Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Beckley, Boughey, Evans, Getgood, Mrs Manning and Payne. Apologies for lateness were received from Cllrs Benington and Ruth Bennett  

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Beckley, Boughey, Evans, Getgood, Mrs Manning and Payne. Apologies for lateness were received from Cllrs Benington and Ruth Bennett. 

The minutes were approved subject to minor amendments as tabled.

The minutes of the annual meeting on 15^th May 2013 were confirmed subject to the following minor amendments –

Minute 2 - Third paragraph, third word amend to read ‘made.’

Minute 3 - Last paragraph before the resolution, first sentence, fifth word should read ‘his.’

Minute 4 - Last word in the second paragraph should read ‘Mayor.’

Minute 5 - Second line, delete ‘in’ third word from the end.

Minute 6 - In the title the last word amend to read ‘Board.’

Declarations of interest were made by Cllrs Nicholas Bennett, Jefferys, Colin and Diane Smith and Stranger.

Councillors Nicholas Bennett and Harry Stranger declared interests as members of the Western Front Association in relation to the oral questions from Members.

Councillor David Jefferys declared that his wife was a governor of Highfield Junior School in relation to the report on the Kingswood Site.

Councillors Colin and Diane Smith declared that their daughter was a part time employee of the Library Service in relation to the written questions.

One oral public question was received from Jan Watkins concerning the Waste4Fuel site. There was also one question for written reply from Tim Fisher.   

Jan Watkins attended the meeting to ask an oral question and there was also one question for written reply from Tim Fisher – the questions and answers are set out in Appendix A to these minutes. 

Eleven oral questions were dealt with.

Eleven oral questions were dealt with – these are set out in Appendix B to these minutes.

Answers to sixteen written questions were tabled.

The answers to sixteen written questions were tabled – these are set out in Appendix C to these minutes.  

One statement was made by Cllr Graham Arthur, Portfolio Holder for Resources, on local pay and conditions.

One statement was made by Cllr Graham Arthur, Portfolio Holder for Resources, on local pay and conditions. He reported that Bromley was the only Council in London to have successfully come out of the national pay framework and give democratically elected councillors a mandate to determine pay locally for the benefit of staff and residents. The Council had listened to staff and agreed not to change any terms and conditions for two years, and had been able to give staff a better pay settlement than under national terms. Only 158 staff had not accepted the new terms and conditions. Councillor Arthur responded to questions from Members.

The recommendation to endorse the adoption of a Compact/Covenant was agreed.

A motion to endorse the adoption of an Education Compact/Covenant was proposed, seconded and adopted.

Shortlands Ward

The recommendations to utilise the Kingswood site for a 2 form entry free school built by the Education Funding Authority and run by Harris Academies, subject to consultation and necessary consents, and to lease the site to Harris Academies, were agreed.

A motion to amend the recommendation to provide for a one form entry primary school was proposed and seconded but was not carried.

A motion to approve the recommendations to utilise the Kingswood site for a 2 form entry free school built by the Education Funding Authority and run by Harris Academies, subject to consultation and necessary consents, and to lease the site to Harris Academies, was proposed, seconded and adopted.

The recommendations to establish a new Economic Development and Investment Fund were agreed.

A motion to approve the recommendations to establish a new Economic Development and Investment Fund was proposed, seconded and adopted.

The annual PDS report was received.

A motion to receive the annual Policy Development and Scrutiny report for 2012/13 was proposed, seconded and adopted.

The meeting of the Urgency Committee on 29^th May 2013 was noted.

A motion to note the meeting of the Urgency Committee held on 29^th May 2013 was proposed, seconded and adopted.

Cllr Kate Lymer was appointed to the Executive and Resources PDS Committee to replace Cllr Douglas Auld as recommended, and in addition Cllr Will Harmer was also appointed to the Committee.

An amendment was proposed, seconded and carried that the membership of the Executive and Resources PDS Committee be expanded by one seat, and that this be filled by Councillor Will Harmer.

A motion was proposed, seconded and adopted that Councillor Kate Lymer be appointed to the Executive and Resources PDS Committee to replace Cllr Douglas Auld as recommended, and that in addition Cllr Will Harmer also be appointed to the Committee.

Two motions were considered –

(1)  DLR Extension (Moved by Cllr Carr, seconded by Cllr Colin Smith)

“This Council warmly welcomes Mayor Johnson's continuing commitment to see the extension of DLR to Bromley as outlined in his 2020 Vision, Ambitions for London Paper launched on Tuesday 11th June.

Such an extension, is the clearly articulated priority of the Borough, unlike  the Bakerloo extension, and will provide direct transport links to Docklands and east London and  provide regeneration and employment opportunities for the residents of Bromley Borough and the whole of south east London. 

Unlike many parts of the capital, south east London and Bromley Borough in particular has not seen any new major infrastructure projects of this sort for many years and therefore calls upon the Mayor to commit fully to secure the funding for this scheme as a matter of urgency.” 

This motion was agreed.

(2)  Fire Service (Moved by Cllr Fookes, seconded by Cllr Bance)

“This Council condemns the fire cuts imposed on Londoners by Mayor Boris Johnson and in particular, the loss of Downham Fire Station which serves Bromley borough.  It calls on him to ensure that no area in London receives a worse response time than currently exists.”

This motion was lost.

Two motions were considered –

(A)  DLR Extension

The following motion was proposed by Cllr Carr and seconded by Cllr Colin Smith -

“This Council warmly welcomes Mayor Johnson's continuing commitment to see the extension of DLR to Bromley as outlined in his 2020 Vision, Ambitions for London Paper launched on Tuesday 11th June.

Such an extension, is the clearly articulated priority of the Borough, unlike  the Bakerloo extension, and will provide direct transport links to Docklands and east London and  provide regeneration and employment opportunities for the residents of Bromley Borough and the whole of south east London. 

Unlike many parts of the capital, south east London and Bromley Borough in particular has not seen any new major infrastructure projects of this sort for many years and therefore calls upon the Mayor to commit fully to secure the funding for this scheme as a matter of urgency.” 

On being put to the vote, this motion was carried.

(B)  Fire Service

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Peter Fookes and seconded by Councillor Kathy Bance -

“This Council condemns the fire cuts imposed on Londoners by Mayor Boris Johnson and in particular, the loss of Downham Fire Station which serves Bromley borough.  It calls on him to ensure that no area in London receives a worse response time than currently exists.”

On being put to the vote, this motion was lost.

The Mayor thanked Members attending his first charity appeal event at Cru Restaurant on 3^rd July and encouraged support for the charity dinner at the RAF Club on 30^th October and the Quiz Night on 24^th January.

The Mayor presented the past mayor Cllr Michael Turner with a scroll comprising the resolution of thanks from the annual Council meeting.

The Mayor thanked Members attending his first charity appeal event at Cru Restaurant on 3^rd July and encouraged support for the charity dinner at the RAF Club on 30^th October and the Quiz Night on 24^th January. He also announced that he would be without the assistance of the Mayoress in November and December as their daughter in Australia was expecting triplets.

The Mayor presented the past Mayor Cllr Michael Turner with a scroll comprising the resolution of thanks from the annual Council meeting.