Agenda and minutes

Councillor Wardle paid tribute to Councillor David Davies and the Council held a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.

The Mayor was pleased to present three Awards:-

·              To Karen Fells, Ian Roper, Hazel Middlebrook, Joanne Haywood and Julie Perry, the five winners of the Council’s Employee Suggestion Scheme, who had put forward their ideas to improve the services provided for the people of Rotherham.

·              To RBT HR and Payroll for the award for Payroll Excellence in the Public Sector from the national publication Pay Magazine in their 12^th Annual Pay Awards.

·              To Councillor Sharman for the first Local Authority in South Yorkshire to achieve the Yorkshire and Humber’s Charter for Elected Member Development for the first class induction process for new Councillors.

The Leader was pleased to report that two Council employees had received New Year’s Honours.

Joyce Thacker, Senior Service Director, had received an OBE for her work with young people.   Brownen Watson, Family Learning Co-ordinator, had been awarded an MBE, for services to adult education.

Resolved:-  That the congratulations of the Council be forwarded to Joyce and Bronwen.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Sharman

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22^nd November, 2006 be approved for signature by the Mayor.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Sharman

(1)  The Chief Executive submitted the following petitions:-

·              From 12 residents of Pear Tree Avenue, Rotherham objecting to ball games at Pear Tree Avenue.

·              From 25 residents of sheltered bungalows at Godric Green Brinsworth requesting urgent consideration for replacement doors to the front and rear of the properties.

·              From 1,029 residents of Wath objecting to the proposed closure of Counter Services at Wath.

Resolved:-  That the petitions be referred to the appropriate Cabinet Member for consideration.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Sharman

(2)  The Chief Executive submitted apologies for absence from Councilllors Barton, Goulty, J. Hamilton, Hodgkiss, Slade, Turner, Walker and Wyatt.

Resolved:-  That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet (Section B) (pages 115B to 148B) be adopted.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Sharman

Resolved:-  That the reports and minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee (Section C) (pages 14C to 17C) be adopted.

Mover:-  Councillor Clarke                              Seconder:-  Councillor Robinson

(1)   Councillor Clarke asked could the Labour Leader explain how, during a period when many Departments have faced cuts and reductions in services, he had found the money to increase the advertising budget by £780,000, including a huge 50% plus increase in ‘Promotional Material’?

The Leader explained that in 2005/06 the Council spent £3.6 million on recruitment, general and promotional advertising and publicity. Of this spend approximately 52% was used to promote new and changed services to citizens, customers and publicising the Council and its services to external stakeholders.

In addition, the costs and accounting treatment in 2005/06 reflected the publicity costs incurred across the Council and in RBT. The RBT costs accounted for about £390,000 of the increase.  This was the cost of RBT’s design studio and 2005/06 was the first year that these costs have been accounted for in the Council’s Accounts.

(2)   Councillor Mannion asked what plans did the Council have, or could the Cabinet Member tell us of any plans of the Government, for huge improvements to the public transport system?

Councillor Smith confirmed the Council’s plans, along with others in South Yorkshire, were contained in the current South Yorkshire Local Transport Plan 2006-2011, which has contained within it both a South Yorkshire Bus and a South Yorkshire Rail Strategy.  These contained details of objectives and actions to achieve the desired outcomes.  However, because transport was not constrained by administrative boundaries, there was also a Sheffield City Region Development Plan and within the Regional Spatial Strategy, a Regional Transport Strategy.

The Government have recently published “Putting Passengers First;  The Government’s Proposals for a Modernised National Framework to Bus Services” which set out proposed changes to how bus services could be procured, improved and regulated, particularly in metropolitan areas.  On behalf of the DfT, Network Rail plan and manage the rail network across the UK.

Recently in Yorkshire and Humberside, the Regional Planning Assessment review process had begun to prepare a long term improvement and investment programme for regional and national rail operations.

In addition to this South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority had a working policy, which could possibly link the transport from Sheffield through to Rotherham.

(3)   Councillor Mannion asked what had been the cost to the Rotherham taxpayers for this Labour Council’s decision to pay for Green Electricity?

The Leader confirmed that from November, 2005 to November, 2006 the Council consumed 38,483,333kWh of electricity at a cost of £2,175,941 from our operational properties, this was excluding street lighting and domestic properties. Purchasing green electricity had cost an additional £49,644 above the cost of the climate change levy.

Purchasing green electricity had resulted in a reduction of Rotherham Council's CO² emissions by 16,202 tonnes a year to 346 tonnes.  Applying the social cost of carbon (the estimated cost that carbon had on the environment, set by DEFRA) the CO² reduction in monetary terms was equivalent to £478,633.

