Agenda and minutes

There were no questions from members of the public.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

-        Strategic Director of Environment and Development Services to report.

Councillor Whelbourn, Chair of the Steering Group, introduced the minutes of the Local Development Framework Members’ Steering Group held on 28^th September, 2012.

It was noted that the Steering Group’s name had changed from the Local Development Framework Steering Group to the Local Plan Steering Group.

The Strategic Director of Environment and Development Services reported that, since the meeting, an understanding had been reached with Sheffield City Council regarding housing number issues.  It was expected that a Memorandum of Understanding would be submitted to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services for consideration.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the progress to date and the emerging issues be noted.

(2)  That the minutes of the Local Plan Steering Group held on 28^th September, 2012 be received.

-        Strategic Director of Resources to report.

Councillor Steele, Chair of the Health Select Commission, introduced a report by the Strategic Director of Resources, which set out the findings and recommendations of the joint scrutiny review into Continuing Health Care (CHC) undertaken by the Health and Improving Lives Select Commissions. 

The review recognised that there had been some positive engagement between the Local Authority and the NHS to address some of the strategic issues faced locally in relation to budgets and procedures.  It was noted that Rotherham spend on CHC was lower than that of surrounding and statistical neighbours which meant that Adult Social Care spend was higher.  Interviews with professionals raised a number of issues and concerns around the process of assessments and decision making including the CHC Panel and, although it was clear that processes were being adhered to, there were huge inconsistencies in the way they were implemented.  This was reflected in the information gathered from customers with regard to the lack of clarity and inconsistencies in the process and delays being experienced. 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Scrutiny Review of Continuing Healthcare and its recommendations be noted and a response be submitted within two months as outlined within the Council’s Constitution.

(2)  That the decision of Cabinet on the report, recommendations and proposed action be reported back to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board in due course.

(3)  That the Cabinet response be submitted to the Health and Wellbeing Board for consideration in due course.

-        Strategic Director of Resources to report.

Councillor Akhtar, Deputy Leader, introduced a report by the Strategic Director of Resources which stated that in setting the 2012/13 Revenue Budget, as a result of Coalition Government funding cuts, the Council had had to deliver savings in excess of £40M up to March, 2012 and in 2012/13 having to manage further savings proposals of £20.4M.  It did this by ensuring the budget process focused on the customers the Council served, the communities and businesses of Rotherham. Consequently, as a first course of action, management and administration and back office costs were streamlined.

The report provided details of progress on the delivery of the Revenue Budget for 2012/13 based on performance for the first six months of the 2012/13 financial year.  It was currently forecast that the Council would overspend against its Budget by £4.715M.  The main reasons for the forecast overspend were:-

·              The continuing service demand and cost pressures in looking after vulnerable children across the Borough

·              Additional, one-off property costs relating to the continued rationalisation of the Council’s asset portfolio as part of the efficiency drive to reduce operational costs.

·              Full year effect of staff savings not being delivered in 2012/13 where staff had left the Council on voluntary severance or early retirement during the course of the year. 

Continued management action would be required over the remaining periods of the financial year to ensure that the Council was able to preserve its successful track record in managing both its in-year financial performance and its overall financial resilience in the face of such significant and swift Government funding cuts.

Resolved:- (1)  That the progress made to date in delivering the significant financial challenges presented in the Council’s Revenue Budget be noted.

(2)  That action to bring projected spend in line with Budget limits, including a freeze on all but essential spend, be supported.

(3)  That further progress reports be submitted during the remainder of the financial year.

-        Strategic Director of Resources to report.

Councillor Akhtar, Deputy Leader, introduced a report by the Strategic Director of Resources, which provided details of the current forecast outturn for the 2012/13 programme and enabled the Council to review the Capital Programme for the financial years 2013/14 and 2014/15

In order to maintain the strategic link and make best use of the Capital resources available to the Council, it was important that the Programme was kept under regular review and, where necessary, revisions made.  The Programme was initially reviewed in July, 2012, following the finalisation of the 2011/12 outturn Capital expenditure and financing and had now been the subject of a further review, the results of which were reflected in the Directorate summary table set out in the report.  A detailed analysis of the Programme for each Directorate was also attached at Appendices 1 to 4 of the report submitted.

The Capital Programme was funded through a number of sources borrowing (both supported and unsupported), capital grants and contributions, revenue contributions and capital receipts.  Any uncertainty over the funding of the Programme rested on confirmation that grants/contributions and capital receipts continued to be available in coming years. Where funding sources were volatile in nature the risks would be managed by continually keeping the programme under review.

(1)  Resolved:-  That the report be received and the contents noted.

(2)  Recommended:-  That the updated 2012/13 to 2014/15 Capital Programme be approved.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006) (information relates to finance and business affairs).

Resolved:-  That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act (as amended March, 2006 (information relates to finance and business affairs).

-        Strategic Director of Neighbourhoods and Adult Services to report.

Councillor McNeely, Cabinet Member for Safe and Attractive Neighbourhoods, introduced a report by the Strategic Director of Neighbourhoods and Adult Services on a proposal by South Yorkshire Housing Association to develop an affordable housing scheme in Canklow.  It was proposed that there would be 16 new family homes built using a grant allocation from the Homes and Communities Agency and private finance.  To enable the development to proceed, South Yorkshire Housing Association required the land to be transferred from the Council at nil consideration.

The new development would bring high quality homes into the area available to tenants at 80% of market rent.  The new homes would meet the needs of working families and anticipated would attract new working facilities into the area.

The start on site had been identified as November, 2012.

The financial information and risks and uncertainties associated with the proposal were set out in detail as part of the report.

Cabinet Members discussed the transfer of the land, the New Homes Bonus that the Council would receive and the possibility of a private developer purchasing the land.  Reference was made to the plans and promises that had been made to local residents at the time of Housing Market Renewal funding which had been withdrawn by the Coalition Government.

Resolved:-  That, due to the circumstances of the site and based on the new affordable housing provision and associated wider regeneration benefits to Canklow, the transfer of land to South Yorkshire Association for nil receipt be approved.

-        Director of Public Health to report.

Councillor Wyatt, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, presented a report on the range of Public Health Services and Contracts the Council would become responsible for, as from April 2013, as part of the Government’s changes to the NHS set out in the Health and Social Care Bill.

Some of the Services were provided based on the standard NHS contract with the Rotherham Foundation Trust or Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health Trust as part of the PCT overall contract with the Trust.  Options for future contract management included bringing those “in house” for management or using the Clinical Commissioning Group to manage the contracts on behalf of the Council or using the soon to be fully established Commissioning Support Unit.

The report set out in detail the existing services and contract value/status together with the financial risks and uncertainties associated with the Government changes.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the existing contractual arrangements that were in place and which would transfer to the Council as from April, 2013, be noted.

(2)  That the contracts due to expire in April, 2013, extended by the NHS until September, 2013, to ensure patients and the public continued to receive the Public Health Services during transition, would be reviewed as part of the transition process.

(3)  That a full review of Public Health Services and existing contractual arrangements be undertaken as part of the Council’s 2014-15 budget setting process.

(4)  That appropriate due diligence procedures be carried out for contract novation.