Agenda and minutes

The Mayor to make and deliver the statutory Declaration of Office

It was moved by Councillor Angela Wilkins, seconded by Councillor Nicholas Bennett and

RESOLVED that Councillor Kathy Bance MBE be elected Mayor of the Borough.

Councillor Bance made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of the Office of Mayor and thereupon adjourned from the Chamber in company with the retiring Mayor to receive the insignia of office.   

In the Chair, the Mayor, Councillor Kathy Bance MBE.

On her return to the Chamber, the Mayor expressed her thanks for the honour conferred upon her and announced that during her year of office the charities that she would be supporting would be Bromley and Croydon Women’s Aid and Bromley Homeless Shelter.

The Mayor signified orally and in writing her appointment of Councillor Kevin Brooks as the Deputy Mayor.

The Deputy Mayor was invested by the Mayor with the insignia of his office and expressed appreciation for the honour of his appointment.

On a motion by Councillor Katy Boughey, which was seconded by Councillor Douglas Auld it was

RESOLVED that at the conclusion of the year of office of Councillor Ian F. Payne as Mayor of the London Borough of Bromley, the Council places on record its appreciation of the able manner in which he has presided at meetings of the Council and the distinction with which he has maintained and discharged the high traditions and responsibilities of that office.

The Council also recognises the enthusiasm, commitment and  dedicated manner in which he has carried out Mayoral duties when representing the Borough, spreading awareness of the history and tradition of the Mayoralty with dignity, as well as strengthening our long-standing relationship with our twinned town Neuwied and Mayoralty outside the borough.

It records with pleasure his particular involvement and support of the Borough’s voluntary groups business associations, community groups, music and drama organisations, schools and colleges. Additionally, it notes his consideration for the welfare and wellbeing of residents from all age groups throughout the Borough.

The Council further acknowledges his enthusiastic support and fund raising efforts through his Charity Appeal for The Salvation Army Kids Camp and The Breast of Bromley Cancer Campaign.

That the Corporate Seal be affixed to an engrossment of this resolution for presentation to Councillor Ian F. Payne and a Past Mayor’s Badge be presented to him in token of the appreciation hereby expressed.

Thereupon the Mayor, on behalf of the Council, invested Councillor Ian F. Payne with a badge in token of the appreciation of his services as Mayor of the Borough.

Councillor Payne expressed his thanks for the terms of the resolution and the presentation and for the support accorded to him which had contributed so greatly to his year of office as Mayor.

Councillor Payne presented badges and resolutions to the retiring Mayor’s Chaplains, Lt Colonels Graham and Kirsten Owen.

RESOLVED that the Council

(1)  records its appreciation of the able and courteous services of Councillor Hannah Gray and her Consort, Mr Mark Howard when as Deputy Mayor and Deputy Consort for the year 2016/17, they represented the Mayoralty and the Council; and

(2)  to provide to them an attested copy of this resolution.

Councillor Gray expressed her thanks for the terms of the resolution and for the support accorded to her during her year of office as Deputy Mayor.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors David Cartwright, Judi Ellis, Will Harmer, Samaris Huntington-Thresher and Michael Rutherford.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 10^th April 2017 be confirmed.

In accordance with the agreed constitutional arrangement that the Leader of the Council may elect to address the annual meeting, Councillor Stephen Carr made a brief statement.

After offering his personal congratulations to the new Mayor, the Leader

went on to set out some of the Council’s recent achievements and aspirations for the coming year with regard to its Building a Better Bromley priorities. These included the Growth Fund to encourage and grow business, the Local Plan which would shortly be adopted to position Bromley as an appealing, business-friendly, aspirational and entrepreneurial borough, investment in parks, roads and streets and establishment of a clear housing policy.

Work to improve children’s services would continue, and he was encouraged by the inspectors’ recognition of the work done so far. With older residents in mind, a report on the situation for vulnerable people in the borough had been instigated to ensure that safe and appropriate services were available to meet their needs. Overall the Council continued to be committed to working efficiently and effectively to deliver the priority services that Bromley citizens required.

The Leader also confirmed the membership of the Executive as follows –

Councillors Graham Arthur, Peter Fortune, Kate Lymer, Peter Morgan, Colin Smith (Deputy Leader) and Diane Smith.

A motion that the appointment of Councillors to Committees and the election of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen be approved as set out in the schedule circulated was moved by Councillor William Huntington-Thresher, seconded by Councillor Nicholas Bennett and CARRIED.

After the end of the meeting, Committees met to appoint their Sub-Committees and elect Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen. The final version of the schedule is attached as Appendix A to these minutes.

(Note: The following error in the schedule was subsequently identified: Councillors Ian F. Payne, Michael Tickner and Stephen Wells should have been included as members of the Standards Committee. Councillor Robert Evans was appointed to the places originally allocated to Cllr Catherine Rideout on the Care Services PDS Committee and Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee.)

Report CSD17071

A motion to approve amended terms of reference for Policy Development and Scrutiny Committees was moved by Councillor Simon Fawthrop, seconded by Councillor Keith Onslow and CARRIED.

Report CSD17058

A motion to note the Scheme of Executive Delegation and confirm the Scheme of Non-executive Delegation was moved by Councillor Ian F. Payne, seconded by Councillor Stephen Wells and CARRIED.

Report CSD17059

In accordance with the agreed procedure, a report was received summarising Members’ attendance at meetings during the 2016/17 Council year.

Report CSD17060

In accordance with agreed procedures, reports were received from Councillors appointed to serve on outside bodies during the 2016/17 Council year.

The Mayor announced that Rev. Neil Draisey of Beckenham Baptist Church would be her chaplain for the forthcoming year.

Details of diary dates were being finalised and would be available shortly.