Agenda and minutes

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the Annual Council held on 29^th May, 2007 be approved for signature by the Mayor, subject to the inclusion of Councillors Falvey and Sharp in the list of attendance.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Kirk

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

·              From  115 residents of Kimberworth Park, Rotherham requesting a school crossing on Roughwood Road adjacent to the Infant School gates.

·              From 43 residents of Swinton requesting lighting to the public footpath between Thomas Street and Queen Street, Swinton.

·              From 20 residents of Godric Green, Brinsworth requesting a defined maintenance programme for their gardens.

·              From 86 residents of Ellis Crescent and Wynmoor Crescent objecting to the possible rehousing of a family from Becknoll Road to Ellis Crescent.

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

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Kirk

(2)  The Chief Executive submitted apologies for absence from Councillors Akhtar, Boyes, Burton, Kaye, Mannion, McNeely, Robinson, R. S. Russell, Sharman and Stonebridge.

Resolved:-  That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet (Section B) (pages 256B to 260B) be adopted.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Kirk

(1)   Councillor Littleboy asked now that Councillor Mannion had renounced the membership of the Conservative party and had ceased to be a Conservative Councillor, should he resign from the Council and seek a fresh mandate as an Independent from the electorate of the Sitwell ward? 

The Leader believed Councillor Mannion should seek a fresh mandate.

(2)   Councillor Gilding asked what were the arrangements for the use of parking scratch cards and parking permits? 

Councillor Smith explained that with regard to staff permits, these were charged at the rate of £26 per month, payable by salary deduction. Scratch cards were used for two purposes as described below:-

·              In residents parking schemes as a short term measure where residents have a short term need for more than one visiting vehicle. (e.g. for a special event or where there were likely to be a number of visitors following the death of someone at the address).  The scratch cards were charged at £1.50 each for this purpose.

·              To enable Visitors and Strategic Directors to park in the pay and display spaces in front of the Town Hall/Eric Manns building, when they need to attend meetings at that location.  It should be noted that these Strategic Directors already paid £26 per month for parking permits for parking in their staff car park and it obviated the need for unnecessary bureaucracy in purchasing parking tickets and then claiming back their parking expenses.  Visitors invited to the Town Hall/Eric Manns buildings to attend meetings, which were potentially advantageous to the Council, may be invited also to use a scratchcard.

(3)   Councillor Gilding asked how would the schemes set out in the South Yorkshire Intelligent Transport System be financed? 

Councillor Smith explained the South Yorkshire Intelligent Transport System was being funded by a grant from Objective 1. In Rotherham’s case the grant was £1.27 million, which was being used to fund improvements to St. Ann’s and College Road roundabouts as well as Variable Message Signing on the major approaches to the Town Centre.

(4)   Councillor Gilding made reference to Minute No. 313 of the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Development Services held on 21st May, 2007 and asked what, briefly, was this complaint about?

Councillor Smith replied that this complaint related to the Bramley Traffic Management Scheme and the impact on a local business.

(5)   Councillor Gilding asked with regard to the “Private Sector Strategy”, did the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods have any personal interests in this item?

Councillor Ellis did not feel she had a prejudicial interest in the objectives or the outcomes as outlined in the Strategy or that it would affect her personally.  She had revisited the Strategy, reconsidered the content, but did not feel she needed to declare an interest.

(6)   Councillor Gilding asked how many wheelie bins were micro-chipped in Rotherham and why? 

Councillor Smith confirmed the Council had purchased 13,000 green garden bins fitted with microchips in 2004, using money obtained from successful grant applications to Department for Environment,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

(1)  Councillor Gilding asked how much did South Yorkshire Police spend on translators during 2006?

Councillor Littleboy confirmed that the amount South Yorkshire Police spent on Interpreters in the financial year 2005/2006 was £453,095.49

The amount South Yorkshire Police spent on Interpreters in the financial year 2006/2007 was £437,397.00

(2)  Councillor Gilding asked how often was the Town Centre patrolled on foot by regular Police Officers?

Councillor Littleboy confirmed that the town centre was patrolled by foot as follows:-

Officers from the “Tutor Unit” covered the area between the hours of 7.00 a.m. and Midnight and this comprised two Sergeants and ten Officers.  There were also the PCSOs which covered the town centre between the hours of 8.00 a.m. and Midnight.

However, in addition to these Officers, on Friday and Saturday nights between the hours of 9.00 p.m. and 3.00 a.m. there was a team of a Sergeant plus ten Officers (as a minimum).

Councillor Stone introduced the Audit Committee Annual Report 2006/07, which detailed how the Audit Committee had successfully fulfilled its terms of reference and improved the Council’s governance and control environments.

Resolved:- That the report be received.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Kirk

Resolved:- That Councillor Austen be appointed to the Planning Board.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Kirk