Agenda and minutes

The Mayor referred to the recent death of former Mayor Charles Brett.

Members of the Council stood in silence for a minute as a token of their respect.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 2^nd February, 2011 be approved for signature by the Mayor, subject to a clerical correction to Minute No. 82(1) to now read:-

“(1)  Councillor Thirlwall referred to the Cabinet meeting held on 8th September, 2010 where it was resolved to adopt an interim housing target of 750 new dwellings per annum, which would ultimately result in building some dwellings in the Green Belt and asked could Councillor Sharman say how he voted on this resolution?

Councillor Sharman reported that he chaired the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8th September, 2010 and he voted in favour of the proposal.”

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 nine residents of Redscope Crescent, Kimberworth Park regarding Anti Social Behaviour in Barkers Park, Kimberworth Park.

·              From thirty-four residents of Holywell Road, Kilnhurst regarding parking problems on Holywell Road, Kilnhurst.

·              From ninety-one residents of Rotherham objecting to the Park Rehabilitation Centre price rises.

(2) The Chief Executive submitted apologies for absence from Councillors Blair, Burton, Foden, J. Hamilton, N. Hamilton, Havenhand, Hodgkiss, Jack, License, Parker, Sangster and Sharp.

(1)  A member of the public referred to information given at the meeting of the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee on 14th January, 2011 regarding the call-in request relating to the costs to install a Zebra Crossing in Rotherham and asked had any contact or investigation taken place with other authorities quoted as to how they brought them into cost so much cheaper and if not, why not?

Councillor Smith reported that the costs of any zebra crossing could not be compared definitively as they would always be dependant on the detailed design, which was itself dependant on various site specific factors (drainage, road widths, etc).

The cost of highways work was, however, based on rates set out in a contract awarded under open competition.

Neighbouring South Yorkshire Authorities had been asked for their costs when installing zebra crossings and whilst it was apparent that there was some difference in costs Rotherham’s were broadly similar to Sheffield City Councils.

Where the work was undertaken directly by the Council’s in-house provider, the costs of materials were determined within its strategic (contractual) partnership with RBT.

As part of this year’s budget process, costs and methods of working were being reviewed to ensure that the Council obtained value for money.

(2)  A member of the public referred to there being thirty-one or more dropped kerbs on Flash Lane including three pairs of dropped kerbs that were adjacent to each other for ease of crossing for buggies etc. and asked just how much safer were the ones the Council proposed  just because they were tactile and still unidentified?

Councillor Smith explained that the proposed dropped kerb crossing on Flash Lane would operate in the same way as the other dropped kerb crossing points on Flash Lane in that pedestrians must wait until there was a suitable gap in the traffic before crossing as traffic had the right of way.

The dropped kerbs would assist those persons using wheelchairs, mobility scooters or pushing prams in that they would not have to negotiate a kerb. The adjacent grass verge would be hardened to link the dropped kerb crossing points to the existing footway.

Tactile paving would be provided to highlight the edge of the kerb to the blind or partially sighted.

In a supplementary question the member of the public referred to the school crossing patrol lady who lived on the same street and worked the crossing at Bawtry Road in Bramley.  On many occasions she had been asked to assist people old and young across Flash Lane, but of course was not allowed to do so using the crossing pole as she would not be insured.  She was now querying whether or not once these dropped kerbs were installed by the Council she would be allowed to stop traffic to assist them crossing the road?

Councillor Smith was unable to comment on the situation, but indicated he would respond to the member of the public in writing.

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee (Section B) (pages 19B to 21B) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Buckley                             Seconder:- Councillor Gilding

Sheffield City Region Transport Strategy (2011-2026) and South Yorkshire LTP Implementation Plan (2011-2015) (Minute No. C162) (Page 118C)

Proposed Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2011/12 (Minute No. C169) (Pages 122C – 124C)

Capital Programme Budget 2011/12 – 2013/14 (Minute No. C170) (Pages 124C – 125C)

Prudential Indicators and Treasury Management and Investment Strategy 2011/12 – 2013/14 (Minute No. C171) (Page 126C)

Resolved:- (1)   That Minute No. C169 relating to the Budget be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Sharman

(2)  That the remaining reports and minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet (Section C) (pages 115C to 133C) be adopted.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Wyatt

The Strategic Director of Finance submitted a report on the amount of Council Tax for Rotherham both for parished areas and unparished areas for the financial year 2011/12 and included both the Police and Fire and Rescue Authority precepts. 

Resolved:- (1) That a net revenue budget of £219.622 million, which after receipt of £2.316 million estimated Council Tax Freeze Grant leaves £217.306 million to be funded for the Council in 2011/12, be approved.

(2) That the Council Tax Base of 75,311.58 be noted.

(3) The following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2011/12 in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:-

(a) £219,463,593 being the amount calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 32 (4) of the Act.  (The Council’s and Parishes’ spending less the amount financed from balances and the new Council Tax Freeze Grant).

(b)  £124,670,606 being the aggregate of the sums which the Council estimates will be payable for the year into its General Fund in respect of redistributed non-domestic rates and revenue support grant, increased by the amount of the sum which the Council estimates will be transferred in the year from its Collection Fund to its General Fund in accordance with Section 97 (3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1998 and increased by the amount of any sum which the Council estimates will be transferred from its Collection Fund to its General Fund pursuant to the Collection Fund (Community Charges) directions under Section 98 (4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, made on 7 February 1994. (Government Formula Grant plus the Collection Fund surplus).

