The General Purposes and Licensing Committee of Bromley Council is scheduled to convene on Tuesday 15 September 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the recent local council elections and an update on proposed changes to electoral law, alongside a report on the annual complaints received by the council.

Feedback on the 2026 Local Council Elections and Update on the Representation of the People Bill

The committee is set to receive feedback on the 2026 Local Council Elections, which took place on Thursday 7 May 2026. This report, detailed in the Public reports pack Tuesday 15-Sep-2026 19.00 General Purposes and Licensing Committee.pdf, will cover aspects such as the introduction of voter ID requirements, changes to postal vote applications, and the impact of the UK's exit from the EU on the voting rights of EU citizens. The report also provides an update on the Representation of the People Bill 2026, which proposes further significant changes to electoral law, including lowering the voting age to 16 and expanding accepted forms of voter identification. The committee will have the opportunity to provide feedback to the Returning Officer for future election planning.

Annual Complaints Report and LGSCO Letter 2025/26

A comprehensive review of the council's complaints handling for the 2025/26 period is scheduled for discussion. This report, found within the Public reports pack Tuesday 15-Sep-2026 19.00 General Purposes and Licensing Committee.pdf, will detail the number and nature of complaints received across various council divisions, including Adult Social Care, Children's Social Care, Housing, Planning & Regeneration, Education, Chief Executive's Department, and Environment & Public Protection. It will also address the council's interaction with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO), including referral numbers, upheld rates, and the financial consequences of upheld complaints. The report highlights a 31% increase in overall complaints compared to the previous year, with a 49% upheld rate.

Member Induction Programme 2026 - Review

The committee will review the Member Induction Programme that was implemented following the 2026 local elections. This programme, outlined in the Public reports pack Tuesday 15-Sep-2026 19.00 General Purposes and Licensing Committee.pdf, included sessions on council structure, standards, planning and licensing, departmental overviews, and finance. Feedback from new and returning councillors indicates a positive reception to the programme, particularly the marketplace events and chief officer videos. The report also references a Local Government Association Peer Review recommendation to strengthen the member development offer, with proposed actions including enhanced induction, role-specific training, and monitoring of development activity.

Appointment of Honorary Aldermen

The committee is scheduled to consider nominations for the appointment of Honorary Aldermen. This honour recognises exceptional service to the council and the borough, with eligibility criteria including a minimum of 12 years' service and eminent or notable service. The report, available in the Public reports pack Tuesday 15-Sep-2026 19.00 General Purposes and Licensing Committee.pdf, details the scheme of enrolment and lists previous recipients of this honour. A special meeting of the Council will be arranged to formally appoint any recommended candidates.

Appointments to Outside Bodies

An update on appointments to various outside bodies and partnerships will be presented. The Public reports pack Tuesday 15-Sep-2026 19.00 General Purposes and Licensing Committee.pdf outlines several issues arising from previous discussions, including a reduction in representation on the Bromley Town Twinning Association, the need to appoint a representative to Nash College, and a vacancy for Cray Valley War Memorial Hall. The report also addresses queries regarding increased representation on the Clarion Housing Group – South London Regional Scrutiny Committee and the Mentoring Steering Group.

Routine Constitution Updates

The committee will be asked to note routine updates made to the council's Constitution by the Director of Corporate Services and Governance. These changes, detailed in the Public reports pack Tuesday 15-Sep-2026 19.00 General Purposes and Licensing Committee.pdf, affect chapters relating to the Leader and Executive, Scrutiny, and the Scheme of Delegation to Officers. Updates include the reallocation of property responsibilities to the Renewal, Recreation and Housing Portfolio and structural changes within council departments.

Work Programme and Matters Outstanding

The committee will review its work programme for the 2026/27 Council year and discuss matters outstanding from previous meetings. The Public reports pack Tuesday 15-Sep-2026 19.00 General Purposes and Licensing Committee.pdf indicates that outstanding issues include a report on the live-streaming of committee meetings and resident participation, as well as the re-appointment of the Constitution Improvement Working Group.

Licensing Sub-Committee Minutes

The committee will receive minutes from recent meetings of its Licensing Sub-Committee. These include decisions on the review of the premises licence for Smoque, leading to its revocation, and the variation of premises licences for J.C. Two and Cray Express Ltd, and McDonald's Restaurants. The minutes detail the applications, representations made, and the committee's decisions, including the imposition of specific conditions to promote licensing objectives.