Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gareth Allatt, Graham Arthur, Yvonne Bear, Nicholas Bennett MA JP, Peter Dean, Judi Ellis, Peter Fortune, Robert Mcilveen, Will Rowlands and Ryan Thomson.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors Samaris Huntington-Thresher and David Jefferys.

Councillor William Huntington-Thresher declared an interest as an advisor to the Orpington First BID Board.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the special and ordinary meetings held on 18^th October 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 – on 22 November 2021. 

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 30 November 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. 

Five 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.

Twenty 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.

Eighteen 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.

Sixteen 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) Awards

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Services informed Members about a number of awards –

·  The Recycling Heroes scheme in partnership with Veolia had now been launched.

·  The Contact Tracing Team led by Sarah Foster had been shortlisted for the Team of the Year at the Local Government Chronicle awards.

·  The Shared Parking Service with LB Bexley had won the Front Line Award at the British Parking Awards 2021.

·  The Orpington business community had won a London in Bloom award – the Area Management Team led by David Hall had been key contributors to this. 

Members applauded the Teams involved for their achievements.

(2) Home Educated Children

At the request of Councillors Angela Wilkins and Ryan Thomson, the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Families, Cllr Kate Lymer, made a statement on the impact of the COVID pandemic on numbers of children being educated at home. She confirmed that numbers had risen during the lockdown, and the support service had been expanded with two additional officers, but numbers were now returning towards pre-pandemic levels – a chart with the numbers could be sent after the meeting. In response to a question about the measures in place to safeguard these children following the recent murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that (although Arthur was not home-educated) there was a meeting arranged with Jim Gamble, Chairperson of the Bromley Safeguarding Children Partnership, and they were awaiting the outcome of the review announced by the Secretary of State. In response to a question about home educated children and access to public examinations, the Portfolio Holder stated that she was not aware that this was a problem in Bromley.

Report CSD21136

A motion to note the report and approve changes to the prudential indicators and the proposed amendment to the Treasury Management Strategy was moved by Cllr Michael Rutherford, seconded by Cllr Colin Smith and CARRIED.

Report CSD21134

A motion to approve the Council Tax Support/Reduction Scheme 2022/23, including the maintenance of the Discretionary Hardship Fund at £200k, was moved by Cllr Michael Rutherford and seconded by Cllr Colin Smith.

The following amendment was moved by Councillor Simon Jeal and seconded by Councillor Kevin Kennedy-Brooks -

After “…at 200k” to add the words: 

“subject to the following changes:?  

(1) That looked after young people within the borough, up to the age of twenty five, shall be exempt from 100% of Council tax for their first two years of independent living. 

(2) That in view of the lob losses and ongoing hardship caused by the COVID pandemic. rising inflation, the recent sharp rise in energy prices and the cost of living crisis, resulting in ongoing hardship faced by many Bromley residents, the council tax support scheme for 2022/23 only shall be amended to allow an increase in the maximum support provided by the Council from 75% to £100 band A to D properties, to be funded from the Collection Fund Set Aside earmarked reserve. 

(3) That the existence of the hardship fund shall be proactively communicated to all Bromley residents in receipt of council tax support, housing benefit and universal credit.” 

On being put to the vote, the amendment was lost and the original motion to approve the recommendations as set out in the report was CARRIED.

Report CSD21135

A motion to approve an increase of £1,184k to the Capital Programme was moved by Cllr Michael Rutherford, seconded by Cllr Colin Smith and CARRIED.

Report CSD21137

A motion to approve (i) the addition of the Scheme to the Capital Programme at an estimated cost of £9,641k and (ii) the financing of the Scheme as set out in paragraph 10.8 of report HPR2021/059, including an internal loan from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account of £2,147k, was moved by Cllr Peter Morgan, seconded by Cllr Gary Stevens and CARRIED.

Report CSD21138

A motion to note the response to public consultation and adopt the revised Statement of Gambling Policy 2022 to 2025 under the Gambling Act 2005 to have effect on 31^st January 2022, was moved by Cllr Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Cllr Michael Turner and CARRIED.

Report CSD21139

A motion to receive the Local Pension Board Annual Report 2021 was moved by Cllr Keith Onslow, seconded by Cllr Gary Stevens and CARRIED.

Report CSD21132

A motion to approve (i)  the appointment of Ms Kath Nicholson and Mr Jonathan Farrell as Independent Persons for a four year term until the end of May 2026, (ii) the extension of the appointment of Mr Ken Palmer as an Independent Person until May 2023, (iii) the reaffirmation of  the appointment of Dr Simon Davey as an Independent Person until the end of the current Council in May 2022, and (iv) to co-opt Dr Simon Davey, Mr Ken Palmer, Ms Kath Nicholson and Mr Jonathan Farrell to the Standards Committee, was moved by Cllr Colin Smith, seconded by Cllr Vanessa Allen  and CARRIED.

(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.”

The motion was CARRIED.

(B) 20mph Speed Limit

To be moved by Cllr Ian Dunn and seconded by Cllr Vanessa Allen.

“As part of a strategy for safer streets, this Council resolves that the Executive be asked to agree that the default mandatory speed limit for residential streets in Bromley shall be 20mph.”

An amendment was moved by Cllr Kieran Terry and seconded by Cllr William Huntington-Thresher, so that the motion read -

“As part of a strategy for safer streets, this Council endorses Bromley's Local Implementation Plan 3 as agreed by all members of the Environment PDS in October 2018 which calls for targeted 20mph zones in those areas where it can have the greatest effect.”

The amendment was agreed and the motion as amended was CARRIED.

The Mayor thanked Members who had represented the Borough at Remembrance Services.

The Mayor also reminded Members about the following events –

·  A Charity Dinner at Ming’s Restaurant in Petts Wood on 13^th January 2022.

·  The Mayor’s Quiz at Crofton Halls on 11^th February 2022.

·  The Mayor of Bromley Awards in March 2022.

·  A Whisky Tasting Event at the Civic Centre on 7^th April 2022.

·  An end of year Reception for all members on 11^th April 2022.