Agenda and minutes

Venue: Bromley Civic Centre

Contact: Graham Walton  020 8461 7743

Items
No. Item

15.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jessica Arnold, Yvonne Bear, Nicholas Bennett, Mark Brock, David Cartwright, Robert Evans, Kira Gabbert, Mike Jack, David Jefferys, Charles Joel, Kate Lymer, Keith Onslow and Rebecca Wiffen. Councillors Bear, Jack and Wiffen joined the meeting online.

 

Apologies for late arrival were received from Cllr Christopher Marlow.

16.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

17.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 18th May 2022 pdf icon PDF 317 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes for the annual meeting of the Council held on 18th May 2022 be confirmed.

18.

Questions pdf icon PDF 251 KB

 

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 4th July. 

 

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 12th July 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. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Two 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.

 

Five 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.

 

Thirteen 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.

 

19.

To consider any statements that may be made by the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holders or Chairmen of Committees.

Minutes:

The following statements were made at the request of Councillors Simon Jeal and Alisa Igoe - 

 

(A) Planning for an Economic Downturn

 

Councillor Christopher Marlow, Portfolio Holder for Resources, Commissioning and Contract Management, made a statement in response to a request to explain how the Council would plan for an economic downturn over the next twelve months. He rejected the premise of the request, stating that the greatest risk was higher inflation, with much of the Council’s expenditure indexed to inflation, but its income limited. Sustained high inflation without an increase in income from Government or a higher Council Tax would cause a decline in the Council’s financial strength. The administration had a laser-like focus on inflation – an example of this was that the Council had negotiated a below-inflation increase in the Liberata contract. All chief officers had been asked to explore similar opportunities, and all officers were asked to justify any increases in budget – this was the best way to mitigate this risk.  

 

In response to questions about the risk of suppliers walking away from their contracts, or going bust, the Portfolio Holder stated that much would depend on the contract, and this was addressed through the procurement process by looking at the financial strength of the counterparties.  The risk was mitigated through imposing penalties and seeking to recover costs. He also confirmed that these risks were captured on the Risk Register.

 

(B) High Standards in Public Office

 

Councillor Colin Smith, Leader of the Council, made a statement on the importance of integrity, high standards and vetting processes for candidacy for public office. He emphasised the critical importance of the seven Nolan Principles, and stated that he was certain that all parties vetted and selected their candidates with these principles to the fore.

 

In response to questions, he agreed that, given recent events in Parliament, residents in Bromley could be confident in the integrity of their councillors and also that any question of giving a political honour to someone with a criminal record, even if spent, would be for the General Purposes and Licensing Committee to consider

20.

Minor Constitutional Change - Standards Committee pdf icon PDF 278 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD22082

 

Two minor errors in paragraph 1.1 of the report were noted – that the proposals had been considered by General Purposes and Licensing Committee on 6th July 2022 (not Standards Committee), and that there were five Groups (not four) on the Council.

 

A motion to remove recommendation (2) in the report was moved by Councillor Tony McPartlan and seconded by Cllr Simon Jeal but was LOST.

 

A motion to update Article 9 of the Constitution replace paragraph 9.2(a) with –

 

“The Standards Committee will have a membership comprising one member from each minority group and sufficient members of the majority group to maintain a majority.”

 

and to replace paragraph 9.2 (b) with –

 

“Members of the Executive may sit on the Standards Committee, subject to not being in a majority.”

 

was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Melanie Stevens and CARRIED. 

 

(Note: The new membership of the Standards Committee would be Councillors Nicholas Bennett, David Cartwright, Andrew Lee, Tony McPartlan, Mark Smith, Melanie Stevens, Michael Tickner, Pauline Tunnicliffe and Sam Webber.)

21.

Authorisation to proceed to Contract: Energy Services pdf icon PDF 192 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD22084

 

A motion to approve the following recommendations from the Executive was moved by Councillor Christopher Marlow, seconded by Councillor Tony Owen and CARRIED.

 

(1) Approve an annual budget from October 2022 of £4,026k for the purchase of Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) backed electricity, an increased requirement of £1,888k on the existing budget; Members should note that the cost would be £3,965k for brown electricity, which would be a required budget increase of £1,827k.

  (2) Approve an annual budget from October 2022 of £1,095k for the purchase of Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin (RGGOs) backed gas, an increased requirement of £736k on the existing budget; Members should note that the cost would be £979k for brown gas, which would be a required budget increase of £620k.

(3) Agree a drawdown from the unallocated inflation provision in the 2022/23 Central Contingency of £1,312k for renewable energy, or £1,224k for brown energy, for the part-year increased cost in 2022/23, and to reflect the full year annual budget impact in the financial forecast.

