Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of a meeting of the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel held on 19^th January, 2007.

Resolved:-  That the following report be received:-

Health, Welfare and Safety Panel

19th January, 2007

Consideration was given to the minutes of a meeting of the Rotherham Local Development Framework Steering Group held on 26^th January, 2007.

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

Consideration was given to the minutes of a meeting of the Parish Liaison Meeting held on 23^rd January, 2007.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the minutes be received.

(2)  That the good progress made at this meeting be noted.

Customer Liaison Officer to report.

-  to report on complaints received between 1 October and 31 December 2006.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Customer Liaison Manager, detailing the results of an analysis of the customer complaints received in the Directorate for the period October to December, 2006.

Comparative statistics for Quarters 1 and 2 were also provided.

Resolved:-  That the report be received.

Transportation Unit Manager to report.

-           to report on the further consultation.

Further to Minute No.  51 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Development Services consideration was given to a report, presented by the Transportation Unit Manager, detailing the outcome of further consultation for the proposed improvements to the A633 Broad Street, Parkgate.

Details of the scheme were illustrated on Drawing No.  129/A633.1/SK/01.

Reference was made to the further consultation carried out, which took the form of a leaflet and public exhibition in Rawmarsh Library.  Reference was also made to a site visit which took place on 10^th August, to which the Councillors of the three Area Assembly Wards were invited. 

Arising from the further consultation two issues were identified:-

-                      Road safety implications of additional traffic on Bear Tree Road

-                      The real traffic problem was at Parkgate Retail World

In response to these issues it was pointed out that it was anticipated that some of the traffic, which currently turned left out of Greasbrough Road into Broad Street, would divert onto Bear Tree Road.  Some would find other alternatives. It was considered that this, and the reversal of the current one way restriction on Bear Tree Street, would not lead to a material increase in traffic on Bear Tree Road.

It was also reported that the timing of the two pelican pedestrian crossings had been investigated, and the operation of these two crossings had been optimised to maximise traffic flow.

The advertising of the proposed Traffic Regulation Orders was reported, noting that no objections had been received.

Those present commented on:-

-                      the need for more effective and co-ordinated consultation in general

-                      the need to try to speed up implementation processes

-                      the need to keep local Ward Councillors and key stakeholders up to date

Resolved:-  (1)  That the results of the further public consultation, and Traffic Regulation Order procedures be noted.

(2)  That the Director of Rotherham Streetpride Service and the Transportation Unit Manager discuss ways to shorten the length of time from approval to implementation of similar schemes in the future.

Streetpride Principal Network Engineer to report.

- to request approval for the implementation of the Improvement Plan.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Network Principal Engineer, seeking approval for the implementation of an Improvement Plan for highways asset management in Rotherham for the period 2007-2010.

It was pointed out that during the development work it became clear that the teams responsible for maintenance and management of the various elements of the highway asset were at different stages in the implementation of their management systems and procedures.  Therefore it was proposed that the Plan be limited to an initial three year period during which further development work may be undertaken towards production of a more rigorous and broader HAMP for an extended period to operate between 2010 to 2015.

It was explained that the overall aim of the Improvement Plan was to maximise the effectiveness of spending on the value and future life of the highway asset.  Details of how this was to be achieved were set out in the report.

It was noted that the HAMP would be kept under review and updated regularly.

It was however pointed out that the level of resources for maintenance of the highway asset throughout the period of the Plan could not be forecast with accuracy.

Reference was made to the Local Transport Plan process and the fact that because Rotherham’s road were assessed as being in good condition the DfT had reduced Rotherham’s allocation in subsequent years.  This together with reduced revenue expenditure was now beginning to affect the condition of the highway.

Reference was also made to the need for accurate data transfer.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Highways Asset Management Improvement Plan 2007-2010 be implemented from April 2007, subject to an annual review and progress report to the Cabinet Member.

(2)  That the Improvement Plan be reported to the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel as part of a report on HAMP progress.

Director of Rotherham Streetpride to report.

-           to report performance October to December 2006.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Director of Rotherham Streetpride Service, detailing the overall performance of Streetpride in respect of its timeliness in dealing with requests for service.

It was reported that the performance of the service averaged 98.2% in the third quarter of 2006/2007, which indicated a slight improvement compared to the previous quarter.

It was also reported that performance for the current financial year to date had also averaged 98.2%.

Reference was made to:-

-                      Streetlight out

-                      Fly tipping

-                      Monitoring of road washing by contractors

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

(2) That Streetpride continue to monitor performance response times and

 report to the Cabinet Member quarterly.

Report referred by the Cabinet Member, Children and Young People’s Services on 6^th February, 2007

-           for information.

Consideration was given to a report which was forwarded for information by the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services (Minute No.  148 of the meeting held on 6^th February, 2007refers).

Members were advised of a £50,000 allocation which had been made available by the Council to improve road safety around schools.

It was reported that Culture and Leisure Services had carried out an “audit of need”, and had identified two schemes to be completed in 2006/2007 which had now been rolled forward to 2007/2008.

It was stressed that there was a need to maximise the funding allocated with money available in the Local Transport Plan.

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

(2)  That the Director of Resources and Access, Culture and Leisure Services, liaise with the Transportation Unit Manager to ensure resources were maximised at school sites which had the most need in terms of road safety.

-           to consider attendance at the following:-

Local Government Association – Culture, Tourism and Sport Conference – “Shaping Places, Inspiring People” – 22^nd March, 2007 – Sheffield (information attached) 

Consideration was given to attendance at the following:-

Local Government Association Culture, Tourism and Sport Conference – “Shaping Places, Inspiring People” – 21^st & 22^nd March, 2007 – Sheffield.

Resolved:-  That approval be given for the attendance of two Councillors (Councillors Boyes and Walker)

-           to report the January 2007 position.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Service Accountant, Environment and 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 January, 2007.

It was reported that the Directorate was currently forecasting to achieve a balanced budget.

However, attention was drawn to the following:-

Planning and Transportation:-  cost pressures on Land Charges

Asset Management:-  office accommodation repairs and maintenance (noting that a bid had been made against the Council’s capital minor works funding allocation)

Streetpride:-  Ground Maintenance contract

It was noted that the overall Directorate balanced position was a combination of cost pressures currently being compensated for by savings/additional income being generated elsewhere in the Service.  It was also noted that the Strategic Director and the Cabinet Member had determined that this was an acceptable way of balancing the budget (currently in accordance with Financial Regulation Virement Note Section 11) without the need for implementing virement.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the anticipated outturn position for the Environment and Development Services Directorate budgets as at end January 2007 be noted.

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

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

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 (as amended March 2006)(information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council).

Director of Rotherham Streetpride to report.

-           to report on the Strategy.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Director of Rotherham Streetpride, seeking approval to appoint Consultants to develop a Waterways Strategy for Rotherham, which was seen to be central to the Rotherham Renaissance programme.

Reference was made to the competitive tendering arrangements made by a neighbouring Local Authority and subsequent appointment of Consultants.  Consideration was therefore requested that the same Consultants be engaged.  It was pointed out that there may be opportunities for work on mutually beneficial access and amenity projects on the boundaries of the two local authorities.

Details of the joint financing arrangement with the Environment Agency for the production of the Strategy were set out in the report.

It was pointed out that this piece of work would be managed by the Director of Planning and Transportation Service, as it would form part of the Local Development Framework.  Reference was made to the potential use of canals for the transportation of heavy freight.

Resolved:-  (1)  That, in accordance with Standing Order 35(2) exemption from the provisions of Standing Order 43(5)( c) be approved, to enable the strategy to be compiled by “Yellow Book” consultants, as detailed in the report now submitted.

(2)  That the Director of Planning and Transportation be authorised to lead on this project on behalf of the Council.

(3)  That the Council’s bid, in the sum of £15,000, through SRIP for funding the project be noted.

(4)  That the brief for the strategy be submitted to the Regeneration and Asset Board for approval prior to the Consultant being engaged.

(5)  That the report be referred to the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel.

Project Officers to report.

- to note the current position with the construction of this bridge and to authorise further works and expenditure, including the appointment of the R.I.B.A. to run the competition, subject to funding.

Further to Minute No. 142(4) of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Economic and Development Services held on 29^th September, 2003, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Project Officer, relating to receipt of a proposal from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) to run a design competition to procure a suitable landmark structure (a bridge to provide a footpath, cycleway and bridleway) on this key South Yorkshire gateway between Rotherham and Sheffield.

It was noted that the estimated cost for the competition had been agreed with Yorkshire Forward.  However, to date funding for the actual construction of the bridge had not been formally agreed.

It was pointed out that there was a need for compliance with a condition on the planning permission granted in respect of the Waverley AdvanceManufacturing Park, which required a bridge to be completed by a certain date.   It was considered that this was sufficient to keep the project moving forward and a nominal start date of March 2008 had been identified.  It was proposed that the bridge would be in use by late 2008.

It was noted that the bridge itself would lie entirely within Rotherham with part of the associated earthworks being in Sheffield.  The Council would be responsible for any future maintenance of the bridge, therefore it was stressed that any design must be low maintenance and that a commuted sum would be sought for this part of the funding package.

It was also reported that provision had been agreed with the RIBA for Elected Member representation on the design selection panel.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the situation be noted.

(2)  That authority be given for further works and expenditure on this project, subject to funding being obtained.

(3)  That the appointment of the RIBA to run a design competition to procure a suitable bridge at this location be agreed.

(4)  That a further report be submitted to a future meeting once the winning design has been selected.