Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meetings held on 6^th and 20^th February, 2007, were agreed as a correct record.

Minutes of a meeting of the Clifton Park Restoration Project Board held on 2^nd February, 2007, attended by Councillors St. John (in the Chair) and Austen were noted.

In accordance with Minute No. 98(3) of 12^th December, 2006, the Green Spaces Manager submitted a report and gave a verbal update on progress made towards new leisure provision for young people on the Wentworth Meadows estate following complaints about their use of the play area at Leewood Close.

A verbal update was given at the meeting including:-

-        Land Owner Agreement/Possible Use of Kickabout Area

         The landowner had stated that they would agree to development of alternative facilities on the site subject to it being acceptable to local residents and the responsibility for its management/maintenance passing to another body through transfer of the freehold

-        Planning

         Planning Services had confirmed that planning permission would be required for any development of facilities on the kickabout area

-        Consultation

         The Police had given in principle support for alternative facilities on the estate subject to consultation and support of residents

         Matter to be discussed at the April meeting of the Wentworth North Area Assembly Co-ordinating Area Group

-        Long Term Maintenance

         Not suitable for the local Partnership to take on long term responsibility due to their funding position

-        Engagement with Young People

         Initial attempts by the Young Peoples’ Service had not found much success in engaging with the young people at Wath Comprehensive School who lived on the estate.  However, 7 young people had expressed a willingness to be involved in the development of any scheme

         The young people did not regard safety for themselves as an issue but the lack of things to do was

Resolved:-  (1)  That, as a matter of priority, the play area be removed and landscaped so as to prevent the area being used as a football pitch and congregation point.

(2)  That consultation take place with regard to the suitable relocation of the play area in conjunction with the Planning Service.

(3)  That a letter be sent to the Clerk of Brampton Parish Council requesting that the Parish Council consider the future maintenance of a relocated play area.

(4)  That a further update be given at the 20^th March meeting.

- to consider that the statutory consultation on the proposal is begun and that a further report be brought to Members with the details of the outcome of the statutory consultation

In accordance with Minute No. 110(2) of 23^rd January, 2007, the Manager, School Organisation Planning and Development, submitted a report detailing the outcome of the pre-statutory consultations that had taken place on the proposed closure of Rawmarsh St. Mary’s CE (A) Primary School.

A pre-statutory consultation meeting was held at the school on 17^th January, 2007, for the Governing Body with further meetings held on 1^st February for staff and parents (minutes attached to the report as an Appendix).  A document was considered which covered the background to the proposals and looked towards what would need to be done in order to arrange places for existing pupils at other local schools.  It also signalled the requirement to seek suitable redeployment opportunities for the School’s staff if the School closed.  Copies of the consultation papers had been supplied to Ward Members and Head Teachers of neighbouring primary schools to which no comments had been received by the former.

The main issues raised at the meetings were set out in the report.

Resolved:-  That the statutory consultation on the proposal to close Rawmarsh St. Mary’s CE (A) Primary School, as set out in the report, commence and that a further report be submitted with the details of the outcome of the statutory consultation.

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 those paragraphs set out below of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Culture and Leisure which outlined the annual review of fees and charges for 2007/08.

The proposed charges were with effect from 2^nd April, 2007 (25^th March, 2007 for Country Parks and 1^st September, 2007, for Civic Theatre).

In the main, and whilst there were several exceptions, increases ranged from 0% to 5%, with a few larger increases of up to 22% applied where it was felt that market forces could sustain a larger increase.

It was noted that several core services still remained free of charge e.g. Public Library Service, Museum Service, Archives and Local Studies Service and casual access to green spaces and children’s play areas.  Where there was a charge there was often a concessionary rate and, particularly related to leisure activities, a junior Rothercard rate.  Concessionary customers were not restricted to access at off-peak times as was the case in many other local authorities.

It was proposed that a 20% discount on all bookings over £100.00 be offered at the Watersports Centre, RotherValley Park, as encouragement to Rotherham schools to utilise the Centre.

It was also proposed to introduce parking charges at Clifton Park car parks.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the fees and charges, as set out in Appendix A of the report submitted, be approved.

(2)  That a 20% discount be offered to Rotherham schools on all bookings over £100.00 at the Rother Valley Country Park Watersports Centre.

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

- to agree the disposal of three items from the collections of the York & Lancaster Regimental Museum

The Director of Culture and Leisure reported that, in order to keep radioactive substances, a licence was required from the Environment Agency.  The collections held at the York & Lancaster Regimental Museum included 3 objects which fell under this category.

The Senior Officer (Collections), working in a voluntary capacity for the British Aviation Preservation Council, was co-ordinating the disposal of radioactive artefacts from many museums in the UK, including a number of nationally funded museums.  The programme was being financed by central Government through the Environment Agency.

As part of the programme, Rotherham had the opportunity to dispose of the identified radioactive artefacts free of charge.

Resolved:-  That the disposal of the 3 radioactive items from the collections of the York & Lancaster Regimental Museum be approved.

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