The Bromley Council Executive met to discuss budget monitoring, capital programme updates, and other key initiatives. They approved recommendations regarding the Transforming Bromley Programme, capital programme monitoring, and a residential children's home, while also discussing budget overspends and potential property disposals.

• Budget Monitoring 2025/26
• Capital Programme Monitoring - Quarter 1 2025/26
• Transforming Bromley 2024-29 Programme Update 2025/26
• Residential Children's Home Part 1 (Public) Report
• Letting and Sale of Property at Tilgate Business Park, Crawley

Budget Monitoring 2025/26

The Executive approved recommendations regarding the budget monitoring report for 2025/26. The report highlighted a projected net overspend on services of £18.064 million, based on information as of June 2025. Key points from the Budget Monitoring Report June 2025 included:

• Projected Reduction to General Fund Balance: A projected reduction of £17.319 million to the General Fund balance was noted.
• Full Year Cost Pressures: Full year cost pressures of £19.209 million were identified.
• Central Contingency: Agreement was given to release funding from the 2025/26 central contingency as detailed in the report.
• Portfolio Holder Action: Identified issues were referred to individual Portfolio Holders for further action.

The report also detailed projected variations across different portfolios:

• Adult Care & Health: Projected overspend of £9.842 million.
• Children, Education & Families: Projected overspend of £1.828 million.
• Renewal, Recreation & Housing: Projected overspend of £4.501 million.

The report highlighted expenditure pressures that could impact future years, particularly in adult care, children's social care, and temporary accommodation. The report also noted a projected shortfall on investment property income of £755,000, mainly due to a vacant property at 4 Tilgate Forest Business Park.

Capital Programme Monitoring - Quarter 1 2025/26

The Executive approved recommendations regarding the Capital Programme Monitoring report for Quarter 1 of 2025/26, and agreed a revised Capital Programme. Key decisions related to amendments to the Capital Programme, including:

• An increase of £5.194 million to various existing schemes.
• An addition of £1.860 million to various schemes.
• A total rephasing of £38.8 million from 2025/26 into future years.

The Executive agreed to recommend that the Council approves an increase to the Disabled Facilities Grant scheme of £3.398 million and the addition of £1.109 million for Local Highways Maintenance. The Capital Programme Monitoring EXEC Q1 2025-26 report noted that if all proposed changes were approved, the total Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2029/30 would increase by £1.6 million.

Transforming Bromley 2024-29 Programme Update 2025/26

The Executive noted the progress made in delivering the Transforming Bromley Programme objectives and associated savings, as detailed in the TB202526MonitroingreportQ2_21072025. The report highlighted that 84 of 85 transformation projects launched in Year One (2024/25) were on track, delivering 96% of expected savings, amounting to £18.3 million of the £18.9 million target. The report also provided an update on Digital, Artificial Intelligence and Digitally Enabled transformation initiatives. The report noted that Digital Transformation had contributed £3.3 million of the £18.9 million savings in the first year.

Residential Children's Home Part 1 (Public) Report

The Executive approved recommendations in the Residential Childrens Home Part 1 Public Report 11092025 Children Education and Families Poli regarding the operation of a council-owned children's home. The Executive agreed to:

• Publish a Transparency Notice confirming the council's intention to direct award a contract to a national charity (referred to as 'the Provider' in the minutes) for operating the children's home.
• Subject to the outcome of the Transparency Notice, approve the Direct Award for a block contract and a co-terminus Full Repairing and Insuring (FRI) lease for the operation of the Children's Home for a seven-year contract, with the option to extend for three years.
• Delegate authority to the Director of Children, Education and Families and the Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Director of Housing and the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Families, to finalise and enter the lease and contract arrangements, subject to satisfactory completion of legal and commercial due diligence.

The report noted that the Provider would deliver a five-bed residential children's home in Bromley for young people aged 11–17 with medium to high levels of need.

Letting and Sale of Property at Tilgate Business Park, Crawley

The Executive considered a report regarding Unit 4, Tilgate Business Park, Brighton Road, Crawley, Surrey, RH11 9BP. The report sought approval for a proposed letting of the property. The Executive agreed to:

• Note the progress made in marketing the vacant site, and the complexities regarding planning protection and the state of repair.
• Delegate authority to the Director of Housing, Planning, Property and Regeneration, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder and the Director of Finance, to negotiate, agree, settle, and finalise commercial terms of the disposal of either the freehold tenure and / or the leasehold tenure of the property (or by means of exercising an option to purchase the freehold tenure).
• Delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Legal Services to sign and execute and enter into all necessary legal documents in relation to any disposal.

The report noted that the property had been vacant since August 2022, and had suffered damage due to trespassers, with estimated reinstatement costs of £3.5 million.