Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Graham Walton 020 8461 7743
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND NOTIFICATION OF SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Russell Mellor, Keith Onslow (replaced by Councillor Mary Cooke) and Kate Lymer (replaced by Councillor Tom Philpott, and from Councillor Nicholas Bennett for arriving late. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Minutes: There were no declarations of interest.
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QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING THE MEETING 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 29th January 2015.
Minutes: No questions had been received.
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Minutes: RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 7th January 2015 (excluding exempt items) be confirmed. |
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MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS Minutes: Report CSD15010
The Committee received an update on matters arising from previous meetings. |
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FORWARD PLAN OF PRIVATE AND KEY EXECUTIVE DECISIONS Minutes: The Committee noted the Forward Plan of Key and Private executive decisions published on 13th January 2015. |
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QUESTIONS TO THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND COUNCILLORS ATTENDING THE MEETING 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 29th January 2015.
Minutes: No questions had been received. |
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RESOURCES PORTFOLIO - PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY The Resources Portfolio Holder to present scheduled reports for pre-decision scrutiny on matters where he is minded to make decisions. Minutes: The Committee considered the following reports for pre-decision scrutiny where the Resources Portfolio Holder was minded to take decisions. |
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FORMER EDC CARETAKER'S HOUSE, PRINCES PLAIN, BROMLEY Bromley Common and Keston Ward Minutes: The Committee considered a report proposing that the former caretaker’s house at Princes Plain be declared surplus to Council requirements and marketed for sale. The property had been allocated to provide temporary accommodation for homeless people, but it required significant improvement and it was no longer financially worthwhile to use the building in this way. It was also suggested that the property might be suitable for accommodating teachers, and it was possible that it could be purchased by an Academy.
RESOLVED that the proposal to declare the caretaker’s house at the former Education Development Centre at Princes Plain, Bromley, surplus to Council requirements and offer it for sale on the open market be supported.
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LAND ADJACENT TO 29 CHESTERFIELD CLOSE, ORPINGTON Cray Valley East Ward Minutes: Report DRR15/004
The Committee considered a report seeking authority for the disposal of a parcel of land adjacent to 29 Chesterfield Road, Orpington.
RESOLVED that the proposal to declare land adjacent to 29 Chesterfield Close, Orpington surplus to Council requirements to enable its sale be supported.
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TREASURY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE - Q3 2014/15 Additional documents: Minutes: Report FSD15010
The Committee received a summary of treasury management activity during the quarter ended 31st December 2014, when investments totalled £262.5m with no outstanding external borrowing. The report also updated them on the Council’s investment with Heritable Bank.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
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TREASURY MANAGEMENT - ANNUAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY 2015/16 Additional documents: Minutes: Report FSD15011
The Committee received the Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy for 2015/16, which were required by the CIPFA Code of Practice for Treasury Management in the Public Services to be approved by the Council. The report also included the prudential indicators and the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement.
RESOLVED that the Treasury Management Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2015/16, including the prudential indicators and Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement be approved and recommended to Council for adoption.
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PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF EXECUTIVE REPORTS Members of the Committee are requested to have a copy of the agenda for the Executive meeting on 11th February 2015 at the meeting.
Minutes: Report CSD15011
The Committee considered the following reports on the part 1 agenda for the meeting of the Executive on 11th February 2015.
(5) Budget Monitoring 2014/15 Report FSD15008
The report set out the budget monitoring position for 2014/15 based on expenditure and activity levels up to November 2014. Considerable progress had been made in reducing the projected overspend in Care Services.
A Member questioned the need for the Council to spend money on a survey relating to Biggin Hill Airport when the airport operator had already carried out an extensive consultation. It was explained that the Council as decision-maker had to carry out its own independent survey and could not rely on work initiated by an interested party.
RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.
(6) 2015/16 Council Tax Report FSD15009
The Committee considered the draft 2015/16 revenue budget proposals. Confirmation of the GLA precept was still awaited, but it was anticipated that the 1.3% reduction proposed in the GLA’s draft budget would not be changed. Notification of the final grant settlement had been received, and the Council would be getting an additional £202k. However, there was also a significant reduction in funding for discretionary housing payments from £683k to £509k. In response to a question, the Director confirmed that the current £683k was fully utilised.
RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.
(7) Capital Programme Monitoring Q3 2014/15 and Annual Capital Review 2015 to 2019 Report FSD15014
The report summarised the current position on capital expenditure and receipts and presented new capital schemes proposed by Directors through the annual capital review process. The main focus was on the continuation of existing schemes, with only two new schemes being put forward.
Post-completion reports were due to go to Portfolio Holders before the end of the financial year for four schemes. A Member queried the use of capital to fund the relocation of exhibitions from the current Bromley Museum at The Priory to the Central Library – it was confirmed that the expenditure was treated as capital due to the capital receipt that could be received through disposal of the Priory as part of the project.
RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.
(8) Community Services Integration Report CS14075
The Care Services PDS Committee had held a meeting with the Health and Wellbeing Board on 29th January 2015 to examine the options for progressing integration of adult social care assessment and care management functions with community health services commissioned by Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). It was proposed that the Executive authorise a steering group to explore the options further with the CCG and with the existing provider, Bromley Health Care.
The Committee was informed that the Executive had already set aside a budget of £250k should external advice be required.
RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.
(9) Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Report CS14107
The report analysed the implications of the recent Supreme Court judgement relating to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and sought approval for additional funding of £163,345 in 2014/15 ... view the full minutes text for item 114. |
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REVENUES SERVICE MONITORING REPORT Additional documents: Minutes: Report FSD14080
The Committee received a report on the performance of the Revenue Services contract provided by Liberata during the period April to December 2014. The report included a letter from Charlie Bruin, Liberata’s Executive Director, BPO Services, providing an update on each service and statistical data, and representatives from Liberata attended the meeting to answer questions from the Committee.
The Chairman asked for an update on Business Rates collection. The in-year collection rate was 83.86% as at 31 December 2014, compared to 87.78% at the end of 2013. At the end of January 2015 the proportion had risen to 91.77%, and Liberata were confident of matching or improving the 2013/14 figure. The slow collection was largely due to the switch from payment in ten to twelve instalments.
It was confirmed that collection of Business Improvement District (BID) money in Orpington was carried out in two instalments, so in-year collection rates could be misleading. |
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BENEFITS SERVICE MONITORING REPORT Additional documents: Minutes: Report FSD14079
The Committee received a report on the performance of the benefits service provided by Liberata during the period from 1st April to 31 December 2014, including a letter from Charlie Bruin, Executive Director, BPO Services giving Liberata’s perspective and an update on initiatives to be introduced in the coming months.
In response to a question about the Right Time Indicator, it was confirmed that this was the time taken to process a change or a new claim, and that the measure was calendar days, not working days. The Council checked a random sample of 10% of cases for accuracy. These were biased towards more complex cases, and if the simpler automated cases were included the error rate would be reduced. Errors usually related to factors such as inaccurate earnings calculations and taking wrong periods into account. Where there was claimant error any overpaid sums could be recovered from the individual concerned.
It was explained that the practice of “call-snatching” involved offering customers the alternative of ringing them back rather than waiting. In general, customers preferred to wait, so the practice had been discontinued.
A Member commented that customers often claimed to be treated badly once they entered the complaints regime, and that analysis was needed to understand the nature of fault calls – whether calls were customers chasing action or complaining about errors. Liberata would consider this. Liberata confirmed that they did record calls and that they had used mystery shoppers for quality control.
A Member complained that she had recently dealt with a number of cases where there had been errors and delays, leading in one case to eviction and the person concerned spending three nights on the street. Information as to the number of payments on account was requested from Liberata - this could not be provided at the meeting, but Liberata representatives offered to report back on this.
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UPDATES FROM PDS CHAIRMEN Minutes: Updates were received from PDS Chairmen regarding the Environment PDS Committee on 20th January 2015, the Care Services PDS Committee on 21st January 2015 and the Education PDS Committee on 27th January 2015. These are attached as appendix 1. |
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Minutes: Report CSD15013
The Committee considered its work programme. The chairman hoped that the Chief Executive would be able to attend the next meeting.
The Leader confirmed that the exclusivity period with ZhongRong for their Crystal Palace development had now expired. Consideration was being given to a short extension. |
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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
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EXEMPT MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 7TH JANUARY 2015 Minutes: The exempt minutes of the meeting held on 7th January 2015 were confirmed.
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RESOURCES PORTFOLIO - PRE DECISION SCRUTINY (PART 2) Minutes: The Committee scrutinised the following proposed decision by the Resources Portfolio Holder.
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PROVISION OF INSURANCE SERVICE - ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICH Minutes: The Committee supported a proposal to continue the shared services agreement for provision of insurance services with Royal Borough of Greenwich.
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PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF EXEMPT EXECUTIVE REPORTS Minutes: The Committee scrutinised reports on the Executive’s part 2 agenda for the meeting on 11th February 2015 concerning the Future of Anerley Town Hall, Havelock Road Recreation Ground, Bromley – La Fontaine Free School, Direct Care Update, Award of Contract for Capital Works at Glebe School and Capital Receipts, Appendix E.
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