Agenda and minutes

-           to note the discussion and progress.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting of the Rotherham Local Development Framework Members’ Steering Group held on 15^th December, 2006.

Resolved:-  That the minutes and emerging issues be noted.

Research and Spatial Development Officer to report.

-           to report the 2005 survey results

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Research and Spatial Analysis Officer, setting out the recently released results of the Office for National Statistics Annual Business Inquiry Survey 2005.

Members were asked to note that this employer survey covered the number of jobs (recorded at the location of an employees workplace) held by employees within a district, broken down by sex, full/part-time, and industry. It also measured the number of workplaces in a district and their size, in terms of employees, broken down by industry. The report looked at the latest position in Rotherham and the changes since the start of the survey in 1998.

Attention was drawn to:-

-                      Substantial increase in employee Jobs – Workplace in Rotherham  from 1998 to 2005

-                      Current indication that the increase is now slowing as local employment rates have approached the national average

-                      Reliance in Rotherham on several large companies

-                      Fall in number employed in manufacturing

-                      Large increases in the public sector, distribution, hotels and restaurant sectors

Members commented on:-

-                      inclusion of Utilities in the same sector as agriculture

-                      number of Call Centres in the Borough

-                      employment of Rotherham people in neighbouring local authorities

-                      links between businesses and training (e.g. JobsMatch) and opportunities in Rotherham

Resolved:-  That the following be noted:-

(1)  following several years of large increases in employee jobs within the borough, data for 2005 indicates little change during the year

(2)  since the beginning of the ABI in 1988 employee jobs in Rotherham have increased by over 29%, over three times the national rate and double the rate of the next best performing authority in South Yorkshire

(3)  over 5,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Rotherham since 1998 but this has been more than offset by significant increases in other sectors, particularly in the banking, finance and insurance sectors and in the public sector

(4)  extra jobs have been split almost equally between men and women but the majority of positions filled by women have been part-time

(5)   Rotherham continues to rely more heavily on large companies for employment compared to the national average.

LTP Delivery Manager to report.

-           to report the results of the DfT assessment of the 2^nd South Yorkshire Local Transport Plan and details of the LTP Capital Programme Settlement        for 2007/2008.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Local Transport Plan Delivery Manager, relating to the following:-

(i)                   1^st South Yorkshire Local Transport Plan (2001-2006) – Delivery Report – which had been rated as “Satisfactory to Good” by the Department for Transport

(ii)                 2^nd South Yorkshire Local Transport Plan (2006-2011) – which had been rated “Fair”.

(iii)                Letter from the DfT setting out settlements for 2007-2008 for Integrated Transport, and Maintenance, together with an extra allowance (related to former Objective 1 designation).  Maintenance allocations, per District, for Highways, Structures and Street Lighting were detailed in the report.

(iv)                Additional letter informing South Yorkshire of the additional road safety element, as a consequence of changed funding arrangements for Safety Camera Partnerships.

The Director of Planning and Transportation Service explained how the ratings had been awarded, together with information about the areas on which the Council had been judged as being weak e.g. congestion and bus patronage.  Reference was also made to the over-riding regeneration aspirations of South Yorkshire and to the need to set realistic and measurable targets.

It was pointed out that 2007/2008 was the first programme year during which Safety Camera funding was integrated into the LTP system, and this was to be managed by Sheffield City Council.  

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Local Transport Capital Expenditure Settlements for 2007/08 be noted.

(2) That the report be referred to the Cabinet and Regeneration Scrutiny Panel for information.

(3) That a further report on the details of the 2007/08 Local Transport Capital Programme be submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Development Services.

Team Leader, Highways Structures, to report.

-           to seek approval.

Further to Minute No. 26 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Economic and Development Services held on 5^th March, 2001, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Schemes and Partnerships Manager, seeking approval to apply to the Magistrates’ Court for an Order to stop-up part of the B6066 Highfield Lane, Orgreave following the opening of the new Highfield Lane Bridge.

A map illustrating the location of the proposal was appended to the report (ref:  Drawing No.  182/4/31N/misc17).  It was noted that the current road over the old road bridge was now redundant and the Order would allow Network Rail to dismantle the bridge when funding became available.

The various responsibilities/liabilities of the Council and Network Rail were outlined.

Resolved:-  (1)  That approval be given to the request and the Head of Legal Services be requested to process an application to the Magistrates’ Court under Section 116 of the Highways Act 1980 to Stop-Up part of the B6066 Highfield Lane, Orgreave as shown on the attached drawing no. 182/4/31N/misc17.

(2)  That a further report be submitted to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Development Services following the hearing at the Magistrates’ Court.

Principal Engineer to report.

-           to consider implementation of the scheme, subject to funding.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Schemes and Partnerships Manager, setting out details for the proposed Gateway works on the southern side of Meadowbank Road (opposite South Street and Jordan Crescent), and seeking approval to proceed with the works subject to Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder funding being made available.  The proposals were illustrated on the accompanying plan (Ref:  Drawing No. 122/A6109.012/1).

Resolved:-  That the works on the southern side of Meadowbank Road (opposite South Street and Jordan Crescent) forming part of the ‘Gateway’ Improvement Plan for 2006/2007 be implemented subject to HMRP funding being made available.

Service Accountant (Environment and Development Services) to report.

-           to report performance against budget.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Service Accountant (Environmental & Development Services), detailing the performance against budget for the Environment and Development Services Directorate’s Revenue, Fee Billing and Trading resources for the period April 2006 to end December 2006. 

It was reported that the Directorate was currently forecasting to achieve a balanced budget by the end of the financial year.

However, attention was drawn to the following:-

-                      Asset Management:-  pressures on office accommodation and cleaning

-                      Streetpride:-  grounds maintenance – Adjudicator’s decision

Resolved:-  (1) That the anticipated outturn position for the Environment & Development Services Directorate Budget as at end December 2006 be noted.

(2) That this report be referred to the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel for information.

-           to consider attendance at any conferences/seminars.

No items were submitted for consideration.

The following items are likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under those Paragraphs, indicated below, of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006):-

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council)).

Principal Officer to report.

-           for discussion.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 [information relating to the financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)).

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Principal Valuer, requesting consideration of a rent reduction for the remaining tenants in the All Saints Building until the final closure, as a good will gesture for the reduced footfall in the area.

Details were reported of the current tenancy situation.  It was pointed out that the building was on target to be vacated by 31^st July, 2007.

Resolved:-  That the proposal to reduce rents by 25% for the remaining tenants in All Saints Building from 1^st April, 2007 until 31^st July 2007 be approved.

Director, Streetpride to report.

-           to report progress.

(Exempt under Paragraphs 3 [information relating to the financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and 5 [information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings])

Further to Minute No, 139 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Development Services held on 30^th October, 2006, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Streetpride Community Delivery Manager relating to the following issues in connection with the Grounds Maintenance contract:-

-           outcome of Adjudication re; 2005/2006

-           action taken following the Adjudication Award

-           position in 2006/2007

-           4 options for the remainder of the contract

Full details of the above were set out in the report, together with a verbal report in respect of the 4^th option.

Reference was made to the risks and uncertainties associated with each of the options, together with the financial and contractual implications.

Members made reference to:-

-                      the way in which the original contract was drawn up.

-                      the desire to ensure that the period of the grounds maintenance contract  is identical to the contract between the grounds maintenance service and the schools.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the contents of the report be noted.

(2)                   That the settlement of the grounds maintenance dispute in the sum of £37,000 for 2005/2006 and £190,000 for 2006/2007 , together with the action being taken to re-negotiate the contract be agreed.

(3)                   That the Directors of Rotherham Streetpride and Culture and Leisure, with advice from Legal Services, submit a report to a future meeting of the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Development Services in respect of the progress on the new arrangements.

(4)                   That discussion take place with the Head of Service, Children and Young People’s Services, in respect of schools grounds maintenance.

(This item was also exempt under Paragraph 5 – information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.)

(The Cabinet Member authorised consideration of the following extra, urgent item in order for the necessary works to proceed.)

Further to Minute No. 200 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Development Services held on 22nd January, 2007, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Architect, detailing necessary works to the roof at Moorgate Crofts Business Centre.  It was explained that it was necessary for the specialist roofing sub-contractor, who originally installed the roof, to carry out the required works.

Resolved:-  (1)  That in accordance with Standing Order 35(2) exemption from the provisions of Standing Order 43(5)(b) be approved, in order for roof repair work to be undertaken by the original roof sub-contractor, as detailed in the report submitted.

(2)                 That the tender submitted by the original roof sub-contractor, as detailed in the report now submitted, be approved.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council))