Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 64 KBVenue: Bromley Civic Centre
Contact: Graham Walton 020 8461 7743
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Apologies for absence Decision: Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Beckley, Charsley, Lymer and Norrie Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Beckley, Charsley, Lymer and Norrie |
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To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 23rd September 2013 Additional documents:
Decision: Minutes confirmed. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 23rd September 2013 were confirmed. |
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Declarations of Interest Decision: No declarations were made Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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To consider any petitions received Decision: No petitions had been received Minutes: No petitions had been received |
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Questions from members of the public where notice has been given. Decision: One oral question was dealt with, and there were five questions for written reply Minutes: One oral question was dealt with, and there were five questions for written reply. These are set out in Appendix A to these minutes. |
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Oral questions from Members of the Council where notice has been given. Additional documents: Decision: Fourteen questions were dealt with Minutes: Fourteen oral questions were dealt with – these are set out in Appendix B to these minutes. |
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Written questions from Members of the Council where notice has been given. Decision: Answers to fourteen written questions were tabled Minutes: The answers to fourteen written questions were tabled – these are set out in Appendix C to these minutes. |
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To consider any statements that may be made by the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holders or Chairmen of Committees. Decision: Two statements were made, (i) by the Leader of the Council concerning the proposed Bromley element Council Tax rise of 1.99% in 2014/15 and (ii) the Resources Portfolio Holder on the proposed staff salary increase of 1.7% for staff earning under £21k, 1.2% for staff earning over £21k and 1% for management grade staff. Minutes: Two statements were made by Councillor Stephen Carr, the Leader of the Council and Councillor Graham Arthur, the Resources Portfolio Holder.
(A) Leader’s Statement
Councillor Stephen Carr made a statement concerning the proposed Bromley element Council Tax rise of 1.99% in 2014/15, agreed by the Executive on 20th November. He referred to the need for the budget to be sustainable in the long term in the face of demographic pressures and the reductions in Government grant, to ensure that Bromley continued to be a clean, green and safe borough where people wanted to live. The public consultation meetings through the autumn had shown that protecting front-line services was a priority for residents, and that a small increase in Council Tax was acceptable.
The Leader responded to questions from other Members. He explained that the Council could not accept the incentive to maintain the same level of Council Tax as the Government funding for this was one-off and would not be built into future grants. Asked about the sixth written question, from Councillor Nicholas Bennett, concerning the additional costs imposed by new legislation, Councillor Carr confirmed that there had not been sufficient time to research the issue, but that an answer would be provided.
(B) Resources Portfolio Holder’s Statement
Resources Portfolio Holder made a statement announcing the proposed staff salary increases for 2014/15 of 1.7% for staff earning under £21k, 1.2% for staff earning over £21k and 1% for management grade staff. There would also be a first round of merit payments in the current year based on management feedback, but he hoped that nominations from co-workers and the public could be used in future.
The Portfolio Holder responded to questions from other Members. He confirmed that the cost of the £200 payment to staff in recognition of accepting the local pay arrangements had been contained within existing budgets. 98% of staff had accepted the new contracts and would enjoy higher pay increases than under the national settlement. |
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Beckenham Town Centre Improvements - Capital Programme Additional documents: Decision: The recommendation to add the scheme to the capital programme was agreed Minutes: A motion to add the Beckenham Town Centre Improvements Scheme (with a total estimated cost of £3.257m) to the capital programme was proposed by Councillor Stephen Carr, seconded by Councillor Peter Morgan and adopted. |
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Meetings of the Urgency Committee Decision: The recommendation to note the decisions of the Urgency Committee was agreed Minutes: A motion to note the decisions made by the Urgency Committee at its meetings on 21st August and 12th September 2013 was proposed by Councillor Tony Owen, seconded by Cllr Peter Dean and adopted. |
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To consider Motions of which notice has been given. Decision: Two motions were considered –
(1) Volunteers and Friends Groups (moved by Cllr William Huntington-Thresher and seconded by Cllr Peter Fortune)
The motion was carried.
(2) The “Bedroom Tax” (moved by Cllr Peter Fookes and seconded by Cllr Kathy Bance)
The motion was lost. Minutes: Two motions were considered –
(A) Volunteers and Friends Groups
The following motion was moved by Councillor William Huntington-Thresher and seconded by Councillor Peter Fortune -
“This Council would like to pay tribute to all our residents who volunteer as 'Friends'. The efforts of the borough's Friends of Parks, Street Friends and Snow Friends all improve our environment and the lives of all who work and live in the borough. The 'Friends' network is a key component in the maintenance of the clean and green image of our borough. They, together with the staff who support them and our environment contractors provide us with a borough of which we are proud. Further, this Council acknowledges and honours all residents who volunteer to the benefit of the borough and its residents. Those residents who volunteer for positions of responsibility such as school governors are greatly appreciated. The volunteering ethos which is important at all times, is particularly valued and appreciated in these times of austerity. This is a model that should be commended to all councils. This Council requests that the Mayor provides a copy of this motion to each 'Friends' group.”
The motion was carried.
(During consideration of this matter Councillor Tom Papworth declared an interest in that his wife was the secretary of the Friends of Crystal Palace Park)
(B) The “Bedroom Tax”
The following motion was moved by Councillor Peter Fookes and seconded by Councillor Kathy Bance
“This Council calls on the government to abolish the bedroom tax.”
The motion was lost.
(During consideration of this matter Councillor Nicholas Bennett declared an interest as the Council’s representative on the Affinity Sutton Regional Scrutiny Board.) |
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The Mayor's announcements and communications. Decision: The Mayor thanked all Councillors who had represented the Borough at the Remembrance Sunday Services and those who had attended his Charity Appeal Dinner at the RAF Club in October.
There had been a very good response to the dinner being held in the House of Lords on 30th January and there were very few tickets left. Anyone interested should contact the Mayor’s Office as soon as possible.
Diary dates:
The Charity Appeal Quiz Evening will be held in the Great Hall, Civic Centre on Friday 24th January 2014.
BYMT have offered to arrange two concerts for the Charity Appeal – one on Sunday 16th February and another on Sunday 23rd March 2014 (further information for these events will be sent out shortly.)
The event at Mings was a sell out.
Minutes: The Mayor thanked all Councillors who had represented the Borough at the Remembrance Sunday Services and those who had attended his Charity Appeal Dinner at the RAF Club in October. He particularly thanked Councillor Michael Turner for arranging the latter event.
There had been a very good response to the dinner being held in the House of Lords on 30th January and there were very few tickets left. Anyone interested should contact the Mayor’s Office as soon as possible.
Diary dates:
The Charity Appeal Quiz Evening would be held in the Great Hall, Civic Centre on Friday 24th January 2014.
BYMT have offered to arrange two concerts for the Charity Appeal – one on Sunday 16th February and another on Sunday 23rd March 2014 (further information for these events would be sent out shortly.)
The event at Mings was a sell out.
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