The Public Protection and Enforcement Policy Development & Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday 29 January 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the draft budget for the upcoming financial year, updates on key service performance, and discussions on various policy and operational matters.

Draft Budget 2026/27

The committee will consider the draft budget for the Public Protection and Enforcement Services portfolio for the 2026/27 financial year. This report outlines the proposed budget, which incorporates anticipated cost pressures, planned mitigation measures, and savings from transformation initiatives. Members are asked to review the financial forecast for 2026/27 to 2028/29 and provide comments on the initial draft budget to inform recommendations for the Council's Executive. The report highlights the council's financial context, including the impact of national economic factors and government funding settlements, and details transformation savings totalling £2.77 million within the Public Protection and Enforcement Services portfolio.

Public Protection Performance Overview

A report will be presented detailing the performance of the Public Protection and Enforcement portfolio against its plan for 2025/26, specifically covering the period of October to December 2025. The committee will be asked to review and comment on this performance update. The report indicates that all key performance indicators for the plan are currently rated as green for Quarter 3, meaning they are performing at or above expectation.

Stray Dog Service Update

An update on the London Borough of Bromley's Stray Dog Service will be provided. This report details current performance, operational arrangements, demand trends, and compliance with statutory duties. It also covers partnership activity, identified risks, and planned service improvements for 2026/27. The service, contracted to SDK Environmental Ltd until January 2028, operates a 24/7 dog warden service. The report notes a 100% rehoming rate, in line with the council's 'No Animal Destruction Policy', and highlights the positive impact of community engagement through social media in reuniting lost pets with their owners.

Risk Register

The committee will review the revised Public Protection and Enforcement Risk Register. This document, which forms part of the evidence base for the Annual Governance Statement, has been reviewed by the Environment and Public Protection Departmental Management Team and the Corporate Risk Management Group. The report details the current risk position, including a 'red' risk rating for Increased Costs for Coroners Service due to rising demand, inflationary pressures, and potential relocation costs for the Coroner's court. Several risks have been removed from the register since the previous review, including those related to Climate Change, Out of Hours Noise Service, and the Dysfunctionality of the Uniform Information Management System.

London Fire Brigade Annual Report

The committee will receive an annual report from the London Fire Brigade, focusing on Bromley Borough. The report details 2025 achievements and 2026 priorities. Key achievements in 2025 include a significant increase in Fire Safety Audits and Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSVs), making Bromley the highest-performing borough for HFSVs. The report also highlights the securing of an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) appliance for the borough and a reduction in hoax calls. Priorities for 2026 include completing Simultaneous Evacuation remediation, driving down deliberate fires, strengthening firefighter fire safety competence, and addressing emerging risks such as lithium-ion batteries and wildfires.

Matters Arising and Work Programme

The committee will review progress on matters outstanding from previous meetings and consider the Forward Work Programme. This includes reviewing the current work programme and identifying any changes or issues the committee wishes to scrutinise in the year ahead. An update on outstanding actions from previous meetings indicates that the Neighbourhood Management Team is to provide a revised report, proposals, and recommendations for increased fixed penalty charge amounts, with implementation expected from 1 April 2026.

Portfolio Holder Update

A general update from the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Enforcement is scheduled. This item typically provides an overview of recent activities and significant outcomes within the portfolio.

London and Lewisham Probation Delivery Unit Annual Report

The committee is also scheduled to receive an annual report from the Bromley and Lewisham Probation Delivery Unit. Further details on the specific content of this report are not available in the provided documentation.