Agenda and minutes

To consider any announcements by the Mayor or the Leader.

The Mayor will present Certificates of Commendation from the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police to Mark Batterley, Becci Hall and Kerry Timmins for their role in the investigation of a high profile CSE case.

The Mayor reported as follows:

“Early on in Office I attended a Mosque for the first time for a MacMillan Coffee morning and they welcomed me with open arms and it was an experience I shall remember for ever.

I have visited a number of schools, many primary schools and schools have visited us here in the town Hall.

Another highlight since taking Office was the Armed Forces Day where I was asked to inspect the troops and the Freedom of the Borough parade which was truly amazing and well attended by all members of the public.

Sadly since taking up office there have also been some sad occasions.  I attended a vigil for the Orlando shooting and to mark the sad death of Jo Cox.

There have been many commemorative services which I have attended in relation to the 100 years since the Battle of the Somme.  I have laid many wreaths and shed many more tears.

I would like to ask Members of the Council to join me in one minute’s silence to commemorate Jo Cox and the sad shootings in Orlando.”

The Council rose for a moment of silent reflection the death of Jo Cox MP, Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen, who was murdered on 16 June 2016.

The Mayor presented certificates of Commendation from the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police to officers who had been involved in the investigation of a high profile CSE case under Operation Clover. On behalf of the Council, the Mayor conveyed sincere thanks and gratitude to Mark Batterley, Rosemary Fern, Becci Hall and Kerry Timmins.

To receive the apologies of any Member who is unable to attend the meeting.

The Chief Executive submitted apologies for absence from Councillors Beaumont, Buckley, David Cutts, Evans, Jepson, Marriott, Tweed, Whysall and Yasseen.

To report on any petitions received by the Council.

The Chief Executive reported that three petitions had been submitted but had not met the threshold for consideration by Council, and would be referred to the relevant directorate for a response to be prepared. The petitions concerned:

·           Contained 17 signatures from residents of Viking Way/Danby Road sheltered bungalow community regarding the anti-social behaviour towards other residents in the bungalow complex by an occupant.

·           Contained 5 signatures from residents of Montgomery Square, Wath seeking the eviction of a Council tenant at Montgomery Square due to alleged nuisance and anti-social behaviour.

·           Contained 91 individuals seeking the eviction of a Council tenant at Sorrel Sykes Close, due to anti-social behaviour and criminal activity

Any communication received by the Mayor or Chief Executive which relates to a recommendation of the Cabinet or a committee which was received after the relevant meeting.

No communications had been received.

To invite Councillors to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests they may have in any matter which is to be considered at this meeting, to confirm the nature of those interests and whether they intend to leave the meeting for the consideration of the item.

No Declarations of Interest were made at the meeting.

To receive the record of proceedings of the ordinary meeting of the Council held on 20th May, 2016 and to approve the accuracy thereof.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the annual meeting of the Council held on 20^th May, 2016, be approved as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

To receive questions from members of the public who may wish to ask a general question of the Mayor, Cabinet Member or the Chairman of a Committee.

From Mr. M. Eyre stated that the newly proposed HS2 route will affect the areas of Thurcroft, Ulley, Swallownest, Treeton and Catcliffe in terms of noise pollution and disruption.  What will this Council and the Ward Councillors do to ensure the views of the people are heard and respected?”

Councillor Lelliott responded: “HS2 Ltd announced the option of a new route through Sheffield City Region last week on Thursday 7^th July. The newly proposed route is available on the Government website for all to view. There are 2 main changes to the previous route, which are:-

1.    A spur from the main HS2 line through Chesterfield and into Sheffield Midland Station using “High Speed classic Compatible Trains”; with the potential for this to continue through to Rotherham and Barnsley.

2.    That the high speed main line be moved further east; which means some areas on the previous route will be less affected (such as at Catcliffe, Treeton and Waverley) with other areas more affected (such as Wales, Aston, Thurcroft, Bramley and Ravenfield)

It is very important that the Council and Ward Members support people and businesses potentially affected by the new route and that we engage fully in the consultation process.

A number information events have been organised by HS2 Ltd for later on in July 2016, especially aimed at communities affected by the revised route.  In Rotherham the following events are planned:-

·         Friday 22^nd July at Bramley Village Hall; 12:30 – 8:00pm

·         Tuesday 26^th July at Aston Parish Council Village Hall; 12:30 – 8:00pm

In addition, and especially for Members and the community in the north of the Borough and the Dearne Valley there is also an engagement event within the Doncaster area which may be of interest, this is:-

·         Tuesday 19^th July at Mexborough Resource Centre; 12 pm – 7.00pm

HS2 Ltd advise they will launch the formal consultation process in the Autumn of 2016; following this a decision on the final route will be one for the Government to make.”

