Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Julian Benington, Nicky Dykes, Christine Harris, Keith Onslow and Suraj Sharma. Cllr Kieran Terry gave apologies for his late arrival.

There were no declarations of interest.

(Cllr Angela Page subsequently declared an interest in minute 317 – Appointment of External Auditor, as an employee of the Local Government Association.)

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 6^th December 2021 be confirmed.

Report CSD22030

The Council considered three petitions.

(A) Orpington Town Centre

Mr Jeff Slee presented the petition, which called on the Council to reject the Areli planning application for the Walnuts Centre and to consult widely on the future of Orpington town centre. Councillor Alexa Michael, Chairman of Development Control Committee, responded to the petition.

A motion to take no further action on the petition, to acknowledge its contents and that Development Control Committee will take these into account when it determines the planning application in due course, was moved by Councillor Alexa Michael, seconded by Councillor Yvonne Bear and CARRIED.

(B) Road Safety at Chislehurst War Memorial Junction

Ms Sarah Gill-Schmitz presented the petition, which called for road safety measures to be implemented at the Chislehurst War Memorial Junction. Councillor William Huntington-Thresher, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Services, responded to the petition. 

A motion to instruct the Environment and Community Services Portfolio Holder to bring a deliverable proposal to Environment and Community Services PDS Committee within six months was moved by Councillor Ian Dunn and seconded by Councillor Simon Jeal.

The following Members voted in support of the motion –

Councillors Vanessa Allen, Kathy Bance, Ian Dunn, Simon Jeal, Kevin Kennedy-Brooks, Josh King, Ryan Thomson and Angela Wilkins.

The following Members voted against the motion –

Councillors Gareth Allatt, Graham Arthur, Yvonne Bear, Nicholas Bennett, Kim Botting, Mike Botting, Mark Brock, David Cartwright, Aisha Cuthbert, Judi Ellis, Robert Evans, Simon Fawthrop, Peter Fortune, Kira Gabbert, Hannah Gray, Will Harmer, Christine Harris, Colin Hitchins, Samaris Huntington-Thresher, William Huntington-Thresher, David Jefferys, Charles Joel, Kate Lymer, Christopher Marlow, Robert Mcilveen, Alexa Michael, Peter Morgan, Angela Page, Chris Pierce, Neil Reddin, Will Rowlands, Michael Rutherford, Richard Scoates, Colin Smith, Diane Smith, Gary Stevens, Melanie Stevens, Harry Stranger, Michael Tickner, Pauline Tunnicliffe, Michael Turner and Stephen Wells.

The following Members abstained –

Councillors Katy Boughey, Russell Mellor, Tony Owen and Kieran Terry.

The motion was LOST.

The following motion was moved by Councillor Huntington-Thresher and seconded by Councillor Will Harmer -

“In light of the Council’s current investigations on crossings in the area, no additional action is proposed other than to provide an update to the Environment and community Services PDS Committee later this year.

The motion was CARRIED.

(C) Climate Emergency

Mr Jamie Devine presented the petition. Councillor William Huntington-Thresher, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Services, responded to the petition. 

The following motion was moved by Councillor Huntington-Thresher and seconded by Councillor Will Harmer -

“In light of the Council’s current commitment to reach net-zero and to provide annual updates to the Environment and Community Services PDS Committee on our progress towards net-zero, no additional action is required.”

The motion was CARRIED.

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 14 February 2022. 

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 22 February 2022.

(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.

Thirty six 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.

Fifteen 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.

Statements were due to be made by Councillor William Huntington-Thresher, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Services, and from Councillor Peter Morgan, Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, but in view of the late hour they both stated that they would consider providing written statements instead.

Report CSD22023

The Director of Finance confirmed that there were no changes to the levy amounts that were presented to the Executive at its meeting on 10^th February 2022 (recommendation 2.1(e)). The GLA Precept amounts that were presented to the Executive on 10^th February 2022 (recommendations 2.2 and 5) had now been confirmed as final following agreement of the Mayoral Budget for 2022/23 on 24^th February 2022.  

Councillor Michael Rutherford, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith, moved acceptance of the recommendations made by the Executive, subject to the following amendment -

The following change be made to the recommended budget for 2022/23: 

“Amended Recommendation (2.1): 

(b)Approves the draft revenue budgets for 2022/23 to include the following updated change: 

(i)  Council is requested to agree that a sum of £1m be set aside as a Platinum Jubilee Parks earmarked reserve, funded from underspends.  

  (ii)  Members are asked to note that the utilisation of the reserve will be reported to the Environmental Services Portfolio Holder with the agreement of the Resources, Commissioning and Contract Management Portfolio Holder.” 

The recommendations, as amended, were CARRIED as follows –

That Council -

(1)  (a) Approves the schools budget of £92.411m which matches the estimated level of Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) after academy recoupment;

(b) Approves the draft revenue budgets for 2022/23 to include the following updated change: 

(i)  Agrees that a sum of £1m be set aside as a Platinum Jubilee Parks earmarked reserve, funded from underspends.  

  (ii) Notes that the utilisation of the reserve will be reported to the Environmental Services Portfolio Holder with the agreement of the Resources, Commissioning and Contract Management Portfolio Holder. 

  (c)  Agrees that Chief Officers identify alternative savings/mitigation within their departmental budgets where it is not possible to realise any savings/mitigation reported to the previous meeting of the Executive held on 12^th January 2022;

(d) Approves a revised Central Contingency sum of £18,231k (see Section 6, Recommendation 7 and Recommendation 2.1e of the report);

(e) Approves the following provisions for levies for inclusion in the budget for 2022/23:

The reduction of £65k in the 2022/23 levy amounts is offset by a £65k increase in the 2022/23 Central Contingency as a provision towards meeting inflation cost pressures.

