Minutes:
(A) Leader of the Council
A statement was made by Councillor Stephen Carr on the future of Bromley Youth Music Trust (BYMT). He started by saying that the Council acknowledged that BYMT had a musical track record perhaps second to none across the UK, but in the light of the financial challenges faced by the Council over the last few years and significantly to come in the future, it had to consider all non-statutory spending. BYMT had fully acknowledged the position the Council found itself in, and during recent discussions which culminated today a joint way forward had been found. Bromley Council had agreed to make £153,000 of funding available to BYMT in the civic year 2015/16, as well as maintaining support through the provision of premises which contained twelve classrooms and a large hall at their headquarters in Southborough Lane until at least 2017. The Leader knew that BYMT was highly valued in the borough and the Council wanted to continue to support the work of the Trust, but in the current challenging financial climate it no longer seemed appropriate to do so through the Council’s revenue budget. The Council would, however, continue to work with BYMT to help identify and secure income from other sources such as the Arts Council, schools and potential commercial sponsors. The Leader was confident that this joint solution would help BYMT remain a jewel in the crown well into the future.
(B) Portfolio Holder for Environment
Councillor Colin Smith made brief statement on the recent Transport for London (TfL) consultation on the potential extension of the Bakerloo line to Hayes. He referred to an exchange of correspondence with TfL, copies of which had been circulated. He welcomed investment in public transport improvements in south-east London and north-west Kent and explained that the council was broadly supportive of the extension of the Bakerloo line to Lewisham, but not an extension to Hayes which would see the existing national rail lines subsumed by the Bakerloo Line extension and the ultimate loss of direct connectivity to London Bridge, Cannon Street and Charing Cross. However, should it be possible to bring the Bakerloo Line to Bromley town centre via New Beckenham without the loss of any of the existing rail services then the Council could be prepared to support this in principle.
Councillor Nicholas Bennett asked the Portfolio Holder whether he was aware that the West Wickham ward councillors had carried out a survey of all residents in West Wickham, with a result of four to one against the proposal, not just because of the loss of connections but also replacing full size trains with smaller tube trains. He also asked for clarification on the “New Cross option” mentioned in the correspondence with TfL. Councillor Smith agreed that he was aware that colleagues in other wards had carried out similar surveys with similar results. Residents had bought their houses specifically for the links to central London and they did not want a less reliable and more overcrowded service. It was also important that as Londoners paying the second highest precept in the city it was unfair that TfL was trying to clear track space at London Bridge in favour of travellers from further out at the expense of Hayes Line residents. He confirmed that if the DLR could not be extended to Bromley then the Council would probably support the extension of Overground Services from New Cross to Bromley North.
Councillor Neil Reddin stated that surveys in Hayes and Coney Hall showed similar levels of opposition to the extension to Hayes, although there was some support for the extension as far as Lewisham. Opposition focused on loss of direct services but also the potential development pressure that would result. The incredulity of people in Lewisham to the reluctance of people in Bromley to be on the tube indicated different outlooks in inner and outer London that TfL should take account of. Councillor Smith agreed that Bromley residents did not want an inner London style of living forced upon them.
(C) Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Safety
Councillor Tim Stevens made statement about a raid carried out by Bromley Trading Standards and the Police on the Skunkworks shop in Orpington on Friday 13th February 2015 using new legislation for the first time. The raid was carried out following a number of complaints about the legal highs the shop was selling and related anti-social behaviour. There had been concern about the number of young people found in possession of legal high drugs and medical emergencies relating to their use. A suspected illegal pit-bull terrier and quantities of legal high drugs had been seized. Staff had been questioned and a warning had been issued to the business under the new legislation.
Councillor Stevens thanked Councillor Owen and the Orpington ward councillors for bringing this to his attention and Jo Johnson M.P. who had promised to talk to ministers about tightening up the legislation. He also paid tribute to Rob Vale and the Trading Standards team and the Police licensing officer Jonathan Booth for this outstanding piece of work, which showed that these businesses were not welcome in the borough.