Agenda and minutes

To invite Councillors and Commissioners to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests they may have in any matter which is to be considered at this meeting, to confirm the nature of those interests and whether they intend to leave the meeting for the consideration of the item.

There were no Declarations of Interest to report.

To receive questions from members of the public who wish to ask a general question.

(1)            A member of the public referred to a 270 signature petition which she was wishing to submit asking about what measures could the Council take to safeguard children crossing outside Thrybergh Primary School.  There had been a number of near misses at the traffic crossing and vehicles failing to stop.

Councillor Read, Leader of the Council, advised on the Council’s procedure for handling petitions and suggested the petition referred to be handed in to the Chief Executive.

Councillor Watson, Deputy Leader, explained he would check the figures and ascertain if this request met the criteria for a crossing patrol.  Some schools, where the criteria was not met, continued to meet the funding required for a school crossing patrol themselves.  However, if the petition could be left he would make the necessary investigations and report back in writing.

In a supplementary question the member of the public also asked if the Council would create 20 mph zone outside Thrybergh Primary School so that approaching vehicles were aware of the school location and the zebra crossing used by children.

Councillor Read, The Leader, confirmed the details would be looked into and an answer provided in writing.

Councillor Watson, Deputy Leader, confirmed he was not familiar with this particular areas, but would investigate further and report back.

Councillor Hoddinott, Cabinet Member for Waste, Roads and Community Safety, advised of the Council’s ambition to secure a 20 mph zone outside every eligible school in Rotherham and a programme to do this was currently in place.  She gave an undertaking to check this out further for Thrybergh Primary.

(2)            A member of the public alluded to the suggested funding of school crossing patrols by the schools, but advised how the budgets for Thrybergh Primary School had been slashed.  She asked if the Council was prepared to reconsider funding a school crossing patrol to safeguard the safety of Thrybergh children.

Councillor Watson, Deputy Leader, explained it was a similar picture for all schools across the borough with the cuts to the formula funding.  The Council too were affected by the cuts to the funding it received, but he gave his assurance he would investigate and report back.

To receive the record of proceedings of the Cabinet and Commissioners’ Decision Making Meeting held on 10 April 2017.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the Cabinet and Commissioners’ Decision Making Meeting held on 10^th April, 2017, be agreed as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

To receive a report detailing the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board in respect of items subject to pre-decision scrutiny on 5 May 2017:

·         Asset Management Strategy and Policy

·         Building Stronger Communities

·         Flag Protocol for Riverside House and Rotherham Town Hall

Consideration was given to the report which detailed the outcome of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 5th May, 2017 to scrutinise the following reports on this agenda for consideration.

·             Property Asset Management Strategy and Policy.

·             Building Stronger Communities.

·             Flag Protocol for Riverside House and Rotherham Town Hall.

Having reviewed the papers and the recommendations, the Board made its resolutions, which would be considered, taken account of and incorporated as part of the decision making on each report on this agenda.

Resolved:-  That Cabinet and Commissioners have regard to the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board when making decisions in respect of the above matters.

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment

Cabinet Member:     Councillor Lelliott (in advisory role)

Commissioner:         Kenny

Recommendations:

1.    That the Asset Management Policy and Strategy be agreed.

2.    That the Asset Management Policy and Strategy be referred to Council.

Consideration was given to the report which set out in detail how the Council’s Land and Property Assets were not only buildings that supported service delivery, but valuable assets that could further the delivery of the Council’s plans and objectives, particularly in achieving a modern, efficient Council.

This report defined the proposed Council Policy and Strategy to guide the use of the Council’s Land and Property Assets. It proposed the Council’s approach to the management, usage and development of the Council’s Land and Property Assets in supporting the Council’s Corporate Plan and the Asset Management Improvement Plan.

The report also proposed that the Council adopted the five Asset Management Policy Principles described below for the management and development of the Council’s Land and Property:-

·             Asset Management Principle 1 (AMP1): Enabling delivery of the Council’s services and priorities.

·             Asset Management Principle 2 (AMP2): Supporting Economic Growth, Housing Growth and Town Centre Regeneration.

·             Asset Management Principle 3 (AMP3): Maximising the opportunities that are available through the ‘one public estate’.

·             Asset Management Principle 4 (AMP4): Developing growth income from commercial/non-operational activities.

·             Asset Management Principle 5 (AMP5): Maximising the range of benefits through the commissioning of property projects and property services.

The expected outputs and the Asset Management Strategy to achieve these outputs was contained and set out in detail as part of Appendix 1.

The Assessment Management Policy and Strategy would create the opportunity to work with partners and develop partnership arrangements alongside the new areas of governance created for housing and regeneration.

As part of the pre-scrutiny process the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board had supported the recommendations, but suggested an update report be submitted in November, 2017 detailing the link between this Strategy and the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Commissioner Kenny agreed:-  (1)  That the Asset Management Policy and Strategy be approved.

(2)  That the Asset Management Policy and Strategy be referred to Council.

(3)  That an update report be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board in November, 2017 detailing the link between this Strategy and the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive

Cabinet Member:     Councillor Read

Commissioner:         Ney (in advisory role)

Recommendations:

1.    That the draft Building Stronger Communities strategy be agreed, subject to any amendments.

2.    That the establishment of a Stronger Communities Forum within the structures of Rotherham Together Partnership, to be chaired by the Leader of the Council, be endorsed.

3.    That the establishment of a Building Stronger Communities small grants fund, to be overseen by the forum be endorsed. 

Consideration was given to the report which detailed how organisations and agencies across Rotherham were working to support stronger, more cohesive and inclusive local communities.  The Council’s work in this area was a key priority within the Rotherham Improvement Plan, which called for the development of a corporate policy statement on community cohesion. 

Other partners, were all seeking to work in the interests of building stronger communities so that the needs of different areas and demographic groups were better understood and services could be better targeted.

The draft “Building Stronger Communities” Strategy appended to this report aimed to provide clear direction for a number of workstreams broadly focused on the cohesion/stronger communities agenda.   A draft action plan was also attached setting out a range of actions and milestones across the strategy’s key themes, which were:-

·                A strong civic community and pride of place.

·                Bringing people together.

·                Our rights and responsibilities towards each other.

·                Expanding opportunity and economic security.

Whilst acknowledging the Council’s central role in relation to community cohesion, the strategy had a clear emphasis on partnership working and – critically – on meaningfully engaging with local communities so that they could help shape the approach. 

It was proposed, therefore, that a Stronger Communities Forum (SCF) was established.  This would be chaired by the Council Leader, reflecting the Council’s pivotal community leadership role, but with membership primarily comprised of community representatives as well as partner public service organisations. 

The need for a small grants programme was also identified in the action plan.  An application for external funding had been made to resource this programme, which would be overseen by the Stronger Communities Forum.  Rotherham Together Partnership had also agreed an additional fund for the programme. 

Councillor Hoddinott, Chair of the Safer Rotherham Partnership, welcomed this document and highlighted the work taking place which underpinned much of this Strategy and a number of projects which were being supported.

Councillor Yasseen also welcomed this document as it provided clarity and a sense of direction and facilitates working together to support stronger, more cohesive and inclusive local communities and neighbourhoods.

As part of the pre-scrutiny process the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board supported the recommendations to Cabinet.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the draft Building Stronger Communities Strategy be agreed, subject to any amendments.

(2)  That the establishment of a Stronger Communities Forum within the structures of Rotherham Together Partnership, to be chaired by the Leader of the Council, be endorsed.

(3) That the establishment of a Building Stronger Communities small grants fund, to be overseen by the Forum be endorsed.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive

Cabinet Member:     Councillor Alam

Commissioner:         Ney (in advisory role)

Recommendation:

That the Flag Protocol for Riverside House and Rotherham Town Hall be approved and adopted.

Consideration was given to the report that detailed how, following a number of enquiries and requests to fly alternative flags, a protocol had been prepared to establish a calendar of dates on which flags should be flown, the circumstances of how those flags should be flown and any associated decision making in respect of flying flags outside of the terms of the protocol.

Whilst the general principle applied by the Authority was to follow the advice provided by Central Government, a framework for local decision making in respect of the flying of flags would assist in the determination of any additional requests.

This report, therefore, sought the approval and adoption of a protocol to govern the flying of flags at Riverside House and Rotherham Town Hall.

As part of the pre-scrutiny process the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board had supported the recommendations, subject to the schedule of dates for flying flags to make provision for the Union Flag to be flown always as the principal flag.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Flag Protocol for Riverside House and Rotherham Town Hall be approved and adopted.

(2)  That the schedule of dates for flying flags make provision for the Union Flag to be flown always as the principal flag.

To consider changing the date and time of the next Cabinet and Commissioners’ Decision Making Meeting, which is currently scheduled for Monday 12 June 2017 at 10.00 a.m.  It is proposed that the meeting should be re-scheduled to be held on Monday 26 June 2017 at 10.00 a.m.

Resolved:-  That the date and time of the next Cabinet and Commissioners’ Decision Making Meeting, currently scheduled for Monday, 12th June, 2017 be re-scheduled to be held on Monday, 26th June, 2017 at 10.00 a.m.