Issue - meetings

Report from the Interim Director of Policy, Strategy and Engagement.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Note the overall position in relation to the Year Ahead Delivery Plan activities.

2. Note the Quarter 4 data for the Council Plan performance measures.

3. Note the updates on the Council Plan long term measures of success.

4. Note  ...  view the full agenda text for item 30

Consideration was given to the report which provided an update on the progress of the Year Ahead Delivery Plan. The Year Ahead Delivery Plan for 2025-26 (and the associated Council Plan performance measures) was approved by Cabinet on 19 May 2025. In line with the previous Council Plan, it was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30

Report from the Interim Director of Policy, Strategy and Engagement.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Note the overall position in relation to the Year Ahead Delivery Plan activities.

2. Note the Quarter 4 data for the Council Plan performance measures.

3. Note the updates on the Council Plan long term measures of success.

4. Note that future progress reports will be presented to Cabinet in January and July 2027.

At the Chair’s invitation the Leader, Councillor Read presented the year-end plan update for the first year of the current cycle, reporting that 82% of priority actions had been achieved, 81% of performance measures had been met, and 79% of long-term measures were moving in the right direction.

The Leader highlighted progress across a number of priority areas, including continued improvements to road conditions, completion of works at Rother Valley and Thrybergh Country Parks, ongoing play area improvements, and the opening of the Castle View Day Centre. Further updates included the securing of £75,000 in match funding for a multi-use games area in Kimberworth Park, the commencement of groundworks for new homes at Eastwood, progress on the Market Hall development, and agreement of contracts for the Whiston Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Several projects remained behind schedule. The Thriving Neighbourhoods Strategy had been split into two phases, with the first phase due to be considered by Cabinet and further work on integrated community services continuing. Works funded through the Our Places Fund were progressing in Swinton, although public realm works in Maltby had been delayed until August.

The Leader reported that investment in community facilities had progressed well overall, although further surveys at the Black Hut in Kimberworth Park had identified more extensive works than originally anticipated, with options including a potential rebuild being explored. Delays to upgrades at some business centres had largely been resolved and the programme was back on track.

An update was also provided on independent travel training for children and young people. Delivery had been affected by staff absence during the year, preventing the target from being achieved despite strong demand for the service. Finally, the Leader noted that employee participation in the staff opinion survey had reached 49%, narrowly missing the 50% target.

The Chair invited members of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB) to raise questions, with Councillor Blackham seeking clarification regarding page 58 of the report, noting that it referred to the demolition of burnt-out buildings on High Street in February and asking which February was being referenced. In response, the Leader advised that some demolition works had already taken place and deferred to Andrew Bramidge, Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment for an update on the programme. The Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment confirmed that the demolition works referred to were scheduled to commence in September 2026 and reported that preparatory works, including the installation of hoardings, were underway and the project remained on track.

Councillor Blackham had observed that the buildings remained in place, noting that only one contractor had been erecting a fence between the Market Hall and the car wash. It was noted that there was no visible evidence of demolition works commencing other than publicity signage and questioned the reference in the report to demolition taking place in February, highlighting that this appeared to be incorrect given the update that works were now scheduled for September.

The Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment acknowledged that the reference  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18