Agenda and minutes

Contact: Philippa Gibbs  020 8461 7638

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND NOTIFICATION OF SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS

Minutes:

Councillor Mellor submitted apologies for absence.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Minutes:

Councillor Fawthrop declared that his wife was an employee of the London Borough of Bromley.

3.

QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING THE MEETING

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. 

 

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 Monday 11th May 2020.

Minutes:

No questions were received.

4.

MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE, RESOURCES AND CONTRACTS PDS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 5th FEBRUARY 2020 AND THE INFORMAL BRIEFING HELD ON 26th MARCH 2020 (EXCLUDING EXEMPT ITEMS) pdf icon PDF 343 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the  meeting held on 5 February 2020, and the notes of the informal briefing held on 26th March 2020, were agreed and signed as a correct record.

 

The Committee noted that a report on the Council’s Property Portfolio was due for consideration in September 2020.  The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Commissioning and Contract Management explained that the current COVID-19 pandemic would inevitably have an impact on the revenue stream from the property portion however it had not yet been possible to quantify the impact.

 

The Committee also noted that that there had been no further progress on the emerging proposals for solar farms following the update from the Executive Assistant for Resources, Commissioning and Contracts Management at the Committee’s meeting in February 2020.

 

In response to a question from a Member concerning the percentage of residents currently not paying Council Tax, it was agreed that the Director of Finance would be asked to provide an update following the meeting.

 

5.

FORWARD PLAN OF KEY DECISIONS pdf icon PDF 135 KB

Minutes:

The Committee noted the Forward Plan of Key Decisions covering the period April 2020 to July 2020.

 

The Chairman suggested that it would be helpful for the Forward Plan to indicate a timeframe for decisions by reflecting not just a “not before” date but also a “no later than” date.

 

6.

PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF EXECUTIVE REPORTS

A copy of the Executive Agenda is available using the following link:

https://cds.bromley.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=121&MId=6925

Minutes:

The Committee considered the following Part 1 reports for decision by the Leader on or after 19th May 2020

 

(1)  THE LONDON BOROUGH OF BROMLEY'S RESPONSE TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC

 

The report provided the Executive with an update on the London Borough of Bromley’s response to the coronavirus pandemic as well as a summary of the current situation in relation to COVID-19 cases in the Borough and the local and pan-London resilience structure.

 

The report also provided an overview of the Council-wide response to the pandemic, as well as the specific responses for each service area, initial plans for social and economic recovery, and an overview of the Council’s current financial position.

 

The Chief Executive introduced the report explaining that there had been a need to take a number of rapid decisions in response to the developing COVID-19 pandemic.  A detailed log of these decisions was kept and would be shared with Members in due course.  The practice of keeping a decision log was a pan-London one and enabled decision makers to return to decisions and see when and why they were taken.

 

In response to a question from the Chairman  concerning the impact of the virus on BAME staff and the action that was being taken across the Council to ensure that BAME staff in particular were protected from the effects of the virus, the Chief Executive reported that the Council was following the guidance from Public Health England (PHE) and this guidance was routinely discussed at the Council’s COVID-19 Strategic Group.  In addition, a profile of Council staff had been completed giving HR and managers across the Council a clear indication of levels of self-isolation and sickness.  Risk Assessments had been undertaken to enable the Council to adequately manage the risks involved and a programme of training had been put in place to provide managers with the tools they needed to support staff.  The Council was now in the process of developing a handbook for staff to support the phased return to the workplace.  The handbook was designed to provide details of the key measures in place to support and protect staff returning to the office environment.  In relation to testing, all staff had been encouraged to get themselves tested if they exhibited any of the symptoms of COVID-19 and where necessary BAME staff had been provided with PPE to support them in their roles.

 

In response to a question, the Chief Executive confirmed that the Council had an adequate supply of facemasks for staff use on their return to work as well as hand sanitiser.  The newly developed handbook provided comprehensive guidance however where possible staff would still be encouraged to use IT to support working from home.  Discussions had taken place with Departmental Representatives and the Chief Executive confirmed that he felt satisfied about the safety of the environment to which staff would be returning.  Members were reminded that as Head of Paid Service the Chief Executive had a personal liability in ensuring  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS AMENDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) (VARIATION) ORDER 2006, AND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

The Chairman to move that the Press and public be excluded during consideration of the items of business listed 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.

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

 

 

8.

PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF EXEMPT EXECUTIVE REPORTS

Minutes:

The Committee considered the following Part 2 reports for decision by the Leader on or after 19th May 2020

 

(4)  Award of Contract for the Replacement Social Care Case Management System

  Report CEF20010B

 

The Committee noted the report and made recommendations to the Leader.

 

(5)--- COVID 19: TRANSPORT PAYMENTS TO CONTRACTORS

------- Report CSD20068

 

The Committee noted the report and made recommendations to the Leader.