Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

234.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Kathy Bance MBE.

235.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

Cllr Peter Dean declared an interest regarding minute 246 as he was an employee of the DWP, and he would not be participating in the debate.

 

Cllrs Bennett, Fawthrop, Mellor and Owen declared interests as members of the Borough’s pension scheme. Cllr Fawthrop also declared, in relation to minute 242, that his wife was an employee of the Council, although this did not prevent him from voting. 

236.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 7th December 2020. pdf icon PDF 229 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 7th December 2020 be confirmed.

237.

Questions pdf icon PDF 243 KB

 

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 Monday 15th February 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 23rd February 2021.

 

(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:

Seven questions had been received from members of the public for oral reply, although three of these would now be receiving a written reply. The questions, with the answers given, are set out in Appendix A to these minutes.

 

Twenty five 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.

 

Fifteen 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.

238.

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.

239.

2021/22 Council Tax pdf icon PDF 306 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD21027

 

Councillor Graham Arthur, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith, moved acceptance of the final recommendations made by the Executive.

 

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

 

After allowing for the report from the Director of Finance the following amendments are proposed to the recommendations of the Executive set out in the Blue Book on pages 57-118.

 

The following changes be made to the recommended budget for 2021/22:

 

Additional Recommendation (2.1):

 

(k) Utilise total one off funding of £13.827m from the Collection Fund Set Aside Earmarked Reserve (page 86) to be invested in services over the years 2021/22 to 2024/25 summarised by year as follows:

 

 

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

Total

See appendix 1

£7.220m

£4.241m

£1.781m

£0.585m

£13.827m

 

(l) Amend the council tax support scheme for 2021/22 to allow an increase in the maximum support provided by the Council from 75% to £100 band A to D properties. The 2021/22 scheme for Band E and above properties would remain unchanged. This will be for 2021/22 only at a net loss of income of £3.2m to be funded from the Collection Fund Set Aside earmarked reserve.

 

Further details of (k) and (l) are provided in Appendix 1.

Appendix 1

 

Recommendation (k)

2021/22

£’000

2022/23

£’000

2023/24

£’000

2024/25

£’000

Total

£’000

Strategy

100

75

50

Nil

225

Adult and Health

1,470

550

50

50

2,120

Children

1,180

250

Nil

Nil

1,430

Environment

1,180

1,721

936

40

3,877

Public Protection

340

115

115

115

685

Resources

1,000

125

Nil

Nil

1,125

RR&H

1,950

1,405

630

380

4,365

Total

7,220

4,241

1,781

585

13,827

 

(1) The above costs which fall out from 2025/26, totalling £13.827m, will be funded from the Collection Fund Set Aside earmarked reserve;

 

(2) The detailed proposals relating to the utilisation of £13.827m will be reported at the meeting;

 

(3) The further proposal of increasing council tax support to 100% of council tax would apply to Band A to D properties with no changes to the scheme for other properties (Band E and above). This proposal would result in a net loss of income of £3.2m, assuming a further increase in caseload 5% in 2021/22;

 

(4) The combined proposals in (1) and (3) above would require one off funding of £16.987m from the Collection Fund Set Aside earmarked reserve.

 

Amended Recommendation (2.3)

 

On the basis of the proposal above the following amounts be calculated for the year 2021/22 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the Act):

 

(a) £593,240k being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act.

 

(b) £417,928k being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates or the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

 

The following Members voted in favour of the amendment -

 

Councillors Vanessa Allen, Kevin Brooks, Ian Dunn, Simon Jeal, Josh King and Angela Wilkins. (6)

 

The following Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 239.

240.

Capital Programme Monitoring Q3 2020/21 and Capital Strategy 2021 - 2025 pdf icon PDF 193 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD21028

 

A motion to approve that the new capital schemes listed in Appendix C to the report be included in the capital programme was moved by Councillor Graham Arthur, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith and CARRIED.

241.

Treasury Management - Annual Investment Strategy 2021/22 and Quarter 3 Performance 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD21029

 

A motion to approve an increase in the limit to £80m for investments with Housing Associations as set out in Section 3.5.5 of the report, and to adopt the Treasury Management Statement and the Annual Investment Strategy for 2021/22 (as set out in Appendix 4 to the report) including the prudential indicators (summarised on page 47 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.

