Agenda and minutes

Venue: Bromley Civic Centre

Contact: Graham Walton  0208 461 7743

Items
No. Item

88.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND NOTIFICATION OF SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Kathy Bance and Alan Collins, who were replaced respectively by Councillors Kevin Brooks and Colin Smith.

 

89.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 

90.

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 Wednesday 8th July 2015.

 

Minutes:

No questions had been received.

91.

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 27th MAY 2015 pdf icon PDF 169 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 27th May 2015 be confirmed.

 

92.

POLICE PRESENTATION ON INCREASED CRIME AND DISORDER IN THE NIGHT TIME ECONOMY

Minutes:

The police update was given by the Borough Commander Chris Hafford, supported by PC Jonathan Booth. The police update was given against a background of increasing crime and disorder in the night time economies of both Bromley and Beckenham.

 

Operation Omega had been introduced as a nationwide MET policy to flood the streets with police to aid in hitting MOPAC 7 targets, and this had also been applied to Beckenham and Bromley. A colour document was distributed by the police that gave information on MPOAC 7 crime update statistics for Bromley. Most of the data referenced property offences with the exception of the data concerning violence with injury offences.

 

The data showed that the overall MOPAC 7 crime reduction target was to reduce overall crime levels by 5%. The data showed that the overall crime reduction percentage reduction was 3.2%. Crime had reduced in many areas, but the sectors that required improvement were criminal damage, theft of motor vehicles and violence with injury offences. The police felt that the increase in the violence with injury figures were  directly correlated to alcohol consumption. The two Wards in LBB with the highest levels of VWI (Violence with Injury) were Cray Valley East and Cray Valley West.

 

The police had noted a general increase in crime across London, as well as significant increases in crime and disorder in Beckenham and Bromley. It was felt that in Bromley this could be linked to the relaxation of the Cumulative Impact Areas Policy in July 2013. The Committee were informed that there had been more crime in the last 12 months in Bromley Town Centre than in Woolwich, and that Safer Neighbourhood Officers had been used to help with night time responses. The Committee heard that Operation Triangle had helped, and that LBB were working towards a “Purple Flag” status for Beckenham for a well-managed night time economy. 

 

The police had tabled a document entitled “Crime Digest for Bromley Town Centre Pubwatch”. The document highlighted various incidences of crime and disorder that had occurred in Bromley Town Centre between 1St June 2015 and 13th July 2015. This was expanded upon by PC Jonathan Booth, as was another document that detailed more specific crime related data concerning selected licensed premises in Bromley. This premises had shown at least 4 minor variations of its licence in January 2014, and had morphed from what had previously been primarily a restaurant into a bar. PC Booth stated that the premises in question had extended it’s opening time from midnight to 2.00am, and had now changed into a bar generating trouble and drunks. It was noted that it had recently applied for another variation. He expressed the view that if the premises had still been a restaurant, these problems would not be occurring.

 

The Borough Commander expressed concern that licensed premises were taking advantage of a licensing regime that was too relaxed. He was further concerned about data expressed in the form of a “trend line” that showed increasing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 92.

93.

LICENSING ACT 2003: DRAFT LICENSING POLICY 2016 - 2021 pdf icon PDF 139 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report ES15039

 

The Committee considered a report setting out a new draft statement of Licensing Policy as part of the statutory five yearly review – a draft policy was ready for public consultation.

 

RESOLVED that subject to correction of any minor errors the draft statement of Licensing policy be agreed for public consultation. 

 

94.

DRAFT GAMBLING POLICY 2016 - 2019 - GAMBLING ACT 2005 pdf icon PDF 70 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report ES15055

 

The Council’s Gambling Policy was due for review and a draft of the policy for 2016/19 was circulated. This had been revised to meet current guidance, license conditions and the code of practice from the Gambling Commission. It was proposed that the revised policy would made available for public consultation until 30th August 2015.

RESOLVED that

(1) The draft gambling policy attached to the report be subject to public consultation until 30 August 2015.

(2) Feedback from the consultation be received at the next meeting on 17 September 2015.

 

95.

FEEDBACK ON 2015 UK PARLIAMENTARY (GENERAL) ELECTION pdf icon PDF 131 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report DCS15092

 

The Committee received a report from the Acting Returning Officer, the Chief Executive, giving them feedback on key issues relating to the UK Parliamentary (General) Election held on 7th May 2015. The report covered Registering to Vote (this was the first major election since the introduction of Individual Electoral Registration in June 2014), nominations and candidates, ballot papers, postal voting, proxy voting, polling places, polling day, tellers, the count, appointment, training and payment of staff and post-count issues.

 

Members raised the following issues –

 

·  In connection with the change of a polling place from Southborough Primary School to Southborough Lane Baptist Church, it was suggested that posters should be put up at the old venue to re-direct voters.

 

·  There were occasions when the same polling place was used, but arrangements were poorer following a change in management at the venue – such as at La Fontaine Primary School (previously the Education Development Centre.)  The polling station had been moved to the rear of the building and the car park had not been open. The Chief Executive responded that he was aware of the issues, and had been given assurances before the Election which had not been carried out.

 

·  At the Pickhurst Schools site, there had still been confusion about the polling stations for the two wards, despite additional notices being put up. There had also been an issue with posters from a school project on the General Election.

 

·  There were reports that polling staff had encouraged voters to leave their voting cards behind in the polling booth, or had collected cards, frustrating the tellers. At one station a number of discarded poll cards had been found in the toilets. The Acting Returning Officer emphasised that poll staff were strictly neutral, and that the role of tellers was covered in the training provided to all staff. Staff were encouraged to collect discarded poll cards for safe disposal, but not to ask voters to hand them in.

 

·  A Member commented that schools were intended to be secure places where children could be safely educated without distractions. It was unfortunate that schools had to be used for the election, and disruption or closures had to be minimised. The Chief Executive stated that schools were always kept open if possible, but that the safety of the children was paramount.

 

The Chairman commented that the counts in Bromley had taken considerably longer than in some constituencies, but he had been assured that staffing resources were not a problem in Bromley. The Chief Executive apologised for the problems that had delayed the conclusion of the Orpington count.

 

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted and the Committee’s thanks to the Acting Returning Officer and his staff for a well-run election be recorded.

 

96.

SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE POLICY pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Minutes:

The Shared Parental Leave Regulations were a new legal entitlement for eligible parents of babies that were due, or children placed for adoption, on or after the 5th April 2015. The Regulations provided an opportunity for parents to take advantage of additional flexibility in the way they chose to care for a new arrival to the family.  All eligible employees had a statutory right to take Shared Parental Leave (SPL). In addition, subject to meeting specific eligibility criteria, there might be an entitlement to some Shared Parental Pay (ShPP). 

The report provided details of the Regulations and sought Members’ approval of a Council Policy to ensure that the Council discharged its statutory duties as an employer and that applications for SPL and ShPP were processed consistently and equitably.

 

RESOLVED that the Shared Parental Leave policy in respect of all staff employed by the Council and Local Authority including those staff in Community and Voluntary Controlled maintained schools be agreed.

 

97.

PENSIONS INVESTMENT SUB-COMMITTEE: MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 19TH MAY 2015 pdf icon PDF 211 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Pensions Investment Sub-Committee held on 19th May 2015 were received.

 

98.

APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE: MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 5th JUNE 2015, EXCLUDING EXEMPT INFORMATION pdf icon PDF 53 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Appeals Sub-Committee held on 5th June 2015 (excluding exempt information) were received.

 

99.

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 item 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 summary

refers to matters

involving exempt information

 

100.

APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE: EXEMPT MINUTES - 5TH JUNE 2015

Minutes:

The exempt minutes of the Appeals Sub-Committee meeting held on 5th June 2015 were received.