The Executive of Bromley Council met on Wednesday 11 February 2026 to discuss a range of important financial and strategic matters. Key topics included the setting of the Council Tax for the upcoming year, the Council's capital investment strategy, and updates on various housing and service provision contracts. The meeting also covered the adoption of a new Statement of Community Involvement, a Sport and Leisure Strategy, and plans for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Council Tax Report 2026/27

The meeting was scheduled to consider the Council Tax report for 2026/27. This report outlines the financial strategy, forecasting available resources and budget pressures relating to revenue spending. It details the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2026/27, highlighting significant funding reductions from the government. The report also addresses additional cost and growth pressures for services, and seeks recommendations to the Council on the level of the Bromley element of the Council Tax and the Adult Social Care Precept. The financial forecast indicates a substantial budget gap from 2027/28 onwards, necessitating ongoing savings and prudent financial management. The report also includes details on the draft 2026/27 central contingency sum, budget monitoring for 2025/26, and the approach to general and earmarked reserves.

Capital Strategy 2026/27 to 2029/30 & Q3 Capital Programme Monitoring

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Council's Capital Strategy and Capital Programme monitoring. The report presented proposed changes to the Capital Programme following a third-quarter monitoring exercise. If approved, these changes would result in an increase to the overall Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2029/30, primarily due to the inclusion of new capital bids. The report also detailed proposed asset disposals intended to generate capital receipts and contribute to funding the Capital Programme. Furthermore, it outlined the related Capital Financing implications and a projected shortfall in capital resources from 2024/25 onwards, detailing how these proposals would impact the Council's revenue budget. The report also included details on new schemes requested for addition to the Capital Programme, such as on-street EV infrastructure, a static CCTV network, the relocation of the Coroner's Court, IT system replacements, Astley Day Centre refurbishment, and planned works for Facilities Management.

Basic Need Update Report

An update on the Basic Need Programme was presented, focusing on the delivery of specialist places. The report detailed the High Needs Provision Capital funding received from the Department for Education (DfE) to increase places and improve the suitability of specialist provision. A key discussion point was the Council's decision regarding the proposed Redwood Academy special free school. The DfE had offered an alternative funding settlement of £9,044k in lieu of their delivery of the Redwood Academy. Officers recommended accepting this funding to deliver 152 places more quickly through two new satellite sites of existing special schools, rather than proceeding with the DfE's delayed Redwood Academy proposal. The report also detailed existing and new schemes being added to the Basic Need Programme, including expansions to existing special educational needs (SEN) provisions and works at the former Marjorie McClure site.

Contract Award: Extra Care Housing Care and Support Services (Part 1)

The meeting was scheduled to consider the award of a contract for Care and Support services for three Extra Care Housing schemes: Crown Meadow Court, Sutherland Court, and Regency Court. The proposed contract was for a five-year term, with options to extend, and its estimated annual and whole life value was detailed in a separate Part 2 report. The meeting was also to be updated on the termination of the Lot Two tender for Aspley Court and Durham House due to unforeseen changes in ownership, with approval sought for the extension of existing contracts for these schemes as an interim measure pending re-tendering.

Permission to Procure a Tier One and Tier Two Domiciliary Care Framework

The Executive was asked to authorise proceeding with the procurement of a new Domiciliary Care Framework. This framework would consist of a single Tier 1 and Tier 2 structure for adults requiring social care and support at home, with a separate lot for children and young people. The proposed contract duration was four years, with an estimated annual value of £20.3 million. The report highlighted the current model's limitations and proposed changes to improve efficiencies, streamline services, and ensure competitive pricing and diverse geographical coverage.

Sport and Leisure Strategy

The meeting was to consider the final version of the draft Sport and Leisure Strategy for formal adoption. This strategy aims to provide a framework for accessing more grant funding, informing planning applications related to sport and leisure provision, improving resident health and wellbeing, and supporting the borough's sport and leisure community. The strategy was informed by Supply and Demand Reports for Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports, and Indoor and Built Facilities, which provided data on existing provision and future needs. The report also provided an update on the leisure centres operated by Mytime Active, including the refurbishment of West Wickham and the Walnuts leisure centres.

Economic Inactivity Trailblazer Programme 2026-27

The meeting was to discuss the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer Programme for 2026-27. This report sought approval to accept any grant funding secured, estimated between £200k and £250k, through the successor Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) programme. The funding would be managed by Bromley Works, the Council's in-house employability service, and would continue to test innovative approaches to supporting economically inactive residents into employment. Delegated authority was also sought for the Director of Housing, Planning, Property and Regeneration to accept any additional grant funding in the future.

Adoption of the Bromley Statement of Community Involvement 2026

The Executive was asked to adopt the Bromley Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) 2026. This document is a statutory requirement for local planning authorities and outlines how the Council will engage and consult with the community and stakeholders on planning matters, including policy preparation and planning application decisions. The SCI updates the previous version from 2016 to reflect changes in policy, legislation, and best practice. Consultation on the draft SCI had taken place, and the report included a consultation statement detailing the responses received and how they had informed the final document.

Rent and Service Charge Setting Policy 2026-2027

The meeting was scheduled to consider the Rent and Service Charge Setting Policy for 2026-2027. This policy provides a framework for rent calculation, validation, approval, and compliance monitoring across all Council-owned residential properties, ensuring alignment with statutory and regulatory requirements, including the Regulator of Social Housing's Rent Standard. The report detailed the different rent regimes applicable, such as Affordable Rents, London Affordable Rents, Temporary Accommodation, Social Rents, CHAP and LAHF properties, and Gypsy and Travellers Plot Rents.

Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund (LEVI) in Bromley

The Executive was asked to approve the acceptance of the Government's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding, amounting to £900,000 for Bromley. This funding, part of a larger £185m national scheme, aims to facilitate the rollout of on-street electric vehicle charging points in residential areas, particularly for those without off-street parking. Bromley was partnering with Bexley, Croydon, and Havering in a collaborative procurement process managed by Bexley to appoint charge point operator(s) for the supply, installation, operation, and maintenance of these chargers. The scheme was designed to be at no capital cost to the Council, with the charge point operator providing the majority of the funding.

Gateway 1 Proceed to Procurement: Parking Services

The meeting was to consider a revised procurement strategy for the Parking Services contract, which is due to end in April 2027. Following previous agreements to continue a Shared Services Collaboration with the London Borough of Bexley, the report recommended a joint procurement for a single contract covering both boroughs. This approach was proposed to achieve economies of scale, reduce duplication of costs, and streamline service delivery. The proposed contract duration is 10 years, with an estimated annual value of £4 million for Bromley. Delegated authority was sought for the Director of Environment and Public Protection to award the concessionary contract(s).

Consideration of any other issues referred from the Executive, Resources and Contracts Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee

The Executive was scheduled to consider any other issues that had been referred from the Executive, Resources and Contracts Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee.

The meeting also included items of business scheduled for exclusion of the press and public due to the likely disclosure of exempt information, relating to exempt minutes, capital strategy appendices, and contract awards for extra care housing care and support services.