Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Kate Lymer and Councillor Peter Morgan.

The Deputy Leader declared an interest in that his wife was a teacher at the Step Academy Trust. 

The Leader declared an interest in the Aquinas Trust as a member of the Aquinas Advisory Council and also declared an interest in St. George’s School.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, only questions specifically relating to reports on the agenda can be taken at this special meeting. Questions should be received by the Democratic Services Team within two working days of the normal publication date of the agenda, by 5pm on Monday 29^th July 2019. 

Questions for oral reply to the Leader were received from Pamela Hicks and Paul Chute. The questions and responses are attached as an appendix to the minutes.

Report FSD19068

The Executive considered a report seeking a decision on the Authority’s recommended Council Tax Support/Reduction scheme to be included in the annual public consultation exercise.

It was expected that the exercise would take place towards the end of August. The results of the consultation exercise would be reported to the meeting of the Executive on November 27^th.  To comply with statutory obligations, the scheme would need to be adopted by 31^st January 2020. 

At the Executive, Resources and Contracts PDS Committee meeting on 30^th July, Members considered that, in view of the financial pressures on the Council, increasing the level of contributions from claimants occupying larger properties should be considered. It was confirmed that some authorities already did this. Additional information regarding this had been circulated before the Executive’s meeting. 

The Head of Revenues and Benefits tabled additional information concerning the projected costs of schemes based on calculations being restricted to the liability of Council Tax Bands ‘D’, ‘E’, and ‘F’. 

The Executive considered the ER&C PDS’ comments, but decided that a wider policy review for future years would be preferable to adapting the scheme as had been suggested.

RESOLVED that

(1) The Council Tax Support/Reduction Scheme (CTS) is forwarded for public consultation based on 75% liability for working-age claimants.  All other elements of the scheme should remain unchanged, subject to annual benefit uprating, legislative changes to the Council Tax Support/Reduction Scheme and maintaining alignment with the Housing Benefit Scheme.

Report FSD19063

The Executive considered a proposal that a public consultation exercise be undertaken where it was recommended that the Empty Homes Premium be introduced from April 2020.

At the meeting of the ER&C PDS Committee on 30^th July, it had been proposed that the Council should apply the maximum premiums, although it was noted that the 300% extra for properties empty for more than ten years could only be applied from 2021/22 onwards, so a decision was not required for another year.

Additional information was circulated before the Executive’s meeting, on the potential additional income from applying the premium, the linking of empty periods and the additional collection costs of £59k.

The Executive was clear in their view that the recommendations should be approved as listed.

RESOLVED that:

(1)  A public consultation exercise is undertaken on the introduction of the Empty Homes Premium

(2)  The Authority recommends in the consultation document that the “Premium” be introduced from the financial year 2020/21 at the rate of 50% for properties empty longer than 2 years, increasing to 100% where the property has been empty for 5 years.

Report DRR19/044a

The Executive considered a report setting out recommendations for the approval of a capital scheme for the design and construction of up to 25 residential units in a car park behind Burnt Ash Lane, off of Brindley Way, Bromley.  In addition, the report sought approval to utilise the LHC, NH2 Framework for a direct contract award permitted under the Framework.

The Leader commented that the fine detail of the recommendations would be dealt with by the Planning Team in due course.

Also, that as part of that process, the Planning and Parking Teams would work carefully together to minimise any potential impact and effect on

neighbouring roads and car parks.

The Executive accepted the recommendations as outlined in the report.  . 

RESOLVED that:

1.  The Executive request that Council approve the addition of £3,786k to the Capital Programme funded from Section 106 contributions (£500k) and the Investment Fund earmarked reserve (£3,286k) for the provision of up to 25 residential units for the provision of housing for the purposes of temporary accommodation on the site known as Burnt Ash Lane car park.

2.  A direct contract award to Lesko Modular Housing, using the LHC, HN2 Framework, for a design and build of housing at the site, is approved as set out in the report

3.  The concept design for the proposed scheme is approved subject to planning permission and public consultation

4.  Officers apply for planning permission based on the proposed design; and

5.  The appropriation of land at the site known as Burnt Ash Lane Car Park from its current purpose to the purpose of housing land held under the general fund in accordance with section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972 is approved.

Report ECHS19074

The Executive considered a report setting out options for the future of the Health Visiting and School Nursing Service in terms of funding and commissioning options.  Both the 0-4 years Health Visiting Service, incorporating the Family Nurse Partnership (HV) and the Health Support to Schools (HSS) contracts were due to expire at the end of September 2020.

The HV contract was held by Public Health, funded through the Public Health Grant at £3,288k per annum. The HSS contract was currently held by the Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), funded through Public Health reserves at £603k per annum. In November 2018, the Executive agreed to fund this contract to September 2020 to align it with the expiry of the HV contract and commission a combined 0-19 service.  A small contract for Primary Screening (vision screening and national child measurement programme in primary schools) was also due to expire at the end of September 2020. This contract was held by Public Health, funded through the Public Health Grant at £165k per annum. It was proposed to also include this contract in the 0-19 Public Health Nursing contract from 1^st October 2020.

The Executive accepted the recommendations of the report.

RESOLVED that a new 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service from 1^st October 2020 for a period of 5 years, plus an optional 2 year extension at an estimated cost of £4 million per annum be tendered.

Report FSD19073

The Executive considered the Part 1 (Public) report which accompanied the Part 2 report on the agenda recommending that the Council award a contract for the provision of Exchequer Services. The Director of Finance outlined the two recommendations that had been submitted by the ER&C PDS for consideration by the Executive.

The Director of Finance outlined the savings that would accrue to the Council as a result of the new contract award.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Services mentioned that he sat on the Orpington Bid Board and declared an interest to that effect. He said that the report did not mention how BIDs would be charged for the collection of levies and Liberata had been mandated to be used by the BIDS for this purpose. He requested that Liberata demonstrate how they would provide VFM (Value for Money) in this process. The Leader requested that the Head of Revenue and Benefits provide a written answer to the Portfolio Holder, copying in the rest of the Executive.      

RESOLVED that

(1) The Exchequer Services Contract be awarded, as detailed in the accompanying Part 2 report, for a contract period of 8 years, with the option to extend for a further 4 years (based on a 2 plus 2 option).

(2) The Head of Revenue and Benefits provide a written answer to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Services, (copying in the rest of the Executive) regarding how Liberata would demonstrate VFM in the collection of levies from the Orpington BID.  

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

Report FSD19074

The Executive considered the report and awarded the contract in line with the recommendations outlined in the report.

Bickley Ward

Report ECHS19075

The Executive considered the report regarding the lease of the playing field at the Widmore Centre to the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government and agreed the recommendations.   

Executive had considered the public aspects of this report during the public part of the meeting during the discussion of agenda item 54.

The Executive further considered the matter under the Part 2 section of the meeting, and agreed the recommendations as outlined in the Part 2 report.