Agenda and decisions

None.

None.

Agreed.

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 15 March 2023.

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 23 March 2023.

None.

1.  The latest financial position be considered;

2.  A projected net overspend on services of £9,683k forecast based on information as at December 2022 be noted.

3.  The comments from Chief Officers detailed in Appendix 2 be noted;

4.  A projected increase to the General Fund balance of £65k as detailed in section 3.3 be noted;

5.  The full year cost pressures of £13.069m as detailed in section 3.4 ne noted;

6.  The release of funding from the 2022/23 central contingency as detailed in paragraphs 3.2.2 to 3.2.5 be agreed;

7.  the release of £500k from the CEF Health Reserve Fund for expenditure in the CEF department as detailed in para. 3.8 be agreed;

8.  The set aside of £400k for Homes for Ukraine staffing costs for 2023/24 as detailed in para. 3.9 be agreed;

9.  the release of £2m from the Health reserve for the ICB as detailed in para. 3.10 be agreed;

10.  The set aside a one off sum of £630k as an earmarked reserve for EHCP’s/High Needs costs for 2023/24 and 2024/25 to be met from the 2022/23 central contingency as detailed in para. 3.11 be agreed;

11.  The set aside of £635k as an earmarked reserve for Legal costs as detailed in para. 3.12 and in Part Two (Appendix 7) of the report be agreed;

12.  That any unspent Homes for Ukraine funding be set aside as an earmarked reserve to meet ongoing spend commitments, where funding is not available, relating to Homes for Ukraine as detailed in para. 3.13;

13.  That any issues be referred to individual Portfolio Holders for further action.

14.  That Council be requested to agree to the release of £2m from the Health reserve for the ICB as detailed in para. 3.10. 

1.  That the updated Basic Need Programme as set out in Appendix 3 be agreed subject to Full Council approval.

2.  That the new projects at Burnt Ash Primary School, Oaklands Primary School, The Highway Primary School and Trinity CE Primary be added to the Basic Need Programme as detailed in the scheme appraisals in Appendix 1 be agreed.

3.  That the allocation of an additional £43k of additional S106 allocations to projects within the Basic Need Capital Programme as outline in Appendix 2 be agreed.

4.  That the additional High Needs Provision Capital Funding allocation of £8,478k received for 2022/23 and 2023/24 for improving and expanding SEN and Alternative provision be noted.

1.  That the Bromley Adult Social Care Market Sustainability Plan be agreed.

2.  That the spending proposals for the Council’s allocation of the Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund be agreed.

3.  That authority be delegated to the Director for Adult Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder and Director of Finance, for the allocation of Market Sustainability and Improvement Funding with reference to the government guidelines and in accordance with principles outlined in the Market Sustainability Plan.

1.  That, noting the 2023/24 Budget report approved by Executive on 8 February 2023, the following expenditure for operational building maintenance for 2023/24 be approved:

·  Repairs and maintenance - £2.513m.

2.  That the provision of £2m in 2023/24 for the Building Investment Fund (BIF), as included in the 2023/24 Budget report be noted.  This will be the last year of such provision.

3.  Note that combined these sums provide a total maintenance budget of £4.513m.

4.  That authority be delegated to the Director of Housing, Planning, Property and Regeneration to vary the programmes and budget allocations where such action is considered necessary to either protect the Council’s assets or make the most effective use of resources.

1)   The contents of the report be noted and the following recommendations subsequent to the OPR report dated 30^th November 2022 as considered and approved on 12th December 2022 at a meeting of the Council’s Full Council be agreed.

2)   The procurement and award of Construction Consultancy Services via a compliant direct appointment utilising the NHS SBS framework to ensure value for money and accelerated delivery as detailed in Part 2 of this report be approved.

3)   That Officers progress the various Workstreams identified at 3.40 of the OPR report dated 30^th November 2022 as set out in 2.11 of this report and as considered and approved on 12th December 2022 at a meeting of the Council’s Full Council by scoping, costing and proceeding to procurement of building contractor/s via a complaint framework.

4)  That authority be delegated to the Director of Housing, Planning, Property and Regeneration, to agree and settle all the commercial terms arising.

5)   That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director of Legal Services to enter into all relevant legal agreements required in relation to and any other necessary ancillary legal documentation relating thereto, including (but not limited to):

·  The appointment and warranty for the Construction Consultancy Services provider and related sub-consultants.

·  The negotiation of all associated lease amendments and service agreements and where required amendments to existing leases and agreements to be entered into at the time of building contract award.

6)  That Officers provide further report/s to the Executive for consideration prior to the award of works packages to building contractors which will be procured utilising a compliant framework in accordance with the Council’s procurement procedures and regulations.

7)  That Officers continue to provide regular updates to the Portfolio Holder on progress of the OPR.

1.  That the contract with both MRI Software and Home Connections be extended for two years respectively to allow a full options appraisal to test the market fully.

2.  That authorisation be given to apply the two year extension for Home Connections, which is provided for within the contract terms, from 16^th April 2024 to 15^th April 2026 at an estimated contract value of £14k per annum.

3.  That extension beyond terms under Regulation 72a be approved with a 1+1 options to MRI Software (formerly known as Orchard Housing). This is anticipated to commence from 16 April 2024 at an estimated annual value of £134k per annum.

4.  That the Compliance & Strategy Division utilise the extension period to review the market in order to present commissioning and procurement options for Executive decision prior to the extension period expiring.

5.  That the drawdown of up to £40k from the Technology Fund earmarked reserve for a SME/Business Analyst to review the market be agreed.

1.  That Bromley Council’s allocation for the Household Support Fund (HSF) of £3,735,765 be noted;

2.  That the drawdown of £3,735,765 from the 2023/24 Central Contingency to the Operational Housing revenue budget be approved;

3.  That the full utilisation of this ringfenced grant, in 2023/24, as detailed in paragraph 3.9 of this report be approved; and

4.  That any final or additional changes be delegated to the Director of Housing, Planning and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Renewal, Recreation & Housing and Resources, Commissioning & Contracts Management.

1.  The Residential Asset Management Strategy and the Rent Setting Policy be approved for adoption.

2.  The draft Tenancy Strategy and the Tenancy Management Policy be approved for eight weeks public consultation.

3.  The results of the consultation together with any suggested amendments arising from this consultation be reported back to the Executive for final approval and adoption of the two documents be noted.

The report is considered urgent as key information was embargoed until Tuesday 28 March 2023.  In addition, as the project will be utilising grant funding which has timescales attached for delivery, call in will not apply.

1. That acceptance of the Development Grant of £304,350 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to progress the scheme and increase the scope as enabled by the funding be approved, and to add this to the Crystal Palace Capital Programme budget.

2. That the submission of the further documents required by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to secure the full £4.99m, be approved and once confirmed to add this grant to the Crystal Palace Capital Programme budget.

3. That the intent, set out in paragraph 3.4, to utilise the initial Development Grant to proceed to procurement (through compliant procurement routes) and/or recruitment of suitable specialist resource to progress the scheme be noted.

No issues referred.

Executive agreed to move to Part 2

Exempt minutes confirmed.

Noted

The Executive agreed the recommendations outlined in the report