Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gareth Allatt, Julian Benington, Katy Boughey, Mark Brock, Mary Cooke, Aisha Cuthbert, Nicky Dykes, Judi Ellis, Peter Fortune, Kira Gabbert, Robert Mcilveen, Peter Morgan, Keith Onslow, Will Rowlands, Richard Scoates, Suraj Sharma, Gary Stevens and Michael Turner.

The Mayor thanked those Members who had voluntarily decided not to attend to assist with social distancing.

There were no declarations of interest.

The report on Interim Delegations (minute 281) affected both the Chief Executive and the Director of Corporate Services, but Members agreed that both should remain in the chamber for this item.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2021 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. 

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 6^th July 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. 

Six 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.

Twenty four 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.

Nine 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.

(1)  Emma Raducanu

Councillor Peter Morgan, Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, had given notice that he wished to make a statement. As he was not able to attend the meeting, the Leader made the statement on his behalf. The Leader explained that, having watched Emma Raducanu at Wimbledon Councillor Morgan had already asked the Mayor to send congratulations on behalf of the Council, and also to congratulate Evelyn Davis of Bromley Swimming Club for her swimming achievements, and to wish good luck to Dina Asher-Smith at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

(2)  Holiday Activities food Programmes Grant

Councillors Angela Wilkins and Simon Jeal had requested a statement from the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Families on the arrangements made to distribute the Government Holiday Activities and Food Programmes Grant allocated to the Council for the summer holiday period and to give an update on progress to date.

The Portfolio Holder, Councillor Kate Lymer, explained that, due to Covid-19 restrictions and the lateness of the funding, activities at Easier had been limited to looked after children. For the summer, with more time to plan and a dedicated coordinator in place to organise and publicise the activities. The programme would be run out of the four youth hubs, but with much more activities now that the restrictions would be eased. The six Children’s Centres would also be offering activities throughout the summer, there would be a community fun day in Mottingham and voluntary organisations would be offering a range of events including a month-long sports summer camp for nearly a hundred children a day at The Warren. There would be a range of activities for looked after children. Families with a social worker would be offered Section 17 money for specific family days out during the summer.

In response to a question from Councillor Simon Jeal about the measures taken to ensure that activities were affordable and accessible to families in deprived areas, Councillor Lymer stated that 85% of places were for children who received free school meals and would be free to them. Councillor Angela Wilkins asked for more detail on the provision of food, and referred to a scheme in Crystal Palace ward at Easter which was not limited to looked after children. Councillor Lymer offered to investigate this particular scheme further, but confirmed that schemes were expected to provide  a hot meal, either breakfast or lunch. The children, and the parents if they were there, would be encouraged to participate in preparing the food themselves. Supermarket vouchers were being provided through the Covid Local Support Grant and that scheme would be extended over the summer period – families eligible for free school meals would be given £90.  

(3)  Covid-19 Infection Control and Protection

Councillors Angela Wilkins and Simon Jeal had requested a statement from the Portfolio Holder for Adult Care and Health explaining what measures the Council would take with respect to Covid-19 infection prevention and control to protect staff and residents including those who are immune-compromised,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 276.

Report CSD21079

A motion to note the Treasury Management Annual Report 2020/21 and approve the actual prudential indicators in the report was moved by Councillor Graham Arthur, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith and CARRIED.

Report CSD21080

A motion to agree that a sum of £3.887m be set aside as a contribution to the Housing Invest to Save Fund as detailed in paragraph 12.7 of the report, and to agree that a sum of £6.506m be set aside as a Covid impact/recovery earmarked reserve as detailed in paragraph 12.6 of the attached report was moved by Councillor Graham Arthur, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith and CARRIED.

Report CSD21081

A motion to approve the increase of £2,443k to the Disabled Facilities Grant Scheme to reflect the 2021/22 allocation as detailed in paragraph 3.2.1 of the report was moved by councillor Graham Arthur, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith and CARRIED.

Report DCS21082

A copy of the part 2 report to the Executive was tabled. 

A motion to approve a supplementary estimate of £2.1m as detailed in the report, and to approve the revised financing of the scheme as set out in paragraph 14.10 of the report, including an internal loan from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account of £6,064k, was moved, seconded and CARRIED.

(Councillors Robert Evans, Charles Joel and Christopher Marlow requested that their abstention be recorded.)

Report DCS210083

Councillors Pauline Tunnicliffe, Colin Smith, Angela Wilkins, Hannah Gray, Simon Fawthrop, Nicholas Bennett MA JP and the Mayor, Councillor Russell Mellor, thanked Mark Bowen for his service to the Borough, and he thanked them for their kind words.

A motion to record the Council’s grateful appreciation for the service of Mr Mark Bowen, Director of Corporate Services, having served the borough and its residents for fifteen years, and, on his retirement and until the appointment of the new Director of Corporate Services and Governance, to delegate the formal responsibilities of his post as follows –

·  Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer – Ade Adetosoye, Chief Executive

·  Data Protection Officer – Vinit Shukle, Assistant Director, IT

·  Monitoring Officer and all other legal functions – Shupriya Iqbal, Assistant Director, Legal Services

was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith and CARRIED. 

(1)  E-Scooters

The following motion was moved by Councillor vanessa Alen and seconded by Councillor Ryan Thomson.

“This Council calls on the government to legislate on e-scooters as soon as possible and requests that the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Services writes setting out the Council’s concerns. This Council also requests that the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Services runs a public information campaign about e-scooters in the borough.”

An amendment was moved by Councillor Angela Wilkins and seconded by Councillor Kevin Brooks to insert the word “further” before “legislation.” This amendment was LOST.

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

(2)  Emma Raducanu

The following motion was moved by Councillor Kevin Brooks and seconded by Councillor Kathy Bance MBE

“The Council would like to give its support and sincere congratulations to Bromley resident Emma Raducanu, who broke a forty-two-year-old record to become the youngest British female tennis player in the Open Era to reach the round of 16 at Wimbledon. Eighteen-year-old Emma’s achievements have come alongside undertaking her A-Levels at Newstead Woods School.

The Council would also like to congratulate Bromley Tennis club and all the team there who have played a part in Emma’s progression within tennis.

As well as wishing Emma every success in the future the Council would like to officially recognise her current achievement and status as a positive role model in the Borough of Bromley. As such the Council requests that the Mayor write to Emma Raducanu on the Council’s behalf and presents a framed copy of this motion to her at the earliest opportunity.”

The motion was CARRIED.

The Mayor informed Members that he had presided over the annual Armed Forces Day Service on 24^th June, and the Civic Service had been held on 27^th June at St George’s Church, Beckenham. Both occasions had been very successful despite the limitations on the numbers of guests.

The Mayor reminded Members about the Autumn Ball which would be held on Saturday 16^th October at The Warren in Hayes – information would be sent out shortly.

Bowls and Golf matches had now resumed, and it was hoped to put together a Mayor’s cricket team – the Mayor thanked those Members who had responded to the call for cricketers. The Mayor also thanked the Deputy Mayor for his work putting together the Bromley Bridge tournament.

The Mayor asked Members who were aware of organisations seeking a visit from the Mayor or the Deputy Mayor to contact the Mayor’s Office.

The Mayor concluded by stating that as soon as the restrictions were lifted he hoped to invite colleagues to join him for refreshments after Council meetings.