(f)  Notes the latest position on the GLA precept, as above, which will be finalised in the overall Council Tax figure to be reported to full Council (see section 12);

(g) Sets a 1% increase in Adult Social Care Precept with a nil increase in Bromley’s General Council Tax, compared with 2021/22 (1.99% general increase plus 3% Adult Social Care Precept) and note that, based upon their consultation exercise, the GLA are currently assuming a 8.8%  ...  view the full minutes text for item 314.

Report CSD22024

A motion to approve that the new scheme proposals listed in paragraphs 3.15 to 3.22 of the report to the Executive be included in the Capital Programme was moved by Councillor Michael Rutherford, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith and CARRIED.

Report CSD22025

A motion to note the performance report and revised Treasury Management and Prudential Codes and to adopt the Treasury Management Statement and the Annual Investment Strategy for 2022/23 including the prudential indicators and the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy statement was moved by Councillor Michael Rutherford, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith and CARRIED.

Report CSD22026

A motion to approve the proposal to become an “opted in” authority with Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd for the appointment of its external auditor for the five year period for 2023/24 onwards was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Michael Turner and CARRIED.

Report CSD22027

A motion to approve the following was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Michael turner and CARRIED.

(i)  A flat 2.25% pay increase for all staff (excluding teachers who are covered by a separate statutory pay negotiating process)

(ii) An additional £100k towards Merited Rewards for 2022/23, bringing the total to £300k for rewarding staff for exceptional performance.  

(iii) That the Trade Unions’ pay claim for staff be rejected (see paragraph 3.8 and the appendices of the report.)

(iv) To note that, as in the previous years since coming out of the nationally/regionally negotiated frameworks, Bromley staff will receive the 2022/23 pay increase in time for the April pay.

Report CSD22012

A motion to approve the 2022/23 Pay Policy Statement was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Michael Turner and CARRIED.

Report CSD22029

A motion to approve the Members Allowances Scheme 2022/23 with allowances retained at the 2021/22 levels and with the addition of an allowance for attendance at Appeals Sub-Committee meetings, and to agree the Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral allowances for 2022/23 at the same levels as for 2021/22 was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by councillor Michael Turner and CARRIED.

Report CSD22031

A motion to approve (i) changes to the Scheme of Delegation to Officers set out in paragraph 3.7 of the report (relating to call-in); (ii) changes to the Local Planning Protocol set out in paragraphs 3.8-3.12 of the report (recommendations from Standards Committee); and (iii) changes to the Scheme of Delegation to Officers set out in paragraph 3.14 of the report (relating to a shortened timeframe of seven days for call-in of non-material amendment applications and details pursuant to conditions) were moved by Councillor Alexa Michael, seconded by Councillor Yvonne Bear and CARRIED.

Report CSD22015

A motion to approve the following recommendations from the Standards Committee was moved by Councillor Nicholas Bennett, seconded by Councillor Vanessa Allen and CARRIED.

(1) That the following wording should be used for declarations at quasi-judicial meetings in the interest of openness and transparency:

“I know X purely as a Councillor” or “I know X socially and I have not discussed this matter with them” or “I know X socially and have discussed with them but have not made any commitment”.

(2) That the Procedure for Handling Code of Conduct Complaints be amended to reflect that in cases where the conduct of a councillor, whilst falling short of the high standards of conduct expected, has been judged not to have amounted to a breach of the Code of Conduct, the Monitoring Officer is encouraged to give informal words of advice.

(3) That in the rare instances of disagreement between the Monitoring Officer and an Independent Person, the Standards Committee or a Sub-Committee of the Standards Committee should consider a report from the Monitoring Officer which outlines the view of both the Monitoring Officer and the Independent Person.

(4) That the Monitoring Officer establish an induction process for Independent Persons.

? 

(A) ?Her Majesty the Queen – Platinum Jubilee 

The following motion was moved by Cllr Nicholas Bennett JP and seconded by Cllr Christopher Marlow - 

“This Council requests that His Worship the Mayor make a loyal address to Her Majesty the Queen as follows: 

The Mayor and councillors meeting on February 28th 2022 send on behalf of the Council and the people of the London Borough of Bromley their loyal greetings and best wishes to Her Majesty on the historic occasion of Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee. We thank Your Majesty for your devoted service to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for seventy years and pray for your good health in the coming years.” 

The motion was CARRIED. 

(B)  Ade Adetosoye CBE 

? 

The following motion was moved by Cllr Kieran Terry and seconded by Cllr Aisha Cuthbert?- 

? 

“The Council congratulates our Chief Executive, Ade Adetosoye, on the award of his CBE as part of the 2022 New Year’s Honours list.” 

The motion was CARRIED.

The Mayor thanked Members who attended the charity dinner at Ming’s Restaurant, and who also those who had sent in nominations for the Mayor of Bromley awards. The Mayor had hosted the Holocaust Memorial Service on 27^th January, which had been a very moving experience.

The Reception for voluntary workers would be taking place on 23^rd March. The Mayor reminded Members of the following events –

·  A Wine Tasting Evening on 7^th April;

·  His final Council meeting as Mayor on Monday 11^th April, which would be followed by a Reception for all Councillors;

·  A Thanksgiving Church Service on Sunday 24^th April.

  Invitations would be sent out by the Mayor’s Office nearer the time.