Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence. Councillor Tom Papworth apologised for needing to leave early.

Councillor Nicholas Milner declared an interest in the report on Customer Services (item 14 on the Executive’s agenda) as he held shares in Capita.

During consideration of the report on Technical Reforms of Council Tax (item 5 on the Executive’s agenda) Councillor Brian Humphrys declared an interest as he was in receipt of single person discount.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, questions to this Committee must be received in writing 4 working days before the date of the meeting.  Therefore please ensure questions are received by the Democratic Services Team by 5pm on Thursday 15^th November 2012.

No questions had been received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 18^th October 2012 (excluding exempt information) be confirmed.

Report RES12188

The Committee received an update on matters arising from previous meetings.

To note the latest version of the Forward Plan of Private and Key Executive Decisions.

The Committee noted the latest Forward Plan of Private and Key Decisions. It was noted that three Care Services reports had been deferred until the next cycle of meetings.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, questions to this Committee must be received in writing 4 working days before the date of the meeting.  Therefore please ensure questions are received by the Democratic Services Team by 5pm on Thursday 15^th November 2012.

No questions had been received.

The Resources Portfolio Holder to present scheduled reports for pre-decision scrutiny on matters where he is minded to make decisions.

The Committee considered the following reports for pre-decision scrutiny on matters where the Resources Portfolio Holder was minded to take a decision.

Bromley Town Ward

Report RES12196

Authority was sought to declare a small piece of unmanaged woodland surplus to Council requirements and to dispose of it as two separate plots to adjoining homeowners for use as extensions to their gardens.

RESOLVED that the recommendation be supported. 

Report DRR12/133

Following the implementation of the Community Toilet Scheme, a further tranche of public toilets had closed and the report set out options for their disposal. The sites were proposed to be sold rather than offered for leasing or rent as there would be considerable capital costs involved to convert them for other uses. If approved, marketing would probably begin in the new year. Officers confirmed that the costs of demolition in each case had been assessed by the Council’s own building surveyors, but the works would be put out to tender.

Councillor Julian Grainger urged that the toilets adjoining the Greenwood Community Centre in Green Street Green in his ward be made available for purchase by the Hall or for some other community use.   

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

Report RES12178

At its meeting on 24^th October 2012 the Executive had agreed a revised Capital Programme for the four year period 2012/13 to 2015/16, including changes to the programme for the Resources Portfolio which were now presented to be confirmed. The Chairman urged that surplus sites be sold more quickly to reduce ongoing maintenance costs and realise capital receipts.  

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

The Chairman invited Councillor Graham Arthur, the Resources Portfolio Holder, to address the Committee. He reported that the 2012/13 budget was on target to underspend, and that any underspends were being transferred to risk reserve. He was encouraging departments to come forward with invest to save schemes. He accepted that there were budget challenges ahead, and there was concern at the impact of the benefit changes in April 2013 as more people became liable to pay a share of their housing costs. He was aware that Housing Associations had done much to warn their tenants of the changes, but private sector tenants might be less well prepared. In the area of health, the £11m public health budget and 23fte staff would come fully under Council control from April 2013, and officers had secured additional funding to assist with the transition. Public Health and Care Services were already working well together and using the joint strategic needs assessment to target resources. Additional funds had been secured for GPs to carry out special work with the elderly (£5m) and for the Council to align social care service with health (£6m over two years). 

Asked about future Council Tax levels, Councillor Arthur stated that an increase of 2% was being built into the financial forecasts. The Council had to balance the one-off government grant which was not built into the Council Tax base against the greater income from this modest rise. 

Councillor Arthur explained that the Council had considerable scope for flexibility with the new housing benefit changes, except on the issue of single occupancy. While it was helpful that the new arrangements would encourage people to move to smaller accommodation, releasing much needed larger properties, there was concern that foster children did not count in the assessment of bedrooms required, and officers had been asked to look into this. A Member commented that the change to paying housing benefits direct to the claimant would lead to more people failing to pay their rent and therefore more evictions and homelessness. The Leader confirmed that representations had been made to MP’s about this. 

Councillor Arthur informed the Committee that the invest to save budget was £10m. However, it had been decided that the business case for the proposals for residential accommodation for children with special needs was not strong enough. Other invest to save projects such as complex educational needs, in-house fostering and day services were being developed.

It was confirmed that the £400m figure for health services commissioned by the Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group represented expenditure for both young people and adults – the total local health budget.  Councillor Arthur confirmed that there were robust discussions with health on how this should be allocated. A Member mentioned that the work being done to improve Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) needed to continue, particularly to reduce delays on waiting for assessments and improve the use of therapists. Councillor Arthur responded that the CAMHS had improved in recent years. Councillor Ellis added that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 265.

Members of the Committee are requested to bring their copy of the agenda for the Executive meeting on 28th November 2012. The report on Parking Shared Services will be dealt with as a joint meeting with General Purposes and Licensing Committee.