To receive and consider reports, minutes and recommendations of the Cabinet/Commissioners’ Decision Making Meetings held on 26^thMay and 6^th June, 2016.

Resolved:-

That the minutes of the Cabinet and Commissioners’ Decision Making Meetings held on 26^th May and 6th June, 2016 be received. 

Mover:-  Councillor Read                           Seconder:-  Councillor Watson

To approve the Rotherham MBC Corporate Plan 2016-17.

Consideration was given to a report which sought approval of the 2016/17 Corporate Plan for Rotherham MBC, in accordance with the commitment within the Phase Two Corporate Improvement Plan.

It was reported that the Council approved this initial version of the Corporate Plan in December 2015 in the understanding that further work would be required in order to refine a finalised Corporate Plan, with this work led by the new Chief Executive and senior management working with the newly appointed Cabinet following the local elections in May 2016.

The 2016/17 Corporate Plan represented the core document that would underpin the Council’s overall vision, setting out headline priorities, indicators and measures that would demonstrate its delivery.

Resolved:-

That the 2016/17 Corporate Plan be approved.

Mover:-  Councillor Read                                       Seconder:-  Councillor Alam

To consider approval of the Corporate Safeguarding Policy.

Consideration was given to a report which sought approval of the Corporate Safeguarding Policy for approval following its endorsement by Cabinet on 11 July 2016

It was reported that the Corporate Safeguarding Policy was part of a new suite of documents which would underpin the Council’s 2016/17 Corporate Plan. The policy set out the Council’s commitment to promoting safeguarding across the whole organisation and detailed the roles and responsibilities expected of every employee and specific services, as well as councillors.

It was noted that the policy would act as a resource for all employees working for Council and all councillors; supporting understanding of what safeguarding means and what to do in relation to safeguarding concerns.

It was noted that Overview and Scrutiny Management Board had reviewed the report at its meeting on 1 July 2016 and had recommended that political groups be instructed to mandate their members to undertake relevant training on safeguarding matters.

Resolved:

1.    That the Corporate Safeguarding Policy be approved.

2.    That the political groups of the Council be instructed to mandate their Members to undertake relevant training on safeguarding matters (including options for e-learning).

Mover:-  Councillor Read                                       Councillor Watson

To consider approval of the Rotherham MBC Corporate Equality and Diversity Policy.

Consideration was given to a report which sought approval of the revised corporate RMBC Equality and Diversity Policy, which had been recommended by the Cabinet at its meeting on 11 July 2016

It was reported that the corporate “Fresh Start” Improvement Plan included specific actions to re-establish a clear vision, values and strategic direction for the entire council in relation to equalities and diversity issues. Phase Two of the Improvement Plan committed the Council to ensuring that the authority’s Corporate Equality and Diversity Policy would be reviewed with a new, revised policy in place by July 2016.

It was noted that the policy itself would help to ensure that the Council was compliant with its statutory equalities duties and work on a wider, strategic approach to equality and diversity issues was being developed. It was further noted that responsibility for equalities and diversity issues must not be seen as something that rested only at the corporate centre of the council, but rather should be embedded within all that the Council does, supported through the performance management process.

Resolved:-

That the revised corporate RMBC Equality and Diversity Policy be approved

Mover:-  Councillor Read                                       Seconder:-  Councillor Alam

To consider the initial process for the Boundary Commission for England’s review of ward boundaries within the Rotherham local authority area and to determine how to respond in accordance with the Commission’s timetable.

Consideration was given to a report which set out the requirements of a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) in respect of Rotherham’s local government ward boundaries.

It was noted that the LGBCE would visit Rotherham to meet with elected members, group leaders, appropriate officers and representatives from local parish and town councils to explain how the review would work and detail the challenging timetable for the review.

It was reported that it was necessary for the Council to identify how it would work with the LGBCE to undertake the review and the paper proposed an approach and decision-making timetable to accord with the review timetable set out by the LGBCE. It was recommended that the work be led by the Constitution Working Group given that the outcome of the boundary review will determine the number of elected members and the arrangements for warding which would then form the foundation for the Council’s decision making processes.

Resolved:-

1.         That the Local Government Boundary Commission for England’s timetable for the boundary review for Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council be noted. 

2.         That the Constitution Working Group be authorised to make representations in respect of the optimum size of membership of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to the Council’s Chief Executive.

3.         That the Chief Executive be authorised to submit a draft submission on the optimum size of membership of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England in the light of the representations received from the Constitution Working Group.

4.         That a report be brought to the next meeting of Council to enable Council to approve a final submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission on the optimum size of membership of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.

