendation (2.1)

(f)  Reduce the provision for unallocated inflation by £123k;

(g)  Approve a contingency sum of £13,022k. 

  To note that, since the meeting of the Executive, the Council has received notification of two further government grants.  £76k of funding relates to the transfer of financial responsibility for remands to youth detention accommodation which takes place on the 1^st April 2013. £698k  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

The recommendations to approve (i) the inclusion of Certificates of Deposit, commercial Paper and Floating Rate Notes as eligible investment vehicles; and (ii) adopt the Treasury Management Statement and the Annual Investment Strategy for 2013/14, together with the prudential indicators and the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy statement were all agreed.

A Motion to approve (i) the inclusion of Certificates of Deposit, commercial Paper and Floating Rate Notes as eligible investment vehicles; and (ii) adopt the Treasury Management Statement and the Annual Investment Strategy for 2013/14, together with the prudential indicators and the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy statement was duly proposed and seconded.

  The Motion was CARRIED.

The Council approved the 2013/14 Pay Policy Statement.

A Motion to approve the Pay Policy Statement 2013/14 (Appendix D) was proposed, seconded and adopted.

The recommendations were agreed.

A Motion to approve the recommendations of the General Purposes and Licensing Committee in respect of reforms under the Pensions Act 2008 and the provisions regarding Workplace Pensions and the automatic enrolment of eligible employees was duly proposed and seconded.

  The Motion was CARRIED.

The recommendations concerning the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2013/14, including freezing the current allowances, were agreed.

A Motion to approve the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2013/14 (Appendix E), including freezing the current allowances, was proposed, seconded and adopted.

The proposed terms of reference for the interim arrangements for the Health & Well Being Board’s establishment from 1^st April 2013 were agreed, subject to the following amendments –

1)  the Leader of the Council to appoint up to 11 members of the Council as necessary, 2 of whom shall consist of 1 from each of the minority parties; and

2)  the quorum for the meeting to consist of one third of the membership, at least half of whom shall be Council members.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 introduced a requirement for local authorities to establish Health and Wellbeing Broads with effect from 1^st April 2013.  A report had been circulated proposing the terms of reference for the interim arrangements for the Health & Wellbeing Board’s establishment.

A Motion to adopt the recommendations, subject to the following amendments, was duly proposed and seconded:

1)  the Leader of the Council to appoint up to 11 members of the Council as necessary, 2 of whom shall consist of 1 from each of the minority parties;

2)  the quorum for the meeting to consist of one third of the membership, at least half of whom shall be Council members; and

3)  a substitute member may be nominated by a member unable to attend a meeting.

The response from the Government concerning the Council Motion on Government Planning Policies was noted.

The response from the Government concerning the Council Motion on Government Planning Policies was duly NOTED.

Notice of 1 Motion had been received as set out below.  

“This Council deplores the decision of the Secretary of State for Health to downgrade the Maternity and Accident and Emergency Units at Lewisham Hospital and calls upon him to reverse his decision in the interests of Bromley residents.” 

A request to amend the Motion at the Council Meeting by the proposer was not agreed.  The original Motion on being put to the vote was LOST.

Notice of one Motion had been received. 

The following Motion was proposed by Councillor John Getgood and seconded by Councillor Katherine Bance MBE.

“This Council deplores the decision of the Secretary of State for Health to downgrade the Maternity and Accident and Emergency Units at Lewisham Hospital and calls upon him to reverse his decision in the interests of Bromley residents.” 

A request to amend the Motion at the Council Meeting by the proposer was not agreed.

An amended Motion was moved by Councillor Tickner and seconded by Councillor which was ruled by the Mayor to be unacceptable.

  The original Motion on being put to the vote was LOST.

The Mayor thanked all those Councillors and Officers who supported the Charity Appeal Quiz Evening and also the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress for their efficiency in organising the event.

He also asked Members to note some dates for their diary - a charity fund raising dinner at Con Amore on Tuesday 30th April 2013 and the Service of Thanksgiving at St. Andrew’s Church, at 10.00 a.m. on Sunday 12^th May 2013. 

Further details will be sent out nearer the time.

The Mayor thanked all those Councillors and Officers who had supported the Charity Appeal Quiz Evening and also the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress for their efficiency in organising the event.

He also asked Members to note some dates for their diary - a charity fund raising dinner at Con Amore on Tuesday 30th April 2013 and the Service of Thanksgiving at St. Andrew’s Church, at 10.00 a.m. on Sunday 12^th May 2013. 

Further details would be sent out nearer the time.