RES12143

The Committee considered the following reports on the agenda for the meeting of the Executive on 28^th November 2012.

(5) Technical Reforms of Council Tax

Report RES12164

The report set out changes under the Local Government Finance Act 2012 which would enable Councils to set locally the level of Council tax discount that could be awarded in certain circumstances from 1^st April 2013. It was proposed that Bromley would apply 0% discount to Second Homes, “Class A” exemption (empty dwellings undergoing major repair) and “Class C” exemption (vacant dwellings), would make no change in respect of “Class L” exemption (liability of mortgagees in possession) and would not apply the Empty Homes Premium in 2013/14. 

Members considered that applying no discount for class C would potentially be unfair for executors following the death of a homeowner, so it was proposed that a six month grace period be allowed.  Councillor Nicholas Bennett suggested that Empty Homes Premium should be applied after six months. 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported, with the exception that a six month grace period should be allowed for Class C exemptions where the homeowner has deceased. 

(6) Budget Monitoring 2012/13

Report RES12195

The Committee considered the third budget monitoring report for 2012/13 based on expenditure and activity levels up to September 2012. An underspend of £3,113,000 for 2012/13 was currently projected.

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

(7) Public Health Transition Funding

Report CEO1211

The report set out details of the activities which were proposed to be funded as part of the transition of Public Health responsibilities from the PCT to the Council on 1^st April 2013. It was confirmed that an officer transition group had been established to monitor the process and Members would be updated on the financial position via budget monitoring reports. NHS staff would be transferring to Bromley under TUPE so would retain their existing terms and conditions, and in addition some posts had statutory reporting provisions back to the NHS. 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

(8) Public Health Transfer of Contracts

Report CEO1210

The report summarised the arrangements for transferring responsibility of existing contracts commissioned by Public Health to the Council on 1^st April 2013. A Member remarked on the large number of short term contracts for sexual health provision, many relating to screening services. Officers confirmed that opportunities to secure savings through re-contracting would be investigated.

The Chairman requested an organisation chart for public health. 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

(9) Procurement Strategy for Modular Buildings for Schools Capital Programme

Report ED12067

The Council had a requirement for modular buildings to ensure that it met its statutory requirements for providing sufficient school places. Since 2011 these had been provided through LB Lewisham’s Modular Building Framework. This had recently been re-tendered and authority was being sought to use the new framework. 

Members remarked on the fluctuations of the birth-rate affecting the number of school places needed, and agreed that the flexibility that modular buildings provided was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 266.

Report RES12201

The Communications Working Group had delivered its report in February 2010. The Committee received an update on progress with the implementation of the forty-nine recommendations in the report, set out in a spreadsheet.

Councillor Nicholas Bennett had chaired the Working Group, and he stated that he was disappointed with the speed of progress. He understood that it was not possible to pursue some of the recommendations in the changed economic circumstances but there were a number of other recommendations where he expected more to be done. These included the following –

(1)   Cabinet responsibility for communications: Cllr Bennett considered that Cabinet members should be more proactive on communications.

(6)  Publication of Working Group reports: This appeared to have been ignored - the work of “backbenchers” needed to be promoted. Officers stated that recent work related to the SEN Working Group, the Active Citizens Working Group and the Beckenham and West Wickham Working group had been publicised.

(14)  Checking the branding of materials before printing: More should be done to move towards print on demand.

(17&18) Communication costs properly accounted for and separate codes set up: Officers responded that codes had been put in place.

(21a)   More proactive campaigning: Cllr Bennett felt that more should be done to publicise the Council’s views on issues such as planning policy.

(35)   Enhancements to the website: Cllr Bennett considered that the search engine needed to be improved and the website needed to give residents access to street by street information. 

(36)  Provision of live CCTV footage at busy junctions: Cllr Bennett considered that this would not be expensive or difficult to achieve and would have great public benefit.

(46)  Enhancing the role of libraries: Cllr Bennett considered that little progress had been made. 

Officers explained that the spreadsheet was a working document enabling recommendations to be kept under review, and that progress was being made in ensuring that publicity was focussed through the communication leads.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Written updates from PDS Chairmen will be circulated.

Written updates on the recent work of their Committees were received from Councillor Sarah Phillips (Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee) and Councillor Nicholas Bennett (Education PDS Committee).

Report RES12190

The Committee received an update on its work programme and the progress of Working Groups.

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.

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

The exempt minutes of the meeting held on 18^th October 2012 were confirmed.

The Committee received a report on Council property assets held for sale.  

The Committee scrutinised the following proposed decision of the Resources Portfolio Holder -

The Committee considered a report on options for the disposal of this site.

(See item 10)

The Committee scrutinised two reports on the part 2 agenda for the Executive’s meeting on 28^th November 2012 concerning (18) the Award of the Street Lighting Maintenance and Improvements Contract and Street Lighting Invest to Save Initiative , and (19) Street Works Tender.