The General Purposes and Licensing Committee of Bromley Council met on Thursday 26 September 2024 to review the council's annual complaints report and discuss arrangements for the new Civic Centre. The committee approved the annual complaints report and agreed on new guidelines for room bookings and refreshments at the new Civic Centre.

Annual Complaints Report and LGSCO Letter 2023/24

The committee received and approved the Annual Complaints Report for 2023/24, which details the complaints received by the council and the outcomes of investigations by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO). The report indicated a 1% decrease in upheld complaints compared to the previous year, with 45% of complaints being fully or partially upheld. The council's response time for complaints also improved, with 66% being addressed on time.

During discussions, some members questioned the comprehensiveness of the report, suggesting a reduction in scope to ease the burden on officers. However, the Head of Service, Customer Engagement and Complaints, explained that the report was not labour-intensive and provided valuable data for various stakeholders. The report also highlighted that Bromley's complaint referral and upheld rates to the LGSCO compared favourably with other London boroughs. Councillor Tony Owen moved to limit the report to the statutory minimum, but this motion was lost.

Room Booking Arrangements at the New Civic Centre

The committee approved new guidance for the use of committee rooms in the new Civic Centre at Churchill Court. The guidance prioritises election administration, member-level meetings, and statutory purposes. A member suggested exploring commercial bookings for the new facilities to generate revenue. The Director of Corporate Services and Governance confirmed that work was underway to assess the feasibility of marketing the site as a venue for partners and local businesses.

Regarding refreshments, the committee agreed that biscuits would no longer be provided at committee meetings, although tea, coffee, and water would continue to be served. This decision was made to save staff time and potentially improve public perception during times of financial constraint.

Work Programme and Matters Outstanding

The committee noted its work programme and outstanding matters. A review of Cumulative Impact Zones is scheduled for the next meeting, with a request to include a licensing review session and a discussion on Planning versus Licensing. The committee also discussed the livestreaming of meetings, with plans to livestream the first council meeting in the new Civic Centre. Further queries were raised regarding staff appraisals, legal advice to Licensing Sub-Committees, and a review of Planning Policy, which would be clarified after the meeting. A report on hybrid working is to be added to the work programme. The committee also discussed participation in Licensing Sub-Committees, with the Chairman agreeing to send a reminder to members about their responsibilities.

Licensing Sub-Committee Minutes

The minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee meetings held on 22 April, 13 May, 18 July, and 30 August 2024 were received and noted. These minutes covered various licensing applications and reviews, including decisions on premises licences for Sjayz Restaurant, Virk Wine Stores, Vybes by Alpha, and Triple Two.

• Sjayz Restaurant, 254 High Street, Orpington: An application to vary the premises licence to extend hours for the sale of alcohol, live and recorded music, and late-night refreshment was refused due to concerns about public nuisance.
• Virk Wine Stores, 103-107 Maple Road: The premises licence was suspended for a period not exceeding two months due to the identification of illegal working at the premises. Agreed conditions were put in place to ensure compliance with immigration rules.
• Vybes by Alpha (formerly Scala), 132-134 High Street Orpington: The premises licence was varied to extend opening hours and the sale of alcohol, with new conditions added to address public nuisance concerns.
• Triple Two, 96 Wickham Road, Beckenham: The application to vary the premises licence to extend opening hours and the sale of alcohol was granted, subject to amendments and additional conditions agreed with the Metropolitan Police.
• Triple Two, 6 Commonside, Keston: The application to vary the premises licence to extend opening hours and the sale of alcohol was granted, with amendments and additional conditions agreed with the Metropolitan Police.