Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

There were no questions from members of the public or the press.

The following items were raised:-

(i)                   Future work programme

Members of the Panel were requested to give thought to topics they would like including in next year’s work programme or any areas they considered should be reviewed.

(ii)                 April meeting

Consideration was given to the agenda for the next meeting of the Panel which was scheduled for Wednesday, 6^th April, 2011.

The view was expressed that, as there were few agenda items and the short time between meetings, the April meeting should be cancelled.

The next scheduled meeting would therefore be Wednesday, 8^th June, 2011 at 1.30 p.m.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting of the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel held on 23^rd February, 2011.

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

Future of the Advanced Manufacturing Park and its assets

Paul Woodcock, Director of Planning and Regeneration, reported that he had written to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and also telephoned the Director in charge of Yorkshire Forward who had agreed to have discussions about the future of the assets relating to this area.

It was pointed out that the Local Economic Partnership had only recently been established and that was private sector lead.  However the Leader had already had discussions about the AMP and another meeting was planned to put a proposition back to Government about the AMP and its importance to Rotherham, the sub-region and region.

It was also reported that the AMP had been described as a national asset and this put Rotherham in a unique situation as the other YF assets were either to be sold off or retained by the Government (via CLG/HCA).

Stuart Savage, Senior Engineer, to report.

Further to Minute No. 109(3) of the meeting of the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee held on 14^th January, 2011, consideration was given to a report, presented by Stuart Savage, Senior Engineer, relating to the method of assessing requests for controlled pedestrian crossings, the types of crossing available, and the costs involved in the installation of a crossing.

Members questioned the lack of detailed costings in the report and it was explained that these had not been provided due to the fact that the current contract  (G100 – 5 year) for the provision of crossings etc was due to expire in early July and a tendering process would start in the near future for the new contract.  It was also explained that there were no fixed prices and that cost depended on specific criteria at each location and a variety of other factors.  It was also pointed out that the market dictated costs.

Members also pointed out that the requested report needed to include comparative costs of other neighbouring local authorities.

The Senior Engineer provided a detailed breakdown of costs for an example crossing which had been installed in Greasbrough which had totalled in the region of £42,000.  These costs had included provision for:-

-          preliminaries and temporary traffic management

-          cost of working on Sundays and from 9 am to 3 pm during the week

-          site clearance

-          drainage and service ducts in the road

-          earthworks/excavations

-          pavement surfacing

-          kerbs and footways

-          traffic signs and road markings

-          inflation rate built into the actual contract

-          variations to the contract

-          rogue items

The Panel agreed that this should be the subject of a review and information should be made available re:-

-          description of what type of crossing

-          what sort of road

-          detailed breakdown of costs and examples

-          comparative costs from neighbouring local authorities

-          lessons to be learned which might assist the tendering process

Councillors Whysall and Turner volunteered to be members of the review panel.

The Senior Engineer referred the Panel members to:-

-          the criteria

-          the Council’s policy

-          national guidance

-          the formula used to assess each location, together with the adjustments made

-          choice of crossing facility depending on speed and volume of traffic

-          the need to consider provision for blind, partially sighted, mobility impaired pedestrians

-          consideration of the provision of a pedestrian crossing as an accident reduction measure at locations with a concentration of pedestrian accidents

-          priority ranking of requests which met the assessment criteria and production of an annual programme for implementation depending on the amount of available funding

-          current contract

-          variation in costs depending on location (i.e. dual carriage way or unclassified single carriageway)

-          consultation process

Resolved:-  (1)  That a scrutiny review take place on this subject and that a scoping meeting take place as soon as possible.

(2)  That the contents of the report be noted.

Stuart Savage, Senior Engineer, to report.

Further to Minute No. G110 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Environment held on 7^th March, 2011, consideration was given to a report, presented by Stuart Savage, Senior Engineer, detailing the work undertaken by the Road Safety ETP staff between May 2010 and January 2011.

The following key pieces of work were highlighted:-

-          talks and demonstrations of crossing roads using miniature equipment for infant children and playgroup children at a variety of schools and other locations

-          Crucial Crew at Magna

-          use of theatre to educate youngsters e.g. “Jackie’s  Story” and  “Too  much punch for Judy” – both based on true stories

-          pedestrian training had been provided at High Greave Infant School, Dinnington and Broom Valley Primary School

-          banners had been provided to schools bearing various messages discouraging parents from parking on school keep clear markings

-          partnership working continued to increase in association with the 3 neighbouring local authorities and the Police

-          continued administration and assistance with the provision of “Drive for Life” presentations aimed at 17 to 24 year old drivers

In response to a question from a Panel member it was explained that previously the service had responded to requests from the schools and groups.  However, the service would now be more focussed on areas where there was a problem of road safety outside of schools.

Reference was made to the reduced budget and loss of key experienced staff.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Senior Engineer be congratulated for his informative report and concise presentation.

(2)  That the contents of the report be noted.

John Finnen, Performance Officer, to report.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by John Finnen, Performance Officer, detailing the performance and related issues during the 3^rd quarter of 2010-11. Topics covered included:-   

·        EDS performance against Corporate Plan themes and related key indicators

·        General performance management and reporting issues

·        Equalities Monitoring 

·        Risk Management

Of 91 performance indicators selected for the Directorate, 39 were reported on as follows:-  25.6% below target; 10.3 % just below target;  64.1% achieving target.

Reference was made to the Localism Bill and Single List of data, together with a general summary of performance comparison between the Council and all other English local authorities.

Members of the Panel commented on:-

-          winter maintenance – various issues

-          condition of principal and non principal roads

-          condition of footways

-          proposals to progress the spending of the additional money received

-          usage of public libraries noting greater use in those libraries where investment had been made

-          adult participation in sport questioning the validity of information gathered via a telephone survey.  It was pointed out that the ending of free swimming for under 16 and over 60 had directly affected the numbers at the leisure centres

-          street cleanliness and litter picking

-          % of new homes provided on previously developed land

Resolved:-  That the content of the report be noted.

It was pointed out that this would be the last meeting attended by Councillor Iain St. John as he was retiring at the forthcoming local election.

Members of the Panel commended Councillor St. John for his conscientiousness and his contribution to meetings of this Panel and formally thanked him for his attendance.

The Panel wished Councillor St. John a healthy, long and happy retirement.

-          11^th  February, 2011

-          25^th February, 2011

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

-          11^th February, 2011

-          25^th February, 2011

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

-          7^th February, 2011

-          21^st February, 2011

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

-          7^th February, 2011

-          21^st February, 2011

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

-          7^th February, 2011

-          21^st February, 2011

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

-          7^th February, 2011

-          21^st February, 2011

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

-          8^th   February, 2011

-          18^th February, 2011

Consideration was given to the minutes of meetings of the Cabinet Member for Culture, Lifestyle, Sport and Tourism held as follows:-

-          8^th February, 2011

-          18^th February, 2011

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

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Recycling Group held on 22nd February, 2011.

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