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 18.

Mr A Mahmood enquired that as the proposed new burial site at East Herringthorpe had been declared unfit for purpose by the Environment Agency, could the public be informed as to what the Council’s plans were going forward?

Councillor Alam explained his understanding was that concerns had been raised by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To receive the record of proceedings of the Cabinet meeting held on 19 June 2023.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 June 2023 be approved as a true and correct of the proceedings with the inclusion of the additional information requested in Minute number 168. Scrutiny Review Recommendations - Modern Slavery.

Agenda Item 7 has an exempt appendix. 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(s) of business on the grounds that it  ...  view the full agenda text for item 20.

The Chair advised that appendices to Minute No. 181 contained exempt information, however, the meeting remained open to the public and press throughout.

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

Recommendations:

That the Cabinet note the content of the report and recommends that Council:

1. Notes the decision Council took in March 2023 to increase the District Heating unit charge to 20.68 per Kwh for 2023-24 so that an  ...  view the full agenda text for item 21.

Consideration was given to the report which recommended a revision to the District Heating charges for 2023-24. In March 2023 Council agreed as part of the annual budget setting process to increase charges in line with what was then the Governments energy price guarantee. There had now been a change  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

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

Recommendations:

1. That Cabinet approves the additional Council-owned sites listed in Appendix 1 being brought forward to deliver new Council homes.

2. That Cabinet approves the purchase of homes from the additional schemes identified in Exempt Appendix 2.

3. That Cabinet  ...  view the full agenda text for item 22.

Consideration was given to the report which provided an update on the Housing Delivery Programme, summarising progress since the previous programme report was approved by Cabinet in January 2023. Several changes were required to the programme and renewed approvals were sought accordingly. An updated list of sites proposed for development  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

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

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Notes the proposed approach to undertaking a review of the Aids and Adaptations Assistance Policy and the intention to return to Cabinet with an updated policy in December 2023.

2.    Delegates authority for all  ...  view the full agenda text for item 23.

Consideration was given to the report which introduced the Council’s proposed approach to the review of the Aids and Adaptations Assistance Policy, which was first introduced in 2015. It also clarified the interim measures for financial approval of all major adaptations costing above the mandatory £30,000 limit.

There had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Report from the Strategic Director for Finance and Customer Service.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Note the revenue outturn position. 

2. Note the budgeted transfer to HRA reserves increased by £2.1m following the revenue and capital outturn positions.

3. Note the carry forward of the combined schools balance of £2.992m in accordance with the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 24.

Consideration was given to the report which outlined the final revenue and capital outturn position for 2022/23. The Council set a balanced budget position for 2022/23 as part of the Budget and Council Tax Report 2022/23 approved at Council 2 March 2022.

Following approval of the budget the Council had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

Report from the Strategic Director for Finance and Customer Service.

Recommendations:

1. To note the Treasury Management Prudential Indicators outturn position as set out in Section 3 and Appendix 1.

2. To agree that the report is forwarded to Audit Committee for information.

Consideration was given to the report which was the final treasury report for 2022/23. It reviewed the treasury activity for 2022/23 against the strategy and covered the actual Prudential Indicators for 2022/23 in accordance with the requirements of the Prudential Code.

It explained that the Council received an annual treasury  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

Report from the Strategic Director for Finance and Customer Service.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet

1.          Note the current General Fund Revenue Budget forecast overspend of £2.0m.

2.          Note that actions will be taken as necessary to reduce the overspend position during the course of the year but that it is possible  ...  view the full agenda text for item 26.

Consideration was given to the report which set out the financial position as at the end of May 2023 and forecast for the remainder of the financial year. As at May 2023, the Council currently estimated an overspend of £2.0m for the financial year 2023/24. This was due to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

Report from the Assistant Chief Executive.

Recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet:

a)    Note the progress made over the past 12 months towards the equalities agenda.

b)    Note the next steps outlined within the Equalities Annual Report and action plan for 2023/24.

Consideration was given to the report which highlighted the progress made over the past year towards the equalities, diversity and inclusion agenda, as well as outlining next steps. The report covered key achievements and case studies from across the Council.

The report covered four themes that were developed inline with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

Report from the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

1. That Cabinet approves the adoption of the Supplementary Planning Documents at Appendices 1 to 5.

2. That Cabinet approves delegation to the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 28.

Consideration was given to the report which sought approval to adopt the following Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD):

·       Developer Contributions

·       Biodiversity Net Gain

·       Trees

·       Preparing a Soils Strategy

·       Development in the Green Belt (Revised)

Rotherham’s Local Plan provided the framework for determining planning applications. Supplementary Planning Documents provided additional detail and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

Report from the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

1.             That Cabinet accept the Principal Areas of Growth allocation of £19,990,111 into the Capital Programme through the Grant Process.

2.             That Cabinet allocate £8,940,564 to the Wath Project.

3.             That Cabinet delegate the Commissioning of the design of the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 29.

Consideration was given to the report which sought approval to develop a programme of works delivering the investment in Wath. This was following the allocation by the Government at Spring Budget 2023, at which Rotherham Council was allocated £19,990,111 in respect of the ‘Principal Areas of Growth’ Levelling Up  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

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 Quarter 4 2022-23 data for the Council Plan performance measures.

3. The performance reporting timetable for the remainder of the 2022-2023 year.

Consideration was given to the report which presented the final quarterly report and updated on progress made on the activities in the Year Ahead Delivery Plan and Council Plan performance measure data for Quarter 4 of the 2022-23 financial year.

It was clarified that 80% of the committed activities had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

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 5 July 2023.

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 7 Aug 2023 commencing at 10.00am in Rotherham Town Hall.

Resolved:-

That the next meeting of the Cabinet be held on Monday 7 August 2023, commencing at 10am.