Agenda and minutes

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 8^th October, 2008 be approved for signature of the Mayor.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Sharman

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

·              From twenty-two residents of Schoolfield Drive and Thorogate, Rawmarsh, requesting controlled access to Schoolfield Drive from RosehillPark.

·              From thirty-five residents of Dog Kennel Hill, Kiveton Park Station, opposing the plans to build a combined heat and power plant on land at the rear of Dog Kennel Hill, South Anston.

·              From fifty-eight residents of Richard Road, Rotherham objecting to the parking scheme proposals on Richard Road.

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 Councillors Boyes, Hodgkiss, License, Sims and Walker.

(3)  The Chief Executive was in receipt of correspondence from Councillor Thirlwall, which was circulated to all Members and which related to a Notice of Motion.

(1)  Russell Wells pointed out that the Council provided services for adults with autism and asked would the Council establish a clear route for adults with autism, including Aspergers syndrome, to access services?

Councillor Kirk reported the Learning Disability Service  currently provided a service to  adults with autism who also have a  learning disability and could be accessed by telephone on 01709 302834 or visiting the offices at Badsley Moor Lane, Rotherham. S65 2QU.

Services for people with Aspergers syndrome, who have mental health needs, were provided by the Mental Health Service - access to this service would be by referral from a G.P. either to the Primary Care Mental Health Service or though the single point of access into secondary services (provided by Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust).  Crisis services were provided 24 hours per day by the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Service on telephone 01709 302670. There were also a number of drop in services for example MIND in Rotherham. G.P.s and other staff signposted to these as appropriate.

This work, including research into transitions, had been commissioned and funded jointly with the Department for Children, Schools and Families.  

Rotherham was one of 150 local authorities that have completed a census for the National Audit Office on supporting people with autism through adulthood and this study would inform the first ever Government strategy on adults with autism and Aspergers syndrome, which was due to be published next year.   This work, including research into transitions, had been commissioned and funded jointly with the Department for Children, Schools and Families.  The publication of Valuing People Now was expected this month and it was advised there would be a chapter about People with Autism and Aspergers Syndrome, but no indication of the content so the Council would have to wait to see if it advised that the responsibility for this group of service users should rest within Learning Disabilities or if the forthcoming Strategy advocated for a completely separate service. 

The forthcoming Strategy would provide Rotherham with the direction required to deliver appropriate services and ensure that adults with autism and Aspergers syndrome were supported to have full lives. It was planned to review local needs and local services to decide whether a local strategy was needed for services to people with these types of needs.

In a supplementary question Mr. Wells asked would the Council, along with NHS Rotherham, set up a specialist Aspergers team, like in Liverpool, for people with an I.Q. of above 70 who do not qualify for support from the Learning Disability Team?

Councillor Kirk explained that this would be considered and looked into further.

(2)  Mr. D. Guest asked why at Item 8 of the agenda would the Council wish to replace a popular effective Area Assembly Chairman who recently received a unanimous vote of confidence?

The Leader suggested that this answer to this question would form the basis of discussion at Item 8 on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

Resolved:-  That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet (Section B) (pages 66B to 102B) be adopted.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Sharman

Resolved:-  That the reports and minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee (Section C) (pages 10C to 15C) be adopted.

Mover:-  Councillor Austen                             Seconder:-  Councillor Slade

(1)  Councillor Gilding  asked for how long did this Council envisage operating the Jamie Oliver’s “Ministry of Food” in Rotherham, how many staff would be transferred onto the Council’s payroll and what would be the total annual running costs? 

The Leader confirmed that there was currently funding in place, from a variety of grants, to operate the Ministry of Food for twelve months.

Two members of staff have been transferred to the Council one full time and one part-time (0.6 wte).

The total annual running costs of the Ministry of Food was £125,000. The budget for the running costs had been sourced from a Communities of Health grant, LABGI grant and from NHS Rotherham.

(2)  Councillor Gilding made reference to the 2007 population estimate and population trends and asked could the Cabinet Member amplify on the phrase “the Borough has a growing and increasingly diverse BME Population, which also had implications for the delivery of local services” and asked which services, in particular, and why? 

Councillor Hussain explained that population estimates provided by the Office for National Statistics indicated that the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) population of Rotherham increased from 10,200 to 15,600 between 2001 and 2006 and now account for 6.2% of the total population. There have been significant percentage increases in the Black African, Indian and Chinese communities, those of Mixed ethnicity and White ethnic minorities, notably Polish and Slovakian and Czech communities. There were 750 asylum seekers from many countries ranging from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.

In 2001 the Race Relations Act was amended to give public authorities a statutory duty to promote race equality.  The general duty, as set out in the Act, required a listed public authority, in carrying out its functions, to have due regard to the need to:-

·              Eliminate unlawful discrimination.

·              Promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups.

Authorities were expected to consider the implications for racial equality for everything they did, therefore, this duty applied to all the Council’s services.  The aim was to help public authorities to provide fair and accessible services to all customers of Rotherham.

The Cabinet Member reinforced the message that the Council needed to make sure that the different services were available for all Rotherham citizens who had a specific need.

(3)   Councillor Turner explained that some weeks ago he became aware of a large banner draped across the pillars at the entrance to Clifton Park welcoming people to the Park.  On the left hand side of the banner was a very large picture of an Asian member of our community and on the right hand side a similarly large picture of possibly an African.  In the centre was a seemingly miniaturised group of what might be described as original local Rotherham people.  The banner was shortly afterwards torn down or removed.  Councillor Turner was a supporter of equality, but was seriously against the promotion of our newer citizens to the disadvantage of the hosts.  He asked was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

“That the Council removes Councillor Peter Thirlwall from the Chair of the Wentworth Valley Area Assembly and replaces him with Councillor Chris McMahon with Councillor Amy Rushforth becoming the Vice Chair”.

Proposer:  Councillor Littleboy                       Seconder:  Councillor Gosling

Moved by Councillor Littleboy and seconded by Councillor Gosling:-

“That the Council removes Councillor Peter Thirlwall from the Chair of the Wentworth Valley Area Assembly and replaces him with Councillor Chris McMahon with Councillor Amy Rushforth becoming the Vice Chair”.

The motion was put and carried and was adopted by the Council.

(Councillors Slade and Thirlwall voted against the motion and Councillors Blair, Clarke, Cutts, Gamble, Gilding, Hughes, Fenoughty, Mannion, Parker, Sharp and Turner abstained from voting.)

“That this Council recognises that the Annual Council Meeting is a ceremonial meeting and that all minutes due for scrutinising at that meeting and any other Council business be presented at the next scheduled meeting”.

Proposer: Councillor Mannion                        Seconder: Councillor Gilding

Moved by Councillor Mannion and seconded by Councillor Gilding:-

“That this Council recognises that the Annual Council Meeting is a ceremonial meeting and that all minutes due for scrutinising at that meeting and any other Council business be presented at the next scheduled meeting”.

The motion was put and lost.