Agenda and minutes

Venue: Bromley Civic Centre

Contact: Graham Walton  020 8461 7743

Items
No. Item

AUDIO RECORDING MP3 84 MB

73.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Marina Ahmad, Vanessa Allen, Nicky Dykes, Hannah Gray, Colin Hitchins, Chris Pierce, Michael Rutherford and Michael Tickner.

 

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Kieran Terry.

74.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

Councillor Nicholas Bennett declared an interest as a user of the Spa Leisure Centre in relation to a question he had submitted.

75.

Petitions

Minutes:

No petitions had been received.

76.

To confirm the Minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Council held on 10th December 2018 and the special meeting held on 16th January 2019 pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Council held on 10th December 2018, and the special meeting held on 16th January 2019 be confirmed.

77.

Questions pdf icon PDF 37 KB

Questions must be received by 5pm on Tuesday 19th February 2018.

 

(a)  Questions from members of the public for oral reply.

 

(b) Questions from members of the public for written reply.

 

(c) Questions from Members of the Council for oral reply.

 

(d) Questions from Members of the Council for written reply.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

One question had been received from a member of the public for oral reply. The question, with the answer given, is set out in Appendix A to these minutes.

 

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

 

Fourteen questions had been received from members of the Council for oral reply. The questions, with the replies given, are set out in Appendix C to these minutes.

 

Eight questions had been received from members of the Council for written reply. The questions, with the answers given, are set out in Appendix D to these minutes.

78.

To consider any statements that may be made by the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holders or Chairmen of Committees.

Minutes:

No statements were made.

79.

2019/20 Council Tax pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD19041

 

Councillor Colin Smith, seconded by Councillor Graham Arthur, moved acceptance of the recommendations made by the Executive. In moving the recommendations, Councillor Smith confirmed that there were no changes to the final Mayoral precept and the changes to Parking Charges had, since the Executive’s meeting, been agreed by the Environment and Community services Portfolio Holder.

 

The following amendments were moved by Councillor Angela Wilkins and seconded by Councillor Ian Dunn -

 

“The following amendments are proposed to the recommendations of the Executive set out in the Blue Book on pages 73-124. 

 

The following changes be made to the recommended budget for 2019/20:

 

Additional Recommendation (2.1):

 

(l)  sets aside the following funding from earmarked reserves:

 

(i)  £5,000k from the Investment Fund to provide capital funding for new build social housing over a period of two years;

(ii)  £5,000k from the Invest to Save Fund for the provision of modular TA housing;

(iii)  £3,250k from the Growth Fund to support the Local Economy;

(iv)  £5,000k from Better Care Fund and NHS monies (S75 agreements) for investment in public health/social prescribing and CAMHS (subject to CCG agreement);

(v)  £700k from a combination of Member Initiatives and Invest to Save to support a range of initiatives including town centre assemblies, debt advisory service and safer streets.

 

(m)  explores opportunities for income generation arising from the sale of out of Borough commercial property investments (capital receipt of £5,000k) and the commercialisation of some council services (revenue income of £500k per annum – assume full year impact from 2020/21);

 

(n)  agrees the following ongoing revenue expenditure to be met from a corresponding reduction of £199k in the central contingency:

 

(i)  additional staff to support regulation of private rented sector (£50k per annum);

(ii)  re-instate air pollution monitoring equipment (£14k per annum);

(iii)  increase CCTV/lighting in areas affected by ASB / youth violence (£80k);

(iv)  increased service user involvement in commissioning/contract monitoring (£5k per annum);

(v)  improved provision of ‘easy to read’ and re-instatement of BSL interpreter service (£30k per annum);

(vi)  exempt care leavers from council tax (£20k).

 

Further detail is provided in Appendix 1.

 

Amended Recommendation (2.3):

 

3.  That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2019/20 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the Act):

 

(a)  £537,264k being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act.

 

(b)  £377,413k being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates or the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.”

 

Further detail was set out in an appendix (attached as Appendix E to these minutes.)

 

On being put to the vote, this amendment was LOST.

 

Accordingly, the recommendations of the Executive, as moved by Councillor Colin Smith and seconded by Councillor Graham Arthur, were CARRIED as follows -

 

That Council - 

 

(1)  (a)  Approves the schools budget of £76.722 million which matches the estimated level of Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

80.

Capital Programme Monitoring Q3 2018/19 and Capital Strategy pdf icon PDF 63 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD19042

 

A motion to agree the inclusion of the new scheme proposals listed in Appendix C to the report in the capital programme and to approve the inclusion of £1,208k of Special Provision Fund capital grant in the 2019/20 capital programme, under the Basic Need scheme was moved by councillor Graham Arthur, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith and CARRIED.

81.

Treasury Management - Annual Investment Strategy 2019/20 and Quarter 3 Performance 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 60 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD19043

 

A motion to approve an increase in the limit to £50 million for investments with Housing Associations (section 3.4.6 of the report), agree that the Treasury Management Strategy be amended to clarify that only the ring fenced components of the Royal Bank of Scotland be included for future investments (section 3.4.6 of the report) and agree to adopt the Treasury Management Statement and the Annual Investment Strategy for 2019/20 (Appendix 4, pages 17-43 of the report), including the prudential indicators (summarised on page 43 of the report) and the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy statement (page 22 of the report) , was moved by Councillor Graham Arthur, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith and CARRIED.

