The Environment and Community Services Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to receive updates on the progress of the Open Space Strategy, the draft budget for 2026/27, and the Carbon Net Zero Action Plan. Additionally, a report on the Fly-Tipping Action Plan was to be presented.

Open Space Strategy 2021-2031 - Year 4 Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the fourth year of the Open Space Strategy, which was adopted in November 2021. The strategy aims to enhance the quality, accessibility, natural assets, health and wellbeing benefits, local economic contribution, and financial sustainability of Bromley's open spaces. The report was expected to detail progress made against the strategy's five strategic objectives (SOs) and highlight challenges, particularly financial pressures, which have made delivery increasingly dependent on securing external funding. Significant progress has been noted, with approximately £1 million secured in 2025 to support projects aligned with the strategy's objectives. The report was also to outline planned projects for 2026 and beyond, subject to funding availability. Key achievements and planned actions across the five strategic objectives were to be detailed, including infrastructure audits, park audits, playground refurbishments, woodland establishment, and heritage conservation projects. The report also indicated that the council's total current budget for Parks and Greenspaces is £7.4 million.

Draft Budget 2026/27 - Environment and Community Services Portfolio

This report was intended to present the Portfolio Holder's draft budget for 2026/27, incorporating anticipated cost pressures, mitigation measures, and savings from transformation initiatives. The committee was asked to consider this initial draft budget as a basis for setting the overall council budget and to provide comments for the Executive's consideration. The report highlighted significant financial challenges, including a projected budget gap increasing to £53.1 million per annum by 2028/29, driven by cost growth pressures and reduced government funding. The council faces a reduced spending power due to inflation and rising service demands, with a projected real-terms funding reduction of around £10.1 million in 2026/27. The report detailed transformation savings totalling £2.77 million in 2026/27, rising to £2.87 million per annum by 2028/29, stemming from service redesigns, demand management, and operational efficiencies. The draft revenue budget for the Environment and Community Services Portfolio for 2026/27 was projected at £46,970,009.

Carbon Net Zero Action Plan Update 2024/25

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the London Borough of Bromley's direct organisational emissions for the sixth year of its Net Zero Action Plan (NZAP). The report was to detail progress made towards achieving the council's 2027 net zero carbon target. Key findings indicated that the council's net zero emissions for 2024/25 totalled 3,259 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), representing a 13.5% reduction from the previous year and a 55% reduction against the 2018/19 baseline. The report was to highlight the main sources of emissions, with electricity use accounting for 66%, gas for 29%, and other sources for 5%. Progress on key initiatives, including street lighting upgrades to LED, energy efficiency improvements in council buildings, procurement of 100% renewable electricity, and the transition to a zero-emission fleet, was to be discussed. The report also noted the potential for a 90% reduction in total emissions if a 'deep green electricity tariff' is purchased.

Fly-Tipping Action Plan Update

This report was to provide an update on actions undertaken by Neighbourhood Management since the last annual review of the Fly-Tipping Action Plan. It was to detail enforcement outcomes between October 2024 and September 2025, including 210 investigations, 93 Fixed Penalty Notices issued, 11 vehicle seizures, and 17 successful prosecutions. The report was also to propose amendments to Fixed Penalty Notice charges for littering, householder duty of care for waste, and business duty of care for waste. The financial implications were to be discussed, noting that activities are largely funded through the Members' Fly-Tipping Initiative Fund, with £95,000 remaining unallocated. The report was to be presented to the Public Protection & Enforcement PDS Committee for pre-decision scrutiny, with a recommendation to agree updated fixed penalty charge amounts.