Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Austen and St. John, Tony Clabby, Steve Blackbourn, Marie Hayes, Michael Bishop, Stuart Lister and Phil Rogers.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a correct record.

The Old Three Cranes, High Street

A question was raised regarding the current position on the usage and ownership of this building.

It was reported that discussions were presently taking place with the owner of the store regarding future opening hours and state of the building.

Presentation by Karl Battersby, Head of Planning & Transportation

Richard Poundford gave a presentation on the present situation with regard to Rotherham Town Centre Renaissance – a project funded and supported by Yorkshire Forward, involving a panel of internationally renouned architects and designers and which set in place a new way of regenerating the region’s towns and cities.

The presentation covered the following issues:-

-         What urban renaissance is and what it is about

-         10 goals – as identified in the vision document

-         Emerging masterplan

-         Timescales – both short and long-term

-         Makeup of the Town Team

An aerial view of a Master Plan model was shown and examples given of the following artist’s concept plans:-

-                     Westgate Basin – Rainbow Bridge

           -       Homes, Offices and Shops

           -       Redevelopment of Markets and College Area

           -       New Civic Centre, Culture and Arts Facilities

           -       Riverside Living - as compared to Leeds, York and Bristol

-          Links to RCAT and Clifton Park

           -       Use of green public spaces and boulevards

-                   Exchange Quarter – “College Green”

-                   New Swimming Pool – St. Ann’s site – completion by 2007

-                   Forge Island development options

-                   Ownership/Lease issues/Private Sector Investment

The following two projects were under way:-

-                   Moorgate Crofts (Managed Business Centre)

-                   Development of SpeedsBuilding, High Street

Consortium members were encouraged to give their views which would be fed into the consultation process.

Issues were raised and the following questions responded to:-

-                   parking strategy

-                   situation with Tesco – Guest and Chrimes site/planning issues

-                   Town Team – working together

-                   need for a good internal bus/railway system in order to maximize

           public access to shopping sites

-          Supertram

-                   Need to encourage public to shop in town centre

-                   Projected costings

-                   Centenary Way – public access routes, including facilities for elderly and disabled - bridges/road lowering

It was emphasised that work within the planning stages was concentrating on the adoption of a Master Plan which had to be agreed by all parties.

Agreed:-  That Richard Poundford be thanked for an interesting and informative presentation.

Quarterly update on the implementation of individual elements of the Future Perfect Action Plan:

Guy Kilminster, Libraries, Museums & Arts Manager

Steve Hallsworth, Leisure & Green Spaces Manager

Marie Hayes, Commercial & Promotional Services Manager

Rod Norton, Young People’s Services Manager

Richard Poundford, Head of Rotherham Investment & Development Office

(Local Tourism Partnership)

Quarterly update reports were given on the implementation of individual elements of the Future Perfect Action Plan, as follows:-

Libraries - Three years ago the service had not met Library Standards.  However, since the refurbishment of libraries the service was meeting 19 of the 26 public library standards – an improvement from 5 out of 28 in 2001.  This was attributable to the hard work of staff, management and investment in the service.

In addition, the Service has been nominated by the Charter Mark Assessors for a quality standard.  This is in recognition of a high quality of public service delivery and customer care.  The Service would be the first to achieve this status in RMBC, which was again attributable to the hard work of staff and management.

Councillor Boyes added that Rotherham had been highlighted as the best of the nine Authorities inspected by the assessors.

Museum – Work on Clifton ParkMuseum’s refurbishment was in the last stage of completion.  Exhibition fit out was well underway and staff will move back some time in October and be trained on new systems.  A re-opening date of 29^th January, 2005 was being publicised.

Archives and Local Studies – Sarah Wickham, new Principal Officer was to start this week .  Sarah was looking forward to meeting people who wished to talk to her on matters concerning archives and local studies, knowledge from members of this consortium being particularly encouraged.  It was hoped to fully open the section once Sarah was settled in due to there having been temporary closures due to staffing shortages.

A comment was made that archives staff had done a very good job during the difficult period following Tony Munford’s sudden death.

Theatre and Community Arts – The Cultural Diversity Festival at the Rotherham Show had been very successful, with very positive feedback from participants and audiences.

Participation in the work of the Town Team would continue, particularly regarding the replacement of the Civic Theatre, Regimental Museum and Art Gallery.

Pantomime – The sale of tickets for this year’s pantomime was very good. 

Leisure and Green Space – External funding used for staffing the Sports Development Team had ceased.  However, a core team had been established which was now a permanent RMBC team.  A number of key pieces of work had started to happen as a result.  These included links with local ethnic minorities – All Pakistan Women’s Association - and the introduction of a community coach as a result of joint funding through Sports Partnership/Sport England.   This was a three year contract.

Space for Sport and Arts Facilities – All in place for Junior School sites.  The feedback was very positive on the sports facilities which was being well used and accessed by all members of the community.

Green Space Audit – This was a key piece of work alongside the Green Space Strategy looking at the use of green space, identifying equity across the Borough and looking at current green space resources  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Reports from lead officers or panel chairs on initial meetings and any issues arising:

Sport (Steve Hallsworth)

Green Spaces (Phil Gill)

Heritage, Archives & Tourism (Steve Blackbourn)

Theatre, Libraries, Writing & the Arts (Guy Kilminster)

Sport and Leisure – Steve Hallsworth thanked Members of the Consortium who had contributed to the work of the Panel.

As part of the consultation process, Sport and Leisure staff had been looking at broadening the vision.

A one year Sport and Development Plan would be submitted to the next meeting, one of the issues for consideration being whether to broaden the membership and remit of the sports forum.

The issue of children’s health and active leisure was raised.  This would continue to be discussed with Health Partnership members.

A similar issue remains with elderly people.

Heritage, Archives & Tourism – The last meeting had been poorly attended and no business had been conducted.  The two members present had discussed with officers how they could best be arranged to allow more people to attend.  Consideration had been given to merging groups.

One member agreed with this suggestion.

An issue was raised regarding the use of blue heritage plaques to be displayed at well known pottery sites and which were a feature of major towns and cities.  For example, Rockingham Pottery would be a good example of the excellent work in this area.

The Libraries, Museums and Arts Manager agreed to look into this suggestion and believed a previous Conservation Officer had concluded it was a case of a lack of funding for this initiative.

Green Spaces – Phil Gill thanked Members of the Consortium who had contributed to a series of stimulating and open discussions. Major themes have included:-

1.         Review of the scope and organisation of Green Space related services in Rotherham

2.         Consideration of progress on Playing Pitch Strategy and Green Space       Strategy

It was felt the Green Space Advisory Panel had a key role to play in the development of these strategies.

3.         Following and advising on the development of the Urban Park Ranger         Service

The Panel has expressed concerns about future funding for this service, and it has offered useful views about the role the rangers already have and the potential they have to meet some of the needs of the service.

4.         Individual sites or issues

The panel has looked into numerous site-specific issues also.  These have included the future of RotherValley CountryPark, the YES Project and BarPark.

The role and membership of the Panel was being reviewed, although it represents a good cross-section of interest groups.

A concern was expressed by a Panel member that the Trees and Woodlands Section was not part of the Education, Culture and Leisure Services Programme Area.

It was pointed out that despite this, efforts would be made to ensure that all parties ultimately sign up to agreeing the same objectives.  This included working with other green space providers including CISWO and parish councils.

Report from Phil Rogers and Guy Kilminster

Reference was made to a number of DCMS Cultural documents which all emphasised that culture had a central role to play in both economic and community regeneration.

It was also recognised very strongly that the local Strategic Partnership of the Rotherham Partnership should be representing culture within its makeup and for culture to be championed as part of that Partnership.

The issue of the most appropriate way for the Partnership to become engaged with culture was being progressed.

It was hoped to be in a position to report further on this matter at the next meeting.

Report from Guy Kilminster

It was reported that South Yorkshire Culture met on a 6-8 weekly basis bringing together all senior officers from neighbouring Authorities, together with representation from Regional Agencies.

The meeting was chaired by an officer from Yorkshire Cultural and the work of the Committee was to draw up a cultural prospectus identifying issues/ongoing work for cultural activity across the sub-region.

The business was to consider a lengthy list of priorities and negotiation was taking place with officers in other Local Authorities.

This would be a useful document at the point of looking at funding opportunities.  

Request to nominate up to three co-optees. Note that Christine Cox, Joyce Williams and Roy Newman served over the last 12 months.

This item was deferred pending further information from the Scrutiny Section on the issue of co-optees on to the Lifelong Learning Opportunities Scrutiny Panel.

To consider whether and how to plan this event.

The meeting discussed planning arrangements for the 3^rd Cultural Conference to be held in 2005.

It was agreed it was a worthwhile event.  Volunteers were sought to undertake the initial planning.

Issues included:-

-     Who to invite – need to involve a wide range of specific groups

-     Need for a major speaker to be invited

-     Need for greater publicity/early programming

Rotherham Show

Members of the Consortium asked for thanks to be extended to the staff involved in the organisation of Rotherham Show.

The event had been very successful, well attended and greatly enjoyed.

Sealed Knot – Battle in the Park

Praise was given for the organisation of the above spectacular outdoor event.  Approximately 25,000 visitors had attended over a two day period.

Participants had thoroughly enjoyed themselves and been very pleased with the venue and public interest.

Membership of the Consortium

The meeting discussed the membership of this Consortium.

A suggestion to explore links with diversity groups would be pursued.

Agreed:-  That the next meeting of this Consortium be held on 8^th December, 2004.