Agenda, decisions and minutes

To invite Councillors 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 receive questions from members of the public who wish to ask a general question in respect of matters within the Council’s area of responsibility or influence.

Subject to the Chair’s discretion, members of the public may ask one question and one supplementary question, which should relate to the original  ...  view the full agenda text for item 36.

A question was received from Mr Smith who referred Cabinet to the minutes of 11th July, 2022, in particular the section on questions from members of the public.  He indicated that Councillor Bennett-Sylvester raised a question in relation to the Council’s Housing Strategy regarding the loss of green space and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

To receive the record of proceedings of the Cabinet meeting held on 11 July 2022.

It was noted that the minutes of the previous meeting should have included apologies from Councillor Clark rather than confirmation of attendance.

Resolved:-

That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 11th July, 2022, as amended, be approved as a true and correct record of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

Agenda Item 12 has exempt appendices. Therefore, if necessary, when considering those items, the Chair will move the following resolution:-

That under Section 100(A) 4 of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves  ...  view the full agenda text for item 38.

The Chair advised that Appendix 1 and 2 to Minute No. 46 contained exempt information, however, the meeting remained open to the public and press throughout.

Report from the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health.

Recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet approve the creation of a Flexible Purchasing System (FPS) to ensure that for the development of future Supported Living contracts, providers are aligned to Rotherham’s vision of providing housing for people with learning disabilities  ...  view the full agenda text for item 39.

Consideration was given to the report which proposed that Rotherham developed a Flexible Purchasing System (FPS) for supported living. The aim of the FPS was to achieve high quality supported living provision across the Borough; flexibility for suppliers to be added to the FPS at any stage of its lifetime;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Report from the Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services.

Recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet notes the progress and additional capital funding provided to support the opening of the specialist Social, Emotional, Mental Health (SEMH)  Free School in the Borough.

Consideration was given to the report which provided an update on progress towards the opening of a specialist Social, Emotional, Mental Health (SEMH) Free School in Rotherham. In November 2020, Cabinet had approved the proposal to develop the school and re-build Newman Upper School. In 2021, the Regional School Commissioner  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

Report from the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the current General Fund Revenue Budget forecast overspend of £11.4m.

2.    Note that actions will continue to be taken to reduce the overspend position but that it is expected that the Council will need to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 41.

Consideration was given to the report which set out the financial position as at the end of July 2022 and was based on the actual costs and income for the first 4 months of 2022/23 and forecast for the remainder of the financial year.

Members noted that financial performance was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

Report from the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet approve the application for Discretionary Business Rate Relief for Rotherham Abuse Counselling Service in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 to this report for the 2022/23 financial year.

The Council had received an application for the award of Business Rates Discretionary Relief for Rotherham Abuse Counselling Service. In line with the Council’s Business Rates Discretionary Relief Policy, having regard to the financial cost of the proposed relief, the charitable use of premise and the contribution that the organisation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet endorses the Safer Rotherham Partnership Plan and recommends it to Council for approval.

2.    That Cabinet notes the requirement for scrutiny of the Safer Rotherham Partnership Annual Report, which is discharged by the Overview and Scrutiny Management  ...  view the full agenda text for item 43.

Consideration was given to the report which sought Cabinet endorsement of the Safer Rotherham Partnership Plan. The Safer Rotherham Partnership (SRP) had agreed the plan, setting out priorities and commitments for the period 1st April, 2022, to 31st March, 2025. The Council was a key statutory partner of the SRP.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

1. That Cabinet approve the revised Health and Safety Policy (attached as Appendix 1).

Consideration was given to the report which sought approval for the revised Health and Safety Policy. The report also summarised the statutory requirement placed on the Council to ensure a Health and Safety Policy was in place that articulated the Council’s approach to managing health and safety.

The aims of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

1. That the Assistant Director for Planning, Regeneration and Transport be authorised to negotiate the acquisition by agreement of the property interests at sites 1a, 1b and 2 at exempt Appendix 1 (principally through Government grants and the Council’s Strategic Acquisitions  ...  view the full agenda text for item 45.

Consideration was given to the report which set out the proposed use of £1 million Strategic Acquisitions Fund that had been approved by Council in March 2021 for the Capital Programme and spend within the Towns Fund. This was reported to Cabinet in March 2022.

The report addressed the need  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

Report from the Assistant Chief Executive.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet note:

1. The overall position in relation to the Year Ahead Delivery Plan activities.
   
   
2. The data for the Council Plan performance measures for the first quarter of 2022-2023.

3. As outlined in paragraph 2.13, agree extended completion dates for the bus, tram and  ...  view the full agenda text for item 46.

Consideration was given to the report which was the second progress report on the Council Plan 2022-25 and the Year Ahead Delivery Plan. As of 25th August, 2022, the activities within the Year Ahead Delivery Plan were rated as follows:

·     32% (29) complete

·     51% (47) were on track to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

Report from the Assistant Chief Executive.

Recommendations:

1. That subject to the receipt of final grant guidance and allocation of grant, that provisional allocations of the Household Support Fund Grant of £2.489m be made as follows:

a)    £899k for food vouchers to children eligible for free school meals for school holidays  ...  view the full agenda text for item 47.

Consideration was given to the report which provided an update on the Household Support Fund which had been extended again to the end of March 2023 following a Government announcement. Draft grant guidance had been provided but no details of the grant amount were yet available. However, based on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

To receive a report detailing the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board in respect of the above items that were subject to pre-decision scrutiny on 14 September 2022.

Consideration was given to the circulated report, the contents of which were included as part of the relevant items and the details included accordingly.

The next meeting of the Cabinet will be held on Monday 17 October 2022 commencing at 10.00am in Rotherham Town Hall.

Resolved:-

That the next meeting of the Cabinet be held on Monday 17 October 2022, commencing at 10am.

Resolved:-

That the next meeting of the Cabinet be held on Monday, 17th October, 2022, commencing at 10.00 a.m. in Rotherham Town Hall.