(c)  £1,258.6774 being the amount at (a) above less the amount at (b) above, all divided by the amount at (2) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 33 (1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year. (Average Council Tax including Parishes).

(d)  £2,157,481being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34 (1) of the Act. (Total Parish Precepts).

(e)  £1,230.0300 being the amount of (c) above less the result given by dividing the amount at (d) above by the amount at (2) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34 (2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates. (Rotherham MBC Council Tax).

(f)         Part of the Council's Area

being the amounts (rounded to the nearest penny) given by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.

Safeguarding and Developing Learning Opportunities for Children – Pages 69D to 72D (Section D)

Community Development,  Equality and Young Peoples Issues – Pages 33E to 35E (Section E)

Culture, Lifestyle, Sport and Tourism – Pages 37F to 40F (Section F)

Regeneration and Environment – Pages 76G to 84G (Section G)

Adult Independence Health and Well Being – Pages 57H to 63H (Section H)

Safe and Attractive Neighbourhoods – Pages 64J to 70J (Section J)

Resources and Commissioning – Pages 36K to 39K (Section K)

Town Centres– Pages 27L to 31L (Section L)

Deputy Leader and Organisational Change and Governance – Pages 17N to 20N (Section N)

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

·              Safeguarding and Developing Learning Opportunities for Children – Pages 69D to 72D (Section D)

·              Community Development,  Equality and Young Peoples Issues – Pages 33E to 35E (Section E)

·              Culture, Lifestyle, Sport and Tourism – Pages 37F to 40F (Section F)

·              Regeneration and Environment – Pages 76G to 84G (Section G)

·              Adult Independence Health and Well Being – Pages 57H to 63H (Section H)

·              Safe and Attractive Neighbourhoods – Pages 64J to 70J (Section J)

·              Resources and Commissioning – Pages 36K to 39K (Section K)

·              Town Centres– Pages 27L to 31L (Section L)

·              Deputy Leader and Organisational Change and Governance – Pages 17N to 20N (Section N)

Mover:- Councillor Stone                                Seconder:- Councillor Wyatt

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Board (Section Q) (pages 20Q to 22Q) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Wootton                           Seconder:- Councillor Barron

Resolved:- That the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Planning Board (Section T) (pages 223T to 240T) be adopted.

Mover:- Councillor Pickering                           Seconder:- Councillor Dodson

Question 1 fell as Councillor Donaldson was not present.

(2)  Councillor Turner referred to November last year when the EDS budget showed a significant overspend and asked was the rejection of your plan and indeed the funding of it for Flash Lane simply an aid to the reduction of this overspend?

Councillor Smith was not in agreement and reported that all of the funding for the proposed traffic calming scheme on Flash Lane was identified from the Local Transport Plan allocation for 2010/11 and not the EDS budget.

(3)  Councillor Gilding asked were there any circumstances why a “failing school” should not be registered under “Special Measures”?

Councillor Lakin explained that ‘Special Measures’ was a judgement made about a school by Ofsted in relation to the national inspection framework and had consistent consequences, including termly monitoring visits by HMI and an obligation on the Local Authority to improve the school or resolve the situation through a different strategy, e.g. federation or closure.  The Local Authority could not put a school into ‘Special Measures’.

However, the Local Authority did operate its own categorisation system and might judge a school to be underachieving separate from any Ofsted evaluation.  In that case, any of a range of support strategies would be put in place to accelerate the school’s improvement.  An example might be a primary school which was “Satisfactory” in its most recent Ofsted, but below the national KS2 floor targets and in receipt of Local Authority support to ensure it rose above them as soon as was possible.

(4)  Councillor Cutts asked if he could be advised and an explanation of the high costings for the examples below and what happened to the surplus?

                                                         RMBC                                  Others

Collection of rubbish                        £2,000                                £1,000

Zebra crossings                              £50,000 - £70,000           £5,000 - £10,000

Dedicated schools budget:-          

Hearing/visual                                 £20,000                             £45,000

impediment check                           (6 visits)                               (12 visits)

Councillor Smith reported that until he received clarification as to what type of rubbish collection Councillor Cutts was referring to he was unable to provide an answer as he had strategic waste collection in his portfolio and Councillor Akhtar had refuse collection in his.

In terms of the zebra crossing, the costs were determined through the detailed design process and costs were dependant on various site specific factors (drainage, road widths, etc). The cost of scheme was established using the bill of quantities within the Council’s contract, which was awarded following a competitive process and the Council’s in-house provider matched the rates of the external supplier. If Councillor Cutts could identify specific schemes officers would try to undertake a direct cost comparison.

The Council bought its highways construction materials through a contract with its strategic partner RBT.

Councillor Lakin was also not clear what the task in the question specifically referred to nor the amount.

However, what Councillor Lakin could say was that the support for visually impaired and hearing impaired students was provided to schools by specialist teams within the Council. This support was provided on a needs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 97.

The Leader introduced the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel on the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the contents of the report be noted and the recommendations be agreed, subject to two adjustments:-

·              That both the Basic and the Special Responsibility Allowances referred to in the Independent Remuneration Panel recommendations (1) and (2) be reduced by 1.15%.

·              That the reduction to Members’ Allowances be in force for the same time period that any agreement with staff lasts.

and the Members’ Allowances Scheme be amended accordingly.

(2)  That the Independent Remuneration Panel be thanked for their hard work and the very thorough way they have reviewed the Members’ Allowance Scheme.

Mover:-  Councillor Stone                               Seconder:-  Councillor Wyatt