Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations made at the meeting.

There were no questions from the public or the press.

1.            Recycling in Rotherham – Adrian Gabriel, Waste Strategy Manager, to report.

2.            Feedback from Town Centre Renaissance Tour – Paul Woodcock, Director of Planning and Regeneration.

3.            Whiston Crossroads Update – Dave Cooper, Network Manager, to report.

(i)                 Recycling in Rotherham

Adrian Gabriel, Waste Strategy Manager, reported on developments since September 2003 to meet the demands of the recycling agenda with reference to the following:-

-                      blue box collections

-                      newspaper and magazine collection

-                      green bins

-                      alternate week collection and proposed inclusion of rural properties

-                      bulky items collection

-                      bring sites

-                      involvement of schools

-                      current performance

-                      new contractual arrangements for disposal:-  interim waste treatment and disposal;  green waste;  paper;  glass, cans and textiles

-                      Duty of Care

It was confirmed that all recyclable materials collected separately by the Council, along with that separated by both Sterecycle and Veolia through their facilities, are sent to re-processors, and that none of these materials are sent to landfill.

Reference was also made to:-

-                      difficulties over the 2008 Christmas period

-                      doorstep collection of plastics

-                      the need to further encourage of PFI schools to be involved in recycling

(ii)               Feedback from Town Centre Renaissance Tour

Paul Woodcock, Director of Planning and Regeneration, reported on the tour of the town centre renaissance projects made by Members of the Panel and officers on 29^th January, 2009.

Issues highlighted included:-

The river boom:-  British Waterways had confirmed that the boom was cleaned regularly and that its function was to catch barges from the canal.  As this was an essential piece of the waterways infrastructure it may be costly to move because of the engineering involved.  A response from British Waterways was awaited.

Imperial building:- viewing of the apartments

Apartments on the Old Market site:  had won an award in the Yorkshire and Humber Buildings of Excellence Awards

Westgate Demonstrator area – public realm works were proposed to start later this year on the streetscape and infrastructure

Westgate Chambers building:-  the Council had acquired most of this building through the Housing Market Renewal Programme and work was on-going to develop a scheme with Iliad.

Natwest building and Deck of Cards/Site 5:-  was also being programmed in with Iliad

Fusion@Magna:  had also won an award in the Yorkshire and Humber Buildings of Excellence Awards and would go forward to the national competition

 Members present also discussed the following:-

-                      High Street

-                      Council’s powers to Compulsory Purchase properties

-                      Lack of visibility of the market from the bus station/Boots square

-                      Location and value of mobile food traders

-                      Entrance to the market/Boots/fountain area

-                      Corporation Street:- frontages of privately owned buildings in need of attention and also burned out buildings

-                      Responsibilities of private property owners

-                      Improvements to the railway station scheduled to start in November 2009

-                      Use of screening and art work for empty properties

It was also reported that the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services and representatives from the Chamber conducted monthly town centre walkabouts to look at a range of issues.

Resolved:-  That the Director of Planning and Regeneration provide a further update to the April meeting of the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel.

(iii)             Whiston Crossroads update  ...  view the full minutes text for item 123.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting of the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel held on 6^th February, 2009.

It was noted that at this meeting Councillor Swift, Vice-Chair, had asked about the comments that were made at the consultation meetings which he chaired, and it was confirmed that these had now been received.

Resolved:-  That the minutes be approved as a correct record.

Ken Wheat, Transportation Unit Manager, to report.

Ken Wheat, Transportation Unit Manager, reported the progress made in implementing the Scrutiny Review into ‘Developing and Planning in Highways’.

The Panel’s attention was drawn to Appendix A to the submitted report which set out each of the Scrutiny Review’s recommendations to which had been added suggestions for proposed action, target date, links to Corporate themes and strategies, benefits and risks, cost implications and the recommendations of both Corporate Management Team and the Cabinet.

The Transportation Unit Manager provided an update and commentary relating to the progress in implementing certain of the recommendations, and also explained reasons for those which it had been agreed should not be implemented.

Members of the Panel commented on:-

-                      Gateways and other schemes which had been supported by funding from HMR

-                      the impending Scrutiny Review of the Image of Rotherham

-                      Design Code

-                      review of Cabinet Member portfolios

-                      agreed definition and scope i.e. new schemes costing more than £150,000 and affecting more than one Ward

-                      opportunity to review schemes post-implementation, and possibly amend in the light of experience of their operation

-                      improved working with both Area Assemblies and Parish Council

-                      the overall value of the Scrutiny Review.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be noted, and that the Transportation Unit Manager provide illustrations of schemes where there had been joint working with Housing Market Renewal to inform the Scrutiny Review of the Image of Rotherham.

(2)       That the review of South Yorkshire Design Guidance being carried out as part of the Local Development Framework process, when completed, be referred to the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel.

Dave Cooper, Network Manager, to report.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Network Principal Engineer, detailing the progress on implementation of the programmed improvements across the Principal Road Network.

The report detailed the Major Strategic Capital Investment for the improvement of Principal Roads across Rotherham to be delivered over a three year period 2008-2011, which had been approved by the Council following wide-spread public concern about the road conditions in Rotherham.

Reference was also made to the national performance indicator NI 168 for Principal Road condition and targets for 2009, 2010 and 2011.

The report highlighted for the Panel’s attention issues relating to the A630 Centenary Way between Canklow Road and Sheffield Road roundabout which was in need of reconstruction with the removal of all the expansive materials below the road surface.   Details of the historical use of the steel slag materials were set out in the report and reference to similar roads in neighbouring local authorities was made.

The Transportation Unit Manager added that following the submission of a bid to the DfT confirmation had been received that exceptional funding had been granted.  However, approval by the Treasury was yet to be received.

