The General Purposes and Licensing Committee convened to discuss updates to financial and contract procedure rules, and a new committee report template. The committee agreed to recommend the updated financial regulations and contract procedure rules to the council for approval, and also approved the use of the updated committee report template.

Updated Financial Regulations

The committee reviewed proposed changes to the council's financial regulations and procedures, as well as financial regulations for schools, with a view to recommending them to the full council for approval.

The last update to the financial regulations was in 2020, and a review was due to address changes to the constitution and other developments.

Significant proposed changes to the financial regulations include:

• An increase to approval levels for the scheme of virement¹ to align with updated key decision thresholds.
• The removal of the full council approval requirement above £1 million for virements contained within the existing approved revenue budget.
• The inclusion of capital programme procedures, with new capital schemes or increases to existing schemes over £1 million reported to the full council through quarterly capital monitoring reports.
• A redraft of internal audit, internal control, and preventing fraud and corruption sections.

Minor changes included removing duplications, aligning with other updates to the constitution, updating job titles and IT systems, and adding procedures for pre-paid cards.

Proposed changes to the financial regulations for schools included:

• Changes to insurance arrangements.
• Revisions to internal audit and control processes.
• Changes to the list of banks that schools can use.
• Enabling schools to use approved banks for credit/purchase cards.

The committee agreed to recommend that the full council approve the updated financial regulations and financial regulations for schools.

Contract Procedure Rules

The committee considered proposed revisions to the council's contract procedure rules (CPR), which set out the rules and processes for procurement matters. The CPR must comply with current public procurement regulations.

The proposed revisions reflect changes to regulations, align with changes to the constitution, and incorporate feedback from officers. Key changes include:

• A shift to a two-document structure, with a main CPR document outlining high-level principles and a procurement manual providing detailed guidance for officers.
• Greater clarity on permitted procurement routes, aligned more closely with regulations.
• Updates to governance procedures and thresholds for key procurement decisions.

The committee agreed to recommend that the full council approve the updated contract procedure rules for immediate implementation.

Committee Report Template

The committee considered a report on changes to policy development and scrutiny (PDS) committee arrangements, including updating the council's standard report template. The aims of the update were to shorten and simplify reports, eliminate duplicate headings, ensure relevant considerations are captured, and increase the use of bullet points, links, and appendices.

The committee agreed to make the following changes to the text of the Local Planning Protocol agreed by Development Control Committee:

• Add wording to paragraph 4.1 that the planning officer should endeavour to visit each site, especially those in conservation areas or the green belt.
• Amend wording to paragraph 6.8 to Each speaker will normally given up to three minutes with a warning at two and a half minutes.
• Reinstate the original wording proposed by the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) to paragraph 8.1: Councillors who have called in an application to committee should not move or second a motion on that application.

The committee approved the use of the updated committee report template.

Other Business

The committee also discussed its work programme and matters outstanding from previous meetings.

The committee agreed to cancel the meeting scheduled for 25 September 2025.

The committee discussed a query regarding the appointment of ex-councillors to the Town Twinning Association, which was still under investigation.

The committee discussed a request for a report on health and safety arrangements at the new Bromley Civic Centre, and a possible presentation from the Police/Fire Service Licensing Officers, which were provisionally scheduled for 12 November 2025.

The committee noted a request for committee members to be notified of the outcome of appeals to the magistrate's court, which would be provided in future.

Sub-Committee Proportionality and Membership

The committee agreed the proportionality of the Rights of Way Sub-Committee for 2025/26:

• Conservative: 4
• Labour: 2
• Independent: 1

The committee agreed the schedule of members to serve on the sub-committees of the General Purposes and Licensing Committee for 2025/26.

The committee agreed that all members of the council, except executive members, be eligible for appointment to the Appeals Sub-Committee, and that three members be drawn as required to constitute an Appeals Sub-Committee.

The committee agreed that all members of the General Purposes and Licensing Committee be eligible for appointment to the Licensing Sub-Committee, and that three members be drawn as required to constitute a Licensing Sub-Committee.

The committee appointed Councillor Mike Botting as Chairman and Councillor Michael Tickner as Vice-Chairman of the Rights of Way Sub-Committee for 2025/26.