Agenda and minutes

The Mayor referred to the recent death of Councillor Michael Clarke and Trooper James Anthony Leverett of D (The Green Horse) Squadron, The Viking Group, The Royal Dragoon Guards, who was killed in Afghanistan on Monday 5 July 2010.

Members held a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.

The Mayor was pleased to present the Quarterly Employee Suggestion Scheme Winner Award to Simon Oliver from RBT Connect. who had put forward his idea to include an extra line on the bin collection card, in relation to collection during adverse weather conditions.

Congratulations were offered to Simon on his success.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 21^st May, 2010 be approved for signature by the Mayor.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

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

• From 19 residents of Rotherham Town Centre regarding the introduction of a residential parking scheme
• From 17 residents of Cooper Close, Brampton Bierlow for traffic calming on Westfield Road

(2) The Chief Executive submitted apologies for absence from Councillors Burton, Gilding, Gosling, Goulty, Hodgkiss, Hussain, Turner and Whysall.

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Standards Committee (Section B)(pages 1 to 6) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Austen                              Seconder:- Councillor Buckley

Audit Committee Annual Report 2009/10 (Minute No. C15) (Page 10C)

Children and Young People’s Plan 2010-2013 (Minute No. C19) (Pages 13C – 14C)

Capital and Asset Management Strategies, Plans and Programmes 2010/11 - £1.5 million Capital Investment Block (Minute No. C20 (Pages 14C -15C)

Revenue Account Outturn 2009/10 (Minute No. C21) (Pages 15C -16C)

Corporate Plan (Minute No. C29) (Page 22C)

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet (Section C) (pages 1C to 29C) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

Children and Young People – Pages 1D to 29D (Section D)

Community Development and Engagement – Pages 1E to 8E (Section E)

Cultural Services and Sport – Pages 1F to 24F (Section F)

Economic Development, Planning and Transportation – Pages 1G to 27G (Section G)

Health and Social Care – Pages 1H to 25H (Section H)

Housing and Neighbourhoods – Pages 1J to 22J (Section J)

Resources – Pages 1K to 20K (Section K)

Streetpride– Pages 1L to 3L (Section L)

Economic Development, Planning and Transportation and Streetpride – Pages 1M to 11M (Section M)

Deputy Leader – Pages 1N to 2N (Section N)

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

• Children and Young People – Pages 1D to 29D (Section D)

• Community Development and Engagement – Pages 1E to 8E   (Section E)

• Cultural Services and Sport – Pages 1F to 24F (Section F)

• Economic Development, Planning and Transportation – Pages 1G to 27G (Section G)

• Health and Social Care – Pages 1H to 25H (Section H)

• Housing and Neighbourhoods – Pages 1J – 22J (Section J)

• Resources – 1K to 20K (Section K)

• Economic Development, Planning and Transportation and Streetpride – Pages 1M to 11M (Section M)

• Deputy Leader – Pages 1N to 2N (Section N) 

Mover:- Councillor Stone              Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Audit Committee (Section P) (pages 1P to 10P) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Sangster                           Seconder: Councillor Kaye

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Board (Section Q) (pages 1Q to 6Q) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Wootton               Seconder:- Councillor Jack

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Planning Board (Section T) (pages 1T to 64T) 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 Cutts referred to the replacement of the Old School with the New at Herringthorpe at a cost of over £8 million.  He asked for an explanation as to the circumstances that prevent us from affording the grass seed for the Playing Field.

Councillor Lakin reported that the new building work required extensive alterations to the school site.  The new external works include a new infant playground, an extended and re-surfaced junior play ground.  A new football pitch had been created which was not only level but also drained and fully seeded.  This was to open in time for the school to use when it moved into the new building.  Much of the frontage of the school was turfed in order that it was instantly accessible.

Some of the other areas of the school site had been designed by our architectural services and use was made of wild flower meadow seed on some of the banks.  These produce a colourful flower display.  Some additional work was being carried out over the summer to the wetlands area to remove surplus soil.

(2) Councillor Cutts referred to the support and enthusiasm for Forces Day Ceremony within the square and asked whether a new flag pole would be included within the minster heritage upgrade and funding.

Councillor Smith reported that Karl Battersby had written to Councillor Cutts on 2^nd July 2010 regarding this issue.

He confirmed that the Townscape Heritage Initiative Scheme was jointly funded, with £1,145,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £1,430,000 from Yorkshire Forward and £1m from the Council.  This five year scheme commenced in September 2007, and the main objective of the scheme was to repair and restore specific buildings on the High Street.  Also the scheme included the currently ongoing works in the Minster Churchyard, and it also included public realm improvements on the High Street, planned for 2011/12.

Funding allocated to the Minster Yard project was extremely tight due to unforeseen items of expenditure, and there was therefore no surplus funding available for the installation of a new flagpole.

(3) Councillor Cutts asked for a balance of provision between the Private and Public Sector in Home Care services and also for the final ratio intention.

Councillor Akhtar reported that we have an enabling service which was provided in-house and a domiciliary maintenance service was commissioned from the independent sector.  At the time the Cabinet agreed to shift the balance of In-House/External provision, it was agreed that a 20/80 split was the optimum position.  A target of 30/70 was set for 2009/10 which has been achieved.  There were frequent changes in service provision and turnover of customers make it difficult to ensure that the balance remained at 30/70 and at times the balance had shifted as far as 25/75.  The target position was being reviewed in the light of changing circumstances.

(4)  Councillor Cutts made reference to Cerebral Palsy being a deserving requirement for support and asked why we have been withdrawing financial support for over three  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

Councillor Sangster introduced the Audit Committee Annual Report for 2009/10.

Resolved:- That the report be received.

Mover:- Councillor Sangster                           Seconder:- Councillor Kaye

Councillor Whelbourn presented the 2009/10 Annual Report and the 2010/11 Scrutiny Plan.

Resolved:- That the Scrutiny Report for 2009/10 be received and the Scrutiny Plan for 2010/11 be supported.

Mover:- Councillor Whelbourn                        Seconder:- Councillor Austen

Further to Minute No. 7 of May, 2010, Councillor Stone reported on the revised Cabinet Member portfolios as follows:

1) Leader (Councillor Stone) – This portfolio largely remains unchanged from 2009/10.  But the Deputy Leader will take on more of the lower level “day to day” activity to allow the leader to concentrate on bigger strategic issues.  The Leader still has responsibility for international, regional, sub-regional and external relationships.

• Overall leadership of the Council
• Setting Corporate Policy
• Reputation Management
• External Affairs including  sub-regional, regional, national and international partnerships and engagement
• Leading the Councils input to the Rotherham Partnership
• Overall responsibility for Corporate Governance
• Overall responsibility for ensuring the Council sets and delivers a balanced budget.

Budget

The portfolio does not have direct budget responsibility for delivering services.  But it does carry overall responsibility for working with Cabinet and Council to set and deliver a balanced budget.  The net value of the budget in the 2010/2011 financial year is £216.9 million revenue and £106.8 capital.

2) Safeguarding and Developing Learning Opportunities for Children (Councillor Lakin)- This is the previous Children and Young People’s role from 2009/10.  In the current year the portfolio will narrow by passing responsibility for youth development and lifelong learning to other portfolios.  Given the huge breadth of the previous portfolio this will help the incoming Cabinet member and allow responsibilities to be equalised across portfolio holders.  In all other respects the portfolio remains as it was in 2009/10.

• Lead Member for Integrated Children’s Services
• Children’s Social Care and Health
• Lead Member for Education & 14-19 Strategy including schools, special schools and pupil referral units
• Lead Member for Early Years Strategy

Budget

The portfolio has responsibility for a net budget of approximately £36.9 million revenue and £19.34 capital.

3) Adult Independence, Health and Wellbeing (Councillor Doyle) - This is the previous Health and Social Care portfolio.  It includes all facets of the 2009/2010 portfolio.  But it would add to it an oversight of all services for older people and therefore would take the lead role in lifelong learning previously within children’s portfolio.

• Adult Social Services and Health
• Adult Social Care
• Lead Member for Public Health Strategy
• Older People’s Strategy
• Lead Member for Lifelong Learning

Budget

The portfolio has responsibility for a net budget of approximately £72.6 million revenue and £1.9 million capital.

4) Community Development, Equality and Young People’s issues (Councillor Hussain) -This is the Community Development and Engagement portfolio from 2009/10.  It would include the previous responsibilities but would also add the overview for equality (making sure no community is left behind) and responsibility for issues concerning young people including the youth services, youth offending, and youth parliament.  The portfolio does therefore work on a number of cross cutting areas which span the service delivery responsibilities of other portfolio holders.

• Social Inclusion
• Community Strategy
• Asylum Seekers
• Equalities and Diversity
• Consultation Strategy and Community Involvement
• Lead member for Anti Social Behaviour Strategy (in consultation with Safe and attractive Neighbourhoods portfolio holder)
• Parish Council network  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

Consideration was given to the submitted report in respect of the Parish Review/Community Governance Review.

The report informed the Council of the outcome of further consultation undertaken, as agreed by the Council at its meeting on 21^st April 2010.

Resolved:- (1) That with regard to the proposals to extend the boundaries of the parishes of Brinsworth and Dalton, no further action be taken.

(2) That in the absence of any revised proposals or evidence of popular support for the creation of a parish at Thorpe Hesley, no further action be taken.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

To consider the adoption of the following motion :-

This Council notes:

That the increase in VAT from 17.5% to 20% announced in the Government’s June Budget will fall hardest on those least able to afford it.

That the increase in VAT will lead to higher prices for goods and services; will have a disproportionate impact on pensioners and other low income groups; and will have a severe impact on businesses, charities and community groups in Rotherham.

That the effect of the increase in VAT, when taken with other measures in the Budget, will be unfair to pensioners, who have not had a compensatory increase in other benefits and allowances.

That the way the VAT increase will affect pensioners and other low income groups runs counter to the Government’s Coalition Agreement statement on 20 May 2010 that it would “ensure that fairness is at the heart of those decisions so that all those most in need are protected.”

That the Institute of Fiscal Studies has stated the VAT increase was not “unavoidable,” as the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his Budget speech.

This Council resolves:

To write directly to the Chancellor of the Exchequer raising concerns about the impact of the proposed VAT increase on pensioners, other vulnerable groups and businesses in Rotherham.

To call on the Members of Parliament representing the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham to stand up for its pensioners, businesses and wider community, to voice their opposition to this unfair increase in VAT and to vote against it in Parliament.

Mover: Councillor Roger Stone          Seconder: Councillor Terry Sharman

Consideration was given to the following motion:-

This Council notes:

That the increase in VAT from 17.5% to 20% announced in the Government’s June Budget will fall hardest on those least able to afford it.

That the increase in VAT will lead to higher prices for goods and services; will have a disproportionate impact on pensioners and other low income groups; and will have a severe impact on businesses, charities and community groups in Rotherham.

That the effect of the increase in VAT, when taken with other measures in Budget, will be unfair to pensioners, who have not had a compensatory increase in other benefits and allowances.

That the way the VAT increase will affect pensioners and other low income groups runs counter to the Government’s Coalition Agreement statement on 20^th May 2010 that it would “ensure that fairness is at the heart of those decisions so that all those most in need are protected.”

That the Institute of Fiscal Studies has stated the VAT increase was not “unavoidable”, as the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his Budget speech.

This Council resolves:

To write directly to the Chancellor of the Exchequer raising concerns about the impact of the proposed VAT increase on pensioners, other vulnerable groups and businesses in Rotherham.

To call on the Members of Parliament representing the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham to stand up for its pensioners, businesses and wider community, to voice their opposition to this unfair increase in VAT and to vote against it in Parliament.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

The motion was put to the vote and carried.

(Councillors Blair, Hughes and Parker declared a personal interest in this item as being VAT registered.  Councillor Licence declared a personal interest as an employee of HMRC)

Councillor Stone introduced the report in relation to the Corporate Plan.

The report provided Council with the new Corporate Priorities, as set out in the “Plan on a Page” (Appendix 1) for consideration and approval.  It highlighted some of the key changes made since the first draft document was presented and also provided key dates in the timeline to final approval of the plan.

Resolved:- (1) That the “plan on a page” be approved.

(2) That the proposed timeline for approval of the detailed plan be noted and approved.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

Resolved:- That the following appointments be made:

• Councillor Slade be appointed to the Planning Board
• Councillor Nightingale be removed from the Democratic Renewal Scrutiny Panel and appointed to the Licensing Board.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

Resolved:-  This Council has a new Roll of Honour Board in the Town Hall, in honour of Service Personnel killed in action since the Second World War.  This is to include any Service Personnel who resided within the Rotherham Metropolitan Council Boundaries”

Mover:- Councillor R Russell                          Seconder:- Councillor Lakin