Agenda and minutes

The Leader paid tribute to the hard work by Miss Dolly Parton, invited her to join the Council Meeting and offered the Council’s thanks and appreciation for her involvement in the Imagination Library in Rotherham.

As a token of the Council’s appreciation the Mayor presented Miss Dolly Parton with two gifts, one a painting depicting Rotherham and the other a perfume bottle engraved with the Council’s coat of arms.

Resolved:-  That the thanks and appreciation of the Council be conveyed to Miss Dolly Parton.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Sharman

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 10^th October, 2007, be approved for signature by the Mayor.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Sharman

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

·              From  9 residents of Myrtle Grove, Kiveton Park regarding collection of refuse.

·              From 39 residents of sheltered accommodation in Ryton Close and Cross Street, Maltby for the fence around the complex to be extended in height to two metres and a gate provided at The Warden’s Snicket.

·              From 20 residents of Brampton Road, West Melton regarding the lack of notice boards at the Brampton Road field.

·              From 13 residents of Swinburne Place, Herringthorpe regarding relocation of a galvanised shed.

·              From  15 residents of Gilberthorpe Drive, Rotherham regarding on-going anti-social behaviour in Gilberthorpe Drive.

·              From a large number of signatories regarding saving Dinnington Swimming Pool.

·              From 118 residents of Whiston requesting the trees on Pleasley Road be replaced.

Resolved:-  (1)  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 Councillors Ali, Billington, Doyle, Falvey, Havenhand, Hodgkiss, Jack, Kirk, License, Sharp, St. John, Stonebridge and Wyatt

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet (Section B) (pages 68B to 111B) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

Resolved:-  That the reports and minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee (Section C) (pages 9C to 15C) be adopted.

Mover:-  Councillor Clarke                              Seconder:-  Councillor Robinson

(1)   Councillor Gilding referred to the Streetpride sign, inviting sponsorship at the junction of Worksop Road (A57) and Hardwick Lane, Aston and asked what was the purpose of this sign and did it have planning permission? 

Councillor R. S. Russell explained that the sponsorship signs on the A57 at the junction with Hardwick Lane were granted planning permission on the 4^th August, 2005 and were initially sponsored by the neighbouring Godfreys Garden Centre.  Earlier this year the garden centre withdrew their sponsorship and in light of this we were considering removal of these signs. 

(2)   Councillor Gilding asked if he could be given an update on works to remedy the appalling state of Centenary Way at Canklow, one of the main entrances to Rotherham from the M1? 

Councillor R. S. Russell reported that the problems evident on Centenary Way were caused by the expansion of fill and sub-base materials incorporated in the road construction when it was first built. Tests undertaken on samples of this material indicated that the expansion could continue for many more years unless these materials were removed and the road fully reconstructed.

The cost of rectification was estimated at £4,500,000. This level of maintenance spend on a single length of road could not be managed from existing Revenue and LTP Capital maintenance allocations. The Department for Transport were asked to consider an exceptional maintenance allocation for 2008/09 to allow the work to be undertaken. However, in the settlement letter received from DfT last week we discovered that this funding had not been allocated and the Council were instead directed to seek funding support for the scheme from the Regional Funding Allocations granted to the Regional Assembly. The Council would be exploring this avenue further, but this would inevitably result in further delays in getting a scheme on the ground.

The Council were currently considering the options available to us in light of the delay. Streetpride have arranged for further minor patch repairs to be undertaken this week during a night time closure of the northbound carriageway. Nothing more extensive could be undertaken within the maintenance resources remaining to the Council this financial year.

The condition of the road would continue to be monitored closely in case further minor repairs became necessary. The extent to which temporary resurfacing could be justified during 2008/09 needed to be considered within the context of the maintenance allocation available to the Council and other pressures for repairs across the network. From previous experience any temporary resurfacing could only expect to be effective for about two years.

The options for managing traffic safety in the interval before major works could be undertaken were currently being investigated by Planning and Transportation Officers and may include measures to restrict traffic speed whether by lane restrictions or other means.

(3)   Councillor Gilding asked would the privatisation of the Council’s Bereavement Service be a better success than Housing Services had had with “Rotherham 2010”? 

Councillor Ellis explained that the proposed arrangements between the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.