Agenda and minutes

- to receive minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 2^nd May, 2006 were agreed as a correct record.

- to receive minutes

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the Leisure/Joint Service Centre Project Board held on 26^th April, 2006 be received.

- to consider a proposal regarding the transfer of Bar Park

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Culture and Leisure which gave the details of a letter received from Sheffield City Council setting out revised terms for any future transfer of Bar Park, Thorpe Hesley into the ownership of Rotherham Borough Council.

 

A period of protracted negotiations between Rotherham and Sheffield about the possible transfer of Bar Park to Rotherham ceased when Sheffield failed to respond to a letter sent by RMBC in June, 2004 seeking confirmation of a view expressed in an e-mail by their Cabinet Member for Development, Environment and Leisure at the time.  This suggested that Sheffield would only be prepared to consider transferring the park to Rotherham at market value, whereas previously they had proposed that Rotherham would have to pay Sheffield’s legal costs only.

 

In September, 2005 the Local Government Ombudsman became involved in the matter following a complaint from the Chair of Thorpe Hesley and Scholes Community Forum.  Consequently, the new Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Green Spaces at Sheffield, intervened to consider the matter.  Sheffield then wrote to Rotherham on 2^nd March, 2006 to advise that they had reached a formal decision that if Rotherham wished to acquire the site, and if Sheffield was minded to dispose/transfer the site, it would not be possible to dispose of it for nothing, and they should not incur any legal or other costs from such transfer.

 

Taking into consideration the liabilities associated with the site, including recurring grounds maintenance costs, Rotherham has previously stated that it cannot agree to pay Sheffield’s quoted legal costs for the transfer.  Sheffield’s new requirement for a receipt from the sale of the land, in addition to payment by the purchaser of their legal costs, would appear to make any further negotiations impossible.

 

Resolved:-  (1) That Sheffield City Council be formally notified that Rotherham Borough Council will not agree to the transfer of Bar Park on the terms proposed by Sheffield.

 

(2) That the matter be referred to the Leader’s Group for deliberation and that Ward Councillors be kept informed of the situation.

- to note the proposed requests for carryforward for submission to CMT and Cabinet for consideration

Consideration was given to a report of the Acting Head of Service, Resources and Access, which showed the present budgetary position for Culture and Leisure Service.

 

The 2005/06 net Outturn for Culture and Leisure Services showed an £85,357 underspend against the service cash limited revenue budget of £11,862.220.  This represents a percentage variation of -0.72%.

 

Discussion took place on the situation relating to the Civic Theatre, Recreation and Management and on the links between Rother Valley Steering Group and the YES project.

 

The service has submitted requests to carry-forward a net deficit amount of ?£5,212.  This is made up of surplus schools trading income within the library service of £38,940 and a planned overspend on the Library Book Fund of £44,152 due to the timing of publishing dates and stock purchasing requirements.

 

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

 

(2)  That the proposed requests for carry-forward contained within the report, now submitted, and their submission to the Corporate Management Team and Cabinet for consideration be noted.

Consideration was given to a list of representatives of the Council on Outside Bodies, Sub-Groups, Working Parties and Panels for the year 2006/2007.

 

Resolved:-  That attendance of the Council on Outside Bodies, Sub-Groups, Working Parties and Panels for the year 2006/2007 be as follows:-

 

1.            GROUNDWORK CRESWELL

         Councillor Burke (as named Director nominated by Economic Regeneration).  (To be reviewed by Cabinet Member, Economic and Development Services.)

         Substitute:- Councillor P. Thirlwall (Regeneration Scrutiny Panel)

 

2.            MINERS’ WELFARE GROUNDS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES

         KivetonPark:-  Councillors Barton and Hall

 

3.            ORGREAVE LIAISON MEETING

         Councillor Littleboy (Ward 3 Brinsworth and Catcliffe)

         Councillor Swift (Ward 11 Rother Vale),

         G. Smith (Cabinet Member, Economic & Development)

         Councillor S. Walker (Chair of Planning Board)

         and Councillor F. Wright (Sustainable Communities)

 

4.      ROTHERHAM ARTS CHARITY/ROTHERHAM ARTS EXECUTIVE   COMMITTEE

Trustees:-  Councillors St. John, Austen, Littleboy and Swift;

Guy Kilminster, Manager, Libraries, Museum and Arts and Lizzie Alageswaran, Principal Officer, Community Arts)

 

5.      ROTHERHAMCOLLEGE OF ART AND TECHNOLOGY – BOARD OF

         GOVERNORS

         Councillor License and Andrew Bedford, Executive Director of Finance

 

6.      SOUTH YORKSHIRE JOINT ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMMITTEE

         Councillors St. John and Littleboy

 

7.      SOUTHYORKSHIREFOREST

         Members’ Steering Committee:-

         Councillors Littleboy and Wyatt

 

8.            SOUTH YORKSHIRE FOREST ENVIRONMENT TRUST LTD.

         Councillor Littleboy

 

9.      SOUTH YORKSHIRE SPORTS PARTNERSHIP – Partnership Executive –Councillor St. John (Cabinet Member or an Advisor)

        

10.   SWINTON LOCK ADVENTURE CENTRE

         Councillor Doyle

 

11.   THOMAS WOMBWELL EDUCATION FOUNDATION

         Councillors Atkin, Gosling, Hodgkiss and R. S. Russell

         (Ward representatives)

 

12.       TOURISM FORUM

         Councillors St. John, Littleboy, G. Smith and S. Walker

 

13.       TREETON MINERS’ WELFARE BOWLING GREEN MANAGEMENT           COMMITTEE

         Councillors Boyes, Nightingale and Swift (ward representatives)

 

14.       TREETON COMMUNITY CENTRE, PLAYING FIELDS AND MEMORIAL    SCHEME COMMITTEE

         Councillors Littleboy and Swift

 

15.       WALES EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

         Councillors Barton and Hall (2 Ward Councillors)

 

16.   YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE GRID FOR LEARNING

Joint Committee:- Councillor License

        

17.   YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE REGION GRID FOR LEARNING FOUNDATION BOARD

         Mr. Graham Sinclair, Acting Head of Resources and Access

        

18.   YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE REGIONAL BROADBAND JOINT            COMMITTEE

         Councillor License

 

19.   YORKSHIRE LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION (YLI)

         Councillors St. John and Littleboy

 

20.   YORKSHIREMUSEUMS, LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES COUNCIL   (SY Leaders/Lifelong Learning)

         Councillor Littleboy

        

21.   YORKSHIRE TOURIST BOARD

         Executive Committee:-

         Councillor S. Walker

 

         Marketing Operations Sub-Committee:-

         Councillors S. Walker and F. Hodgkiss

Consideration was given to a list of representatives of the Council to serve on Sub-Groups, Working Parties, Panels etc. for 2006/2007.

 

Resolved:-  That attendance of the Council on Sub-Groups, Working Parties, Panels etc. for 2006/2007 be as follows:-

 

Responsible to LIFELONG LEARNING

 

Christmas Carnival Co-ordinating Group

 

Councillor I. St. John, Cabinet Member, Lifelong Learning

The Mayor (Councillor P. Wootton)

Deputy Mayor (Councillor P. Burke)

 

Hospital Teaching and Home Tuition Service

 

Councillor Thirlwall (to be confirmed with Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services) - to continue until further notice

LEA Governors Panel

 

Councillor St. John, Cabinet Member, Lifelong Learning

Councillor R. Littleboy, Senior Advisor, Lifelong Learning

Councillor J. Austen, Advisor, Lifelong Learning

 

Leisure/Joint Service Centre Project Board:-

 

Councillor St. John, Cabinet Member, Lifelong Learning

Councillor G. Smith, Cabinet Member, Economic Regeneration and Development Services

 

Maltby Joint Service Centre Advisory Group:-

 

Ward 9 (Maltby) Representative:-  Councillor A. Rushforth

 

Rotherham Cultural Consortium

 

Councillor St. John, Cabinet Member, Lifelong Learning

Councillor J. Austen, Advisor, Lifelong Learning

Councillor R. Littleboy, Senior Advisor, Lifelong Learning

Councillor R. Russell, Chair of Regeneration Scrutiny Panel

Councillor K. Wyatt, Cabinet Member, Customer Services and Innovation

Councillor J. F. Swift, Member of Regeneration Scrutiny Panel

- to receive the petition and consider any necessary action

Consideration was given to a petition (containing 16 signatures) from residents of Warren House Close and Warren House, Bramley requesting that the grassed area in the Close be proclaimed a no ball-game area.

 

The residents claimed they were being “invaded” by youths from other parts of the village using the Close as a football pitch, causing damage to gardens and property and generally being an unwelcome nuisance.

 

Resolved:- (1) That the petition be received and its content noted.

 

(2) That officers visit the area concerned, investigate the allegations and report  back thereon.

 

(3) That the views of Ward Councillors and the Parish Council be sought on the matter.