This was Rotherham’s contribution to hopefully saving the planet.

(4)   Councillor Mannion  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

(1)   Councillor Gilding asked the Police Spokesperson:-

(a)  How many Police Officers, in South Yorkshire, are empowered as “impairment officers” with regard to motorists?

Councillor Littleboy confirmed there were 188 Impairment Officers.

(b)  How many motorists were checked by “impairment officers” during 2006?

Councillor Littleboy confirmed 48 motorists were checked.

(c)  How many motorists were classed as unfit and taken to court?

Councillor Littleboy confirmed 8 motorists were classed as unfit.

(d)  How many of these were convicted?

Councillor Littleboy was not able to provide any information with regards to convictions.

(2)   Councillor Gilding to the Police Spokesperson asked how many Police Officers were employed by South Yorkshire Police:-

(a)        during December, 2005

(b)        during December, 2006

and what was the average salary of a Constable with 2 years service?

Councillor Littleboy confirmed that during December, 2005 there were 3,355 Police Officers, during December, 2006 there were 3,321 Police Officers and the average salary of a Constable with two years service was £24,813.

(3)   Councillor Gilding to the Police Spokesperson asked how many Community Support Officers were employed by South Yorkshire Police:-

(a)        during December, 2005

(b)        during December, 2006

and what was the average salary of a Community Support Officer?

Councillor Littleboy confirmed that during December, 2005 there were 123 Community Support Officers, during December, 2006 there were 222 Community Support Officers and the average salary of a Community Support Officer was £20,229.

(4)   Councillor Mannion asked the Police Spokesperson what was the Council’s Police Representative’s view of the revelation that the Government claims about success were "overstated and misleading"

Councillor Littleboy pointed out that the report was only published on Monday this week and had, therefore, not yet been considered by the Authority.

Some quotes for the report’s summary may interest Members:-

“There has been major investment, with all the main criminal justice agencies benefiting from significant extra money.”

“Labour has in general met its targets on bringing more offences to justice and perceptions of anti-social behaviour.”

“Labour has successfully hit its targets on police numbers as a result of record expenditure.”

“Court processes have been significantly speeded up.”

As and when the Police and Police Authority considered the report the Police Spokesperson would be able to answer the Member more fully.

(5)  Councillor Mannion asked the Police Spokesperson if he agreed with the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies that "there needed to be a more honest political and public debate"?

Councillor Littleboy was not aware of the document referred to by Councillor Mannion.  However, he agreed that there were some aspects of concern to local communities and would welcome public debate.

Councillor Stone presented a report by the Director of Legal and Democratic Services relating to the recommendations of the Independent Panel for membership of the Standards Committee.

Resolved:- (1) That Mrs. A. Bingham and Messrs. I. Daines and J. Maric be appointed as an Independent Members of the Standards Committee for a term of four years.

(2)  That the Council extends its thanks to Messrs. M. Shelton and A. Stanley as retiring Independent Members of the Committee, for their time and valuable contributions whilst acting as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

That this Council resolves to introduce a byelaw prohibiting the sale of beers and lagers in exact measure pint and half pint glasses, stipulating that beers and lagers be sold in oversize glasses, marked with pint and half pint levels so that the men and women of Yorkshire can enjoy a pint with a head without paying through the nose for it.

Mover: Councillor A. Mannion                        Seconder: Councillor J. M. Clarke

Moved by Councillor Mannion and seconded by Councillor Clarke:-

“That this Council resolves to introduce a byelaw prohibiting the sale of beers and lagers in exact measure pint and half pint glasses, stipulating that beers and lagers be sold in oversize glasses, marked with pint and half pint levels so that the men and women of Rotherham can enjoy a pint with a head without paying through the nose for it.”

The motion was put and LOST.

This Council resolves that while we welcome genuine and affordable, green taxes to help the environment, we oppose any attempt by the Government to introduce taxes by stealth, using the public’s fear of global warming to increase taxes.

Mover: Councillor A. Mannion                        Seconder: Councillor J. M. Clarke

Moved by Councillor Mannion and seconded by Councillor Clarke:-

“This Council resolves that while we welcome genuine and affordable, green taxes to help the environment, we oppose any attempt by the Government to introduce taxes by stealth, using the public’s fear of global warming to increase taxes.”

The motion was put and LOST.

Resolved:- That Councillor Whysall be appointed as Chairman of the Rother Valley South Area Assembly.

Mover: Councillor Stone                                    Seconder: Councillor Sharman