The Public Protection and Enforcement Policy Development & Scrutiny Committee of Bromley Council met on Wednesday 18 January 2017 to discuss a range of issues including the draft budget for 2017/18, the extension of dog and pest control contracts, and a review of the emergency planning and business continuity service. Key decisions included the extension of several contracts and the agreement to a new licence fee for home boarders of cats and dogs.

Police Update

Detective Superintendent Trevor Lawry provided an update on policing in Bromley. He noted that overall crime figures had decreased in the twelve-month rolling period, making Bromley one of only seven forces to achieve this. However, challenges remain with increases in Violence with Injury (VWI) and Theft from the Person offences. The number of VWI offences had risen by 12.9% and Theft from the Person by 14.8%. Anti-social behaviour (ASB) offences were also increasing across the Metropolitan Police Force, attributed partly to a real increase in offences and partly to changes in reporting. Response times for emergency calls were generally good, with 90% of grade 1 calls answered within 15 minutes. Updates were also given on Operation Glorious, which led to convictions for drug offences, and Operation Atlas, aimed at tackling gang-related crime and child sexual exploitation. Concerns were raised about the number of outstanding cases and cases with no suspects, which the Deputy Borough Commander stated he would investigate further. The use of off-road bikes by Bromley Police was confirmed as a unique initiative among London boroughs.

Presentation from Challenger Troop

Simon Dean, CEO of Challenger Troop, presented on the not-for-profit organisation's work in youth engagement. Challenger Troop provides uniformed youth development and inclusion courses for vulnerable and disengaged young people, aiming to build personal skills through challenging activities in a disciplined outdoor environment. The organisation has received awards for its positive social impact and has been independently evaluated as highly effective. A core aim is to build resilience and confidence in young people, with a reported 100% non-reoffending rate among participants. The organisation operates across Kent, Essex, and West London, catering to all ethnicities and genders from the age of six.

Portfolio Holder Update

The Portfolio Holder provided an update on her recent activities, including attending an agenda planning meeting and meetings of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for London and the Greater London Authority (GLA). At the GLA meeting, Sophie Linden and Deputy Met Commissioner Craig Mackey gave an update on the Police and Crime Plan. Ms Linden outlined priorities including restoring neighbourhood policing, establishing a London-wide criminal justice system, tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), protecting children and young people, and addressing hate crime, extremism, and intolerance. Mr Mackey discussed the financial position of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), highlighting significant savings made but also the need for further savings. He noted an overall increase in crime across London, with rises in rape and sexual assaults, and an increased workload dealing with complex issues such as missing persons and mental health. The MPS's technology vision aims to enable officers to perform all PC-based tasks on mobile devices. Discussions also covered traffic policing, the 'Prevent' strategy, hate crime reporting, and the allocation of the Crime Prevention Fund.

Draft Budget 2017/18

Members noted the draft budget report for 2017/18. The report outlined the Council's financial forecast for the next four years, highlighting significant reductions in government funding and the ongoing need to manage a budget gap . The report detailed various cost pressures, including inflation, the National Living Wage, temporary accommodation, and increased costs for children's social care and adult social care. The Council's strategy involves managing a reducing resource base while protecting priority front-line services and seeking efficiencies. Bromley has the lowest settlement funding per head of population in London but maintains the second-lowest council tax in outer London through cost-effective management. The draft budget assumes a council tax increase of 3.99% per annum over the next four years to mitigate funding reductions and meet social care costs.

Extension of Dogs Services Contract

The Committee agreed to extend the contracts for the Dog Warden, Kennelling, Rehoming, and Pest Control services until 31 January 2018. This extension is necessary to allow sufficient time for the council to complete the European tender procurement process for these services, which was delayed due to uncertainties regarding future commissioning arrangements. The current contracts were due to expire on 30 April 2017. The report noted that the pest control service includes a subsidy for vulnerable residents in receipt of benefits.

Animal Welfare - Licence Fees for Home Boarders

A new licence fee of £146.00 was agreed for the home boarding of cats and dogs, effective from 1 January 2017. This new fee reflects reduced veterinary inspection costs following a revision of the fee structure by the City of London Veterinary Service. The proposed fee replaces the previous system of a charge for the veterinary surgeon plus additional fees per animal with a single administration fee.

Capital Programme Monitoring - 2nd Quarter 2016/17

Members noted and confirmed the changes agreed by the Executive on 30 November 2016 regarding the Capital Programme for the Public Protection and Safety Portfolio. There were no changes to this portfolio during the second quarter of 2016/17. The report detailed the revised programme and actual spend against budget.

Review of the Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Service

A comprehensive review of the Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Service was presented. The report highlighted the council's statutory duties as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, including risk assessment, plan maintenance, business continuity arrangements, and public information. The service currently operates with one full-time Emergency Planning Manager and a team of approximately 70 volunteer responders. Concerns were raised about the limited resources, with only one dedicated officer for emergency planning and business continuity, compared to other boroughs. The report also noted that while individual directorates have business continuity plans, there is no corporate overview or independent testing of these plans. The committee agreed that swift action was required by the Portfolio Holder to provide the necessary funding to address the resource gap.

Environmental Protection Update

An update was provided on the scope and services of the Environmental Protection department. The report outlined the six main sections: CCTV, Housing Improvement, Housing Enforcement, Public Health, Nuisance and Noise, Stray Dogs, Drainage and Pest Control, and Coroner and Mortuary Service. The CCTV room is to be relocated as part of the Civic Centre Project. Housing Enforcement focuses on the private sector, addressing issues with rogue landlords and ensuring hygiene standards in Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Noise complaints are the biggest source of nuisance complaints, averaging around 4,000 annually. Scientific Services cover water quality, planning liaison, air quality, and contaminated land. The Coroner and Mortuary Service is a consortium contract involving Bromley, Bexley, Sutton, and Croydon. A CCTV Options Report will be presented at the next meeting.

Internal Audit Stray Dogs Review Report

The Committee noted the follow-up review of the Stray Dogs contract. The original audit report in November 2015 identified nine priority 1 recommendations. The follow-up review in April 2016 indicated good progress, with three priority 1 recommendations implemented and one partially implemented. The current review concluded that of the five outstanding priority 1 recommendations, two had been fully implemented and three partially implemented. Minor findings prevented full implementation in these three areas, but significant progress was acknowledged, leading to these being reclassified as priority 2 recommendations. The recommendation regarding the retention of documentation was considered fully implemented. The report suggested that the Stray Dogs contract has now been transferred to an Environmental Health Officer with defined roles and responsibilities.

Work Programme and Contracts Register

The Committee noted the Work Programme and the Contracts Register for the Public Protection and Safety Portfolio. The report highlighted that contracts marked in red relate to VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) and are currently marked as such due to a lack of clarity concerning funding. The report also mentioned that the CCTV contracts have been extended and that tendering activity has commenced for the Stray and Abandoned Dogs and Pest Control Services. A new Corporate Contract Database is being developed to integrate contract monitoring summaries and the Corporate Contract Register.