Resolved:-  That a further progress report be submitted to the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel in six months time.

Martin Beard, Parking Services Manager, to report.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by Martin Beard, Parking Services Manager, updating the Scrutiny Panel on the Council’s Parking Services position following the introduction of the Traffic Management Act in March 2008.

It was confirmed that the mandatory changes had all been adopted by the Council.

Particular reference was made to:-

-                      Parking Attendants being called Civil Enforcement Officers and their role as Ambassadors

-                      Changes to regulations and guidance:-  noting that guidance on signage re:  dropped footways and double parking was awaited

-                      Publication of parking policies on the website

-                      Emphasis on staff training

-                      Publication of certain items of financial and statistical information at the end of the financial year

-                      Compliance of documentation

-                      Introduction of flexible shifts

-                      income

-                      Differential levels of penalty charges

-                      Accordance with the South Yorkshire Local Transport Plan

Members raised and discussed the following issues:-

-                      reduction in number of parking issues raised at Area Assemblies

-                      impact of the flexible shifts

-                      income

-                      scrutiny review of parking outside schools

-                      temporary Traffic Regulation Order covering schools in Maltby

-                      requests for areas of free parking in Rotherham in response to the economic downturn, whilst noting the significant impact this would have on the budget

-                      local agreement between Wentworth Valley Area Assembly and the Police about parking enforcement outside of the new civic centre and swimming pool in Maltby

-                      parking at ‘T’ junctions particularly in rural areas

-                      cost and ease of parking in the town centre

-                      joint ticketing initiatives i.e. parking plus cinema or supermarket

-                      cost of parking in comparison to neighbouring local authorities

Resolved:-  That the report be noted.

Further to Minute No. 49 of the Joint meeting of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services and the Cabinet Member for Streetpride held on 16^th February, 2009, consideration was given to a report, presented by Paul Woodcock, Director of Planning and Regeneration, detailing the performance against budget of the Environment and Development Services Directorate as at the end of December, 2008.  A forecast for the whole of the 2008/2009 financial year was also reported.

Details were given of the reasons for the projected overspend, noting that these primarily represented a combination of the energy cost price increase and the net shortfall on Planning Service fee income budgets.

Further details were explained in the report relating to savings and measures to offset this shortfall noting that the Directorate was particularly exposed to market influences.  Reference was made to further simple measures to reduce energy e.g. stickers under light switches.

The Panel acknowledged the work within the Directorate to bring this budget closer to balance and noted that regular information about the budget was now being received by Members.

Resolved:-  That the report be received.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by Ken Wheat, Transportation Unit Manager, relating to the South Yorkshire Second Local Transport Plan Progress Delivery Report 2008 and the responses from the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber.

A table within the report detailed the progress and performance against both mandatory and Local Transport Plan 2 indicators.  It was reported that performance was mostly on track.  However the initiatives were not fully producing the desired move from private car to public transport.

Particular reference was made to:-

-                      SYLI 1 - % of non-car trips to Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham centres

-                      Falling number of people per quarter using the interchange by bus

Members present commented on:-

-                      Establishment of South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority

-                      Proposal for a free bus around the town centre and link to Parkgate shopping

-                      Improved bus services, particularly in the Dearne Valley

-                      Lack of rail capacity in South and West Yorkshire

-                      Bus Rapid Transit proposal

Resolved:-  That the progress and performance, together with the explanations alongside each indicator, be noted.

Consideration was given to the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period from 1^st February to 31^st May, 2009.

The following issues were commented on:-

-                      Bulky items Price Review

-                      Fly tipping

Resolved:-  (1)  That the contents of the Forward Plan be noted.

(2)  That a report be submitted to the April 2009 meeting of the Panel in respect of bulky items and fly tipping.

-                      28^th January, 2009.   (copy attached)

-                      13^th February, 2009.  (copy attached)

Consideration was given to the minutes of meetings of the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee held as follows:-

-                      28^th January, 2009

-                      13^th February, 2009

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.

-                      2^nd February, 2009.  (copy attached)

-                      16^th February, 2009.  (copy attached)

Consideration was given to the minutes of meetings of the Cabinet Member for Streetpride held as follows:-

-                      2^nd February, 2009

-                      16^th February, 2009

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.

-                      2^nd February, 2009.  (copy attached)

-                      16^th February, 2009.  (copy attached)

Consideration was given to the minutes of Joint Meetings of the Cabinet Members for Regeneration and Development Services and Streetpride held as follows:-

-                      2^nd February, 2009

-                      16^th February, 2009

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.

-                      2^nd February, 2009.  (copy attached)

-                      16^th February, 2009.  (copy attached)

Consideration was given to the minutes of meetings of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services held as follows:-

-                      2^nd February, 2009

Reference was made to:-

(i)  Minute No. 179 Knollbeck Lane, Brampton re: use of vertical traffic calming and it was suggested that other measures might be considered e.g. mobile speed camera/speed check van.

Ken Wheat, Transportation Unit Manager, explained that vertical traffic calming was one of the tools in the Road Safety Tool Kit and was used throughout South Yorkshire where problems of road safety were identified.  Partly as a consequence the three BVPI’s in the Local Transport Progress report (Minute No. 180) re:  Killed or Seriously Injured, were all on track to meet the targets set out in the SYLTP.

(ii)               Minute No. 180(3) re:  Pleasley Road – pedestrian access to Ulley Country Park

It was confirmed that a report on this issue would be submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services which would assess justification for resources.

-                      16^th February, 2009

(ii)               All Saints Square/Big Screen Wrap

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services reported that he had visited the artist who was working on the pillars and lights and work was progressing well.  Also a report about the Wrap for the back of the Big Screen would shortly be submitted to the Planning Board.

It was hoped that the enhancements would be in place by late Spring or early Summer.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.