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 112.

There were two questions from Councillors:

1.    Councillor Bennett-Sylvester asked why the proposed budget included a half price offer for over-65’s to go swimming but the offer was not being extended to children?

The Leader stated that there were already a number of discount arrangements in place for a number  ...  view the full minutes text for item 112.

To receive the record of proceedings of the Cabinet meeting held on 19 January 2026.

Resolved:-

That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 19 January 2026 be approved as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

There are no exempt items.

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 Executive Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approve the permanent funding of the schemes that were previously part of the Discharge Grant commitments for 2026/27 and recurrently from 2027/28.

2.    Note the cost of extending the schemes will be £838k in  ...  view the full agenda text for item 115.

Consideration was given to the report which provided an update on the Local Authority Better Care Fund Discharge Grant. In January 2023, Central Government announced additional funding through a new £200m Discharge Grant for Local Authorities. The fund was intended to increase capacity in post discharge care and support and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 115.

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

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the high level of satisfaction with the baby packs, particularly in relation to the quality and usefulness of the items provided.

2.    Approve an open procurement exercise to ensure continuity of registering and  ...  view the full agenda text for item 116.

Consideration was given to the report which provided an update on the progress of the Rotherham Baby Pack Scheme pilot and sought approval to recommission the scheme for a further period of up to four years. On 28 February 2024, the Council approved the Budget for 2024/25, including provision to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 116.

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

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the performance and progress to date on SEND Sufficiency in line with the commitments within the Safety Valve Agreement.

2.    Approve the SEND Sufficiency Strategy 2026-2029 (Appendix 1) for implementation from April 2026.

Consideration was given to the report which provided a review of performance against the current Special Educational Need and Disability (SEND) Sufficiency Strategy as set out in the Local Authority’s Safety Valve Agreement (2021-2026). It established that the actions set out within the Safety Valve agreement had been achieved, contributing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 117.

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

Recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet note the contents of the Rotherham SCP Annual Assurance Report 2024/25.

Consideration was given to the report which presented the Rotherham Safeguarding Children’s Partnership Annual Report for 2024/25. Each Local Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (SCP) was required to produce and publish an annual assurance report. The annual assurance report, dated September 2025 and covering the period April 2024 to March 2025, was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 118.

Report from the Executive Director of Corporate Services.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approve the Inclusion Strategy 2026-30.

2.    Approve the action plan for February 2026 to March 2027.

3.    Note the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report 2024-2025.

Consideration was given to the report which summarised the Council’s new Inclusion Strategy which updated the previous Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy. Building on the vision of the Council Plan of creating inclusive growth, the new Strategy set out the Council’s approach to addressing inclusion-related issues, ensuring services were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 119.

Report from the Executive Director of Corporate Services.

Recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet approve the applications for Discretionary Business Rate Relief for the organisations listed in Appendix 1 of this report and in accordance with the details set out in Section 6 to this report, for the 2026/27 financial year.

Consideration was given to the report which asked Cabinet to consider the renewal applications for the awards of Discretionary Business Rate Relief for the organisations and premises listed in Appendix 1 of the report. This was in accordance with the Council’s Discretionary Business Rates Relief Policy, approved by Officer Delegated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 120.

Report from the Executive Director of Corporate Services.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the current General Fund Revenue Budget forecast overspend of £3.4m.

2.    Note the projected overspend and that whilst the Council aims to manage this pressure, should that not be possible use of reserves will be required to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 121.

Consideration was given to the report which set out the financial position as at the end of December 2025 and forecast for the remainder of the financial year, based on actual costs and income for the first nine months of 2025/26. Financial performance was a key element within the assessment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 121.

Report from the Executive Director of Corporate Services.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet recommend to Council:

1.    Approval of the Budget and Financial Strategy for 2026/27 as set out in the report and appendices, including a basic Council Tax increase of 1.95% and an Adult Social Care precept increase of 2%.

2.  ...  view the full agenda text for item 122.

Consideration was given to the report which presented the Council’s Budget and Council Tax for 2026/27, based on the Council’s Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2026/27, budget consultation and the consideration of Directorate budget proposals. A review of the financial planning assumptions within the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 122.

Report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Accepts the £11.35 million CRSTS funding from SYMCA to progress the Full Business Case for Rotherham Gateway Station.

2.    Grants approval to consult as necessary on the outputs of the Full Business Case as they are developed  ...  view the full agenda text for item 123.

Consideration was given to the report which provided an update in relation to the Rotherham Gateway Station proposals. The Council was working with partners to promote the development of Rotherham Gateway Station. This mainline and tram-train station would be a catalyst for growth, improving local, regional, and national rail connectivity  ...  view the full minutes text for item 123.

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 3 and 4 February.  

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 March 2026 commencing at 10.00am in Rotherham Town Hall.

Resolved:-

The next meeting of the Cabinet would be held on 16 March 2026, commencing at 10.00am.