Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Nicky Dykes, Judi Ellis, Kira Gabbert, Will Harmer, Samaris Huntington-Thresher, Charles Joel, Keith Onslow, Michael Rutherford and Suraj Sharma.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Kieran Terry.

There were no declarations of interest.

Two amendments to the draft minutes were required –

·  To include Cllr Chris Pierce as present;

·  To include Cllr Nicholas Bennett in the list of Members thanking Mark Bowen for his service to the Council.

RESOLVED that, subject to these amendments, the minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 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 – by 4^th October. 

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 12^th October 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. 

Twelve 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.

Fifteen 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.

Eleven 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.

The following statements were made –

(1)  Women’s Safety –

At the request of Councillors Angela Wilkins and Kathy Bance MBE, the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Enforcement, Cllr Angela Page, made a statement about the steps being taken to improve the safety of women in the borough and address the issue of violence against women and girls following the murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa. 

The Portfolio Holder emphasised that Bromley had relatively low rates of domestic abuse and sexual offences both in the public and private realms, but the Safer Bromley Partnership was committed to improving the situation and had specific priorities around reducing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).  The Council’s Public Protection and Early Intervention services were key to this, and domestic abuse was a high priority for the Metropolitan Police. The Safer Bromley Partnership had submitted a joint bid for funding under Round 3 of the Safer Streets Fund, but had not been shortlisted by the Mayor’s Office. Chief Inspector Craig Knight was leading research on aggression against women in the public realm across the boroughs of Bromley, Croydon and Sutton that was not currently being reported to the Police. Police Officers were responding to information from the public about where they felt unsafe, and working with Head Teachers in schools and with the voluntary sector. A new team of Police Officers dedicated to Bromley town centre had just been announced.

Responding to questions, the Portfolio Holder stated that she was open to new suggestions from Members. There were a number of concerns about the vetting of police officers in the wake of Sarah Everard’s murder, but while the Council could discuss this with the Police they were ultimately matters for the Police and not the Council. She acknowledged that CCTV and lighting were issues that had been raised frequently in the past, and conversations with the Police would continue, but she cautioned against installing new lighting and CCTV in isolation, and was not minded to disagree with decisions made on these issues by the previous Portfolio Holder. Other Members raised the issue of how women often only reported domestic abuse after numerous offences, and were sometimes intimidated into withdrawing allegations, and the issue of spiking of drinks, which the Council could tackle using its licensing powers. 

(2)  Care and Health Integration Award

The Portfolio Holder for Adult Care and Health, Cllr Diane Smith, reported that Bromley had won an award for Care and Health Integration at the Municipal Journal Achievement Awards. The Council, along with Health and Voluntary sector partners, had won the award for two projects which provided an effective and joined-up response to the Covid-19 pandemic – the Bromley Discharge Partnership and the Care Home Support Programme. The Portfolio Holder was joined by other Members in congratulating the Bromley staff involved in these initiatives. Asked about respite care, the Portfolio Holder stated that she expected this to be considered by the PDS Committee.

(3)  Ofsted Inspection

The Portfolio Holder for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 288.

Report CSD21107

A motion to approve the refreshed corporate strategy “Making Bromley Even Better 2021 – 2030” was moved by Councillor Colin Smith, seconded by Councillor Kate Lymer and CARRIED.

Report CSD21112

A motion to receive and note the Health and Wellbeing Board’s Annual Report 2020/21 was moved by Councillor David Jefferys seconded by Councillor Robert Evans and CARRIED.

Report CSD21109

A motion to note the Councillor attendance data for meetings in 2020/21 was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Gareth Allatt and CARRIED.

The following motions had been submitted for discussion at this meeting -

(A)  Boundary Charge

To be moved by Cllr Kieran Terry and seconded by Cllr Christopher Marlow. 

“This Council expresses its concern about the major impact to Bromley’s residents and businesses of a boundary charge, which would tax motorists driving across our borders from outside London, and calls on the Mayor of London to immediately cease and rule out any further progress on its implementation.”  

(B)   COP 26 Summit 

To be moved by Cllr Ian Dunn and seconded by Cllr Simon Jeal 

“The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, (also known as COP26 summit) taking place under the presidency of the United Kingdom between 31st October and 12th November, is a crucial and urgent opportunity for governments globally to secure commitments to global net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier, as required to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees and avert the worst consequences of the climate crisis, including irreversible ecological and environmental damage.  

To coincide with the summit, we call on Portfolio Holders to hold public meetings and other events linking in with the key themes of the summit, for the Council to lead in bringing together contractors, local businesses, community groups, residents and other stakeholders to build on existing strategies  and generate new ideas for action, working together to ensure delivery of net zero emissions across the Borough, contributing to London-wide, national and global decarbonisation as rapidly as possible.” 

It was agreed that both motions would be referred to the next Environment and Community Services PDS Committee meeting.

The Mayor thanked Members for attending the Autumn Ball the previous Saturday, and also thanked those Members who were attending Remembrance Sunday events on behalf of the borough.

The Mayor informed Members of the following events coming up -

·  A Chinese dinner at Ming’s Restaurant in Petts Wood on 13^th January 2022

·  The Mayor’s Quiz Evening would be at Crofton Hall, Orpington on 11^th February 2022

·  A virtual Whisky tasting evening in April 2022.

Further details would be circulated by the Mayor’s Office.