242.

2021/22 Pay Award pdf icon PDF 279 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD210031

 

A motion to approve the following -

 

(i)  A flat 2% pay increase for all staff (excluding teachers who are covered by a separate statutory pay negotiating process);

 

(ii) An additional one day annual leave, non-consolidated, for 2021/22;

 

(ii) An additional £200k towards Merited Rewards, for 2021/22, bringing the total to £400k for rewarding staff for exceptional performance; 

 

(iv) That the Trade Unions’ pay claim for staff be rejected (see para 3.8 below and attached Appendices);

and to note that, as in the previous years since coming out of the nationally/regionally negotiated frameworks, Bromley staff will receive the 2021/22 pay increase in time for the April pay was moved by councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Stephen Wells and CARRIED.

243.

Property Acquisition Scheme Proposal pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD21030

 

A motion to agree the loan of £20m to the LLP for a period of 50 years with annual repayments starting from year 3 of 1.6% (£320k) per annum and increasing annually by CPI (collared at 0-4%), funded from the Housing Invest to Save Fund (£14m) and uncommitted Investment Fund (£6m) earmarked reserves, and to agree to enter into a guarantee agreement with the Funder to guarantee the loan facility of £60-£65m to the LLP and undertake to meet the liabilities of the LLP in respect of the loan facility in the event of loan repayment default, was moved by Councillor Peter Morgan, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith and CARRIED.

244.

Pay Policy Statement 2021 pdf icon PDF 192 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD21032

 

A motion to approve the 2021/22 Pay Policy Statement, as updated following the withdrawal of the £95k public sector exit payment cap, was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Stephen Wells and CARRIED.

 

245.

Members Allowances Scheme 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 193 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD21033

 

A motion to approve the Members Allowances Scheme 2021/22 and the 2021/22 Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral Allowances was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Stephen Wells and CARRIED.

246.

To consider Motions of which notice has been given. pdf icon PDF 98 KB

Minutes:

The following motion was proposed by Cllr Simon Jeal and seconded by Cllr Kevin Brooks -

 

“The £20 a week increase to Universal Credit made at the beginning of the pandemic, but which is due to end in April, continues to be a lifeline for many Bromley residents including many people who have been furloughed, lost their jobs or are struggling with in-work poverty.

 

This Council resolves to write to the Chancellor and to the Prime Minister calling for the increase to Universal Credit to be made permanent and extended to claimants on legacy benefits.”

 

The motion was LOST.

 

 

247.

The Mayor's announcements and communications.

Minutes:

The Magical Night of Christmas Entertainment last December had been a huge success, raising approximately £1,200.

 

The Mayor reminded members of the following events –

 

·  The virtual quiz evening with quiz master Cllr Mark Brock on Friday 12th March – her final charity event before her year in office ended. 

 

·  Tickets were still available for the prize draw via the Mayor’s Facebook page with Givergy which is the Spitfire Flight Experience - tickets were £10. Cllr Julian Benington was the first member to sell ten tickets, so he had won an extra ticket. 

 

·  There was a special art competition for children up to the age of 11 to showcase their creativity - the theme was “Follow Your Dreams.”  This was on social media and was being sent out to all schools in the borough. 

Additionally, the Mayor was launching “Nominate a Local Hero” on her social media.  Residents were invited to nominate someone they knew by sending in a photograph and their reasons for the nomination (nominators had to ensure that the permission of the nominee was granted.)

The Mayor’s Podcast series was progressing really well.  She was especially pleased to meet Helen Lederer and Paul Sinha – the recordings were available at http://hannahgraymeets.podbean.com/ .

The Mayor had a monthly column in the “Life in …. Orpington” magazine, and the February issue was now out. The Mayor could be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram -

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

www.twitter.com/MayorofBromley0 (@MayorofBromley0)

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

The Mayor concluded by thanking Members for their continued support and generosity.

 

Appendices pdf icon PDF 119 KB

Additional documents: