Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor John Ince.

Councillor Ian Payne declared a personal interest as an Executive Board Member of the Association of Town Centre Managers and as a member of the British BIDS Board.

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 Friday 20 January 2012.

No questions were received.

No questions were received.

Minute 109, 3^rd paragraph

With regard to feedback on the Royal Visit, Members were informed that an exempt report would be considered by the Executive on 1 February 2012.  A subsequent report would be submitted to this Committee in March 2012.

Minute 109, 4^th paragraph

Concerning governance at Crystal Palace Park, it was noted that the first meeting of the Crystal Palace Park Management Board would take place on 13 February 2012.

Minute 114 - Town Centres Development Programme Update

Following the outcome of the Outer London Fund (OLF) Round 2 bid submissions, the Chairman requested that the Working Party for Beckenham and West Wickham convene as soon as possible.  Councillor Tickner responded that an interim report would be submitted to Committee following the first meeting of the Working Party on 9 February 2012. 

The Portfolio Holder was anxious to obtain funding to carry out a traffic study in and around Beckenham.  A traffic count around Beckenham Town Centre had been undertaken in May 2011 but the findings had not been reported back; Councillor Tickner would bring this matter to the attention of the Environment Portfolio Holder.

As Penge lost out on the OLF round 2 bid, Councillor Getgood suggested that Members consider initiatives to obtain further funding.  The Portfolio Holder commented that this was an issue he intended to consider further.

Councillor Tickner enquired whether the Working Party should include West Wickham Town Centre.  The Chairman responded that it was sensible for Beckenham Town Centre to be considered as a priority at the first meeting with West Wickham being considered at subsequent meetings.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)  the Beckenham and West Wickham Town Centre Working Party focus on Beckenham as a priority followed by consideration of West Wickham Town Centre at subsequent meetings; and

(2)  the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2011 be confirmed and signed as a true record.

The position was reported on matters arising from previous meetings.

Minute 97e - Proposed Business Improvement District for Orpington

The consultation would not be completed in time for the meeting in March.  A progress report would be submitted in March and would include a record of payment made to the consultant employed by the Authority.  This would be followed by a further report to Committee in July.

Minute 97f - Bromley North Village Public Realm Improvement Design for Consultation

A report would be scheduled for March.

Minute 114 - Town Centres Development Programme Update

Following the outcome of the challenge by Linden Homes/Network Rail to the Council position with regard to site A, Members requested an update on the implications for the site going forward.  A legal representative would be requested to attend the Committee meeting in March.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To note decisions of the Portfolio Holder made since the previous meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED that decisions taken by the Portfolio Holder at the previous meeting held on 13 December 2011 be noted.

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

Report RES12024

On 1^st February 2012, the Executive would consider the current position on capital expenditure and receipts following the 3^rd quarter of 2011/12 and a revised Capital Programme for the five year period 2011/12 to 2015/16.  The report before Members highlighted changes to be made in respect of the Capital Programme for the Renewal and Recreation Portfolio.

The Director of Renewal and Recreation informed Members that there was no proposal to dispose of or demolish the Central Library/Churchill Theatre site.  An assessment to establish the cost of refurbishing the buildings was currently being undertaken.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to endorse the changes to be considered by the Executive on 1 February 2012.

Report DRR12/004

Members considered a draft 2012/13 Budget for the Renewal and Recreation Portfolio incorporating cost pressures and initial draft budget saving options as reported to the Executive on 11 January 2011. 

The Executive requested individual PDS Committees to consider the initial proposals outlined in the report, including the additional savings options and asked for Member comments to be reported to the February meeting of the Executive.

Expenditure pressures on services within the Renewal and Recreation Portfolio were identified in relation to the Adult Education Centre, income from planning applications and income from building control.  Savings options across the Portfolio were also detailed for the consideration of Members.

A summary of the budget variations for 2012/13 was circulated at the meeting.

The Director of Renewal and Recreation outlined the report and drew Members' attention to the number of variables which could impact on the final outcome namely: the scale of schools transferring to Academies; income from interest on balances included in the 2011/12 Council tax report and local government finance.

It was noted that there were no growth pressures on the Renewal and Recreation Portfolio this year however, in 2012/13 savings of £310k would need to be identified to balance the budget following the reduction in the Skills Funding Agency Grant.

Members' attention was drawn to the summary table in paragraph 4.2 of the report which outlined savings options relating to the Renewal and Recreation Portfolio.  The Head of Finance reported that the quoted £276k for 2012/13 was in addition to savings already achieved of just over £1m making an overall saving of £1.3m for 2012/13 followed by an additional £943k in 2013/14.

Members considered Appendices 1a-1c and noted the savings identified by the closure and transfer to CYP of the Bromley Field Studies Centre.  The Head of Finance reported that from April 2012, it was anticipated that the Centre would be used by CYP for the Pupil Referral Unit. 

With regard to the management of the Mottingham and Cotmandene Learning Shops, Councillor Reddin asked how long potential Government grant funding would last.  In response the Director of Renewal and Recreation informed Members that Government grant funding was dependent on the success of employment/training schemes and was therefore difficult to predict.

In response to a question from Councillor Tunnicliffe, it was reported that the Careers Development Group was a national training employment organisation.

The deletion of two career graded planning posts was confirmed.  It was anticipated that it would not be necessary to delete these posts until 2013/14.  Staff would be consulted and the deletion of posts would be carried out in the least damaging way possible ie. by the deletion of vacant posts or voluntary redundancies.  It was confirmed that posts filled by agency staff would be the first to be deleted.  Councillor Tickner added that as less planning work was being undertaken, posts should be adjusted accordingly.

Councillor Tickner was pleased to see that the department was fully participating in establishing savings to achieve a reduction  ...  view the full minutes text for item 131.

Report RES12011

Members considered the Committee’s work Programme and agreed the following additions/amendments to the Programme:-

Beckenham and West Wickham Working Party - interim report including an update on BIDs to be submitted in March 2012.

Town Centre 'Charter Market' - report to be submitted following completion of the Bromley North Village Public Realm development work.

Bromley North Village Public Realm Improvement - an updating report on current position with regard to Linden Homes to be submitted in March.  Members requested the attendance of a legal representative.

The Portfolio Holder emphasised the importance of the consultation on libraries and commented that non-users should also be included in the consultation process.  It was agreed that Members be given until the end of January to respond with their comments on the specific questionnaires.

A report detailing the outcome of the research would be submitted in March.

RESOLVED that the Work Programme be agreed subject to the changes outlined above.

Any Other Business

In alignment with the start times of other PDS meetings and to contribute towards budget savings, the Chairman suggested that future meetings of the Committee begin at the earlier time of 7.00 pm.

A short debate took place and Councillor Payne moved in favour of the proposal which was seconded by Councillor Lynch.

Councillor Michael moved that the start time remain at 7.30 pm; this was seconded by Councillor Tickner.

Following a vote in support of the proposal (7-2), Members RESOLVED that the start time for future meetings of the Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee be brought forward to 7.00 pm.

Councillor Tickner voted against the proposal on the grounds that he worked out-of-borough and would find it difficult to attend at an earlier time; he believed this would disenfranchise him from fully representing his Ward and the people of Bromley.  

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 is members of the Press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

RESOLVED that the exempt Minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2011 be confirmed and signed as a true record.