Agenda and minutes

Venue: Bromley Civic Centre

Contact: Graham Walton  020 8461 7743

Items
No. Item

23.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Felicity Bainbridge, Aisha Cuthbert, Sophie Dunbar, Simon Fawthrop, Jonathan Laidlaw, Alexa Michael and Will Rowlands. Apologies for lateness were received from Cllr Ryan Thomson.

 

Councillors Fawthrop, Michael and Rowlands joined the meeting online.

24.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

25.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 17 July 2023 pdf icon PDF 374 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 17th July 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

26.

Questions pdf icon PDF 255 KB

 

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, general questions must have been received in writing 10 working days before the date of the meeting – by 5pm on Monday 2 October 2023. 

 

Questions clarifying 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 10th October 2023.

 

(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.

 

Seven 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.

 

Sixteen 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.

 

Four 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.

27.

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

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Colin Smith, made a statement following the recent deaths of Honorary Freeman Richard Lane OBE, FCA and Councillor Andrew Lee.

 

Richard Lane was a long-time resident of the borough with an impressive professional career in accountancy and a wide-ranging contribution to the education, health, business and voluntary sectors. While doing all of this, he suffered from type 1 diabetes and underwent pioneering transplant treatment in 2005. He was chairman of Diabetes UK between 2008 and 2015, after which he continued to be an ambassador for the charity. He received national recognition with the award of an OBE in 1998, while the borough had granted him its highest honour, the Freedom of the Borough, in 2004. Few people had made such a valuable contribution to the borough.

 

Councillor Andrew Lee had died while in office at just 66 years on 5th October. He had begun his career in the hard world of Lewisham politics and served as an agent for many years and at Conservative Central Office. His long-held ambition was to serve as an elected representative and he had finally achieved this in May 2022, being elected for Hayes and Coney Hall. His wife Gill had asked that he be remembered as a great motivator, for his sense of humour and for his ability to get things done.   

 

Councillors Jeal, Webber, Michael and Bennett added their thoughts and condolences.

28.

Budget Monitoring 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 193 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD23123

 

A motion to (i) agree that a sum of £1.8m be drawn down from the 2023/24 contingency as detailed in paragraph 3.2.2 of the report to the Executive and (ii) agree that a sum of £4.25m be transferred to the capital programme as detailed in paragraph 3.2.15 of the report to the Executive was moved by Cllr Colin Smith, seconded by Cllr Christopher Marlow and CARRIED.

29.

Capital Programme Monitoring - Quarter 1, 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 287 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD23124

 

A motion to amend the capital programme by agreeing (i) an increase of a total of £2,656k in relation to Disabled Facilities Grant (£2,443k original award plus £213k supplementary award) and (ii) an additional  £4,250k to be added to the Accommodation Capital Programme to be funded as follows - £2,000k of funding from the 2023/24 central contingency and £2,250k from the growth fund reserve, was moved by Cllr Christopher Marlow and seconded by Cllr Yvonne Bear and CARRIED.

30.

Local Pension Board Annual Report pdf icon PDF 192 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD23130

 

A motion to receive and note the 2023 Annual Report of the Local Pension Board was moved by Cllr Keith Onslow, seconded by Cllr Kira Gabbert and CARRIED.

31.

Local Pension Board - Appointment of Board Member pdf icon PDF 337 KB

Minutes:

Report CSD23119

 

A motion to appoint David Kellond as an Employer Representative to the Local Pension Board for the balance of the four-year term of office commencing 17 July 2023 was moved by Cllr Keith Onslow, seconded by Cllr Kira Gabbert and CARRIED.

32.

To consider Motions of which notice has been given. pdf icon PDF 263 KB

Minutes:

 

(A)  Criminal Damage and Vandalism

 

The following motion was moved by Councillor Simon Jeal and seconded by Councillor Angela Page:

 

“Bromley Council unequivocally condemns acts of criminal damage and vandalism. We will continue to work with the Metropolitan Police, seeking to ensure all such crimes are investigated and the criminal perpetrators prosecuted.”

 

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

 

(B)  Local Government Funding

 

The following motion was moved by Councillor Jeremy Adams and seconded by Councillor Tony McPartlan:

“Bromley Council and local authorities across the United Kingdom have been facing severe financial challenges due to years of cuts in government funding, with several councils including Woking, Thurrock and Birmingham having to issue S114 notices as they are effectively bankrupt. Bromley Council faces significant funding challenges with the prospect of a £29 million deficit by 2026.

Uncertainty over the future of government funding for local authorities is hampering their ability to plan and allocate resources effectively over the medium term. The proposed Fair Funding Review, developed in 2018 and aimed at redistributing resources more fairly among local authorities, has been delayed until April 2025 at the earliest.

This Council therefore calls on the government to provide an intermediate funding solution in time for financial year 2024-25, comprising: 

  • Additional funding to local authorities to address acute funding pressures
  • A multi-year settlement to move away from the current year-to-year approach that is leaving councils less able to plan for the future.

This Council further calls on all Members of Parliament representing Bromley constituencies to support this request for additional funding for local government by actively advocating for it in Parliament.”

An amendment was moved by Councillor Colin Smith and seconded by Councillor Christopher Marlow for the motion to read –

“Bromley Council and other Local Authorities across the United Kingdom are facing severe financial challenge, due to years of reduced Central Government funding, by successive Governments of all political persuasions, with several Councils including Woking, Thurrock, Croydon, Slough and Birmingham having to issue S114 Notices as they are now effectively bankrupt.

 

Bromley Council itself faces significant funding challenges with the prospect of a £36.2m deficit by 2026-2027.

 

Uncertainty over the future of Government funding for local authorities is hampering Local Government’s ability to plan and allocate resources effectively over the medium term.

 

The proposed Fair Funding Review, developed in 2018 and aimed at redistributing resources more fairly among local authorities, has been delayed until April 2025 at the earliest.

 

The Council therefore calls on the Government again to provide an intermediate funding solution in time for the financial year 2024-25 comprising:

 

·  Additional funding to Local Authorities to address acute funding pressures

·  A multi-year settlement to move away from the current year-to-year approach that is leaving Councils less able to plan for the future.

 

This Council further calls on all Members of Parliament representing Bromley constituencies to continue to lobby for additional funding for Local Government by actively advocating for it in Parliament and to bring forward the Fair Funding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

33.

The Mayor's announcements and communications.

Minutes:

The Mayor thanked Members who had booked tickets for the Ball at The Warren on 21st October and reminded them about the charity dinner at the Tamasha Restaurant on 28th November.

 

The Mayor announced the following events –

·  The Civic Christmas Carol Concert on Sunday 17th December at All Saints Church, Bark Hart Road, Orpington.

·  A Sunday Lunch at The Warren on 21st January 2024 - money raised to be donated to the Rotary Club of Bromley to add to their funds for supporting Ukraine.

·  The annual Mayor’s Quiz on Friday 23rd February 2024.

·  Dinner at the East India Club on 11th April 2024.

Appendices pdf icon PDF 269 KB

Additional documents: