Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 28^th November, 2006 were agreed as a correct record.

Pursuant to Minute No, C50 of January 2000, consideration was given to nominations received to fill LEA vacancies on school governing bodies.

Resolved:-  That, with the effective date of appointment, the following appointments be made to school governing bodies:-

East Dene Junior and Infant  School              Mr K Bott                    12/12/06

Rockingham Junior and Infant School            Mr S Morrell               12/12/06

SwintonCommunity School                            Mr M Hall                   12/12/06

Thrybergh Comprehensive                             Mr J Barrett               12/12/06

All the above appointments are subject to satisfactory checks being undertaken.

- to receive the report and consider what support the Council could offer to the Sheffield Bus Museum Trust Limited

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Culture and Leisure which contained the details of a request to support the Sheffield Bus Museum Trust Ltd., an independent museum which is currently operating from rented premises at Tinsley Tramsheds.

The Trust was established in 1986 and was incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee in 1995.  The Trust’s purpose is to collect and display road transport vehicles from South Yorkshire and the surrounding district and its collection includes various Rotherham examples.

The aspirations of the Trust are two-fold:

·        As the Tinsley Tramsheds are scheduled for redevelopment, the Trust wish to secure suitable premises with a long-term life expectancy, which are attractive to the public and allow local transport heritage to be showcased appropriately;

·        The Trust wishes to establish a new ‘South Yorkshire Transport Heritage Centre’, which covers a wider, more general, transport remit which may include social history of transport in the area.

The Trust has met Steve Blackbourn, Principal Officer for the Museums, Galleries and Heritage Service, and has asked for Members to be approached to introduce them to the work of the Trust and to secure support for the Trust to achieve its aspirations.

If the Trust relocates to the Rotherham Borough, it is prepared to allow the Museums, Galleries and Heritage Service to become its official Curatorial Advisor, which would make the Service a stakeholder in its work to achieve its aspirations.  In the short-term, this would offer opportunities for the Service and Trust to plan and deliver a variety of shared exhibitions and events, e.g. trips to Rotherham’s historic sites on an old Rotherham bus.

The Trust believes it can meet both of its aspirations by acquiring a brown-field site at Manvers, and to this end has been negotiating the purchase of an appropriate plot with RiDO and believes that Member support may assist with these negotiations.

This is an independent project with no financial implications for the Council.

At this stage, the Trust is only looking for help in kind from the Council.

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

(2)  That the request from the Sheffield Bus Museum Trust Limited be supported.

- to note the Council’s success in achieving a Stage One pass and confirm the membership of a Project Board

Consideration was given to a report, together with a Draft Organisation Diagram, of the Head of Culture and Leisure which contained details of a request for the Cabinet Member to confirm the establishment of a Project Board to oversee the development of the Clifton Park Restoration project.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded a ‘Stage One’ pass and development grant of £290,000 in support of the Council’s £4.8 million bid for the Clifton Park Restoration Project.  This allows a start to be made to the production of detailed proposals that need to be submitted as part of a Stage Two bid to the ‘Parks for People’ programme by October 2007.

In order to progress the project, the Council needs to make arrangements for its direction, delivery and monitoring, in accordance with HLF requirements and good project management principles.  This includes the setting up of a Project Board that will meet at regular intervals, to review progress against the project programme and budget, and to steer and approve the development of project proposals.  The Board will exist alongside a Project Development Team comprising of officers and external consultants who will be responsible for project delivery in accordance with agreed objectives.  It is suggested that the Board should meet not less than once a month during the development phase of the project.

It is proposed that the Project Board is chaired by the Cabinet Member for Lifelong Learning, Culture and Leisure and has a core membership of Elected Members representing the local ward or who have relevant portfolios, and key officers working on the project. 

It is envisaged that the Chair of the Board would have lead responsibility for reporting to Cabinet and other relevant meetings of the Council.

It is important that the Board be established as soon as possible to allow progress to be made within the limited timescale allowed by the HLF for the submission of a Stage Two application.  It is proposed that the same Board remains in place to oversee the implementation phase of the project, assuming that the Council is successful in securing a Stage Two pass.  At this stage it is understood that a decision on the Stage Two application will be made in March 2008, and that implementation of the project will run to 2010.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Council’s success in achieving a Stage One pass for its Clifton Park Restoration Scheme be noted.

(2)  That the membership of a Project Board, as discussed, be established as soon as possible and remain active until completion of the project.

- to acknowledge the awards

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Culture and Leisure which gave details of recent achievements in Culture and Leisure that have received nationally recognised awards.

The report set out a brief description of the following 3 awards that recognise the quality and variety of the services they provide:-

o       Aquamark (All Swimming Pools)

The Sport & Leisure Facility ‘Swimsmart’ programme has been awarded ‘Premier Scheme Status’, the highest award in the industry’s accreditation scheme ‘Aquamark’. This demonstrates a commitment by the service to improve the quality of service delivery and to raise standards in swimming. Aquamark is an external validation of performance that recognises the achievements of the staff in working together to improve the swimming programme through:

1. Effective implementation of a nationally recognised award scheme.
2. Provision of a consistently effective service to customers and pupils and ensure this continues to improve.
3. Provision of framework to meet requirements of Best Value and Comprehensive Performance Assessment.
4. A commitment to encouraging continued professional development of swimming teachers.

o       Green Flag Award (ThryberghCountryPark)

Green Flag is a national quality benchmark for local authority green spaces. It is run by the Civic Trust and supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government (formerly ODPM), English Heritage and Natural England. It is also a recognised quality standard in CPA. The award is judged by the following criteria:

1. A welcoming place
2. Healthy safe and secure
3. Clean and well maintained
4. Sustainable
5. Conservation and heritage
6. Community involvement
7. Marketing
8. Management

o       Parkforce Award – Park Worker of the Year

This is an award within a new scheme celebrating the valuable work of park management teams and individuals. It is run by CABE Space (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) and is open to local authorities that are signed up to the ‘Parkforce Pledge’.  The award recognises excellence in the following areas:-

• Help make my park a safe clean and beautiful place
• Contribute to the health and well being of local people
• Contribute to the quality of the natural environment
• Make visitors feel welcome and help them to learn more about my park
• Work as part of a team to make my park a place to be proud of

In addition, Culture and Leisure Service has been nominated for an Award for Strategic Planning in Leisure.

Resolved:-  (1)  That Members acknowledge the awards.

(2)  That a suitable press release be placed in Rotherham Matters.

- to note the implications for local service delivery during the lead-in period

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Resource and Access which gave details of the outcome of a Review of Higher Education Student Finance Delivery.

Bill Rammell, Minister for Higher Education, laid a written statement to Parliament on Monday, 3^rd July, 2006 which announced plans for the transformation and centralisation of the student finance service in England.  This announcement followed the completion of an end to end review of student finance service delivery in England by the Department for Education and Skills.  As a result of this review, from 2009/10 academic year students starting higher education courses will be processed by a new centralised service run by the Student Loan Company, without local authority involvement.  This will take the form of an on line application service.

The Student Support Service has a team of 5.5 FTE permanent staff.  It provides an advice and guidance service and performs assessments of eligibility and financial entitlement to student loans and grants.  Payments and collections of student loan repayments are currently handled by the Student Loans Company.

The report set out:-

• The results of the Review
• The implications for Local Service Delivery
• The implications for the Student Support team in Rotherham

The DfES are committed to maintaining current levels of funding to Local Authorities until the next Comprehensive Spending Review in 2008/09.  From the financial year 2008/09 an adjustment will be made to the Local Authority’s Formula Spending Share in proportion to the loss of work due to the transfer of student finance function to the SLC.  At the present time this Formula was not known.

Members present expressed regret with regard to this action and acknowledged that Rotherham students had previously received a good quality of service from the Student Support Service.

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

(2)         That the implications for local service delivery during the lead-in period preceding full centralisation be noted, and inform future service and workforce planning.

(3)  That the possibility of pooling remaining resources among neighbouring local authorities (i.e. Sheffield, Doncaster and Barnsley) be supported.

Following a meeting of the Cabinet Member, Lifelong Learning, Culture and Leisure held on 3^rd October 2006, consideration was given to a progress report of the Head of Culture and Leisure as a result of work carried out to pursue appropriate leisure provision for young people on the Wentworth Meadows estate, Brampton, as an alternative to evening use of the play area at Leewood Close with attendant problems of nuisance to local residents.

It was resolved at this meeting that officers should pursue the provision of sheltered seating, possibly using a mobile shelter, in a green space at the south corner of the estate.  It was noted that the land in question is owned by St. Paul’s Developments, and consequently it was also resolved that the Head of Culture and Leisure should open a dialogue with them to establish whether they would give permission for such a development.   It was also agreed that the views of local young people should be sought to inform any such scheme.  Progress with these actions was outlined.

It is estimated that the approximate cost of providing a temporary shelter would be £27,000.  This would allow the installation of lighting and a surfaced path to the shelter.  A bid for this amount was submitted to the Safer and Stronger Communities Fund through the Joint Action Group in October 2006.  Unfortunately, this was not successful.  No other appropriate funding sources have yet been identified.

The report set out the details of initial contact with St. Paul’s Developments and discussions with the Brampton and West Melton Partnership (BWMP) who have revealed that they have also contacted St. Paul’s Developments about the possibility of providing for young people on the same piece of land.

In view of these mostly shared objectives, it was agreed at a meeting on 7^th December, 2006 that a partnership approach be taken in seeking to develop this project.

The following main areas of work have been identified:-

-           confirm land-owner agreement to the proposal, and any associated conditions;

-           continue consultation with young people to develop an agreed scheme;

-           seek support for the scheme from the Area Assembly, Parish Council, Police/SNT, Miners’ Welfare, Community PlanningOfficer and other key stakeholders;

-           consult with local residents;

-           develop cost estimates for the agreed scheme, and seek capital funding/sponsorship to allow the project to proceed;

-           establish what planning consents would be required and obtain as appropriate;

-           establish cost of managing and maintaining site and, subject to confirmation of current landowner’s requirements, investigate possible transfer of ownership and maintenance responsibility to Partnership or some other body (e.g. Parish Council, Rotherham MBC)

Resolved:-  (1)  That progress being made to provide alternative leisure provision for young people at Wentworth Meadows be noted.

(2)   That Ward Members be informed of this progress.

(3)   That a further progress report be submitted to a future meeting at the end of March, 2007.

(4)  That the youth groups be encouraged and advised to explore funding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.

Resolved:-  That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

- to consider an exemption from the Contract for the provision of town centre Christmas illuminations for the 2007 Christmas period in order to award the Contract

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Culture and Leisure which sought exemption from Standing Order 43 (5) (c) to enable a contract to be extended with the present supplier (Blachere Illuminations UK) for Christmas illuminations for the town centre for the 2007 Christmas period, so that a Christmas illuminations strategy can be developed by March 2007, in accordance with the recommendations of the Christmas Illuminations Scrutiny Review, which will inform procurements for 2007 and beyond.

The report set out the specific circumstances of the request and the cost of the work being undertaken.

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

(2)         That the contract for the provision of town centre Christmas Illuminations for the 2007 Christmas period be exempted from the requirements of Standing Order 43 (5) (c) (requirement to invite at least three written quotations for contracts with an estimated value of £20,000 but less than £50,000) in order that the contract be awarded to Blachere Illumination UK.

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