Apologies for absence were received from Councillor William Huntington-Thresher.

Councillor Simon Fawthrop declared an interest as an employee of British Telecom, and left the room during consideration of minutes 84 and 90 (Customer Services IT System Review.)

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, questions that are not specific to reports on the agenda must have been received in writing 10 working days before the date of the meeting - by 5pm on Wednesday 2^nd October 2019. 

Questions specifically relating to reports on the agenda should be received within two working days of the normal publication date of the agenda.  Please ensure that questions specifically on reports on the agenda are received by the Democratic Services Team by 5pm on Thursday 10^th October 2019.

Two questions had been received for written reply - the answers are set out in Appendix A.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 18^th September 2019 (excluding exempt information) be confirmed.

Report CSD19137

The Executive noted matters outstanding from previous meetings.

CEO19001A

Following approval to upgrade the Council’s existing Customer Relationship Management System (CRM) in January 2018 and commission BT to review options for the longer term provision of this system, the report updated Members on the outcome of that review and recommended action as a result. Additional details were set out in a part 2 report.

The report had been scrutinised by the Executive, Resources and Contracts PDS Committee at its meeting on 9^th October 2019 and the Committee had supported the proposals.

RESOLVED that

(1) The need to replace the current CRM software as outlined in the report be noted.

(2) Officers procure by direct award via the G-Cloud Framework a subscription of the Jadu CXM case management software for a period of 4 years (2 years plus 2 one year extensions being the maximum allowable under the framework), and delegated authority be agreed for the Director of Human Resources and Customer Service and the Head of Customer Service, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources, Commissioning and Contracts Management, to renew the subscription for Jadu CXM via a compliant route for a period of up to 15 years, subject to regular reviews of the ongoing business needs.

(3) Officers commission BT by Change Control Notice (CCN) to their existing contract to transfer services from the existing CRM software onto the new Jadu CXM platform, including all associated integration as outlined in section 4.3 of the report.

(4) The addition of the required capital sum to the capital programme be agreed.

(5) As set out in paragraphs 4.3.8 to 4.3.10 to the report, approval be granted for the renewal, via exemption to competitive tender, of existing annual support arrangements for the associated IT software components of the Council’s website for a period of up to fifteen years.

(Having declared an interest as an employee of British Telecom, Councillor Simon Fawthrop left the room during consideration of this report.)

Bromley Town Ward

DRR19/045

The Executive had resolved, on 11 July 2018, that the Y Blocks at the Civic Centre should be disposed of, and further resolved on 30^th April 2019 to accept an unconditional offer from a purchaser for the freehold title of the Y Blocks and small areas of associated land.

As part of the Y Blocks and associated land comprised of open space the Council had advertised its intention to dispose of the open space land in a local newspaper for two consecutive weeks.  The Council had also advertised its intention to appropriate the Y Blocks and associated land for residential use in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Legislation. This would provide vital new housing for local people.

The Executive had also resolved on 30^th April 2019 that the Y Blocks and associated land were to be appropriated from office to housing use.  As that resolution had been made in reference to an internal report, the report-re-affirmed that Resolution in a public format.

A number of objections were received in respect of both advertisements, and the report considered these with appropriate responses to mitigate the concerns raised. The details of the objections were set out in a part 2 report. A letter from Bromley Civic Society objecting to the proposals had been circulated.

The Leader requested that a bespoke FAQ link be designed and added to the Council’s website at the earliest possible opportunity to both ensure full transparency and address any public interest or questions which might arise over coming months as the project progresses. The Leader emphasised the point that public access to the park beyond the sale site would be retained under the new arrangements

The report had been deferred from the Executive’s previous meeting on 18^th September 2019 and had been scrutinised by the Executive, Resources and Contracts PDS Committee at its meetings on 11^th September and 9^th October 2019. The PDS Committee had supported the proposals.

RESOLVED that

(1) It is noted that the Council has advertised the intention to dispose of the open space land together with the intention to appropriate the buildings and land to residential use in both cases for two consecutive weeks in accordance with the relevant Legislation.

(2) The objections made, together with the responses to these, as contained within the report, be noted and the disposal of the Open Space Land be formally agreed.

(3)  The objections made, together with the responses to these, as contained within the report, be noted and the appropriation of the buildings and land to residential use be formally agreed.

Crystal Palace ward

The Chairman to move that this report be considered as a matter of urgency in view of the deadline for confirming support for the recommendations of the Strategic Investment Pot evaluation panel.

Report DRR19/058

It was agreed that this report be considered as a matter of urgency in view of the deadline for confirming support for the recommendations of the Strategic Investment Pot evaluation panel. The Chairman of the Executive, Resources and Contracts PDS Committee confirmed that he had agreed that the report should be considered as urgent, and suggested that the call-in period be started as soon as possible.

During 2019/20, the GLA and the 33 London billing authorities were continuing to pilot 75% business rates retention. This allowed London to retain extra funding, with £39.9m in a Strategic Investment Pot (SIP) in 2019/20. During the summer of 2019 all the London authorities had been invited to bid for monies from the Strategic Investment Pot (SIP) fund for projects that achieved the fund’s aims:

·  To contribute to the sustainable growth of London’s economy

·  To leverage additional investment funding

·  To have broad support across London government

The fund’s preference was for collaborative bids over broader areas than just a single borough. Consequently the restoration of the Crystal Palace Subway was identified as a project that matched the funding criteria.

The Subway was partly owned by Southwark Council; it was a Grade II* listed building located under Crystal Palace Parade. It was in extensive disrepair and was on Historic England’s ‘At Risk’ register. The restoration of the subway was expected to cost £3.84m in total, although some of the works had already taken place - the Council’s Highway Team had undertaken stabilisation works funded by Transport for London, and LB Southwark had funded the restoration of the terrace to secure access to the subway. Further funding was anticipated from Historic England, the Friends of Crystal Palace Subway and Transport for London - no funding was required by the Council.

As Design and Heritage Champion, Councillor Nicholas Bennett supported the scheme and hoped that it would lead to the subway being open to the public much more often. The Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and Housing thanked Lydia Lee for her work in securing the funding. The Leader asked that Councillors Bennett and Morgan be kept closely informed of progress.

RESOLVED that the recommendations of the Strategic Investment Pot evaluation panel, as set out in the Consultation Report (Appendix 1 to the report) be supported.

There were no additional items referred from Executive, Resources and Contracts PDS Committee to be considered.

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

The exempt minutes of the meeting held on 18^th September 2019 were confirmed.

The Executive considered exempt details of the Customer Services IT System Review.

Bromley Town Ward

The Executive considered exempt material in connection with this issue.

The Executive approved proposals concerning the Education Management Information System.

Orpington ward.

The chairman to move that this report be considered as a matter of urgency as the change cannot be implemented until the Council’s consent is obtained.

The Executive considered an urgent report and gave landlord’s consent to a change of lessee for the Walnuts Shopping Centre.