Agenda, decisions and draft 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 67.

There were two questions from members of the public:

1.    Mr Ashraf asked the Chair to commit to providing documentation to his email address from the second sub-OSMB meeting held on 30 April 2024 and the appendices of the OSMB recommendations of 24 July 2024. Mr Ashraf also asked for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

To receive the record of proceedings of the Cabinet meeting held on 14 October 2024.

Resolved:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 14 October 2024 be approved as a true and correct record of the proceedings and signed by the Chair.

There are no exempt items on the agenda.

The Chair advised that there were no items of business on the agenda that would require the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting.

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

Recommendations

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the progress made to deliver the in-house children’s residential development, the positive impact for Children in Care and financial efficiencies that will be achieved.

2.    Approve the Care Leavers addendum to the Looked After  ...  view the full agenda text for item 70.

Consideration was given to the report which detailed the proposed addendum to the Looked After Children and Care Leavers Sufficiency Strategy 2023-2028 which summarised the needs of Care Leavers. The report also included an update to the LAC Sufficiency Strategy delivery plan to better reflect the needs of Care Leavers.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

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

Recommendations:

That Cabinet approve the Leaving Care Strategy and approve the three-year plan as set out within the Strategy.

Consideration was given to the report which presented the Rotherham Leaving Care Strategy 2024-27. The Strategy outlined the three-year plan for Rotherham Care Leavers and set out priorities for care experienced young people. It also outlined improvements to services and practice for children who were Care Leavers or Care Experienced.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

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

Recommendations

1.    That Cabinet endorse the South Yorkshire Multi Agency Safeguarding arrangements which include the place-based Rotherham Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (RSCP) Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements.

2.    That Cabinet approve the Local Authority involvement in the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements and receives  ...  view the full agenda text for item 72.

Consideration was given to the report which contained changes to and updated information relating to the place-based arrangements for the Rotherham Safeguarding Children Partnership (RSCP), which

included additional arrangements for South Yorkshire Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements. The previous arrangements were published in 2019 and had been updated to reflect the changes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

Report from the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the current General Fund Revenue Budget forecast overspend of £5.3m.

2.    Note that actions will continue to be taken to reduce the overspend position but that it is possible that the Council will need to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 73.

Consideration was given to the report which stated that the Council currently estimated an overspend of £5.3m for the financial year 2024/25. This was largely due to demand led pressures on children’s residential placements, adults social care packages, home to school transport and the expected impact of the Local Government  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

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

Recommendations

That Cabinet:

1.    Approve the Housing Services Repairs and Maintenance Policy (Appendix 1).

2.    Approve the increase in decoration allowance from £25 to £50 per room, up to a maximum of £350 per property, as proposed in  ...  view the full agenda text for item 74.

Consideration was given to the report which presented the Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy, attached to the report at Appendix 1. The revised Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy set out the Council’s approach to delivering a responsive repairs and maintenance service which met the needs of tenants and leaseholders, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.

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

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the increase in homelessness and growing demand for temporary accommodation and the work being undertaken by the Council to respond to this demand.

2.    Approve the adoption of the new Temporary Accommodation Placement  ...  view the full agenda text for item 75.

Consideration was given to the report which sought approval of a new Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy as attached at Appendix 1. The report set out the objectives and principles that were reflected in the Policy and explained how the Council intended to meet its statutory obligations under the Housing Act  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

Report from the Assistant Chief Executive. 

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the provisional allocations of the Household Support Fund Grant of £2.489m have been made as follows:

a.    £1.028m for food vouchers to children eligible for free school meals for school holidays up to and including Easter 2025.

b.    £1.156m  ...  view the full agenda text for item 76.

Consideration was given to the report which explained that the Household Support Fund (HSF) had been extended by Government from October 2024 to March 2025, with £421m of funding available in England. Consistent with previous awards, the Council had been awarded £2.489m for the Borough for

this time period.

Given  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

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 13 November 2024.

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 16 December 2024 commencing at 10.00am in Rotherham Town Hall.

Resolved:-

That the next meeting of the Cabinet be held on 16 December 2024, commencing at 10.00am.