The Mayor to make and deliver the statutory Declaration of Office

It was moved by Councillor Diane Smith, seconded by Councillor David Cartwright and

RESOLVED that Councillor Mike Botting be elected Mayor of the Borough.

Councillor Botting 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, Councillor Mike Botting

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

The Mayor signified orally and in writing his appointment of Councillor Keith Onslow as the Deputy Mayor.

On a motion by Councillor Nicholas Bennett, seconded by Councillor Colin Hitchins, it was

RESOLVED that at the conclusion of the year of office of Councillor Hannah Gray as Mayor of the London Borough of Bromley the Council places on record its appreciation of the able manner in which she has presided at meetings of the Council and the distinction with which she has discharged the high traditions and responsibilities of the office of Mayor. The Council also recognises the dedication, commitment, and unstinting manner in which she has carried out Mayoral duties when representing the Borough, particularly in raising awareness around the Borough of the importance and tradition of the Mayoralty, as well as maintaining and supporting our time-honoured relationship with our twin town Neuwied. Councillor Gray led the Borough in celebrating Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations by attending street parties across Bromley and holding a service commemorating the exceptional work that Her Late Majesty did for our country. In a momentous year, Cllr Gray also led the Borough in mourning the loss of our Late Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II. We remember with affection and gratitude the lifetime of service given by our longest-reigning Monarch. Cllr Gray visited several care homes in the Borough to give residents the opportunity to record their personal messages and memories. The Mayor hosted a special Service of Commemoration to remember Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to express our love and respect for her. She also marked HRH King Charles III’s accession to the throne with a moving service on Proclamation Day, which encouraged residents to come together and welcome in the new Royal era. The Coronation of HRH King Charles III was honoured across the borough; and the Mayor celebrated this historic occasion by attending events and festivities with residents over the special bank holiday weekend. During her year she has continuously shown support for the Borough’s voluntary groups, local businesses, and schools. Cllr Gray’s second Mayoral term saw the return of the regular civic and charity events after the pandemic. Cllr Gray used her experience from the pandemic to promote and develop her role, most notably by continuing and progressing the use of social media channels. The Council further acknowledges her wholehearted support and fund raising through her Charity Appeal for Everybreath – the Lung Cancer Charity and Bromley Care Leavers Come Dine with Us Project. That the Corporate Seal be affixed to an engrossment of this resolution for presentation to Councillor Hannah Gray and a Past Mayor’s Badge be presented to her in token of the appreciation hereby expressed.

Thereupon the Mayor, on behalf of the Council, invested Councillor Hannah Gray with a badge in token of the appreciation of her services as Mayor of the Borough.

Councillor Gray expressed her thanks for the terms of the resolution and the presentation, and for the support accorded to her which had contributed so greatly to her year in office as Mayor.

RESOLVED that the Council records its  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Graeme Casey, Robert Evans, Sunil Gupta, Keith Onslow, Harry Stranger and Ryan Thomson.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Colin Smith, made a short statement. He began by thanking those who had stepped up to help within the Council and across the voluntary sector with responding to the challenges of the past year, including the war in Ukraine, inflation and the stress on the Council’s finances. This had also been a year when the Council had seized the opportunity to purchase new offices at Bromley South – contracts had now been exchanged.

The future lay in closer partnership working, and the Council’s priorities remained the same. There were still great demands on the budget for children’s services and housing in particular, and the Government’s social care reforms likely to provide further challenges. Tough decisions had been taken on the operational property review, and the new health centre would not now be going ahead on the Civic Centre site, but there was now the opportunity for health partners to join the Council at a more accessible site.

The Leader concluded by reminding Members that although the financial challenges were enormous across local government Bromley was amongst the best-placed authorities in London.

Report CSD23062

A schedule of proposed committee appointments had been circulated. The following amendments to the schedule were made –

(i)  Councillors Dunbar and Price to be added to Plans 2

(ii)  Councillor Bance to be added to Plans 4

(iii)  Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Standards Committee to be appointed at the first meeting.

A motion to approve (i) the proportionality of committees, (ii) the membership of Committees and (iii) the chairmen and vice-chairmen of committees in accordance with the schedule (as amended) was moved by Councillor Simon Fawthrop, seconded by Councillor Colin Smith and CARRIED.

Report CSD23063

A motion to receive the Scheme of Delegation to Officers in respect of executive functions and to approve the Scheme of Delegation to Officers in respect of non-executive functions was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Colin Hitchins and CARRIED.

The Mayor informed Members about the following events –

·  Armed Forces Day – 21^st June, which would include re-affirming the Armed Forces Covenant

·  Civic Reception for Voluntary Workers – 27^th July

·  The Mayor’s Ball, 21^st October

·  Meal at the East India Club, 11 April 2024