Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors David Jefferys and Richard Williams.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe.

Councillor Angela Page declared a pecuniary interest as an employee of the Local Government Association in relation to one of the public questions for written reply.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 26^th February 2018 be confirmed.

No petitions had been received.

Questions must be received by 5pm on Tuesday 3^rd April 2018.

Six questions had been received from members of the public for oral reply. These are set out, with the answers given, in Appendix A to these minutes.

Thirteen questions had been received from members of the public for written reply. These are set out, with the answers given, in Appendix B to these minutes.

Eighteen questions had been received from Members of the Council for oral reply. These are set out, with the answers given, in Appendix C to these minutes.

Nine questions had been received from Members of the Council for oral reply. These are set out, with the answers given, in Appendix D to these minutes.

A statement was made by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Colin Smith, summarising the achievements over the last four years. He thanked Members and officers for their work during a period of unprecedented financial restrictions, mentioning the following achievements –

·  The Mears Scheme, providing four hundred homes;

·  The My Bromley online account;

·  Implementation of local terms and conditions for staff, resulting in staff receiving the highest pay increases in London;

·  The new Departmental Representatives Forum;

·  The outstanding performance of the Pension Fund – best in the country over one, three, five and ten years;

·  Remaining debt-free, one of only two Councils in London;

·  In Public Health, reductions in teenage pregnancies and diabetes;

·  The transformation of Children’s Services after the poor Ofsted report in 2016;

·  Outsourcing of the Library Service, and provision of a new library in Penge, a new Bromley Exhibition at the Central Library and a new Biggin Hill Memorial Museum;

·  Securing the long-term future of the Churchill Theatre;

·  Transforming Bromley and Beckenham town centres;

·  Promoting the Beckenham and Penge Business Improvement District;

·  Decreasing landfill volumes, and 24,000 new customers for the green garden waste scheme;

·  An award winning blue badge misuse campaign;

·  An extra £12m invested in highways and pavements;

·  The continued growth of Friends Groups;

·  A successful Trading Standards Service;

·  Producing a new Local Development Plan.

The Leader thanked the following Members who were standing down for their service to the borough –

Councillors Douglas Auld, Ruth Bennett, Eric Bosshard, Lydia Buttinger, Stephen Carr, Alan Collins, Peter Fookes, Ellie Harmer, Terence Nathan, Ian F. Payne, Sarah Phillips, Tom Philpott, Catherine Rideout, Charles Rideout, Tim Stevens, Teresa Te and Richard Williams.

Councillor David Cartwright added his particular thanks to Councillor Charles Rideout for his service to the people of Mottingham and Chislehurst North, and Councillor Ian F Payne thanked the Leader on behalf of all Members who were standing down.  

Report CSD18065

A motion to receive the Policy Development and Scrutiny Annual Report 2017/18 was moved by Councillor Simon Fawthrop, seconded by Councillor Keith Onslow and CARRIED.

Report CSD18066

A motion to approve the recommendations relating to the third report of the Education, Children and Families Select Committee on the Impact of Early Intervention Services was moved by Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP, seconded by Councillor Neil Reddin and CARRIED.

Report CSD18067

A motion to approve the recommendations relating to the fourth report of the Education, Children and Families Select Committee on Early Years, Childminding and the 30 Hours Challenge was moved by Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP, seconded by Councillor Neil Reddin and CARRIED.

Report CSD18068

A motion to receive and note the annual report of the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) was moved by Councillor Sarah Phillips, seconded by Councillor Keith Onslow and CARRIED.

Report CSD18060

A motion to amend the Council’s Code of Conduct was moved by Councillor Ian F. Payne, seconded by Councillor Stephen Wells and CARRIED.

Report CSD18061

A motion to appoint two Employer representatives, Josepha Reynolds and Pinny Borg, to the Local Pension Board was moved by Councillor Ian F. Payne, seconded by Councillor Stephen Wells and CARRIED.

No motions had been received.

The Mayor of Bromley Awards had been held on 15^th March, and the Mayor stated it was a real privilege and a delight to present the awards to such worthy individuals and to meet with them and their families. The charity dinner at the House of Commons had been held on 22^nd March and it had been a very enjoyable evening. 

The dinner had sold out very quickly and as there were people who were disappointed at not being able to get any tickets, the Mayor had arranged a dinner at the Tamasha Indian Restaurant for Wednesday 18^th April at 7.00pm.  There was also an adventure golf morning on Saturday 21^st April from 9am until 12 noon. Information had been sent out both events, and Members were urged to contact the office for any further information.

The Mayor thanked Members for their support, and she particularly thanked those Members who were standing down at the election for their service to the borough.