Decisions loom for Bromley Council chiefs over budget cuts

The executive will meet to consider huge cuts to services as the council battles to save more than £60 million over the next four years from an annual net budget of just over £200 million.

Council bosses will also decide whether to replace some public toilets with facilities in existing businesses and scrap an elderly care home, Lubbock House in Orpington.

If the executive back the proposals, Orpington Priory, the borough’s oldest building, would be put up for sale later this year and museum exhibitions relocated to Bromley Central Library.

Two museum employees are facing redundancy.

The council says the closure would make savings of £44,000 for the 2016-17 financial year and £74,000 for 2017-18 provided the building is sold.

The council says results from its public consultation into the budget showed the museum service to be residents’ lowest priority when it comes to its culture and leisure offering.

More than 1,700 residents have signed a petition against the sale.

Pupils at Perry Hall Primary school signed a petition against the sale in December.

Public toilets

The executive will also decide whether to support plans to replace public toilets in Beckenham, Bromley and West Wickham with facilities in existing businesses.

The original Community Toilet Scheme would be expanded to include fourteen additional arrangements with businesses including Sainsbury’s, Café Nero, and McDonalds.

The council says closing the public loos by March 31 could save around £22,000 this financial year and £67,000 from 2016-17 onwards.

If the executive agrees to the closures, the Beckenham building would be sold off or demolished.

The West Wickham and Bromley buildings would be retained for further consideration.

Beckenham residents protesting against the closure of the public toilets

Lubbock House

The executive will also decide whether to decommission one of its extra care housing schemes, Lubbock House in Orpington, which it runs in partnership with Affinity Sutton.

Affinity Sutton recently decided the facility in Northolme Rise, which has 30 flats for the elderly, no longer meets modern standards.

 The executive will decide whether to commence consultation with staff on scrapping the facility.

A further report on the consultation’s outcome would be submitted in March.

If decommissioning were agreed, the council and Affinity Sutton would rehouse tenants in one of six other extra care housing schemes and consider alternative uses for the building.

Lubbock House, Northolme Rise, in Orpington.

Bromley Council will agree its final budget for the next financial year at a full council meeting on February 23.