Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Councillors Colin Smith and Diane Smith declared an interest in the report on the Beckenham BID (Minute 338) in that family members lived within the proposed BID area. Councillor William Huntington-Thresher also declared an interest in this item as he was an advisor to the Orpington BID Board.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, questions to the Executive 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 Wednesday 1^st November 2017.

No questions had been received.

Report CSD17151

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 13^th September and 10^th October 2017 be confirmed.

The Executive received an oral update on Children’s Services from Janet Bailey, Director of Safeguarding and Children’s Social Care.

The fifth Ofsted monitoring visit had just taken place on 30^th/31^st October, focusing on Fostering and Adoption and looking at the experiences of children, the quality of work and management oversight. The inspectors had found no inadequate practice and some pockets of good practice. They had spoken to foster carers who now felt more valued and more closely linked to the authority. Recruitment of permanent staff had been impressive and social workers understood their cases extremely well. Management, governance and leadership were also good. It was recognised that caseloads were reducing, that appropriate training was taking place and significant progress was being made in implementing the Improvement Plan. Ofsted had also commented that the merging of Fostering and Adoption Panels was appropriate and well timed.

The draft letter from Ofsted was to be published on 29^th November, with a first draft due to be received on 13th November.

The next monitoring visit was scheduled for 13^th/14^th March 2018 and would focus on Early Intervention Services. 

Members thanked Mrs Bailey for achievements in improving the service. 

Report ED18031

The Council was now in year three of five in the second phase of the Tackling Troubled Families programme, and the report provided a summary of expenditure on the Programme being delivered in Bromley, requesting agreement to drawdown grant funding from central contingency. The programme was funded by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) on a payment by results basis and there was a rigorous process of checks by Internal Audit, the DCLG and Ofsted. 75% of families only presented to the programme once, with a further 19% having no more than two presentations.

The report had been scrutinised by the Executive and Resources PDS Committee on 31^st October 2017.

RESOLVED that the drawdown from contingency of a sum of £796k for Tackling Troubled Families for 2017/18 be approved.

Bromley Town Ward

Report DRR17/058

At its meeting on 22 March 2017 the Executive had approved the detailed designs and costing for the next phase of the Bromley Town Centre improvements, which were currently being implemented.  Officers were requested to bring back for Executive approval the detailed designs and costing for the proposed market kiosks. The Executive had also approved plans to re-organise, rebrand and relocate the existing market as part of the improvement works.  The report provided an update on progress to date.

The report had been scrutinised by the Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee on 1^st November 2017. The Committee had not been satisfied with the level of consultation, suggesting some changes to the terms of reference of the Bromley Market Consultative Panel and requiring a further report to their Committee in January, and proposed some changes to the recommendations, which the Executive accepted. The Portfolio Holder for Renewal and Recreation reported that to ensure that shoppers were aware of the shops he would ensure that the stalls were set out in a single line, rather than in two lines. He also confirmed that the Council would be applying for planning consent for the newly located market with the same number of stalls as the present market.

It was confirmed that the market stalls had a lifecycle of 25 years and were intended to be clad with wood. A fire retardant treatment would be applied - the Portfolio Holder assured members that he would check this. The kiosks were anticipated to generate an annual income of £100k, based on full occupancy. They would be let on a full repairing and insurance basis, and to reduce risk the Council’s specialist market advisors Quarterbridge had suggested that they be prelet. Discussions were on-going about street cleaning and any potential additional costs. Questioned about why the Council was investing its own money rather than leaving it to private investors, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that a return on investment of around 20% could be anticipated, and the Council could keep control of the units which would be in a prime location for the town centre. 

RESOLVED that

(1) It is agreed that £580k is allocated from the Growth Fund to meet the costs and is added to the Bromley High Street Improvement capital scheme.

(2) Authority be delegated to the Director of Regeneration and the Portfolio Holder for Renewal & Recreation to approve any minor amendments to the kiosk design and market layout.

(3) Authority be given to submit a planning application(s) for the development of the relocated market and market infrastructure, including kiosks.

(4) The allocation of additional S106 funding of £152k for a programme of architectural lighting improvements be authorised and added to the Bromley High Street Improvement capital scheme.

(5) It is noted that there will be an overall increase of £732k for the Bromley High Street Improvement scheme within the Capital Programme, resulting in a total scheme cost of £3.576m.

(6) The progress to date on implementing the agreed option for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 337.

