Agenda and minutes

Venue: Bromley Civic Centre

Contact: Graham Walton  020 8461 7743

Items
No. Item

112.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

113.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

114.

QUESTIONS FROM 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 7th February 2019.

 

Minutes:

No questions had been received.

115.

TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 16TH JANUARY 2019 pdf icon PDF 96 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report CSD19011

 

Councillor Angela Wilkins queried whether resolution (5) regarding the schools budget in minute 102 (Draft 2019/20 Budget and Update Council’s Financial Strategy 2020/21 to 2022/23) was correct, in that it was beyond the Executive’s powers, but the Director of Corporate Services advised that it should be read in the context of the overall budget setting process.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 16th January 2019 (excluding exempt information) be confirmed.

116.

2019/20 COUNCIL TAX pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report FSD19019

 

The report identified the final issues affecting the 2019/20 revenue budget and presented recommendations to the Council on the level of the Bromley element of the 2019/20 Council Tax and Adult Social Care precept. Confirmation of the final GLA precept would be reported to the Council meeting on 25th February 2019. The approach reflected in the report was for the Council to not only achieve a legal and financially balanced budget in 2019/20 but to have measures in place to deal with the medium term financial position (2020/21 to 2022/23). Amended recommendations and comments from all PDS Committee were tabled at the meeting.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Commissioning and Contract Management drew Members’ attention to the interest income from the Council’s investments, which would reach £15.4m and was a key part of the revenue stream, and also to the importance of lobbying Government for adequate funding.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Services drew attention to comments at the Environment and Community Services PDS Committee on the road maintenance budget. He considered that, in the light of the Government’s recent allocation of additional funding, it was reasonable to take the proposed £177k saving for 2019/20, but not as a permanent reduction to the road maintenance revenue budget. The Leader concurred. The Portfolio Holder also confirmed that the PDS Committee had supported changes relating to parking issues, and he would be issuing a decision shortly.

 

Councillor Angela Wilkins stated that she was concerned that there had not been adequate scrutiny of the Education budget by the Education, Children and Families Select Committee, following the discussions at the Schools Forum and the Education, Children and Families Budget and Performance Monitoring Sub-Committee,  and she suggested that there were discrepancies relating to the High Needs element of the Schools Budget and the disapplication request which had now been refused by the Department for Education (DfE). She also commented that Ellie Reeves MP had not been included in lobbying efforts on behalf of the Council.

 

The Children, Education and Families Portfolio Holder emphasised that the process had been explained at various meetings and with the schools.  He was clear that no discrepancies existed.  The Portfolio Holder said that everything had been explained to Councillor Wilkins at a one-to-one briefing with officers and made clear in a letter published by the Portfolio Holder, but that he was happy to explain it to her again.  He stated that there were budget negotiations throughout the year with the Schools Forum, and that the Council was concerned that there was a shortfall of £3m in the High Needs funding from the DfE. A disapplication request was submitted but, as expected, it was denied. 

 

The Council felt it was important that it had been submitted in terms of lobbying for the funding required. The Council was no longer able to move funds around to deal with this, so it was using £2m from its own reserves to help address the shortfall.

 

He stated that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 116.

117.

CAPITAL PROGRAMME MONITORING Q3 2018/19 AND CAPITAL STRATEGY 2019 TO 2023 pdf icon PDF 63 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report FSD19020

 

The Executive considered a report on the Council’s capital strategy summarising the position on capital expenditure and receipts following the third quarter of 2018/19 and presenting new capital schemes in the annual capital review process. The main focus of the annual bidding process had been on the continuation of existing schemes and on externally funded schemes. A supplementary report had also been considered on an additional allocation from the Department for Education (DfE) of £1,208k of Special Provision Fund capital grant for special needs and disabilities.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Commissioning and Contract Management drew attention to the Section 106 balances held by the Council, and emphasised the need to use this money well and within the time deadlines.

The Executive noted the report and agreed a revised capital programme, including the amendments recommended in the report, and recommended that Council approve the new scheme proposals, including the additional Special Provision Fund allocation.

RESOLVED that

(1) The report be noted, including a total re-phasing of £14.2m from 2018/19 into future years, and a revised Capital Programme  be agreed.

 

(2) The following amendments to the Capital Programme be agreed:

 

(i) increase of £116k to the Basic Need scheme, funded by £3k and 113k, from the remaining balances on the Langley Park Boys School (BSF) scheme and The Highway Primary (partial rebuild) scheme as detailed in paragraph 3.2.1 of the report;

 

(ii) increase of £405k to the Capital Maintenance in Schools scheme, funded by £386k and £19k from the remaining balances on the Suitability / Modernisation issues in schools and Universal Free School schemes as detailed in paragraph 3.2.2 of the report;

 

(iii) addition of £233k DFG funding to the Capital programme as detailed in paragraph 3.2.3 of the report;

 

(iv) Increase of £115k to the Carbon Management Programme as detailed in paragraph 3.2.4 of the report.

