Agenda and minutes

To consider the minutes of the last meeting and update any matters arising

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 13th March, 2006.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting held on 13th March, 2006, be approved as a correct record.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive, RBT

The Chief Executive, RBT, submitted a report on the progress and performance of RBT for the quarter from December, 2005 to February, 2006, highlighting:-

-     customer-service-centre programme well underway with the town-centre CSC already open and the Swinton CSC due to open during June, 2006;

-     there had been a successful six weeks’ pilot of the Interactive Voice Response system and software; feedback from customers had been very positive; it was agreed that the system should remain in operation for the time being;

-     the Council had achieved Fair Trade accreditation;

-     Beacon status had been awarded for the Council’s procurement service;

-     national award winner 2005 in the Guardian public service awards for the flexible/home-working initiative.

The report included the Service overview for:-

§                     Customer Services/Public Access

§                     HR and Payroll

§                     ICT

§                     Procurement

§                     Revenues and Benefits

§                     Progress against Corporate Initiatives

§                     Equalities

§                     Investors in People

§                     Consultation/Complaints

§                     Audit Updates

§                     Schools (appointment of Schools Account Manager)

Details were also provided of the Service Level Agreement underperformance during the period December, 2005 to February, 2006.

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

(2) That reports be submitted to the next meeting in respect of (i) the services provided by RBT to schools; (ii) the management of risk by RBT and (iii) the evaluation of the pilot of the Interactive Voice Response system and software.

To consider the attached report of the Executive Director of Corporate Services

Consideration was given to a report by the Executive Director, Corporate Services, relating to the above.

The end of year report highlighted the major risks in Corporate Services and the actions being taken to mitigate those risks. The report addressed Cabinet Member responsibilities to ensure that programme areas were managing business risks thoroughly and appropriately.

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

(2) That the progress made in implementing risk management actions be noted.

(3) That the impact of mitigating actions be noted.

(4) That progress reports be submitted on a quarterly basis.

To consider the minutes of the meeting of the Procurement Panel held on 27th March, 2006

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting of the Procurement Panel, held on 27th March, 2006.

Resolved:- That the contents of the minutes be noted.

To consider the minutes of the meetings of the Communications and Marketing Group held on (a) 26th January, 2006 and (b) 16th February, 2006.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meetings of the Communications and Marketing Group, held on 26th January, 2006 and 16th February, 2006.

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

(2) That the involvement of the BBC Television staff in the Rotherham town centre Big Screen project be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Executive Director of Corporate Services

Consideration was given to a report of the Executive Director of Corporate Services concerning Digital Challenge, the Central Government competition initiative with the objective of creating a digitally enabled society and combating the digital divide within communities. The report contained information about the current position of the joint South Yorkshire Digital Challenge bid and sought agreement for Rotherham’s participation in the project. 

The initial bids had to be submitted by 28th April 2006, when two bids would be selected from each of the nine English regions. Subsequently, a national short-listing process would select ten of these eighteen bids.  Each of the ten short-listed bids would receive £200,000 funding to work with partners to further develop their proposals, which had to be submitted by the end of December, 2006.  The national Digital Challenge winner, to be announced early in 2007, would receive £7 millions, largely in the form of consultancy and development resources from leading technology industry partners, to further develop and implement their digital vision and proposals.

The South Yorkshire Local Authority Leaders and Chief Executives had agreed that it would be appropriate for a South Yorkshire sub-regional bid to be submitted, rather than separate bids from individual local authorities in the sub-region. A project team had been established, led by officers from Sheffield and Barnsley, to work with consultants to develop the initial bid.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and the current position concerning the Digital Challenge competition initiative be noted.

(2) That support be given for this Council’s involvement in the joint South Yorkshire bid.

(3) That the village of Ravenfield be suggested as the pilot community for early deployment of Digital Hit Squads and the Digital Directory in Rotherham, in the event of the bid being short-listed.

(4) That the Councillors representing Ward 14 (Silverwood) be informed accordingly.

To consider any questions received from Elected Members

There were no issues raised by Elected Members.