Penge & Cator, Kelsey & Eden Park, Clock House and Copers Cope Wards

Report DRR17/051

The report updated Members on the progress to date on the development of a proposed Business Improvement District (BID) in Beckenham and Penge Town Centres and its potential implications for the Council. In particular, it introduced the outline Beckenham and Penge BID Proposal 2018 – 2023 which had been presented to the Council by the BID Steering Groups in each town and requested delegated authority for the Portfolio Holder for Renewal and Recreation to review the final versions of the BID Proposals in order to authorise a Ballot to be held of the establishment of the Beckenham and Penge BIDs in February 2018. It was confirmed that any changes to parking arrangements, including parking charges, would need to be approved by the Portfolio Holder for Environment.

The report had been scrutinised by the Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee on 1^st November 2017 – the Committee had supported the proposals. A revised plan of the Beckenham BID area, minimising the residential areas included, was tabled.

RESOLVED that

(1) The draft Beckenham and Penge BID Proposals 2018 – 2023 (summarised in paragraph 3.10 of the report but provided in full as part of a report on the Part 2 agenda) and the progress to date on the development of the BIDs, including the level of consultation with businesses, outline BID levy rules and emerging key priorities of the proposed BID, be noted.

(2) On the basis of the draft outline BID Proposals, agree in principle that the Council’s Ballot Holder may be instructed to hold ballots in February 2018, according to the Business Improvement District Regulations (England) 2004, being satisfied that the draft BID Proposals do not conflict with any of the Council’s priorities and plans, and that the geographic scope of each is within the boundaries of the London Borough of Bromley (see maps of draft BID boundaries in Appendix 2A (as amended) and 2B of the report).

(3) Delegated authority be agreed to the Portfolio Holder for Renewal & Recreation to review the final version of the BID Proposals which are expected to be delivered to the Authority by 17 November 2017 and, provided that these still meet the criteria outlined in (2) above, instruct the Ballot Holder to run the BID ballots on behalf of the Executive.

(4) The Portfolio Holder for Renewal and Recreation be authorised to nominate an officer to vote ‘Yes’ on behalf of the Council for eligible Council-occupied hereditaments which fall within the proposed BID areas (these are listed in paragraph 5.2 of the report).

(5) Subject to a BID ‘yes’ vote, the Director of Corporate Services be authorised to enter into all legal agreements necessary to operate the BID, and that the agreements ensure that the BID companies formed in both locations act at all times in the best interests of the town centres.  (The draft agreements, which are still to be finalised, are included as part of Appendix 1A and 1B to the report.)

(6) It is noted that potential net  ...  view the full minutes text for item 338.

Report CS18096-1

The report provided a part 1 summary of a part 2 report on the procurement strategy and financial considerations for the Substance Misuse Services contracts for Adults and Young People. The current contracts ended in November 2018 and a Gateway Report had already been considered and approved by the Executive in May 2017. It was now proposed to include Residential Detoxification and Rehabilitation Placement provision and enhanced Community Alcohol Detoxification pathway in the bundle of services in the Substance Misuse tender.

The report had been scrutinised by the Executive and Resources PDS Committee on 31^st October 2017. The Committee had supported the recommendation, but had suggested that the part 2 report be made public and the Executive’s consideration take part in part 1 of the agenda.

The PDS Committee had also commented on the need for more data on outcomes. This had been provided in the main gateway report in May, but Councillor Morgan requested further data on problem drinkers.

The Executive supported the proposals, although the Leader did note that there was a balance to be found between intervention and personal choice and responsibility, and that efforts to combat substance misuse needed to be consensual to successfully nudge people in the right direction.

RESOLVED that the proposal to include Residential Detoxification and Rehabilitation Placement provision and enhanced Community Alcohol Detoxification pathway within the bundle for the substance misuse tender, that procurement will be a tender formed of two lots as outlined in the report (paragraphs 3.2 to 3.11 and section 7) and for the service to proceed to procurement be approved.

There were no additional items reported from Executive and Resources PDS Committee.

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

Penge & Cator, Kelsey & Eden Park, Copers Cope and Clock House Wards

Report DRR17/051

The Executive considered details of the draft proposals and budgets for the proposed BIDs in Beckenham and Penge which were being treated as confidential at the request of the BID Steering Groups who would form the boards of private companies on the basis that the proposals were still in draft form and under consultation with BID levy payers.   

Report CS18096-2

The report provided further details of the procurement process for Adults and Young People’s Substance Misuse services. In accordance with the recommendation of the Executive and Resources PDS Committee, the report was considered in part 1.

Orpington Ward

The Executive awarded a contract for capital works at Beacon Academy, Orpington.

Bromley Town Ward

Report DRR17/059

The Executive agreed to make recommendations to Council regarding the development programme for Opportunity Site G.

Bromley Town Ward

Report DRR17/061

The Executive approved proposals for the sale of the Council’s freehold interest in this property.