Minutes:
At the previous meeting of the Committee, the Portfolio Holder stated that he wished to encourage greater scrutiny of himself by Members.
The Ward Councillor for Cray Valley East (Councillor Chris Pierce) expressed his dismay that he had received no communication regarding the placement of seventy asylum seekers at the Mary Rose Inn Hotel, which was in his Ward. Councillor Pierce asked for clarification to be provided with respect to the processes and protocols that should be adhered to in these circumstances.
The Portfolio Holder was sympathetic, and also expressed serious concern that he had not been made aware. He would email all Councillors with an update without delay.
The Portfolio Holder stated that he would ask either the Leader or the Executive to investigate with UKBA, and that this would be undertaken with speed and vigour.
The Portfolio Holder was asked by a Member what could be done to prevent incursions by the Travelling Community.
In reply the Portfolio Holder referenced a recent Traveller incursion in the West Wickham area. In this case, the Travellers had removed three large concrete bollards to gain access. LBB were advised by the police that for the short term it was better to leave the Travellers where they were. This was because they were effectively penned in, thus making it easier for the police to monitor them. It was mentioned that such incidents cost money in terms of securing the affected areas and replacing anything (like bollards) that had been damaged. The Portfolio Holder stated that it was a never ending battle.
The Portfolio Holder wondered if it was possible to reduce the timescales on Section 61 Notices to twelve or fifteen hours. The Portfolio Holder stated that every effort should be made to ensure that any evictions were conducted in daylight.
The Executive Director of Environmental and Community Services felt that there was not much to add to this response and concurred that it was a huge challenge. He felt that LBB worked well with the police and that good removal protocols were already in place.
Councillor Pierce asked if signs could be put up by LBB to inform the public that the Council was aware, and that action would be taken in due course.
The Portfolio Holder responded that care had to be taken when dealing with travellers to ensure that LBB complied with the requirements of the Human Rights Act. If signs were erected, they would be torn down. There seemed to be no better way currently to deal with these situations other than the current protocols; these were that LBB would work with the police around the Section 61 notice.
Dr Robert Hadley referenced Dover where the facility existed for concrete blocks to be erected at car parks when Travellers arrived. The Borough Commander commented that there would be a need to identify the relevant sites. The Portfolio Holder added that closing public car parks also led to complaints from the general public.
Councillor Cartwright raised the matter of problems with dog attacks and dogs generally running wild in Mottingham. He suggested that perhaps LBB could look again at the relevant bye-laws. It was noted that the police had a role to play in enforcing existing legislation. The Executive Director commented that walking a dog on a highway without a lead was an offence. Councillor Cartwright mentioned that there were certain areas with multiple dogs where professional dog walkers were employed. He suggested that perhaps the council should erect new signage stating that dogs should be kept on leads, or muzzled.
The Director stated that he would be happy to pick this up.
RESOLVED that:
(1) contact be made with UKBA to establish the protocols and lines of communication to be adhered to when UKBA were considering the placement of a significant number of asylum seekers into the Bromley Borough
(2) an email be sent out by the Portfolio Holder immediately to all Councillors, providing an update concerning the current placement of asylum seekers at the Mary Rose Inn Hotel in Cray Valley East
(3) the Director to take up the issue of problems with dogs in Mottingham, and to look into what could done with respect to bye-laws and signage.