Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Roger Charsley, John Getgood (Cllr Peter Fookes attended as his substitute) and Diane Smith (Cllr Will Harmer attended as her substitute.)

Councillor Charles Rideout declared an interest as a governor of Castlecombe Primary school.

Graham Walton, Democratic Services Manager, declared an interest as his wife was employed by Bromley Adult Education College.

Councillor Nicholas Bennett reported that although he had been appointed as the Council’s representative on the London Regional Scrutiny Board of Affinity Sutton by the Committee at the meeting on 23^rd May he had not been contacted by Affinity Sutton. Officers would follow this up.  

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd May 2013 (excluding exempt information) be confirmed. 

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 11^th July 2013.

No questions had been received.

Report 13137

At its meeting on 6^th June 2013 the Audit Sub-Committee considered and approved a revised Code of Corporate Governance for adoption by full Council. The revised Code removed some of the duplication in the version previously agreed by Council in April 2011 and took account of the key elements that needed to be included in the Annual Governance Statement.

RESOLVED that Council be recommended to adopt the revised Code of Corporate Governance (appendix 2 to the report). 

Report 13136

The Council’s whistleblowing policy had last been updated in 2008. The Audit Sub-Committee at its meeting on 6^th June 2013 considered a revised and streamlined policy and referred it to this Committee for adoption.

The Committee considered whether the statements reassuring potential whistleblowers in the “Our Assurances to You” section of the document were clear and prominent enough, and provided sufficient distinction between issues raised in good faith and cases where the motivation was malicious. It was agreed that a new paragraph would be drafted for the start of the document – this would be circulated to Committee members. It was also noted that “Chair and Vice Chair, Audit Sub-Committee” needed to be changed to “Chairman and/or Vice-Chairman, Audit Sub-Committee” at the end of the document with the addition of “or” indicating that raising concerns could be to either.

Officers confirmed that records were kept of whistleblowing incidents, and that details were reported to Audit Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED that, subject to the addition of the new paragraph described above and inclusion of contact details, the revised Raising Concerns (Whistleblowing) Policy (appendix 2 to the report) be adopted. 

(To follow)

Bromley Town Ward

Report ES13081

In November 2005 the Council had adopted a cumulative impact policy covering a defined area of Bromley Town Centre. There was a general recognition that the policy, along with other measures taken by the Council, had been successful in protecting Bromley town centre from the worst excesses of crime and anti-social behaviour, and that the situation had improved since 2005. However, informal feedback from businesses at the northern end of the High Street suggested that they were concerned about the impact of new licensed premises at Bromley South and some felt that the cumulative impact policy was restrictive and made it difficult for them to apply for longer operating hours.

The Committee was asked to consider a number of options –

RESOLVED that

(1) officers be authorised to indicate that although all applications will be considered on their merits, applications from businesses wishing to vary their licenses will now be considered more favourably.   

(2) evidence be collected to develop a strategy for managing the night-time economy in Bromley town centre in the light of the development at Bromley South.

Report RES13114

One vacancy had arisen following the resignation of Councillor Sarah Phillips as the Council’s representative on the Governing Body of Bromley Adult Education College.

RESOLVED that Councillor Michael Turner be appointed as the Council’s representative on the Governing Body of Bromley Adult Education College for the remainder of the four year term of office ending in May 2014.

The Committee received the minutes of the meeting of the Pensions Investment Sub-Committee meeting held on 9^th May 2013 (excluding exempt information).

The Committee received the minutes of the meeting of the Audit Sub-Committee meeting held on 6^th June 2013 (excluding exempt information).

It was agreed that this matter be considered as a matter of urgency as the proposed changes to the Police Licensing Team might have a significant impact on the Council’s Licensing Objectives.

The Metropolitan Police were implementing a new model of local policing which would see a greater emphasis on the role of Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT’s). Cllr Tim Stevens as the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Public Protection and Community Safety and chairman of the Safer Bromley Partnership had been in communication with Bromley Police senior management team and had raised concerns about the future of the Bromley Police Borough Licensing Team under this new model of service delivery. The view being taken by the Metropolitan Police Service was that licensing would be part of the new and wider roles for local SNT’s without a dedicated officer/team taking a borough-wide view and responsibility.

Chief Inspector Carron Schusler had informed Cllr Stevens that there was some local discretion and that she had made a successful bid for a temporary licensing post. However, this was a one full time equivalent position and represented a reduction from the current position of two officers (1.6 fte). The Police were planning that the dedicated licensing officer would have responsibility for responding to applications, making representations and attending hearings of Licensing Sub-Committee, but the SNT’s would deal with licensing visits. A table showing the impact of the LPM on different London Boroughs was circulated – this showed that none of the eleven boroughs who had responded faced losing a Licensing officer.

The Committee was concerned at this potential reduction in licensing services, and asked officers to establish exactly what the statutory responsibilities of the Police were for licensing matters. 

RESOLVED that

(1) Officers obtain more information on the proposals and the responsibilities of the Police and evaluate the impact on the Council’s licensing services.

(2) The Chairman and Councillor Stevens meet with the local Police to convey the Council’s concerns at the proposals.

(3) Approaches be made to GLA Members and others who may be in a position to influence the proposals. 

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.

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

In relation to minute 98/1 (Affinity Sutton Pension Arrangements) the Committee was informed that the arrangements were progressing in line with expectations. 

RESOLVED that the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd May 2013 be confirmed. 

The exempt minutes of the meeting of the Pensions Investment Sub-Committee on 9^th May 2013 were received. 

The exempt minutes of the meeting of the Audit Sub-Committee on 6^th June 2013 were received.