Agenda item

Members of the Committee are requested to have a copy of the Executive’s agenda for the meeting on 26^th November 2014 available for the meeting.

Report CSD14153

 

The Committee considered the following reports on the part 1 agenda for the meeting of the Executive on 26^th November 2014.

 

(5)  Capital Programme Monitoring – 2^nd Quarter 2014/15

Report RES14075

 

The report summarised the current position on capital receipts and expenditure following the second quarter of 2014/15, and sought the Executive’s approval for a revised Capital Programme.

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(6)  Budget Monitoring 2014/15

Report FSD14069

 

The Committee received the third budget monitoring report for 2014/15 based on expenditure and activity levels up to September 2014. It noted with concern the projected overspend in the Care Services Portfolio but was reassured that measures were being taken to address and correct it.

 

RESOLVED that the report be noted, in particular the on-going cost pressures and projected overspend in the Care Services Portfolio. 

 

(7)  Council Tax Support/Reduction – 2015/16

Report FSD14071

 

Following public consultation, proposals for a scheme for providing assistance to households in meeting their council tax liability in 2015/16 had been drawn up for approval by full Council. 

 

A Member questioned whether it was necessary to carry out extensive consultation every year. Officers advised that there were strict legal requirements requiring consultation whenever the scheme changed, and that the consultation was mainly focussed on-line.

 

A Member commented that there appeared to have been a large increase in delayed correspondence from Liberata – he was advised to raise matters with the Head of Revenues and Benefits. Liberata managers were due to attend the Committee’s meeting in January and this would be a good opportunity to raise matters directly with them – Members were encouraged to give advance notice of any detailed issues they particularly wanted to cover. 

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(8)  Older People Day Opportunity Services Investment

Report CS14112

 

It was proposed to establish an Innovation and Development Fund to which day service providers could make bids to for service improvements supporting specific outcomes. 

 

The Care Services PDS Committee had considered the report at its meeting on 11^th November 2014 and had supported the proposals. The Committee had been informed that transport remained an issue, and this would continue to be looked at thorough the draft adult transport policy. Residents who wanted traditional day services would continue to be provided for. 

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(9)  Integrated Community Equipment Services

Report CS14097

 

It was proposed to extend the current contract with Medequip under the London Consortium Framework for two years from 2^nd July 2015. 

 

The Care Services PDS Committee had considered the report at its meeting on 11^th November 2014 and had supported the proposals. The Committee had noted that Medequip were performing well and that health contributions from Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) were being received. 

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(10)  Public Health Commissioning 2015/16

Report CS14101

 

The report set out Public Health commissioning intentions for 2015/16 and highlighted where changes were proposed to existing arrangements.

 

The Care Services PDS Committee had considered the report at its meeting on 11^th November 2014 and had supported the proposals.

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(11)  Future Delivery of Statutory and Discretionary Services to Schools

Report FSD14070

 

The report set out proposals for the delivery of support services to schools and recommended that the Schools Finance and HR Schools Teams be transferred to Liberata on 1^st January 2015.

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(12)  Health and Safety in Bromley Schools

Report ED15107

 

An audit of health and safety compliance of maintained and voluntary aided school premises had been carried out during 2013/14. It was proposed that the Executive should set aside £1.8m from the Dedicated Schools Grant and £140k from the Education Planned Maintenance Programme to fund an action plan to address the issues identified. 

 

A Member commented that health and safety audits should be considered for other areas of activity. The Chairman expressed concern that the report had been circulated after the rest of the agenda, and the chairman of the Education PDS Committee stated that the report had not been considered by his Committee.

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(13) Growth Fund Update

Report DRR14/107

 

The Council was committed to identifying investment opportunities and undertaking key infrastructure improvements in the main growth areas of Biggin Hill, the Cray Valley and Bromley Town Centre. Consultants URS and DTZ had been commissioned to provide a critical assessment of the future growth capacities of both the Biggin Hill Strategic Outer London Development Centre and the Cray Business Corridor.  The report summarised their findings and proposed a programme of actions supported by allocation of £10m from the Economic Development and Investment Fund. 

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(14)  Planned Highway Maintenance Programme 2015/16

Report ES14093

 

The report recommended programmes of planned road and footway maintenance for completion in the period up to 2015/16 and provided schemes of work for future years. It also provided information on the Council’s annual bid to Transport for London (TfL) for bridge assessment and strengthening. The Executive was asked to release £505k Department for Transport (DfT) funding from central contingency for planned highway maintenance.

 

The report had been considered by the Environment PDS Committee at its meeting on 4^th November 2014, and the Committee had supported the proposals.

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(15)  Public Toilet Provision

Report ES15002

 

It was proposed to close the Penge High Street public toilets and introduce the Community Toilet Scheme (CTS) in three locations, producing annual savings of £21k. A Member asked whether any further objections had been received (it was thought that there had been nothing further), commented that one of the restaurant premises for the proposed CTS was at the rear of the premises and not very accessible and asked what was proposed for the building after it was closed. Another Member asked whether the former public toilets at Chislehurst had been sold, as they were an eyesore; the Resources Portfolio Holder responded that all former public toilet buildings were being sold off for alternative uses, and he would establish the current status of the building at Chislehurst. 

 

A Member suggested that the future of all remaining public toilets should be addressed in one go. However, it was reported that discussions were still continuing over the toilets in West Wickham. It was also suggested that providing public conveniences was not a statutory requirement and that the Council might at some point have to consider withdrawing funding for the CTS 

 

The report had been considered by the Environment PDS Committee at its meeting on 23^rd September 2014 and the Committee had supported the proposals, adding that the building should not be allowed to fall into disrepair. 

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

 

(16) Delegations of Authority

Report ES14098

 

The report set out proposed delegations relating to the Administration of Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 and the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. It also proposed to give authority to the Executive Director of Environment and Community Services to convey the agreement of the Council for the London Councils Transport and Environment Committee (TEC) to continue to provide an appeals service for parking on private land for the British Parking Association, and for a minor change to the Scheme of Delegation to allow officers to remove unauthorised items from all highways (rather than just from maintained highways).

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.