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.

Councillor Cusworth and Councillor Williams declared a non-pecuniary interest in Minute No. 90 (HRA Business Plan, Rent Setting and Service Charges 2026-27) on the grounds that family members were Council tenants. Both remained in the chamber and voted on the matter.

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 84.

There were no members of the public present at the meeting and no questions submitted in writing.

To receive the record of proceedings of the Cabinet meeting held on 17 November 2025.

Resolved:-

That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 17 November 2025 be approved as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

There are no items on the agenda that require the exclusion of the Press and Public.

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 Adult Care, Housing and Public Health.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet approve publication of the new Rotherham Council Adult Social Care Mental Health Strategy 2026 -2029.

Consideration was given to the report which outlined the outcomes of the consultation on the future vision, themes and priorities for mental health and presented the first Rotherham Council Adult Social Care Mental Health Strategy 2026-2029. Cabinet had approved a new operating model for the Council’s Mental Health Service in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

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

Recommendation:

That Cabinet approves the Borough that Cares All-Age Carers Strategy 2026-2031 which is due to be launched in April 2026.

Consideration was given to the report which sought approval of the Borough that Cares All-Age Carers Strategy 2026-2031. In July 2022, the Rotherham Health and Wellbeing Board approved the Borough That Cares Strategic Framework 2022-2025. The strategic framework created a foundation of support, improved information and advice, established a carers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

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

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Note the outcome of the consultation.

2. Approve implementation of the Adult Social Care – Charging for Care and Support Policy (Appendix 2) from 1 April 2026

3. Retain a maximum charge for non-residential care, but align  ...  view the full agenda text for item 89.

Consideration was given to the report which set out the basis for the proposal to amend the Council’s Charging Policy and provided an update on the Adult Social Care Charging Policy consultation which sought views on a new combined charging policy for residential and non-residential care. The report also outlined  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

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

Recommendations:

1.             Agree that affordable rents are calculated at relet, based on an individual property valuation.

2.             Agree that affordable rents are increased by 4.8% in 2026/27.

3.             Agree that shared ownership rents are increased by 5% in  ...  view the full agenda text for item 90.

Consideration was given to the report which presented the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Plan, Rent Setting and Service Changes 2026-27 for endorsement and recommendation to Council. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) recorded all expenditure and income relating to the provision of Council housing and related services, and the Council was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90.

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

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Approves the recommissioning and procurement of Housing First for a five-year contract term on a 3 year plus up to 2-year basis.

2. Note the intention through the recommission to align more closely to the principles  ...  view the full agenda text for item 91.

Consideration was given to the report which set out recommendations for the future commissioning of Housing First provision in Rotherham. Housing First was a non-statutory, established approach to supporting residents to move away from long term homelessness. It provided intensive support where the provider also sourced suitable accommodation for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

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

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Note the outcome of the review work undertaken to date.
   
   
2. Note the intention to complete a viability study on future models of delivery and report back to Cabinet in Spring 2027, for a decision post  ...  view the full agenda text for item 92.

Consideration was given to the report which provided an update on the continued work to scope the future delivery model for Repairs and Maintenance Services in Rotherham. The Council’s Housing Repairs and Maintenance Service, contracted out since 2010, continued to deliver strong performance and value for money. The current contracts  ...  view the full minutes text for item 92.

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Note the review of performance against the 2021–2026 Library Strategy, including key achievements and challenges identified during the Strategy period.

2. Approve the undertaking of a period of consultation with the public, partners, stakeholders and interested parties on the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 93.

Consideration was given to the report which provided a review of performance against the 2021–2026 Library Strategy and its associated objectives and performance targets. It established that the majority of actions and objectives set out within the Strategy had been achieved, contributing to the Council’s wider ambitions for thriving neighbourhoods,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Endorses the formal adoption of the Rotherham Employment and Skills Strategy 2026-31.

2. Notes that the Rotherham Employment and Skills Board is tasked with overseeing the delivery and monitoring of the Strategy and with reporting on progress to Cabinet  ...  view the full agenda text for item 94.

Consideration was given to the report which presented the Rotherham Employment and Skills Strategy for endorsement. The current Rotherham Employment and Skills Strategy was adopted in 2019. Since the adoption of the Strategy the social, economic and policy contexts have changed significantly, including changes in the work, health and skills  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94.

Report from the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Approve the inclusion of the Rotherham Borough within the regional South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funded programme and Rotherham Council’s role in its procurement and delivery.

2. Delegate authority to the Assistant  ...  view the full agenda text for item 95.

Consideration was given to the report which provided detail on the proposal that Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council participate in the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund programme. This initiative, supported by Government funding, aimed to accelerate the deployment of public electric vehicle (EV) charging  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.

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 10 December 2025.

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 19 January 2026 commencing at 10.00am in Rotherham Town Hall.

Resolved:-

That the next meeting of the Cabinet be held on Monday 19 January 2026, commencing at 10.00am.