Agenda and minutes

The Mayor to make and deliver the statutory Declaration of Office

It was moved by Cllr Nicholas Bennett, seconded by Cllr Mark Brock and

RESOLVED that Councillor Hannah Gray be elected Mayor of the Borough.

Councillor Gray made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of the Office of Mayor and thereupon adjourned from the chamber in company with the retiring Mayor to receive the insignia of office.

In the chair, Cllr Hannah Gray

On her return to the chamber, the Mayor expressed her thanks for the honour conferred on her.

The Mayor signified orally and in writing her appointment of Councillor Christine Harris as the Deputy Mayor.

The Deputy Mayor was invested by the Mayor with the insignia of his office and expressed appreciation for the honour of his appointment.

On a motion by Councillor Michael Tickner, which was seconded by Councillor Nicholas Bennett, it was

RESOLVED that at the conclusion of the year of office of Councillor Russell L Mellor as Mayor of the London Borough of Bromley, the Council places on record its appreciation of the able manner in which he has presided at meetings of the Council and the distinction with which he has maintained and discharged the high traditions and responsibilities of that office.

The Council also recognises the committed and dedicated manner in which he has carried out Mayoral duties when representing the Borough, spreading awareness of the history and tradition of the Mayoralty, as well as strengthening our long-standing relationship with Neuwied and Mayoralties outside of the Borough.

Councillor Mellor was keen that all the tradition and time-honoured customs and practices of the Mayoralty were upheld; and as such Cllr Mellor reinstated the custom for the Chief executive to wear the black robe of his office at all Council meetings and the official attire for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor when not on ceremonial duties, enrobed, to be morning suits.

He was particularly pleased to welcome schools and local organisations to visit the Mayoral parlour and instruct them as to the traditions and protocols of the Mayoralty.

During the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Council worked closely with the NHS providing facilities for testing and inoculation of the residents in order that they could be protected and thereby saving lives. Many people found themselves spending less time with family and friends – especially if they were shielding or self-isolating. Councillor Mellor was keen to bring people together in convivial company as the country began gradually making its way out of the pandemic, with a series of events to enable a greater social involvement.

The Council further acknowledges his enthusiastic support and fund-raising efforts through his Charity appeal for The Beckenham Parochial Charity and The Shipwrecked Mariners Society. That the Corporate Seal be affixed to an engrossment of this resolution for presentation to Councillor Russell L Mellor and a Past Mayor’s Badge be presented to him in token of the appreciation hereby expressed.

Thereupon the Mayor, on behalf of the Council, invested Mr Russell Mellor Councillor with a badge in token of the appreciation of his services as Mayor of the Borough.

Mr Mellor expressed his thanks for the terms of the resolution and the presentation, and for the support accorded to him which had contributed so greatly to his year in office as Mayor.

RESOLVED that the Council records its appreciation of the able and courteous services of Councillor Tony Owen and Mrs Rosie Owen when, as Deputy Mayor and Mayoress for the year 2021/22, they represented the Mayoralty and the Council, and provides them with an attested copy of this resolution.

Councillor Owen expressed his thanks for the terms of the resolution and for the support accorded to him during his year of office as Deputy Mayor.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Ryan Thomson

There were no declarations on interest.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th April 2022 be confirmed.

The election of Councillors on 5^th May 2022 as set out in the schedule circulated with the agenda was noted.

In accordance with the Council’s constitutional arrangements consideration  was given to the appointment of a Leader of the Council for a four year term of office.

On a motion by Councillor Simon Fawthrop and seconded by Councillor Will Rowlands it was

RESOLVED that Councillor Colin Smith be elected as Leader of the Council for a four year term of office.

In accordance with the Council’s constitutional arrangements the Leader of the Council advised Council of the following appointments:

Councillor Kate Lymer – Deputy Leader of the Council

Members of the Executive:

Councillor Kate Lymer –

Portfolio Holder for Children, Education & Families

Councillor Diane Smith –

Portfolio Holder for Adult Care & Health

Councillor Angela Page –

Portfolio Holder for Public Protection & Enforcement

Councillor Yvonne Bear –

Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation & Housing

Councillor Christopher Marlow –

Portfolio Holder for Resources, Commissioning & Contract Management

Councillor Aisha Cuthbert –

Portfolio Holder for Sustainability, Green Services & Open spaces

Councillor Nicholas Bennett –

Portfolio Holder for Transport, Highways & Road Safety

RESOLVED that the appointments made by the Leader of the

Council, as set out above, be noted.

The Leader gave a brief speech reminding Members of the problems faced by the borough during the previous four years and remarking on the remarkable response of Bromley residents to the pandemic and to the war in Ukraine.

He then spoke of the coming four years, emphasising that the Council’s first duty was to keep a balanced budget, and then summarising some of the key issues and challenges. In Children’s Services, the Council was awaiting the return of the Ofsted Inspectors, new schools were being developed in Chislehurst and Penge, and there were pressures in SEND and mental health, and dealing with loneliness and long Covid. The Council would continue to work with health partners as the new Integrated Care Board was introduced in July and was also anticipating the reforms in adult social care which would be crucial for the borough’s large elderly population. On environmental issues, the Council was now working towards becoming carbon neutral by 2027, was continuing with its ambitious tree-planting programme and was looking to enforce more strongly against planning abuses, littering and enviro-crime.  Housing remained a major problem in the borough, with too many people in temporary accommodation. The Council was accelerating its affordable housing programmes, but the statutory requirement in the London Plan to provide 774 new homes a year was a massive challenge when the Council also wanted to protect the greenbelt and avoid overdevelopment.

A motion to approve the following resolutions was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Mike Botting and CARRIED –

(1) Authority be given to the Director of Corporate Services and Governance to make minor changes to the Constitution to ensure that the wording is kept up to date, in particular in respect of the reduction in the number of Members after the 2022 local election and officer titles.

(2) That External Audit and Annual Statement of Accounts, Probity Strategy, Audit and Fraud Prevention be removed from the terms of reference of the General Purposes and Licensing Committee and an Audit and Risk Management Committee be set up to replace the Audit Sub-Committee, with the Terms of Reference set out in Appendix A to the report.

(Schedule to follow)

Report CSD22

A schedule of proposed committee appointments had been circulated. A motion to approve proportionality, the appointment of Councillors to Committees and the election of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen as set out in the schedule was moved by Councillor Christine Harris, seconded by Councillor Simon Fawthrop and CARRIED.

After the end of the meeting, Committee met to appoint their Sub-Committees and appoint chairmen and vice-chairmen. The final version of the schedule is attached as Appendix A to these minutes.

The Scheme document will be to follow.

Report CSD22053

A motion to (1) approve the Scheme of Delegation to Officers of non-executive functions and (2) note the Scheme of Delegation to Officers of executive functions received from the Leader of the Council, was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Mike Botting and CARRIED.

The Mayor reminded Members that she would be sending out details of her events very shortly.