Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gareth Allatt, David Cartwright, Robert Evans and Richard Scoates; apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Will Rowlands.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the annual meeting of the Council held on 13^th May 2020 be confirmed.

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 (by 5pm on 6^th July 2020). 

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 14^th July 2020.

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

(b) Questions from members of the Council for oral reply.

(c) Questions from members of the Council for written reply. 

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

Four questions had been received from members of the Council for oral reply, although two were withdrawn. The questions, with the replies given, are set out in Appendix B to these minutes.

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

Two statements had been requested as follows –

(A) From the Leader of the Council on the operation of the Covid-19 arrangements for the conduct of Council business and decision-making (requested by Councillors Ian Dunn, Simon Jeal and Angela Wilkins.)

The Leader made the following statement -

“I will go back to my answer, which is that the current operating arrangements are as set out within the Urgency Committee papers for the meetings held on 19^th March and 6^th May. The Council’s chief legal officer remains on a standing brief to advise me immediately were the government legislation to change permitting a return to the previous physical committee meeting system which I, for one, would prefer to see happen at the earliest possible safe opportunity. The chief legal officer’s latest advice has just been circulated for appending to this evening’s minutes.” (see Appendix D.)

Responding to questions and comments from Councillors Dunn, Fawthrop, Wilkins, Jeal, Bennett, Kim Botting and Graham Arthur, the Leader repeated that he wanted to see a return to real meetings, and if necessary the numbers of Members attending the larger meetings could be reduced on a proportionate basis by agreement. He had pressed the borough’s three Conservative MPs to urge the Government to allow physical Council meetings. He confirmed that any decisions to shut down businesses in the event of a further Covid-19 outbreak would be taken by officers in conjunction with himself or the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Enforcement. He stated that all decisions he had taken had been scrutinised by PDS Committees and Executive Members were encouraged to share their views. He thanked Council staff for their efforts in keeping residents safe and allowing Council services to continue to operate.

(B) From the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Enforcement, Councillor Kate Lymer, on whether, in the light of a third murder in three years in the vicinity of Penge Recreation Ground, she was willing to review an increase in CCTV and lighting (requested by Councillors Kathy Bance and Angela Wilkins.)

The Portfolio Holder made the following statement:

“I was deeply saddened to hear of the horrific murder of Dean Edwards, and of an alleged serious sexual assault at two different parks in Penge the weekend before last - one of which occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning the second alleged incident in the very early hours of Monday morning.

In regards to the suggestions from the Labour Group to increase lighting and put CCTV in parks, my position is unchanged. The main pathways in both of these parks are lit, and we would not seek to encourage further usage of our parks after dark. That is why we lock the majority of our parks at night-time. And with regards to CCTV in parks, it is impossible to cover a whole park with cameras, they could always easily be avoided by those who wish to, which is why we have many CCTV cameras on the main roads  ...  view the full minutes text for item 201.

Report CSD20075

A motion to agree that a sum of £2,531k for New Homes Bonus be set aside as a contribution to the Housing Investment Fund reserve was moved by Councillor Graham Arthur, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith and CARRIED.

Report CSD20076

A motion to approve the setting up of a Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for the provision of affordable housing was moved by Councillor Peter Morgan, seconded by Councillor Michael Rutherford and CARRIED.

Report CSD20077

A motion to formally adopt the updated Bromley Community Safety Partnership strategy was moved by Councillor Kate Lymer, seconded by Councillor Chris Pierce and CARRIED.

Report CSD20080

A motion to adopt the Local Planning Protocol (as updated by Development Control Committee on 14^th July 2020) as part of the Council’s Constitution was moved by Councillor Alexa Michael, seconded by Councillor Yvonne Bear and CARRIED.

Report CSD20079

A motion to receive and note the Health and Wellbeing Board’s annual report for 2019/20 was moved by Councillor David Jefferys, seconded by Councillor Kate Lymer and CARRIED.

Report CSD20078

A motion to receive and note the SACRE annual report for 2018/19 was moved by Councillor David Jefferys, seconded by Councillor Keith Onslow and CARRIED.

Report CSD20081

In accordance with the agreed procedure, a report was received summarising Members’ attendance at meetings during the 2019/20 Council year.

The following motion was moved by Councillor Colin Smith and seconded by Councillor Mary Cooke –

“This Council, wishes to place on record, our profound thanks, gratitude and admiration for the unstinting work and bravery of all local front line workers throughout the Covid crisis.

NHS, Care Sector, Blue light services, Council staff and its contractors, Teachers and school staff, Transport Workers, essential retailers, HM Armed forces, the Borough’s 4,500 volunteers and others too numerous to mention. You have been a lifeline to many and an inspiration to us all.

You have shown Bromley at its finest and we thank you on behalf of every single resident.”

The motion was CARRIED unanimously.

The Mayor reported that she had held her first charity event – a virtual Pimms O’Clock Afternoon Tea on 11^th July. The event had been very successful and had raised over £500 for her two charities.

A charity fireworks evening was being arranged for November – further details would be circulated as soon as they were available.

The Mayor’s page on the Council website had been updated, and there were new links to her Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts –

www.facebook.com/mayorofbromley/ (@mayorofbromley)

www.twitter.com/MayorofBromley0 (@MayorofBromley0)

www.instagram.com/mayorofbromley/ (@mayorofbromley)

A Justgiving account had been set up to make it easier to donate to the Mayor’s charities, and there was a quarterly newsletter and a Keep in Touch form.