Subscribe to updates

You'll receive weekly summaries about Bromley Council every week.

If you have any requests or comments please let us know at community@opencouncil.network. We can also provide custom updates on particular topics across councils.

Environment and Community Services Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 10 June 2025 7.00 pm

June 10, 2025 View on council website
AI Generated

Summary

The Environment and Community Services Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss a range of issues, including highway maintenance contracts, the Keston Ponds development project, and the Environment and Community Services Portfolio Plan. The committee also reviewed the ECS Risk Register and Contracts Register. Recommendations were made to the Portfolio Holders and the Executive regarding these matters.

Future Highway Maintenance Contracts

The committee discussed the future of highway maintenance contracts in Bromley, considering a Gateway 1 report. The current contracts for major and minor works, both held by Riney, are set to expire in June 2026. The report proposed a combined Highway Works Contract with separate lots, with an initial term of six years and options to extend for two additional two-year periods, up to a maximum of ten years.

The committee considered several options for structuring the new contracts:

  • A single tender with a single provider
  • Separate contracts for major and minor works
  • Insourcing the service
  • A combined tender with 'lots'

The preferred option was a combined tender with separate 'lots' for major and minor works, without restrictions on the number of lots awarded to a single contractor. A separate procurement exercise would be undertaken for highway drainage cleaning to encourage local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to apply.

The committee was asked to provide comments to the Environment Portfolio Holder regarding the proposals. The Executive was recommended to agree to the principles and strategy for the new contract, set to begin on 1 July 2026. The estimated value of the contract over six years is £45 million.

Keston Ponds Development Project

The committee reviewed a report on the Keston Ponds Development Project, which aims to improve the water environment at Keston Ponds. The council had secured £248,853 in grant funding from the Water Restoration Fund for a development phase project. The project focuses on design interventions to improve the water environment of the ponds and river section of Keston Common, and the grant will fund survey and design work to support the production of potential intervention options to the Keston waterbodies.

The Environment and Community Services Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee was asked to note the report and provide comments to the Executive. The Executive was recommended to approve the addition of £248,853 to the Capital Programme to support the project.

Environment and Community Services Portfolio Plan 2025/26 and Performance Overview

The committee scrutinised the Environment and Community Services Portfolio Plan 2025/26 and performance overview for the previous year. The plan outlines the priorities and actions for the Environment and Community Services portfolio, aligning with the council's overall strategy of Making Bromley Even Better. The six priorities outlined in the plan are:

  1. Keep our streets clean
  2. Minimise waste and maximise recycling
  3. Enhance Bromley's parks and green spaces
  4. Maintain our transport infrastructure and public realm
  5. Improve travel, transport, and parking
  6. Overarching themes (air quality and carbon management)

The committee reviewed performance indicators for 2024/25, noting areas where targets were not met, such as the total monthly tasks completed on time by the Arboricultural Services Contractor, and the percentage of 10-day highway maintenance tasks completed within the required timescale.

The committee was invited to comment on the proposed plan for 2025/26 and suggest any changes. The Portfolio Holders were recommended to endorse the outcomes, aims, and performance measures set out in the draft plan.

Risk Register Update Report

The committee reviewed the Environment & Community Services Risk Register, which identifies and assesses potential risks to the department's objectives. The register includes 15 risks, each scored based on likelihood and impact. The committee was asked to review and comment on the risk register. Key changes to the register since the last presentation included the removal of Risk 16, relating to Arboricultural Management: Service Provider Performance Issues, following the termination of the contract to which this specific risk related.

Contracts Register

The committee reviewed the Contracts Register, which provides an overview of the council's active contracts with a value of £50,000 or higher. As of 1 May 2025, there were 276 active contracts across all portfolios, with 31 in the Environment & Community Services Portfolio. The committee was asked to review and comment on the Contracts Register.

Other Matters

  • Matters Arising and Work Programme: The committee noted a report on matters arising from previous meetings and the work programme.
  • Environment Portfolio Holder Update: The committee noted an update from the Environment Portfolio Holder.
  • Transport, Highways and Road Safety Portfolio Holder Update: The committee noted an update from the Portfolio Holder for Transport, Highways and Road Safety, Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP. Councillor Bennett's update included information on a meeting with Transport for London (TfL) regarding bus services, including a request to extend the SL4 route to Bromley South station, and performance issues on several bus routes. He also mentioned attending the unveiling of a Networker train in the 1992 livery of Network South East as part of the Rail 200 celebrations.
  • Oral Questions from Councillors: The committee considered oral questions from councillors. Councillor Alisa Igoe asked about the timeline for free street closures for the Big Lunch event, and about the availability of the updated EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) for the conversion of time-limited parking bays to cashless pay-bays.
  • Written Questions from the Public: The committee considered written questions from the public, including questions about signage at the junction of Westgate Road and Foxgrove Road, the conversion of time-limited parking bays to cashless pay-bays in Sundridge Park (Plaistow Lane), and updates to the Council's Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.
  • Chairman's Thanks to Colin Brand: Councillor Adam Jude Grant, Chairman of the committee, expressed his gratitude to Colin Brand, Director of Environment and Public Protection, for his years of service to Bromley Council.

Attendees

Profile image for CouncillorAdam Jude Grant
CouncillorAdam Jude Grant  Chairman, Environment & Community Services PDS Committee •  Conservative •  Shortlands & Park Langley
Profile image for CouncillorFelicity Bainbridge
CouncillorFelicity Bainbridge  Vice-Chairman, Environment & Community Services PDS Committee •  Conservative •  Shortlands & Park Langley
Profile image for CouncillorKathy Bance MBE
CouncillorKathy Bance MBE  Labour •  Penge and Cator
Profile image for Councillor Simon Fawthrop
Councillor Simon Fawthrop  Chairman, Executive, Resources & Contracts PDS Committee and Vice-Chairman, Development Control Committee •  Conservative •  Petts Wood and Knoll
Profile image for CouncillorColin Hitchins
CouncillorColin Hitchins  Vice-Chairman, General Purposes & Licensing Committee •  Conservative •  St Paul`s Cray
Profile image for Councillor Alisa Igoe
Councillor Alisa Igoe  Labour •  Plaistow
Profile image for CouncillorDavid Jefferys
CouncillorDavid Jefferys  Conservative •  Bromley Common & Holwood
Profile image for CouncillorChloe-Jane Ross
CouncillorChloe-Jane Ross  Liberal Democrat Group Leader •  Liberal Democrats •  Beckenham Town & Copers Cope
Profile image for CouncillorAlison Stammers
CouncillorAlison Stammers  Chislehurst Matters •  Chislehurst
Profile image for CouncillorHarry Stranger
CouncillorHarry Stranger  Conservative •  St Mary Cray

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

Meeting Documents

× Meeting image