Agenda and minutes

Report ES15041

Report ES15041 provided an update on the Council’s role as Lead Local Flood Authority, including progress in implementing provisions of the Flooding and Water Management Act 2010 (FWMA), and changes in responsibilities. The report sought approval for the Local Flood Risk Strategy (LFRS) and Action Plan (the strategy having been drafted as part of a joint procurement approach with the South East London Flood Risk Group). It also reviewed

L B Bromley’s response to the groundwater flooding issue in 2014 and sought agreement for a sum of £213k being released from Central Contingency to implement a programme of future responsibilities and work streams.

At the previous meeting Councillor Nicholas Bennett explained that he had made a number of suggestions in comments submitted during consultation on the proposed LFRS (appended to Report ES15041) but that these did not appear to have been taken into account. In the circumstances Members agreed to defer the report to the next meeting.

Report ES15041 advised that comments received during consultation were now included at Appendix C to the strategy, with the LFRS document amended as appropriate.

Referring to recommendations from the Executive and Resources PDS Committee at their meeting on 3^rd September 2015, the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for the Environment indicated that work on the Council’s flood risk register had not yet concluded. Concerning a Flood Asset Register, Report ES15041 advised that following condition surveys and ad hoc investigations, knowledge continued to develop of assets with a potential to contribute to flooding.

In regard to the Environment Agency document “Living on the Edge”, providing a guide to the rights and responsibilities of riparian landowners, the document would be made available on the Council’s website. The Portfolio Holder highlighted that riparian landowners would also be reminded by letter of their responsibilities for helping to manage flood risk.  

Members agreed to the recommendations in Report ES15041 and further agreed that the additional recommendations from the Executive and Resources PDS Committee be taken forward.

RESOLVED that:

(1)  a sum of £213k be released from the 2015/16 Central Contingency budget to implement the proposals detailed in Report ES15041;

(2)  the Local Flood Risk Strategy and associated Action Plan be approved;

(3)  the LLFA future works programme be approved;

(4) the Register of Flood Risk features be published on the Council’s website; and

(5) a positive programme be undertaken to highlight the responsibilities of riparian landowners, including publication to the Council’s website of the Environment Agency document “Living on the Edge”. 

Report ES15067

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) had allocated a total of £86,570 Preventing Homelessness Grant to L B Bromley. The Public Protection and Safety Portfolio Holder agreed in June 2015 that £26,570 be released from Central Contingency and approval was now sought to release the remaining £60k.

The funding would be used to enable Bromley Women’s Aid (BWA) to continue and expand their Schools Programme to develop awareness of healthy relationships and domestic violence. It would also be used so that a Volunteer Manager and a Resettlement Officer could be employed to expand the BWA support service for the next two years. The scope of support available within BWA’s services could improve so that women move from a refuge when ready into a range of different housing options, rather than wait for a local authority housing offer.

Early identification, intervention, and support would not only help prevent domestic abuse but could also remove a need for refuge accommodation, allowing bed spaces to be provided for those in urgent need.

The grant would fund the project to 31^st March 2017. The service specification and project plans had been developed by BWA and the grant awarded on the understanding that BWA would deliver the project. There were no other known local providers with the capacity, knowledge or skill set to undertake the work.

Some Members of the Executive and Resources PDS Committee were concerned that children as young as seven years old should be addressed on domestic violence, and suggested that raising the awareness of teachers might be more appropriate. There was also concern at how outcomes would be measured and it was suggested that Executive Members be sent summaries of the content of actual sessions with further details of DCLG methodology and performance standards. Councillor Fawthrop suggested that the methodology behind the programme needed consideration and he supported the involvement of teacher staff who would have an understanding of the children and be familiar with their history.

The Schools Programme was delivered by a BWA officer in a one hour session in the children’s classroom with the children’s teacher present. The session would include the use of DVD material and feedback suggested that the children engaged well. Any children disclosing domestic abuse during a session were referred to the school’s safeguarding lead and offered one to one support by a BWA Child Support Officer. The Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Safety suggested that information on  the Service Level Agreement with BWA be circulated to highlight activities and outcomes from the project.  Referring to the Executive’s Children’s Board, the Leader was re-assured on measures for dealing with some of the safeguarding issues and all schools had a nominated safeguarding officer.

Confirmation was sought on whether issues unrelated to safeguarding would be passed to agencies. It was explained that a focus would be on the most vulnerable children with identified concerns. The school would manage the relationship between the BWA officer and children. Assessments would be made  ...  view the full minutes text for item 260.

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.

Report CS15920

Report CS15920 outlined the results of a tendering process for provision of the Bromley Adults Substance Misuse Service and the Bromley Young Persons Substance Misuse Service. The report also provided a recommendation for award of contracts.

Report ED15104

Members were updated on progress in refurbishing Beacon House, Old Holmesdale Road, Bromley so that it could open as Burwood School’s KS4 and KS5 provision next year.

The meeting was adjourned on 9^th September 2015 and re-convened following the Executive’s special meeting on 17^th September 2015 to 

inter-alia enable clarification on costs related to the refurbishment project. 

Having considered supplementary information and explanation from officers, Members accepted the costs as presented and agreed the recommendations in Report ED15104.