82.

Third Report of the Education, Children and Families Select Committee 2018/19 - Sustainability of the Education Budget pdf icon PDF 55 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD19033

 

Councillor Nicholas Bennett asked Members to note that in recommendation 2.1 (page 2) of the report the words “special needs” should be inserted between the words “new” and “provision.”  

 

A motion to invite the Leader and appropriate Portfolio Holders to consider the recommendations in the report and (a) refer the recommendations to service Directors and Partners where appropriate and (b) provide a written response to the Education, Children and Families Select Committee for consideration at a future meeting of the Select Committee was moved by Councillor Nicholas Bennett, seconded by Councillor Neil Reddin and CARRIED.

83.

2019/20 Pay Award pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD19044

 

A motion to approve the following -

 

(i)  a flat 2.25% pay increase for all staff (excluding teachers who are covered by a separate statutory pay negotiating process;)

 

(ii) a further increase for lower paid staff as follows inclusive of the flat rate 2.25% increase -

 

Spinal Points

Proposed increase inclusive of the flat rate

pay award of 2.25%

4-17

6%

18

5%

19-22

4%

23-30

3%

 

(iii)  that the Trade Union’s pay claim for staff be rejected (paragraph 3.7 and appendices to the report.)

and to note that, as in the previous years since coming out of the nationally/regionally negotiated frameworks, Bromley staff would receive the 2019/20 pay increase in time for the April pay, was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Michael Turner and CARRIED.

84.

Pay Policy Statement pdf icon PDF 59 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD19045

 

A motion to approve the 2019/20 Pay Policy Statement was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Michael Turner and CARRIED.

 

85.

Members Allowances Scheme 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 57 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD19046

 

An amendment to the proposed scheme to require that an allowance of £52 per meeting should be paid to members of Plans Sub-Committees in place of the fixed annual allowance was moved by Councillor Simon Fawthrop, seconded by Councillor Nicholas Bennett and CARRIED.

 

A motion to approve the Members Allowances Scheme 2019/20 as set out in Appendix 2 to the report and as amended, and to approve the Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral Allowances for 2019/20, with an increase in all allowances in line with the increase in officer salaries of 2.25%, was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Michael Turner and CARRIED.

 

The following Members voted in favour of the motion -

 

Councillors Gareth Allatt, Graham Arthur, Yvonne Bear, Julian Benington, Nicholas Bennett, Mike Botting, Katy Boughey, Mark Brock, Mary Cooke, Aisha Cuthbert, Peter Dean, Judi Ellis, Robert Evans, Simon Fawthrop, Peter Fortune, Kira Gabbert, Will Harmer, Christine Harris, Samaris Huntington-Thresher, William Huntington-Thresher, David Jefferys, Charles Joel, Kate Lymer, Christopher Marlow, Robert Mcilveen, Russell Mellor, Alexa Michael, Peter Morgan, Keith Onslow, Tony Owen, Angela Page, Neil Reddin, Will Rowlands, Richard Scoates, Colin Smith, Diane Smith, Gary Stevens, Melanie Stevens, Harry Stranger, Kieran Terry, Pauline Tunnicliffe, Michael Turner and Stephen Wells.

 

The following Members voted against the motion -

 

Councillors Kathy Bance, Kevin Brooks, Ian Dunn, Simon Jeal, Josh King and Angela Wilkins.

 

The following Members abstained -

Councillors Kim Botting and David Cartwright.

 

(Note: There was an error in the report - the proposed allowance for Chairmen of Plans Sub-Committees should have read £2,832 )

 

86.

To consider Motions of which notice has been given.

Minutes:

No motions were received.

87.

The Mayor's announcements and communications.

Minutes:

The Mayor thanked all the Members who had attended her Charity Dinner at Tamasha in January.

 

The annual Quiz, held on 8th February had been another great success - the Mayor thanked the quizmaster, Ian Payne, his wife, Judith and their family, for giving their time over the last fifteen years.

 

On Friday 22nd February the Looked after Children awards had been held, and the Mayor thanked the many Members who had attended.

 

The signing of the Friendship Agreement with Thunder Bay was being held on Thursday 7th March at 12 noon and the following day, on Friday 8th March at 10am there would be a visit to Canadian Corner in All Saints Church for a short service and then on to Orpington Hospital at 12pm where the Mayor,  with the Mayor of Thunder Bay, would unveil a plaque marking the signing of the friendship Agreement.  All Members were very welcome to attend these two events.  

 

Later in the day, the Mayor had arranged to take the visitors to Biggin Hill Airport, as well as to the Museum and Chapel.

 

The Mayor’s final charity event would be on Friday 5th April - a dinner at the East India Club with a wonderful speaker - Sir Alistair MacDuff, a retired High Court Judge. The Lord Mayor of Neuwied, Jan Einig and his wife would be visiting Bromley that weekend and would be attending the dinner. With sixteen Mayors already booked to attend tickets were selling very fast, so if Members wanted tickets they should contact the office as soon as possible. 

Appendices pdf icon PDF 50 KB

Additional documents: