Agenda and minutes

The Chief Executive submitted apologies for absence from Councillors Austen, Currie, Cutts, Donaldson, Foden, License, Johnston, Kirk, Sharp and Walker.

Mr. M. Andrew, Chairman of the Standards Committee, introduced the Standards Committee Annual Report for 2010.

Resolved:- That the report be received and the Committee be thanked for their hard work.

Mover:-   Councillor Stone                              Seconder:-  Councillor Sharman

Resolved:-  That the reports and minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet (Section C) (pages 30C to 36C) be adopted.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Sharman

Safeguarding and Developing Opportunities for Children (the former Children and Young People) – Pages 30D to 37D (Section D)

Culture, Lifestyle, Sport and Tourism (the former Cultural Services and Sport) – Pages 25F to 27F (Section F)

Regeneration and Environment (the former Economic Development, Planning and Transportation) – Pages 28G to 35G (Section G)

Adult Independence, Health and Well Being (the former Health and Social Care) – Pages 26H to 30H (Section H)

Safe and Attractive Neighbourhoods (the former Housing and Neighbourhoods) – Pages 23J to 32J (Section J)

Town Centres (the former Streetpride)– Pages 4L to 6L (Section L)

Regeneration and Environment and Town Centres (the former Economic Development, Planning and Transportation and Streetpride) – Page 12M (Section M)

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

·              Safeguarding and Developing Opportunities for Children (the former Children and Young People) – Pages 30D to 37D (Section D).

·              Culture, Lifestyle, Sport and Tourism (the former Cultural Services and Sport) – Pages 25F to 27F (Section F).

·              Regeneration and Environment (the former Economic Development, Planning and Transportation) – Pages 28G to 35G (Section G).

·              Adult Independence, Health and Well Being (the former Health and Social Care) – Pages 26H to 30H (Section H).

·              Safe and Attractive Neighbourhoods (the former Housing and Neighbourhoods) – Pages 23J to 32J (Section J).

·              Town Centres (the former Streetpride)– Pages 4L to 6L (Section L).

·              Regeneration and Environment and Town Centres (the former Economic Development, Planning and Transportation and Streetpride) – Page 12M (Section M).

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Sharman

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee (Section P) (pages 11P to 15P) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Sangster                           Seconder:- Councillor Kaye

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Board (Section Q) (pages 7Q to 10Q) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Wootton                           Seconder:- Councillor Barron

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Planning Board (Section T) (pages 65T to 98T) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Pickering                           Seconder:- Councillor Dodson

(1)  Councillor Fenoughty asked why was there no disabled access to the public galleries and what would be the cost of making disabled access to the public galleries possible?

Councillor Smith reported that disabled people were never discounted and the Council Chamber design was undertaken with consultation with the Access Officer.  This was an existing building and, therefore, design was limited by the restrictions of the space available. The brief was to provide a Council Chamber with raised seating, which itself created a problem if disabled people were to be fully integrated. The ramps required for wheelchair users required a great deal of space which just was not available. The same applied to the Public Galleries which had to be raised even higher than the Chamber seating. The more steps there were, the longer the ramp had to be. The length of ramp required to cover this distance would have taken up the whole of the space and there would not have been any room for any seating, thus defeating the object. The only way ramps could have been included to the Public Galleries would have been to have eliminated the Committee Rooms at either side of the Chamber and utilised that space. Another option would have been to have installed lifts, but again this required a great deal of space and considerable expense. These difficulties were raised with the Access Officer who agreed that it would be the best compromise in the circumstances for wheelchair users to sit at the front of the Chamber.

(2)  Councillor Gilding asked what were the anticipated costs of fitting out and furnishing the new Civic Offices at Main Street?

The Leader explained that as negotiations and commercial tendering activities for the fit out were still ongoing it was not currently appropriate to disclose any figures without putting the Council at a commercial disadvantage.

It was for this reason that the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Environment’s report on the 13th September, 2010 was exempt.

(3)  Councillor Thirlwall referred to advice from the Housing Finance Expert who claimed that it was no longer appropriate to contribute £410,000 per annum from the Housing Revenue Account to support the Area Assemblies and asked did the Cabinet Member believe now was the time to abandon Area Assemblies and use the money saved to protect frontline services?

Councillor Akhtar pointed out that this answer had already been provided to Councillor Thirlwall in advance of the meeting.

(4)  Councillor Gilding asked the Cabinet Member to update Members on the situation at the Lincoln Street Workshops, Maltby.

Councillor Smith reported the lease to the Chamber expired on the 28th September, but the Council had offered to extend the period of occupation if the Chamber desired to do so in order to allow alternative premises to be sought by the Chamber for existing tenants. The Council’s RIDO team were assisting in this process.

The latest information from the Chief Executive of the Chamber was that the main tenants have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

(1)  Councillor Gilding asked what were the current reserves of the South Yorkshire Police Authority?

Councillor Littleboy reported that for a number of years the Police Authority had been building up its general reserves as a result of prudent financial management.

The minimum level of general reserves required to cover known financial risks was assessed to be 5.4% of budget or currently £14 million.

Currently the Authority held 8.8% of the 2010/11 budget likely to be £23 million at 31^st March, 2010.

General reserves were required to provide for unforeseen expenditure, major operational contingencies and to provide adequate cover for financial risks within the budget assumptions.  £9 million, therefore, was available as part of reserves strategy in support of the revenue budget over next few years as a means of spreading the impact of future spending cuts over a longer period.

The Police Authority held earmarked reserves that were set aside for future purposes and in most cases were committed. These totalled £22 million at 31^st March, 2010.  A further £9 million was set aside for future insurance liabilities that the Authority may have to meet.  

Some of the Local Authority Members have expressed concern about the high level.  However, since the banks gambled away their money and had to be bailed out by the taxpayer that had lead to the Coalition Government panicking and forecasting up to 30%/40% reductions in budgets - including the Police which they said they would protect.  It was, therefore, not considered such a bad thing to have reserves that would help to protect the people in South Yorkshire from the proposed austerity.

(2)  Councillor Gilding asked why had there been difficulties in recruiting officers?

Councillor Littleboy reported no problems in recruiting police officers.

During a recruitment drive typically 600 application packs would be issued in three days and this would typically fill the vacancies that existed.   However, it was noted that South Yorkshire Police was currently slightly above its establishment figure and Rotherham had taken on nine additional probationers above its establishment, which was taking it in an overspend area and causing concern to the Commander.

The question was probably prompted by the problem that arose with workforce planning a little while ago when there were some relatively minor problems with workforce planning. The Human Resources Department set the recruiting plans largely on the basis of the requests from districts for new officers. That proved to be a little on the conservative side and additional recruitment was put in place.

The policing districts and departments consciously ran below establishment towards the end of the year as they knew that they had savings targets to meet for this year which were based on reducing the numbers of staff, including police officers. Those targets and savings could not be achieved if they started the year with a full establishment based on the previous year's budget. In simple terms if they did so they would start over spending this year's budget immediately and would not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

Consideration was given to the submitted report in respect of the Parish Review which detailed how following the making of final recommendations under the Review and subject to the consent of the Local Government Boundary Commission to change protected electoral arrangements in certain parishes, the Council would make an Order to bring the provisions of the Review into effect with various transitional provisions to be included in the Order as regards the proposed new Hellaby Parish Council.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Strategic Director of Finance be authorised to determine the initial budget requirement in respect of the new Hellaby Parish Council.

(2)        That the Ward Members for Hellaby represent the new parish from 1^st April 2011, until the Councillors elected to the new parish council at the elections in May, 2011 come into office.

(3)        That the Chief Executive be appointed Proper Officer for convening the Annual Meeting of the new Parish Council in 2011 and be responsible for the administration of the affairs of the new parish until a Proper Officer is appointed by the new parish council.  

(4)        That the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) be instructed to make and affix the Council’s Common Seal to an Order giving effect to the recommendations under the Review, and include the above provisions in the Order.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

The Returning Officer reported that the person indicated below had been elected Member of the Council at the election held on 5^th August, 2010:-

Resolved:- That the following appointments be made:-

·              Councillor Middleton be appointed to the Adult Services and Health Scrutiny Panel.

·              Councillor Middleton be appointed to replace Councillor Hughes on the Standards Committee.

·              Councillor Parker be appointed the Chairman of Wentworth Valley Area Assembly.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman