Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Marina Ahmad, Katy Boughey, Will Harmer and Kate Lymer.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors Julian Benington, Aisha Cuthbert, Samaris Huntington-Thresher, Russell Mellor and Michael Rutherford.

Councillor Simon Fawthrop declared an interest in relation to minute 178 (TEC Amendment) as he was about to take delivery of an electric car.

RESOLVED that, subject to the addition of Councillor Michael Turner to the list of those present, the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th December 2019 be confirmed.

There were no petitions to consider.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, questions that are not specific to reports on the agenda must have been received in writing 10 working days before the date of the meeting - Monday 10^th February. 

Questions specifically on reports on the agenda should be received within two working days of the normal publication date of the agenda.  Please ensure that questions specifically on reports on the agenda are received by the Democratic Services Team by 5pm on Tuesday 18^th February 2020.

(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. 

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

Seven 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.

Sixteen 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.

Seven 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.

Two statements were made as follows -

From the Portfolio Holder for Adult Care and Health, Councillor Diane Smith - The Council’s vision for the future of the borough’s Day Centres. 

The Portfolio Holder began by explaining that the Council’s strategy was clearly stated at the front of the Ageing Well Strategy - “We want to ensure that older people retain their independence for as long as possible, with the assistance of family, friends, faith and community groups, the voluntary sector and, where necessary, the Council and Health Services.”

In 2013, the Council had moved from commissioning the service through a block contract to spot purchasing arrangements, and had put in place transitional funding arrangements to help providers secure long-term sustainability. They were also encouraged to develop their offer to self-funders. Reports to Members in early 2013 showed that the Council’s approach had been extensively discussed with providers for at least three years previously. In 2017/18, the Council had agreed a one year waiver of the full market rent for one of the Day Centre providers. In 2018/19 a similar waiver agreement was made, extending to the main Day Centre providers for older people at a cost to the Council of approximately £140k. A return to full market rent was due from 2019/20, but the Council, aware that commissioners were continuing to work with providers, agreed to reduce the rent for this financial year too.        

With the support of Council commissioners, providers had taken measures to improve their sustainability, including by reviewing prices and developing new partnerships, development of a marketing strategy to promote the day centres and build up their private client-base, sharing of resources and successful business models, including reviews of pricing structures, staff ratios and work rotas, work on optimising the use of day centre buildings, and supporting care staff to study for vocational qualifications whilst working. In July 2019 a possible funding opportunity had been identified for one of the day centres, and this was just being actioned by the provider.  Commissioners continued to work with the Day Centres to develop their offer in a way that was sustainable and met the changing needs of individuals.

Responding to questions, the Portfolio Holder stated that, in terms of the strategic view, Members would have the opportunity to comment on the action plan that was part of the Ageing Well Strategy. Residents did have the ability to choose where to go, and did not necessarily choose to use traditional day centres. As an example, Lewisham Council had recently reduced their day centres from three to one in view of the impact of direct payments and there being a different offer in the community. The Portfolio Holder agreed that day centres did give people choice, but they were not always choosing to use the Day Centres and there were vacancies. She also agreed that Day Centres were important for offering respite, and the views of carers needed to be taken into account. The Ageing Well action plan was due  ...  view the full minutes text for item 174.

Report CSD20019

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.

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 55-107. 

The following changes be made to the recommended budget for 2020/21:

Amended Recommendation (2.1):

(e)   Approves a revised Central Contingency sum of £12,081k to reflect the   changes in (d) and (p) to (v);

Additional Recommendation (2.1):

(l)   Agrees that £635k be carried forward from underspends in the 2019/20 Central Contingency to fund costs in 2020/21 relating to: 

·  implement light controlled pedestrian crossing at Chislehurst Crossroads at a cost of £350k;

·  install a 20mph speed limit for schools at a cost of £285k;

(m)   Requests that officers review options to revise CPZ charges to be based on emissions with higher charges introduced for second and subsequent vehicles at the same address. The scheme proposals to be self-financing;

(n)   Agrees to additional one off funding of £2m to be utilised over 4 years towards building maintenance with monies to be met from the Council’s Invest to Save Fund earmarked reserve;

(o)  Agrees the removal of the payment of council tax by care leavers up to the age of 25 years funded from a further increase in the empty homes premium for properties empty for more than two years to 100% (assume changes from October 2020);

(p)   Provision of landlord and tenant support services at an annual cost of £70k to be funded from the Council’s 2020/21 Central Contingency Sum;

(q)   Agrees to additional funding of £300k per annum for respite services to be funded from the IBCF monies set aside (£1,677k to support hospital discharge);

(r)   Apply London Living Wage as the minimum pay level for Council staff at an annual cost of £25k per annum to be funded from the Council’s 2020/21 Central Contingency Sum. Also agree to commission a review at a cost of £25k to consider the implication of applying London Living Wage as a minimum pay for all LBB contractors. The review to be funded from the Commissioning Authority Programme earmarked reserve;

(s)   Agrees additional funding of £100k for mental health services with costs met from the Council’s 2020/21 Central Contingency Sum;

(t)   Agrees additional funding of £250k for public health with costs to be met from the Council’s 2020/21 Central Contingency Sum;

(u)  Agrees one off funding of £200k for installation of additional CCTV cameras to be funded from the Environmental Initiatives/High Street and Parks Improvement earmarked reserves. The ongoing running costs of £40k to be met from the Council’s 2020/21 Central Contingency Sum;

(v)  Agrees additional funding of £100k for youth services/facilities with costs to be met from the Council’s 2020/21 Central Contingency Sum;

(w)  Agrees funding of £50k per annum for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 175.

Report CSD20020

A motion to agree the inclusion in the Capital Programme of the new scheme proposals listed in Appendix C to the report was moved by Councillor Graham Arthur, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith and CARRIED.

Report CSD20041

A motion to approve the addition of the Crystal Palace Subway project to the Capital Programme at a cost of £3.141m on the basis of the scheme costs being fully funded by grants from the Strategic investment Pot, Historic England and TfL, and a contribution from the Friends of Crystal Palace Subway, was moved by Councillor Peter Morgan, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith and CARRIED.

Report CSD20025

A motion to agree the proposed Transport and Environment Committee (TEC) amendment as requested, authorising the Director of Environment and Public Protection to sign the amendment as required, was moved by Councillor William Huntington-Thresher, seconded by Councillor Kieran Terry and CARRIED.

Report CSD20021

A motion to note the report and adopt the Treasury Management Statement and the Annual Investment Strategy for 2020/21 (Appendix 4 to the report) including prudential indicators (summarised on page 41 of the report) and the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy statement (page 20 of the report), was moved by Councillor Graham Arthur, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith and CARRIED.

Report CSD20023

The following amendment was moved by Councillor Vanessa Allen and seconded by Councillor Angela Wilkins -

“That all Bromley staff should receive the London Living Wage as a minimum.” 

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

A motion to approve -

(i)  A flat 2.5% pay increase for all staff (excluding teachers who are covered by a separate statutory pay negotiating process.)

(ii) The removal of the equivalent of spinal points 4-8 (affecting BR1, BR2, and BR3 grades) with assimilation to equivalent spinal point 9 (BR3.)

(iii) The introduction of a 4p electric car lease mileage rate for business mileage.

(iv) That the Trade Unions’ pay claim for staff be rejected (see paragraph 3.7 of the report)

and to note that, as in previous years since coming out of the nationally/regionally negotiated frameworks, Bromley staff will receive the 2020/21 pay increase in time for the April pay, was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Stephen Wells and CARRIED.

Report CSD200

A motion to approve the 2020/21 Pay Policy Statement was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Stephen Wells and CARRIED.

Report CSD20024

A motion to approve the Members Allowances Scheme 2020/21 and the Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral Allowances, on the basis of a 2.5% increase in all allowances, in line with the recommended increase for Council staff, with the allowance for the Leader of the Council increased to £40,000 and the allowances for the Leaders of the minority groups increased by similar percentages to £9,333 and £4,667 was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Stephen Wells, and CARRIED. 

The following Members voted in favour of the motion -

Councillors Gareth Allatt, Graham Arthur, Yvonne Bear, Julian Benington, Kim Botting, Mike Botting, Mark Brock, David Cartwright, Mary Cooke, Aisha Cuthbert, Peter Dean, Nicky Dykes, Judi Ellis, Robert Evans, Simon Fawthrop, Peter Fortune, Hannah Gray, Christine Harris, Colin Hitchins, Samaris Huntington-Thresher, William Huntington-Thresher, David Jefferys, Charles Joel, Christopher Marlow, Robert Mcilveen, Russell Mellor, Alexa Michael, Peter Morgan, Keith Onslow, Tony Owen, Angela Page, Chris Pierce, Neil Reddin, Will Rowlands, Michael Rutherford, Richard Scoates, Suraj Sharma, Gary Stevens, Melanie Stevens, Harry Stranger, Kieran Terry, Michael Tickner, Pauline Tunnicliffe, Michael Turner and Stephen Wells.

The following Members voted against the motion -

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

The following Members abstained -

Councillors Nicholas Bennett, Kira Gabbert, Colin Smith and Diane Smith.

Report CSD2042

A motion to receive and note the Local Pension Board Report 2019 was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Stephen Wells and CARRIED.

Report CSD20026

A motion approve the appointment of Mr Ken Palmer as Independent Person until the end of the current Council in May 2022, to reaffirm the appointment of Dr Simon Davey as Independent Person until the end of the current Council in May 2022 and to confirm that Mr Palmer and Dr Davey be co-opted to the Standards Committee, was moved by Councillor Vanessa Allen, seconded by Councillor Michael Tickner and CARRIED.   

No motions had been received.

The Mayor reported that efforts to contact Dina Asher-Smith to invite her to a reception at the Civic Centre had not been successful yet.

The Annual Charity Quiz had been held on 14^th February and the Mayor thanked Ian Payne and his family for their assistance. The Mayor added congratulations to the Deputy Mayor, whose Team had won the Mayor of Sevenoaks’ Quiz.

The Mayor reminded Members of the following events -

·  The Charity Dinner at Corza Restaurant in West Wickham on 27^th February.

·  The Mayor of Bromley Awards on 11^th March.

·  The Mayor’s final charity event at Chapter One on 22^nd April.

·  A ceremony at 3pm on 8^th May, to mark the 75^th anniversary of VE Day.

·  The end of term Thanksgiving Civic Service on 10^th May at St Joseph’s Church, Plaistow Lane.