 

(3) Council be recommended to:

 

(i) agree the inclusion of the new scheme proposals listed in Appendix C to the report in the Capital Programme (see section 3.5 of the report.)

 

(ii) approve the inclusion of £1,208k of Special Provision Fund capital grant in the capital programme under the Basic Need scheme.

 

 

118.

OPERATIONAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE BUDGETS AND PLANNED PROGRAMME 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 108 KB

Minutes:

Report DRR19/011

 

The Executive received a report setting out the proposed maintenance budgets and planned maintenance programme for 2019/20. The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Commissioning and Contract Management highlighted an additional fund of £200k which would be used for essential maintenance of toilet facilities at the Civic Centre, enhancing opportunities for parts of the building to be let out for events and improving the working environment for staff. The Leader added that now that the future strategy for the Civic Centre was settled it was right that the small maintenance backlog should be addressed.

 

RESOLVED that

 

(1) Subject to the Council agreeing the budget, overall expenditure of £2.135m be approved for the Building Maintenance budget in 2019/2020.

(2) The planned programme in Appendix A to the report be approved.

(3) Authority be delegated to the Director of Regeneration to vary the programmes to accommodate any change in the approved budget or where such action is considered necessary to either protect the Council’s assets or make the most effective use of resources.

119.

OPPORTUNITY SITE G: APPROVAL FOR IN PRINCIPLE USE OF COMPULSORY PURCHASE POWERS pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Bromley Town Ward

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report DRR19/006

 

At its meeting on 8th February 2017 the Executive had selected Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd (“Countryside”) as the preferred development partner for the first phase of development of Opportunity Site G following a competitive procurement process. On 17th July 2017 the Executive had approved the detailed terms of the development agreement and lease for the development and on the 11th December 2017 full Council had approved the allocation of £24.3m for the purpose of acquiring properties within the red line area of Phase 1 of Opportunity Site G. To date, the Council had been in negotiations with land owners to acquire properties that were required to deliver the Scheme.

 

It was now recommended that the Executive agreed, in principle, to the use of the Council’s compulsory purchase powers to facilitate the delivery of the Scheme. This provided certainty and allowed preliminary processes required for the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to be carried out at the same time as negotiations with landowners were ongoing, saving time and supporting the negotiating process. Executive authority would still need to be sought in the future to make a compulsory purchase order to acquire any property interest that was required for the Scheme that could not be secured via negotiated settlement.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and Housing confirmed that the site was important for the Council’s housing plans, and that six properties had already been successfully acquired. 

 

RESOLVED that

 

(1) it is agreed in principle to use compulsory purchase powers pursuant to section 226 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) to acquire the land and new rights within the area described in the report and shown on the plan attached to the report, the Council being of the view that compulsory acquisition of the land may be necessary in order to secure the delivery of the Scheme.

 

(2) Officers be authorised to begin preparatory work to use the Council’s  compulsory purchase powers, including serving requisitions on land owners and appointing land referencing agents to thoroughly investigate all land interests, the preparation of a Statement of Reasons and all other necessary documentation.

 

(3) It is noted that, subject to officers using all reasonable endeavours to assemble the land by agreement/private treaty, a further detailed report and a Statement of Reasons will come forward to the Executive in due course setting out the justification for the making of a compulsory purchase order.

120.

CONSIDERATION OF ANY OTHER ISSUES REFERRED FROM THE EXECUTIVE, RESOURCES AND CONTRACTS POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

Minutes:

There were no additional items to consider from Executive, Resources and Contracts PDS Committee on the part 1 agenda.

 

121.

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

 

 

122.

EXEMPT MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 16TH JANUARY 2019

Minutes:

The exempt minutes of the meeting held on 16th January 2019 were confirmed.

123.

RELEASE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR THE STEP UP TO SOCIAL WORK PROGRAMME & APPROVAL FOR THE AWARD OF CONTRACT TO ROYAL HOLLOWAY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON FOR THE PROVISION OF POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN SOCIAL WORK

Minutes:

The Executive approved the release of funding and award of a contract for the next cohort of the Step Up to Social Work Programme.

124.

CAPITAL PROGRAMME MONITORING - APPENDIX F

Minutes:

The Executive noted Appendix F to the Capital Monitoring report.