Agenda and minutes

-         to receive the minutes.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the above meeting.

Reference was made to the Giant LED Screen proposed for All Saints Square and to the likely timescale for its installation.

It was reported that a Project Manager had now been appointed and that the likely installation date was 1^st December, 2004.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the Town Centre Initiative Steering Group held on 24^th June, 2004 be received.

Head of Streetpride Service to report.

-         to acknowledge receipt of a petition from residents on Walker Lane.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Head of Streetpride Service, relating to the receipt of a petition, containing ten signatures, from residents of Walker Lane, in respect of cars speeding along the Lane.

It was reported that the petitioners felt that the problem was a direct result of changes made to the junction layout of Clifton Lane, and that a closure of one end of Walker Lane would be a suitable solution to the problem.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the petition be received and an acknowledgement sent to the lead petitioner.

(2)  That the Head of Streetpride Service investigate the matter and report to a future meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisors for Economic and Development Services.

Transportation Unit Manager to report.

-         to note the design guidance.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Transportation Unit Manager, relating to the above guidance, prepared under the auspices of the South Yorkshire Planning and Transportation Steering Group.

Copies of the documents were available at the meeting.

It was pointed out that representatives from the four Local Authority Highway and Planning Authorities, and from the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive had been involved in updating existing guidance.

The guides provided a framework that could be used to create and assess layout proposals as part of the planning, development control and highway adoption processes.  The guides had been prepared in response to Government guidance and policy, and it was pointed out that the Planning and Land Compensation Act 2004 introduced significant changes in planning and it was considered prudent to consolidate this guidance in the form of a Supplementary Planning Document after the delivery of the first round of the Local Development Framework, probably in 2007.  In the meantime a “soft” launch was proposed through various media.

Members debated the most appropriate media in which to make the guidance available.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be noted and the countywide design guidance be endorsed.

(2)  That the report and documents be referred to the Planning Board for information, assistance and guidance in considering and determining planning applications.

(3)  That the guidance be made available on the Council’s Website; copies to be placed in the Members’ Room at the Town Hall, and for all Members to receive a copy on CDRom should they so wish.

(4)  That a presentation be given to all the Area Assemblies.

Transportation Unit Manager to report.

-         to inform Members about feedback from a recent two day visit to Rotherham by the Yorkshire and Humberside Cycling Benchmarking Group.

Further to Minute No. 216 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisors for Economic and Development Services held on 10^th December, 2003, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Transportation Unit Manager, informing Members about feedback from a recent two day visit to Rotherham by the Yorkshire and Humberside Cycling Benchmarking Group.

The report listed those Local Authorities that had taken part in the benchmarking exercise and a copy of the Benchmarking Summary report was attached as an appendix to the report.  It was explained that the scoring indicated the Local Authorities’ perceptions of cycling and cycling provision in Rotherham.

It was reported that the benchmarking would support local authorities in the development and implementation of cycling policy as well as measuring their success and disseminating results.

The recommendations would be included in a Cycling Action Plan which was being developed as part of the Council’s self assessment of performance on cycling improvements, which would inform the Local Transport Plan and the Annual Progress Report for 2004/2005.

Members’ attention was drawn to a recent article on this issue in the local press.  Those present thought that there was a need to respond to the content of this article.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report and Benchmarking Summary be noted.

(2)  That a further report be submitted to a future meeting following the preparation of the Cycling Action Plan, as part of the Council’s self-assessment of performance and cycling improvements.

(The Chairman authorised consideration of the following two items in order to receive the information contained therein)

Consideration was given to the above minutes.

Resolved:-  That, subject to the addition of Councillor Pickering to the list of apologies received, the minutes of the meeting of the Unitary Development Plan Review Steering Group held on 16^th July, 2004 be received.

Consideration was given to the above minutes.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the RMBC Leisure/Joint Service Centre Project Board held on 9^th July, 2004, be received.

(The Chairman authorised consideration of the following item in order for places at the Summer School to be booked.)

Consideration was given to attendance at the following:-

Planning Summer School – “A Flow of Ideas” – 3^rd to 7^th September, 2004.

Resolved:-  (1)  That Councillor Pickering, and one new Member from the Planning Board, be authorised to attend.

Those present discussed the desirability of Rotherham hosting a Planning Summer School.

Resolved:- (2)  That the Executive Director, Economic and Development Services and the Head of Planning and Transportation Service discuss the suggestion of Rotherham hosting a Planning Summer School.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (report contains contractual information):-

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 9 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (report contained contractual information).

Partnership Implementation Manager to report.

-         to seek exemption from Standing Orders.

(Exempt under Paragraph 9 of the Act – report contained contractual information)

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Partnership Implementation Officer, seeking approval to the appointment of Digital South Yorkshire (DSY) to undertake project development and partner procurement work on the Business Vision Centre proposal, and seeking exemption from the provisions of Standing Order 35(1).

The benefits of not re-tendering were detailed in the report and reference was made to the fact that DSY was a Company Limited by Guarantee that brought with it the expertise and commitment of an existing grouping of public and private sector organisations that had successfully delivered networking, events management and sector championing over the last four years.  In addition the Business Vision Centre had been confirmed with South Yorkshire partners as part of the proposed e-business development work.

It was pointed out that the Centre proposed to deliver business support to SME’s.

It was noted that the proposal had been discussed with Education, Culture and Leisure Services and with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services and the Head of Corporate Finance.

Resources had been allocated for this feasibility study work from within the CERB allocation and from within the Objective 1 consultancy budget of the Delivery Team.

Resolved:-  That, in accordance with Council Standing Order 35(1) the contract for the Business Vision Centre Study Stage 2 and lead partner procurement, be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order 43(5)(c) and the contract be awarded to Digital South Yorkshire Ltd.