Agenda and minutes

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 16^th September, 2009 be approved for signature by the Mayor.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Sharman

The Acting Chief Executive submitted apologies for absence from Councillors Currie, Goulty, J. Hamilton, N. Hamilton, Havenhand, Hodgkiss, Jack, Johnston, Lakin, Pickering, G. A. Russell, P. A. Russell, Sangster, Sharp, Slade, Swift, Turner, Walker and Whysall.

A member of the public asked now the Mayor of Doncaster had commenced reducing salaries, costs, various expenses and areas of expenditure would Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council demonstrate today similar early reductions within our pressured borough where many people lacked work and many more lacked funds and would they follow the Doncaster initiatives to reduce non-essential and general spending?

The Leader reported he was aware of the Mayor of Doncaster’s recent list of initiatives and informed the member of the public that Rotherham Council had a well established record which was second to none in terms of improving efficiencies and securing cost reductions, whilst continuously improving service quality.  In the years 2005 to 2008 Rotherham Council generated efficiency gains of £33.5 million, putting the Council at the top of the league table of Metropolitan Councils.

Nevertheless, the Council was not complacent and it knew it had more to do.  There were big challenges ahead and the global economic climate was not good.  Rotherham Council, together with local public, private and voluntary sector partners, have done much to try to alleviate the difficulties that families and businesses were facing in these difficult times and the Council would work even harder in the future to improve services for the benefit of everyone across the borough.

The Leader reiterated that the budget process had only just commenced so the Council would not be making any knee jerk reactions or rash decisions today.

In a supplementary question, the member of the public recognised the budget process had only just commenced, but referred to the overall spend of the Council, the starting and finishing figures and the percentage turnover and asked if he could have these details once the process was complete.

The Leader confirmed once the budget process was finalised this information would be made available.

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee (Section B) (pages 11B to 14B) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Clarke                               Seconder:- Councillor Austen

Crinoline House Project (Minute No. C111) (Page 87C)

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet (Section C) (pages 70C to 93C) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

(Councillor Stone declared a prejudicial interest in Minute No. C108 (Magna Trust) as he was on the Magna Board and left the meeting whilst this was discussed)

Children and Young People – Pages 31D to 37D (Section D)

Community Development and Engagement – Pages 12E to 16E (Section E)

Cultural Services and Sport – Pages 10F to 17F (Section F)

Economic Development, Planning and Transportation – Pages 55G to 67G (Section G)

Health and Social Care – Pages 43H to 48H (Section H)

Housing and Neighbourhoods – Pages 31J to 43J (Section J)

Resources – Pages 10K to 13K (Section K)

Streetpride– Pages 10L to 11L (Section L)

Economic Development, Planning and Transportation and Streetpride – Pages 15M to 20M (Section M)

Deputy Leader – Page 1N  (Section N)

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Delegated Powers to Cabinet Members as listed below be adopted:-

·              Children and Young People – Pages 31D to 37D (Section D)

·              Community Development and Engagement – Pages 12E to 16E (Section E)

·              Cultural Services and Sport – Pages 10F to 17F (Section F)

·              Economic Development, Planning and Transportation – Pages 55G to 67G (Section G)

·              Health and Social Care – Pages 43H to 48H (Section H)

·              Housing and Neighbourhoods – Pages 31J to 43J (Section J)

·              Resources – Pages 10K to 13K (Section K)

·              Streetpride– Pages 10L to 11L (Section L)

·              Economic Development, Planning and Transportation and Streetpride – Pages 15M to 20M (Section M)

·              Deputy Leader – Page 1N  (Section N)

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Audit Committee (Section P) (pages 20P to 23P) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor License                             Seconder:- Councillor Clarke

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Board (Section Q) (pages 11Q to 12Q) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Wootton                           Seconder:- Councillor F. Wright

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Planning Board (Section T) (pages 71T to 87T) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor License                             Seconder:- Councillor Austen

Questions 1, 8 and 13 were not answered as Councillor Turner was not present.

(2)  Councillor Gilding asked why was the Welfare Rights Department underfunded and understaffed with the result that many people were having to wait a long time for their cases to be heard?  