Mover:-  Councillor Read                                       Seconder:-  Councillor Watson

To receive the Scrutiny Annual Report covering the 2015/16 municipal year.

Consideration was given to a report which presented the final draft of the Scrutiny Annual Report for 2015-16 for approval, having been endorsed by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board on 1 July 2016.

It was noted that the scrutiny work programme, as outlined in the annual report, helped to achieve the authority’s corporate priorities by addressing key policy and performance agendas and the outcomes focused on added value to the work of the Council. 

Resolved:-

1.    That the Scrutiny Annual Report 2015-16 be approved for publication.

2.    That the amended membership details for 2016-17 be reflected in the final published version.

3.    That the Our work programme in 2016-17 section be updated accordingly following the work planning meeting on 8 July 2016. 

Mover:-  Councillor Steele              Seconder:-  Councillor Cowles

To agree the calendar of Council, committee, board and panel meetings for the remainder of the 2016-17 municipal year, as detailed.

Consideration was given to the draft Calendar of Meetings for the 2016-17 municipal year, which had been submitted for approval.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board indicated that it would be necessary to include additional meetings of that committee in order to undertake the high workload which was anticipated throughout the year.

Resolved:-

That, subject to the inclusion of additional dates for the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, the Calendar of Meetings for the 2016-17 municipal year be approved.   

a)    To note the following appointments by the UK Independence Group:

b)    To appoint, in accordance with the requirement to apply political balance,:

Councillor Alan Cowles as Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board; and

Councillor Peter Short as Vice-Chair of the Health Select Commission.

c)    To note the appointments of Members to serve on outside bodies, as agreed by Commissioner Myers (enclosed herewith)

This Council notes :

• High-quality sex and relationships education helps create safe school communities where pupils can grow, learn, and develop positive, healthy behaviour for life.
• There is a growing body of support for this view from voluntary organisations and charities like NSPCC an Brook, the Department of Education and Ofsted.
• Ofsted inspections have found that, despite progress across the country, SRE needs improving in one third of schools. They are clear that this lack of quality SRE leaves pupils vulnerable to abuse and exploitation (Ofsted, 2013)
• Although the council does not have any control over the school curriculum, we can’t ignore this issue in our schools. In a YouGov poll - one in three 16 to 18-year-old girls said they experienced unwanted sexual touching/’groping’ at school.
• The pressures on our young people are growing with new technology. In a ChildLine survey of 13 to 18-year-olds, 60% said they had been asked for a sexual image or video of themselves

This Council believes:

• That every child in Rotherham should receive age-appropriate sex and relationship education.
• That specific training should be provided to those delivering sex and relationship education so it is high quality and issues like child exploitation are understood.  
• That young boys need specific support and education around healthy relationships, in the face of online pornography.  
• That Rotherham schools are an instrumental setting in ensuring this happens.

This Council therefore resolves:

• To call on the government to introduce compulsory sex and relationship education for all children.
• To write to all primary, secondary and special schools in Rotherham to encourage them to have a comprehensive curriculum with regards to raising awareness of grooming and abuse; as well as education about healthy relationships.
• That schools welcome evaluation and review of what they provide, and best practice is shared.
• That schools are requested to reinstate the contribution to the Child Sexual Exploitation team that they removed last year.

Proposed by              Councillor Emma Hoddinott

Seconded by            Councillor Jayne Senior

Moved by Councillor Hoddinott and seconded by Councillor Senior:

This Council notes :

• High-quality sex and relationships education helps create safe school communities where pupils can grow, learn, and develop positive, healthy behaviour for life.
• There is a growing body of support for this view from voluntary organisations and charities like NSPCC an Brook, the Department of Education and Ofsted.
• Ofsted inspections have found that, despite progress across the country, SRE needs improving in one third of schools. They are clear that this lack of quality SRE leaves pupils vulnerable to abuse and exploitation (Ofsted, 2013)
• Although the council does not have any control over the school curriculum, we can’t ignore this issue in our schools. In a YouGov poll - one in three 16 to 18-year-old girls said they experienced unwanted sexual touching/’groping’ at school.

·         The pressures on our young people are growing with new technology. In a ChildLine survey of 13 to 18-year-olds, 60% said they had been asked for a sexual image or video of themselves

This Council believes:

• That every child in Rotherham should receive age-appropriate sex and relationship education.
• That specific training should be provided to those delivering sex and relationship education so it is high quality and issues like child exploitation are understood.  
• That young boys need specific support and education around healthy relationships, in the face of online pornography.  

·         That Rotherham schools are an instrumental setting in ensuring this happens.

