Minutes:
The Portfolio Holder (Councillor Kate Lymer) updated the Committee as follows:
LBB had witnessed an intense period of multiple traveller incursions over the summer period.
She had spent many days during the summer period, dealing with emails and also fielding messages via Twitter. She had issued daily press releases and had provided information to the Daily Mail on more than one occasion. She praised the joint work that had been undertaken by the police and LBB in dealing with the Traveller incursion.
During this time, a three month court injunction had been obtained against the Travellers. Residents seemed to be satisfied with the joint response that had been generated by LBB and the police. The Chairman had drafted a letter to be sent to all of the Friends Groups thanking them for their assistance in the clear up after the Travellers had left. The letter also provided an update concerning the injunction and offering practical advice going forward.
The web link concerning this on the Bromley Council Website is:
The Portfolio Holder had met with Andrew Rogers (LBB Communications Executive) to plan the launch of the ‘Hall of Shame’ which had been agreed by the Executive. The ‘Hall of Shame’ would display details of individuals who had been convicted of offences such as fly tipping, blue badge fraud and doorstep scams. It was hoped that the ‘Hall of Shame’ would act as a deterrent.
A cold caller had been convicted and given a four year prison sentence for swindling a seventy year old man for non-existent loft and roof problems which he charged £17k for.
The Portfolio Holder stated that as Bromley’s ‘SCAMbassador’ she had attended a joint Trading Standards and CAB stall in the Glades during the National Trading Standards Week in July.
The Portfolio Holder had visited Keston Police Dogs Centre to hand over some seized counterfeit clothing which could be used to train the dogs.
The Portfolio Holder would be visiting Barclays Bank in Chislehurst to present them with a certificate and a thank you letter. This was because of an excellent piece of work that had been undertaken between the bank, LBB and Greenwich Trading Standards which had resulted in the safeguarding of vulnerable residents.
Emergency Planning had been very busy over the summer, dealing with water shortages, cars driving into houses, and multiple fires to both buildings and grasslands. This led to LBB issuing a press release banning all barbeques in the parks during the summer period.
In August, the Portfolio Holder met the inspectors who would be judging whether the Purple Flag award could be renewed in Beckenham. The response was awaited but the inspection seemed to go very well and the Portfolio Holder was confident that the Purple Flag award would be renewed. (It was confirmed at the meeting that Beckenham had retained its Purple Flag status).
Agreement was needed with MOPAC in connection with LBB’s two Local Crime Priorities. ASB and high harm crimes (domestic abuse, sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, weapons and hate crime) were pan London priorities for all boroughs. LBB submitted burglary and non-domestic violence (town centre night economy violence)) as Bromley’s two main priorities for the police for the coming year.
The Portfolio Holder attended an APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) London round table meeting at Portcullis House in June, which focussed on Serious Youth Crime. She brought up the issue of gang nominals being moved into Bromley without any notification being provided by other boroughs. It was agreed that this was something that would be looked at, and would be dealt with by the Deputy Chief Executive.
A Member stressed the importance of ward officer offices/buildings remaining open. He asked if pressure could be maintained to this end. The Chairman suggested that Councillors should assist the police in identifying suitable buildings that could be used as police ward offices.
A murder had been committed during the end of August in Bickley. The chief suspect was in custody and was the victim’s son. The police were of the opinion that the Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) threshold had been met. The Portfolio Holder had to decide whether to have a DHR or not. She would have to write to the Home Office and inform them of whether or not LBB would be conducting a DHR. If LBB decided to progress with a DHR they would be responsible for managing it and for appointing an independent chairman. The cost of this would be in the region of £10k. The decision had been made to progress with the DHR, and the Head of Trading Standards and Community Safety would write to the Home Office and inform them of the decision.
The Portfolio Holder reminded everyone that the Crime Summit would be held on the 29th September. The ‘Bromley Stars’ awards event was also held in the summer. She congratulated the Bromley Mentoring Initiative which won the award for ‘Voluntary Team of the Year’. She also congratulated the Trading Standards Team who won ‘Team of the Year’ award once again.
RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder update is noted.