The Leader replied that the Council recognised the extra demand for advices services created by the economic downturn. It had committed an additional £154,000 in 2009 to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Age Concern, Ferham Advice Centre, Rotherham Disability Information Service and Kiveton Park Independent Advice Service. The funding enabled these services to help an extra 5,000 residents in the last six months. The Council’s response to the economic downturn had been commended by the Audit Commission.

The Council was also reviewing with partners the way in which advice services, including the services provided by the Welfare Rights Department, could be delivered to ensure residents in greatest need of help would be given highest priority for support as quickly as we could.

(3)  Councillor Hughes asked with the contract for the BDR, why did this contract need to be over a twenty five year period?  In doing so were we going to be paying fixed prices per tonne at today's rates without any review to ensure this price was still competitive in the future? 

Councillor R. S. Russell confirmed that the longer the contract period, the easier it was to spread out the repayment of the capital costs.  As a result, a greater volume of waste was processed and the ‘gate fee’ per tonne was reduced.  It was in this way that the capital affordability case could be made.  The cost model did assume that the gate fee would remain constant in real terms unless there was a variation in the tonnage processed.

(4)  Councillor Fenoughty asked why were the changing rooms in our new Leisure Complexes unisex? 

Councillor St. John reported that all of the new leisure facilities have been designed and built in consultation with Sport England, who provided national guidance on such matters and with DC Leisure Management our new leisure facility partners, who have many years experience of designing, building and managing local authority sport and leisure facilities.

The style of changing provided at the new leisure facilities was based on Sport England guidance and had been standard practice across the country for many years. It was considered to be the best option, not because of cost, but because it offered a much more flexible space, meeting a wider range of needs. In particular it allowed an adult of any gender to be able to supervise young people of different genders, as well as allowing families to change together. It also allowed school teachers to more easily supervise mixed gender school groups.

The Council, therefore, believed that this style of changing was appropriate for the type of modern facilities that it was now providing.

(5)  Councillor Thirlwall referred to the General Balance Fund as follows:-

General Balances                      –             £10.10 million

Less  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

(1)  Councillor Gilding asked what were the crime figures in September, 2009 for anti-social behaviour and violence in Rotherham Central SNA.?

Councillor Littleboy suggested that Councillor Gilding attend the Neighbourhood Action Group for his Area Assembly as all this information was discussed at these meetings.  However, he did report that there had been 705 anti-social behaviour incidents and 137 violent incidents.

(2)  Councillor Gilding noted that on the October Briefing Note to Members, no mention was made of the dispute with the Fire Brigades Union and he asked what was the latest situation?

Councillor F. Wright reported that over the last twelve months there had been ongoing negotiations with the Fire Brigade Union to modernise the shifts to two 12 hour shifts (day and night) instead of a 15 hour night and 9 hour day shift.  As an incentive workers were also being offered £1500 to accept the 12 hour shift patterns.  A counter proposal was also submitted which moved the shifts on one hour, but this had been rejected.

Workers went on strike on Monday for 24 hours commencing at 6.00 p.m.  Contingency plans came into force with fifteen fire stations being open to man seventeen pumps and it was anticipated that these contingency plans would remain in force until such time that agreement was reached.  It was envisaged that all emergencies could be reached within ten minutes from the nearest station.

Firemen were required to work two days on, two nights on and then four days off for a remuneration package of £28,000 each year.  All those that had not signed up to the new working patterns by the end of December, 2009 would be served notice.  There was the opportunity for re-employment after the deadline, but this would be based on hourly terms only.  It was hoped that some agreement could be reached to enable the Fire Service to modernise and shape itself for the future.

Councillor Stone introduced the report relating to the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28) which made new provisions for the Executive Arrangements for local authorities.

Following consultation the Council was required to draw up proposed changes to the Constitution and resolve to implement the changes no later than 31^st December, 2009.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the preference for the Strong Leader and Cabinet Model of Executive be confirmed.

(2) That the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) be authorised to draw up the proposed changes to existing governance arrangements on the basis of this report.

(3)  That the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) be authorised to publicise the proposed changes following consideration by the Cabinet at its meeting on the 18^th November, 2009.

(4)  That a report be submitted to Council in December, 2009 recommending that the Council formally adopts the new executive arrangements.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman