Agenda and minutes

The Mayor welcomed Martin Kimber to this Council Meeting as an observer prior to his starting in post as Chief Executive on the 26^th October, 2009.

The Mayor was pleased to present two awards to:-

·              Streetpride and Culture and Leisure who won the “Best Service Team Streetscene and Public Realm” Award at the Association for Public Service Excellent Annual Service Awards in Cardiff.

·              The quarterly winners of the Employee Suggestion Scheme – Keith Norfolk from Environment and Development Services, who suggested that wooden pins be used when ‘setting out’ instead of metal ones avoiding the danger of piercing underground electric services and Wayne Williams, also from Environment and Development Services, who suggested that crew members working in depots wear high visibility gloves when guiding vehicles/watching them reverse.

Congratulations were offered to all those involved in these achievements.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22^nd July, 2009 be approved for signature by the Mayor.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Sharman

(1) The Acting Chief Executive submitted the following petitions which had been referred to appropriate Directorates for consideration:-

·              From nine residents of Arundel Avenue, Treeton regarding anti-social behaviour.

·              From forty-six residents of Dinnington opposing development on Shakespeare Drive, Dinnington.

·              From sixty-five residents of Blackburn regarding the decorating allowance.

·              From fifty-five residents of Rotherham objecting to potential residential development on a garage site at Oakwood Crescent, Rotherham.

·              From thirty-four residents of Kimberworth Park objecting to potential residential development on a garage site at Kiln Road, Kimberworth Park.

·              From one thousand residents of Brinsworth requesting urgent provision of a new library.

(2) The Acting Chief Executive submitted apologies for absence from Councillors Cutts, Donaldson, Hodgkiss, Kirk, Littleboy, McNeely, Sangster, Sharp, Walker, Whelbourn and Whysall.

A member of the public asked was the Council expecting to recoup its Iceland Bank based savings funds, if so when, was it expecting all the money invested to be refunded, if not then how much?.

What vital services in Rotherham would these substantial "resurrected" funds be earmarked for, or what plans were there for these monies?”  

Councillor Wyatt reported the Council was not the only Local Authority affected by the Iceland Bank difficulties, but he explained the Council had £3.8 million deposited with Icelandic financial institutions, of which almost half was with a UK-based subsidiary.  Prospects for the security of these investments were good and funds have already started to return to the Council.

However, precisely when funds would return to the Council was still to be determined.  If the maximum return on the investments was to be achieved, it would pay to be patient, act with a cool head and optimise the benefits that would flow from improvements in the economic climate.  As the economy started to recover, the value of assets held by financial institutions would rise and so would the benefit from the Icelandic investments.  A maximum return on the investments would, therefore, take time.

This said, the Council was working with colleagues in the Treasury and with the Local Government Association to maximise the value of dividends returned to it and to other Councils.  The Council would continue to manage prudently the overall resources available to meet service needs and to minimise Council Tax.

Finally, there would be no need to earmark funds for particular services, as there had been no impact of the Icelandic banking difficulties on the Council’s services.

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee (Section B) (pages 7B to 10B) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Clarke                               Seconder:- Councillor Austen

Waste Collection Compliance – Enforcement Procedures (Minute No. C57) (Pages 45C/46C)

Capital and Asset Management Strategies, Plans and Programmes 2009 – Maintenance Capital Investment Block (Minute No. C68) (Pages 57C - 59C)

Capital and Asset Management Strategies, Plans and Programme 2009 – Minor Strategic Capital Investment Block for Works Under £300,000 (Minute No. C69) (Pages 59C/60C)

Ulley Reservoir (Minute No. C73) (Page 63C)

Town Hall, Eric Manns Building and Doncaster Gate Progress Report (Minute No. C77) (Pages 65C/66C)

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet (Section C) (pages 34C to 69C) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

Children and Young People – Pages 26D to 30D (Section D)

Community Development and Engagement – Pages 7E to 11E (Section E)

Culture Services and Sport – Pages 5F to 9F (Section F)

Economic Development, Planning and Transportation – Pages 38G to 54G (Section G)

Health and Social Care – Pages 31H to 42H (Section H)

Housing and Neighbourhoods – Pages 17J to 30J (Section J)

Streetpride– Pages 7L to 9L (Section L)

Economic Development, Planning and Transportation and Streetpride – Pages 13M to 14M (Section M)

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 26D to 30D (Section D)

·              Community Development and Engagement – Pages 7E to 11E (Section E)

·              Culture Services and Sport – Pages 5F to 9F (Section F)

·              Economic Development, Planning and Transportation – Pages 38G to 54G (Section G)

·              Health and Social Care – Pages 31H to 42H (Section H)

·              Housing and Neighbourhoods – Pages 17J to 30J (Section J)

·              Streetpride– Pages 7L to 9L (Section L)

·              Economic Development, Planning and Transportation and Streetpride – Pages 13M to 14M (Section M)

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Audit Committee (Section P) (pages 16P to 19P) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Kaye                                  Seconder:- Councillor Wyatt

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Board (Section Q) (pages 6Q to 10Q) 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 51T to 70T) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Pickering                           Seconder:- Councillor Dodson

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Leader and Deputy Leader (Section U) (pages 1U to 7U) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

(1)  Councillor Thirlwall asked if the Leader could provide this Chamber with the evidence to show whether or not the “Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food” had been successful in reducing obesity in Rotherham? 

The Leader reported that the Ministry of Food was raising awareness through the use of fresh food rather than frozen and had continued to give a high profile to the importance of a healthy diet.  It had provided many groups and individuals with opportunities to develop cooking skills.  This kind of initiative supported the Healthy Weight Framework, but it did not set out to reduce obesity in Rotherham.  There was good evidence from the project team that the objectives of raising awareness and developing cooking skills have been achieved.

The Ministry of Food had been running now for twelve months and evidence on its success was being evaluated.

(2)  Councillor Fenoughty asked why were there no women in Cabinet? 

The Leader explained that the fact that there were no women on this Council's Cabinet was simply a result of the democratic process in that there were no votes for a woman this time, although there had been in the past and may well be in the future.

It was a fact, however, that all the Scrutiny Panel Chairs were women – Councillors Austen, Boyes Jack, McNeely and Ann Russell were indeed a formidable team of women.

The Council did, however, have a number of women in key positions as follows:-

Strategic Director, Children and Young People's Services

Director, Borough Wide and Health Services,

Director, Schools and Lifelong Learning

Director, Resources Planning and Performance

Director of Safeguarding and Corporate Parenting

Director of Independent Living

Director of Health and Wellbeing

Director of Commissioning and Partnerships

Head of Scrutiny Services

Head of Policy and Performance

(3)  Councillor Turner was constantly aware of new faces in the town centre and felt that immigrants were coming specifically to Rotherham in droves.  He asked would the Council agree with him that this town would shortly only be English by name? 

Councillor Hussain reported that this question could be taken two ways.  It could be taken in a positive way in congratulating Councillor Turner in how much time he was spending in the town centre noting new faces or secondly by saying the town centre needed new faces to promote it and to assist in increasing its economic vitality.

(4)  Councillor Parker asked if the Leader, following his meeting with Corus on 5^th March, 2009 in London, could please tell him if there had been any understanding reached between the parties involved at that meeting, in respect of closing the Aldwarke Steel Plant in favour of keeping Scunthorpe open, if there was a choice to be made? 

The Leader reported that it was not a simple case of a direct choice between Rotherham and Scunthorpe and he had no evidence whatsoever  of keeping Scunthorpe open at the expense of Aldwarke.  In the discussions it was clear that Corus were committed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

(1)  Councillor Gilding  asked in view of the success of the Police Authority broadcasting its meetings on the internet, would the Police Authority representative join in requesting that Rotherham Borough Council follow its example and do likewise?

Councillor Boyes was grateful that Members of the Opposition were looking at the meetings of the Police Authority on the internet, but broadcasting live would not be helpful to this meeting.

(2)  Councillor Gilding  asked about the number of persons arrested for being Drunk and Disorderly in the South Yorkshire Police Area over the last 5 years.

Councillor Boyes reported that during the last five years there were 16,840 people arrested where drunk and disorderly was one of the reasons.

Councillor Austen gave a brief overview of the work being undertaken by the relevant Scrutiny Panels in Rotherham and in doing so also presented the 2008/09 Annual Scrutiny Report and 2009/10 Scrutiny Plan.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the update on the work of scrutiny be noted.

(2)  That the Annual Scrutiny Report for 2008/09 be received and the Scrutiny Plan for 2009/10 be supported.

“That this Council regrets that the statutory consultation required on the Local Development Framework has not been correctly carried out and resolves to carry out a genuine consultation of the people of Rotherham on their views on the plans”.

Mover : Councillor Mannion                           Seconder: Councillor Gilding

Moved by Councillor Mannion and seconded by Councillor Gilding.

“That this Council regrets that the statutory consultation required on the Local Development Framework has not been correctly carried out and resolves to carry out a genuine consultation of the people of Rotherham on their views on the plans”.

The motion was put and lost.

(Councillors Blair, Clarke, Fenoughty, Gamble, Gilding, Hughes, Mannion, Parker, Thirlwall and Turner voted in favour of the motion)

“That this Council recognises that the amendment moved by Councillor Doyle and seconded by Councillor Gosling, that was passed at the Council meeting dated 22nd July, 2009 to the motion regarding Social Care, moved by Councillor Parker and seconded by Councillor Cutts, was not in accordance with Standing Orders, and should, therefore be rescinded.

Mover: Councillor Mannion                            Seconder: Councillor Parker

Moved by Councillor Mannion and seconded by Councillor Parker.

“That this Council recognises that the amendment moved by Councillor Doyle and seconded by Councillor Gosling, that was passed at the Council meeting dated 22nd July, 2009 to the motion regarding Social Care, moved by Councillor Parker and seconded by Councillor Cutts, was not in accordance with Standing Orders, and should, therefore be rescinded.”

The motion was put and lost.