The Executive, Resources and Contracts Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee met on Monday 26 October 2026 to discuss several key financial and operational matters. The committee supported the recommendations in the reports concerning the Empty Homes Premium, proceeding with procurement for an advisory partner for the Better Lives Programme, the extension of the contract for agency workers, and the Housing Delivery Grant.

Empty Homes Premium

The committee supported the recommendations in the report regarding the Empty Homes Premium. This proposal aims to reduce the period for which a property must be empty before an Empty Home Premium is applied for Council Tax. This change is anticipated to generate an additional £610,000 in income for the 2027/28 financial year. While one member suggested allowing additional time for new purchasers renovating long-term vacant properties, it was confirmed that statutory exemptions already include a 12-month deferral for properties rendered uninhabitable by major repairs. The proposal was not expected to create a significant additional administrative or collection burden.

Better Lives Programme Advisory Partner

The committee supported the recommendations in the report regarding proceeding with the procurement of an advisory partner to support the Council's Working Age Adults Transformation Programme, known as the Better Lives Programme. This programme aims to improve outcomes for local residents with learning disabilities and develop a more financially sustainable support model. The proposed contract involves an initial 12-week phase for review and plan design, with an estimated value of £500,000. There is an option to proceed to plan implementation, which could cost between £4.5 million and £5.5 million, bringing the total potential value to £6 million. Authority to award the contract was delegated to the Chief Officer for Adult Social Care, subject to consultation with relevant officers and portfolio holders. Any decision to proceed to Phase 2 would require a further Executive decision.

Extension of Contract for Agency Workers

The committee supported the recommendations in the report regarding the extension of the current contract with Matrix SCM Ltd for the supply of agency workers by two years. The original contract was for two years with a further two-year extension option, and it was due to expire on 20 April 2027. Expenditure on agency workers has decreased from an estimated £18.2 million in 2023/24 to £11.5 million in the current financial year. While agency staff are still needed for grant-funded roles and hard-to-recruit positions, particularly in social care, efforts are ongoing to reduce costs further, including transferring longer-term agency workers to a payroll-only function.

Housing Delivery Grant Update

The committee supported the recommendations in the report regarding the Housing Delivery Grant. The London Borough of Bromley had received a grant allocation from the Greater London Authority's (GLA) Affordable and Social Housing Programme. The report detailed that the grant award information was contained within a Part 2 (Exempt) report, as it remained confidential pending acceptance by the Council and publication by the GLA. The report was also designated as urgent to allow for grant acceptance within the required timescale.

Matters Outstanding and Work Programme

The committee noted the report on matters outstanding from previous meetings and the proposed work plan for the remainder of the year. Updates on the Investment Property Portfolio and Waldo Road are scheduled for the next meeting on 23 November 2026. A report on the Council Tax Support Scheme 2027/28 will also be presented at that meeting.

Forward Plan of Key Decisions

The committee noted the Forward Plan of Key Decisions, which covers the period from October 2026 to October 2027. This plan outlines upcoming significant decisions to be made by the Council's Executive.

Pre-Decision Scrutiny of Executive Reports

The committee undertook pre-decision scrutiny of several reports intended for the Council's Executive meeting on 28 October 2026. These included the Empty Homes Premium proposal, the Better Lives Programme advisory partner procurement, the extension of the agency worker contract, and the Housing Delivery Grant update. The committee supported the recommendations in each of these reports.

The minutes of the Executive, Resources and Contracts PDS Committee meeting held on 14 September 2026 (excluding exempt information), were agreed and signed as a correct record. The meeting also included standard items such as apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and questions from councillors and the public, of which there were none. The committee resolved to exclude the press and public during the consideration of exempt information, as is standard practice under the Local Government Act 1972.