  (4) Note that the sums above are the indicative cost for first year of the 3-year contract. Energy market volatility is hard to predict, and cost may go up in years 2 and 3 or may fall.

22.

Treasury Management Annual Report 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 193 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD22091

 

A motion to

 

(a)  Note the Treasury Management Annual Report for 2021/22;

(b)  Approve the actual prudential indicators within the report; and

 

(c)  Note the publication of the revised Treasury Management and Prudential Codes, with formal adoption required in 2023/24.

 

was moved by Councillor Christopher Marlow, seconded by Councillor Tony Owen and CARRIED.

 

23.

Annual Report of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 91 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD22050

 

A motion to note the SACRE annual report for the academic year 2020/21 was moved by Councillor Mike Botting, seconded by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe and CARRIED.

24.

Annual Report of the Health and Wellbeing Board 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 91 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD22052

 

A motion to receive and note the Health and Wellbeing Board Annual Report for 2021/22 was moved by Councillor Colin Smith, seconded by Councillor Diane Smith and CARRIED.

25.

Annual Policy Development and Scrutiny (PDS) Report 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 192 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD22051

 

A motion to receive and note the Annual Policy Development and Scrutiny Report 2021/22 was moved by Councillor Christopher Marlow, seconded by Councillor Simon Fawthrop and CARRIED.

26.

Councillor Attendance 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 191 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD22081

 

A motion to note Councillor attendance data for meetings in the 2021/22 Council year was moved by Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, seconded by Councillor Mike Botting and CARRIED.  

27.

Next Steps for the Crystal Palace Park Regeneration Plan (Part 1) pdf icon PDF 292 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD22

 

A motion to approve the following recommendations from the Executive was moved by Councillor Tony Owen, seconded by Councillor Shaun Slator and CARRIED

 

(1)  The decisions made by the Executive in relation to Crystal Palace Park at its meeting on 29th June 2022 be noted.

(2)  That Council approve an initial addition of £4.5m to the capital programme in 2023/24 to forward fund the capital regeneration works in Crystal Palace Park, which will need to commence prior to any of the housing land capital receipt being received, and notes that subsequent Crystal Palace Park works will then be funded from the capital receipt from disposal of the housing land.

 

(3)  That Council approve the commencement of the forwarded funded heritage restoration capital works, limited to £4.5m (expected housing receipt £17.5m) noting that the capital programme will regularly be updated to reflect the impact of this on total scheme expenditure.

 

(4)  That Council approve the following course of action in respect of the capital requirements for the regeneration of the Park:

  i.  Approve that any capital receipt generated by the disposal of the Housing Sites will be ringfenced solely for heritage works in Crystal Palace Park, as required by the enabling development Planning Permission, as set out in paragraph 3.10 of the report.

  ii.  Agree that any capital receipt generated by the Housing Sites will be spent on the Park’s Regeneration Plan capital scheme (including returning funds spent to date to the Council and the endowment) within ten years of the capital receipt entering the Council’s bank account. If the funds are not spent within this time period, as set out in this report, the Council will be penalised by 2% per annum of the remaining funds and required to grant the penalty monies to the Trust.

  iii.  Approve that once the capital receipt for the Housing Sites is received that the Council's capital programme budget is increased in line with the value of the receipt, subject to details of that amendment with updated scheme costs and funding being agreed by the Executive through the capital monitoring reporting process; any such amendments will be subject to the principle that total spending on this scheme will never exceed actual income to the Council secured from capital receipts and grants and contributions from third parties.

 iv.  Agree that any interest accrued by the Council from the capital receipt for the Housing Sites is also used for the regeneration of the Park, with interest calculated at General Treasury Management rates, and the approved capital programme updated accordingly.

(5) Agree that the spend to date of £1.185m returned to the Council will be used as the match funding required for grant applications effectively recycling the investment to date.

 

 

28.

Meadowship Homes Phase 2 (Part 1) pdf icon PDF 194 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD22083

 

A motion to approve the following recommendations from the Executive was moved by Councillor Tone Owen, seconded by Councillor Shaun Slator and CARRIED

 

(1) Agree the loan of up to £15m to the LLP for a period of 50 years with annual repayments starting from year 3 of 1.6% per annum and increasing annually by CPI (collared at 0-5%), funded from unallocated balances on the Housing Investment Fund, Housing Invest to Save Fund and New Homes Bonus earmarked reserves.

(2) Agree to enter into a guarantee agreement with the Funder to guarantee the loan facility of up to £100m to the LLP and undertake to meet the liabilities of the LLP in respect of the loan facility in the event of loan repayment default.

 

29.