This Council therefore resolves:

• To call on the government to introduce compulsory sex and relationship education for all children.
• To write to all primary, secondary and special schools in Rotherham to encourage them to have a comprehensive curriculum with regards to raising awareness of grooming and abuse; as well as education about healthy relationships.
• That schools welcome evaluation and review of what they provide, and best practice is shared.

·         That schools are requested to reinstate the contribution to the Child Sexual Exploitation team that they removed last year.

On being put to the vote, the motion was carried unanimously by the Council.

To receive and consider reports, minutes and recommendations of the Standards and Ethics Committee held on 31^st March and 9^th June, 2016.

To confirm the minutes as a true record.

Resolved:-  That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Standards and Ethics Committee be adopted.

Mover:-  Councillor McNeely                                 Seconder:-  Councillor Khan

To receive and consider reports, minutes and recommendations of the Audit Committee held on 25^th February and 27^th April, 2016.

To confirm the minutes as a true record.

Resolved:-  That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Audit Committee be adopted.

Mover:-  Councillor Wyatt                                       Seconder:-  Councillor Walsh

To receive and consider reports, minutes and recommendations of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on 24^th February, 20^th April and 1^st June, 2016.

To confirm the minutes as a true record.

Resolved:-  That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Health and Wellbeing Board be adopted.

Mover:-  Councillor Roche                                     Seconder:-  Councillor Watson

To receive and consider reports, minutes and recommendations of the Planning Board held on 10^th and 31^st March, 21^st April, 2^nd and 23^rd June, 2016.

To confirm the minutes as a true record.

Resolved:-  That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Planning Board be adopted.

Mover:-  Councillor Atkin                            Seconder:-  Councillor Sansome

To put questions, if any, to the designated Members on the discharge of functions of the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Combined Authority and South Yorkshire Pensions Authority, in accordance with Standing Order No. 7(5).

There were none.

To put questions, if any, to Cabinet Members and Chairmen (or their representatives) under Standing Order No. 7(1) and 7(3).

Councillor Simpson asked, “Can the Council publicly condemn hate crimes, especially those that are racist and xenophobic? As they have no place in a modern, independent Great Britain.”

In response, the Leader of the Council stated that the Council could publicly condemn all hate crimes and was committed to working with all communities, business and public service organisations to tackle such crime.

Rotherham Council was working in partnership with South Yorkshire Police to encourage people to report hate crime and to send the message that it would not be tolerated, whether on the grounds of race, religion, disability, sexuality or trans identity.  South Yorkshire Police had issued recent press and social media communications to encourage anyone who had experienced or witnessed hate crime to report it. The Council’s Community Safety Unit was supporting that message with practical actions, such as providing information at community meetings and conferences, for example, at the Rotherham Tenants Conference on 5 July. The Safer Rotherham Partnership had also supported community projects to tackle hate crime including increasing third party reporting centres through the engagement of community and voluntary sector organisations

All parts of the community must stand united against all forms of violence and anyone with information or concerns about hate crime should report this to police so it can be investigated. 

The Council was supporting the ‘Love Is Louder’ initiative, led by Rotherham Ethnic Minorities Alliance to show that Love is Louder than intolerance and hate.  The Mayor was due to launch the project on 18 July to celebrate the art work created by community groups and individuals in Rotherham that will be used to “artbomb” the town centre and other locations in the Borough.

Councillor Julie Turner asked “Towards the end of last year in different meetings we were told by three different councillors that footfall in the town centre increased. Officially, last year, did footfall within the town centre increase or decrease?”

Councillor Lelliot, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy responded “Last year footfall decreased by 4.7% which could be as a consequence of the number of far right marches/demonstrations that have taken place. Since 2010 there has been an overall 6% increase in footfall.”

Councillor Reeder asked “For some time now I understand that a comprehensive plan to tackle the many issues in Eastwood is being prepared. why is preparing the plan taking so long and when will it be available for review?”

In response, Councillor Hoddinott, Cabinet Member for Waste, Roads and Community Safety, stated “The Eastwood Deal’ – A Partnership Plan for Eastwood Village has been developed with partners in a comprehensive and coordinated way to ensure a sustainable approach is taken to improving the quality of life for all residents in Eastwood. The plan includes a variety of aspects and approaches which, as well as increased levels of environmental enforcement, also involves education, engagement, consultation, communication, partnership working and community enablement and involvement. The plan has been developed with partners and was published on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Any other public items which the Mayor determines are urgent.

There were no urgent items.

Should it be necessary, in the opinion of the Mayor, to consider excluding the press and public from the meeting in relation to any items of urgent business on the grounds that private information is likely to be divulged.

There are no such items at the time of preparing this agenda.

There were no confidential matters for consideration.