The Renewal, Recreation and Housing Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee met to review the final financial outturn for the 2025/26 financial year, discuss the Housing, Planning and Regeneration Portfolio Plan update, and examine the Council's contracts register. The committee also reviewed matters outstanding from previous meetings and the forward work programme.

Holding the Portfolio Holder to Account

The committee was scheduled to receive an update from Councillor Yvonne Bear, Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, on her activities. This was to be followed by a review of the Housing, Planning and Regeneration Portfolio Plan for the 2025/26 financial year, specifically the Q4 update. This update included details on strategic projects, operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and the grant and risk registers for the portfolio. The report highlighted progress in areas such as homelessness prevention, the delivery of social housing schemes, and regeneration projects across the borough, including improvements to Crystal Palace Park and The Walnuts Leisure Centre. It also detailed advancements in digital infrastructure coverage and the launch of new employment services like Bromley Works and Opportunity Bromley. The Planning Service's ongoing work on the Local Plan, despite delays due to the publication of the new London Plan, was also noted.

Pre-Decision Scrutiny of Portfolio Reports

A key item for pre-decision scrutiny was the Final Outturn report for the 2025/26 financial year for the Renewal, Recreation and Housing Portfolio. This report detailed a projected net overspend of £3,716k on controllable expenditure. Significant variations were noted across various service areas, including Building Control, Land Charges, Planning, and notably, the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which showed a significant underspend due to late payments. The report also detailed an underspend in Libraries, attributed to the closure of Bromley Central Library, and an overspend in Allocations and Accommodation, largely due to increased reliance on and costs associated with nightly paid temporary accommodation placements. The Housing Schemes budget also showed an overspend, influenced by factors such as underbudgeted rent shortfalls and the impact of the shadow HRA cost centre.

Policy Development and Other Items

The committee was scheduled to review the Renewal, Recreation and Housing Contracts Register Part 1 (Public) report. This report provided an extract from the Council's Contracts Register, detailing contracts with a whole life value of £50,000 or higher, as of May 2026. The register indicated that there were 77 active contracts within the Renewal, Recreation and Housing Portfolio, with 33 classified as Higher Risk . The report also noted that no contracts were flagged as Red in terms of procurement status.

Additionally, an information briefing was to be circulated, covering updates on the Digital Infrastructure Work Plan, the Provision of Library Service: Contract Performance Report, and the Armed Forces Covenant Progress Update. While these items were for information only, members could request a debate on specific aspects with advance notice.

Matters Outstanding and Forward Work Programme

The committee was also set to review the Matters Outstanding and Forward Work Programme. This included updates on actions arising from previous meetings, such as the follow-up on a monthly clinic for non-urgent homelessness cases and the provision of an update on the Planning Portal. The forward work programme for the upcoming municipal year was also to be discussed, allowing members to suggest changes or highlight particular issues for future scrutiny.

Standard Items

The meeting began with standard procedural items, including apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and questions from councillors and members of the public. The minutes of the previous Renewal, Recreation and Housing PDS Committee meeting held on 24 March 2026 were also scheduled for confirmation.

Part 2 (Closed) Agenda

Part 2 of the agenda included an exempt report concerning the Renewal, Recreation and Housing Contracts Register Part 2 (Exempt) Report. This section was likely to contain commercially sensitive information, leading to the exclusion of the press and public from this part of the meeting.