To consider Motions of which notice has been given. pdf icon PDF 417 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 (A)  Sporting Success

 

The following motion was moved by Cllr Simon Jeal and seconded by Cllr Tony McPartlan -

 

“The London Borough of Bromley has had a wonderful recent spell of sporting success - from Emma Raducanu at the US Open, to Bromley FC men's FA Trophy win and women's league title.

 

To ensure we keep delivering more sporting successes, tackle childhood obesity and promote the importance of physical activity for good health and well-being, this Council pledges to work with key stakeholders and local sports clubs to ensure that high quality:

- sporting facilities

- organised physical activity sessions 

- green spaces 

Are available across the Borough, with adequate financial resources, to ensure that all residents, particularly young people, can participate in sport and physical activity, regardless of financial means.

 

The Council also agrees that a member should be appointed as ‘Sports and Active Champion' to lead on these efforts.”

 

On being put to the vote, the motion was LOST.

 

(B)  Cost of Living Crisis

The following motion was moved by Cllr Julie Ireland and seconded by Cllr Graeme Casey.

“Britain is undergoing the most severe cost-of-living crisis in recent history. In low-income households, particularly, people are having to choose between eating and heating. Bromley Council has a duty and the means to act. So, we are calling on the Council to declare a cost-of-living emergency and for it to refocus resources on helping Bromley residents at this dire time.

This Council should therefore take these urgent steps:

·  Immediately declare a cost-of-living emergency in Bromley – making this the highest political priority and marshalling existing Council resources to help Bromley residents. This would include undertaking urgent cost-of-living assessments for the most vulnerable residents.

·  Review the use of debt proceedings against struggling residents and follow the lead of other councils by choosing not to take these cases to court.

·  Speed up the release of the council tax rebate discretionary payments.

·  Urgently establish a local Cost-of-Living Emergency Summit, with stakeholders, including Citizens Advice, Food Banks, Local Trades Unions, Age Concern and Chambers of Commerce and invite local MPs to attend this hybrid meeting.

 

We hope you share our aspirations in making sure that the Council does everything in its powers to support our residents in this cost-of-living emergency.”

 

The following Members voted in favour of the motion -

 

Councillors Jeremy Adams, Kathy Bance, Graeme Casey, Will Connolly, Alisa Igoe, Julie Ireland, Simon Jeal, Kevin Kennedy-Brooks, Josh King, Ruth McGregor, Tony McPartlan, Chris Price, Chloe-Jane Ross, Mark Smith, Alison Stammers, Ryan Thomson, and Sam Webber.

 

The following Members voted against the motion -  

 

Councillors Jonathan Andrews, Felicity Bainbridge, Kim Botting, Mike Botting, Aisha Cuthbert, Peter Dean, Simon Fawthrop, Adam Grant, Dr Sunil Gupta, Christine Harris, Colin Hitchins, Jonathan Laidlaw, Andrew Lee, Christopher Marlow, Alexa Michael, Tony Owen, Angela Page, Will Rowlands, Shaun Slator, Colin Smith, Diane Smith, Melanie Stevens, Harry Stranger, Michael Tickner, Pauline Tunnicliffe, and Thomas Turrell.

 

The following Members abstained -

 

The Mayor, Cllr Hannah Gray, and Cllr Sophie  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

30.

The Mayor's announcements and communications.

Minutes:

The Mayor thanked members for attending the following events –

 

·  The Armed Forces Day service in June

 

·  The Bromley Stars staff awards on 1st July

 

·  The Reception for Voluntary Workers on 21st July

 

The Mayor also informed Members about the following forthcoming events –

 

·  A fundraising event for Ukraine, supported by Rotary Clubs, on 24th August (independence day in Ukraine)

 

·  A charity concert on the lawn of the Old Palace on 24th September

 

·  A Ball at Oakley House on 19th November

 

·  A Burns Night in January

 

·  A Dinner at the Royal Artillery Company in the Spring

 

She also reminded members about the prize draw to win a flight in a Spitfire.

31.

Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, and the Freedom of Information Act 2000

To consider items in respect of which resolutions have been passed under the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation Order 2006) and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the Press and public be excluded during consideration of the items of business referred to below as it is likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings that if members of the Press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

 

The following summaries

refer to matters involving exempt information

 

 

32.

Next Steps for the Crystal Palace Park Regeneration Plan (Part 2)

Minutes:

Report CSD22085B

 

A motion to note the exempt information relating to Crystal Palace Park was moved by Councillor Tony Owen, seconded by Councillor Shaun Slator and CARRIED.

33.

Meadowship Homes Phase 2 (Part 2)

Minutes:

Report CSD22083B

 

A motion to note the exempt information relating to Meadowship Homes Phase 2 was moved by Councillor Tony Owen, seconded by Councillor Shaun Slator and CARRIED.

Appendices pdf icon PDF 339 KB

Additional documents: