Agenda and minutes

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 Paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (expenditure/negotiation of terms).

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 I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (negotiation of terms).

Agreed:-  The minutes of the meeting held on 5^th June, 2006, be approved as a true record.

Arising from Minute No. 73 (Shared Equity Housing/Homebuy), it was noted that an offer had been extended by Peter Glover, Equity Housing, to any Member that wished to visit any of their Homebuy Schemes.  Uzma Sattar, HMR Manager, Rotherham West, should be contacted to make the appropriate arrangements.

- Rawmarsh and Parkgate ADF

- Rotherham East

- Wath and Swinton

- Rotherham West

The respective ADF Chairs and HMR Managers gave the following reports:-

Rawmarsh and Parkgate

ADF Overview

Neighbourhood Management

ParkgateVillage – Centre and Backland

Rawmarsh High Street – Bellows Road

Central Rawmarsh/Ash Grove

Sandhill East

Manor FarmVillage

Rotherham East

ADF Overview

Decant Strategy and Compensation Package

Decent Homes

Transformation Eastwood Neighbourhood Master Plan

Dalton Saville Street, Civil Defence Site and Adjoining Areas Development Action Plan

Wath and Swinton

ADF Overview

Almond Place, Wath

Denman Road, Bushfield Road and Michael Croft, Wath

Specialist Studies

Transformation Wath Town Centre

Transformation BramptonBierlow

Strategic Acquisitions

Canal Tavern, Swinton

Ship Inn, Swinton

Queensacre, Swinton

Rotherham West

ADF Overview

Canklow Stock Appraisal

Canklow Social Survey

Accelerated Demolition

Canklow Development

Fernbank

Henley Rise

Discussion ensued on the reports.  The following issues were highlighted:-

-              The delay in receiving the draft final report on the Bellows Road Neighbourhood Service Centre.  It was clarified that the delay was a result of the poor quality report received from the consultant.  Economic and Development Services had returned it for further work.  The report was expected shortly.

-              The need for alignment of compensation packages across Rotherham and the sub-region.  Work was being carried out by South Yorkshire Regional Housing Partnership on this issue which would be fed into all projects during the Summer.

-              Monthly liaison meetings were held between officers of Planning and the Housing Market Renewal Team with regard to implications/priorities for the Local Development Framework and ADF Masterplans.  Sites of strategic importance had been identified as part of the HMR prospectus.

Agreed:-  (1)  That the reports be noted.

(2)  That a meeting be held the week commencing 31^st July to consider the expected draft final report on the Bellow Road, Wath and Swinton Service Centres.

(3)  That Transform South Yorkshire be invited to present their work on the alignment of compensation packages across the Transform area to the next meeting.

(4)  That Planning Services be invited to make a presentation to the next meeting on the Greenfield moratorium.

(5)  That a note be circulated on non-traditional housing by the HMR Team.

- report by Kevin Rice, HMR Manager, Wath and Swinton

In accordance with Minute No. 72, Kevin Rice, HMR Project Manager, submitted a further report on the future strategic structure and role of the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder Steering Groups. 

The proposed model was as follows:-

-              Co-ordinating ADF Steering Group – Consist of tier 1 members of the Steering Groups in the next bullet point.

-              Steering Groups – 2 tiers of membership.  Will be instrumental in the preparation and monitoring of the programme of activity within the ADF area.  Will be Chaired by a member from tier 1 and reflect the 5 Rotherham Strategic themes.

-              HMR Pathfinder Joint Cabinet Meetings – meet on a quarterly basis and to other Council meetings and bodies as required.

-              Constitutionally – Steering Groups will be aligned to the Council as Steering Groups.  Members will be briefed as to their roles and responsibilities as members of a Council decision making forum.

Discussion ensued on the proposed model which built on the current structures and recognised the Rotherham Strategic Partnership and Area Assemblies.  The following points were raised:-

-              Should be more streamlined

-              Difference of opinion on the role of small groups - based on the 5 themes and small groups based on projects?

-              The relationship with Area Assemblies was essential as they were the major consultation vehicle within the Council

Agreed:-  That a further report be submitted to the next meeting that includes a relationship diagram of the various groups.

- presentation by Tom Bell, HMR Team Leader

Tom Bell, HMR  Team Leader, gave a powerpoint presentation on the HMR Programme for 2006-08 which would be presented to the Transform South Yorkshire Board on 14^th July, 2006, with the recommendation for approval on funding.  The structure of the presentation was as follows:-

-              Programme achievements to date

-              Strategic linkages and priorities

-              Themes

-              Spatial Overview

-              HMR Funding

-              Outputs

-              The Future 2008-2010

-              Governance and approval process

-              Next Steps

Agreed:-  That the presentation and proposals contained therein be noted and supported.

- report by Charles Hammersley, Project Officer, RIDO

Charles Hammersley, Project Officer, RIDO, presented, for information, the Shopfront Design Guide and the Rotherham Town Centre Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan which had been approved for adoption as Interim Planning Statements by the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Development Services on 19^th June, 2006.

The 2 documents formed part of a Stage 2 bid currently being prepared to the Heritage Lottery Fund for Townscape Heritage Initiative funding.  The scheme would promote the social and economic regeneration of the town centre through the restoration of key historic buildings and enhancement of certain public realm areas.  It would focus around All Saints Minster, High Street, Westgate and the bottom end of Wellgate.

Agreed:-  That the report be noted.

- report by Paul Walsh, Programme Manager, HMR Pathfinder

Paul Walsh, Programme Manager, submitted a report detailing the development of a student placement initiative within Sheffield HallamUniversity to provide a 12 month professional training programme for an Urban Regeneration student within the Housing Market Renewal Team.

The Team would support the professional training of an identified Urban Regeneration undergraduate to provide practical work experience to supplement the student’s academic studies and to provide a firm foundation for the completion of the final year of the degree programme.  The placement year would provide a valuable insight into the problems, complexities and opportunities of urban regeneration work.  It was envisaged that the placement year would commence in August, 2006.

A mentor would be appointed within the HMR Team and a Housing Practice Tutor assigned by the University to act as the academic link and support.

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

(2)  That the possibility of an incentive scheme be explored.

- report by Andy Pashley, HMR Team

Andy Pashley, ADF Manager, submitted a report on the recent trip to Rotherham by a delegation of housing professionals from the Hong Kong Housing Authority on 29^th June, 2006.

The Rotherham visit was part of a study tour of the country organised by the Chartered Institute of Housing for the Hong Kong Housing Authority.  The 8 delegates were all senior housing professionals covering the disciplines of Housing Strategy, Planning and Design, Partnership Procurement and Finance, Surveying and Estate Management.  The Group were taken on a tour of sites within Rotherham including Canklow, BradgatePark, EastwoodVillage and Magna.

Agreed:-  That the report be noted.

- report by Kalpana Desai, HMR Team

Kalpana Desai, HMR Team, reported on a recent visit by the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Rotherham East and Rotherham West ADFs and Jeff Goode, TSY, to Durham to gain an insight into how joint venture company arrangements were delivering transformational change to a number of neighbourhoods within the City of Durham,

Durham had chosen to develop a joint venture company framework as a vehicle to deliver regeneration activity across the city.  The Durham Villages Regeneration Company brought together Durham City Council and Keepmoat to co-ordinate the delivery of a holistic programme of activity including a mix of housing investment, demolition of unsustainable housing stock, new housing construction, neighbourhood scene improvements and community based investment activity.  The company worked in close partnership with the community partnership for the area in determining programme priorities and delivering the wider neighbourhood programme.

The day of the visit was very much developer lead.  Discussions would also be held with Durham City officers to obtain a rounded view and discuss the benefits of establishment the framework as the preferred model for the city.  It was proposed that dedicated officer time would be spent on this issue so by March, 2007, there was a clear picture of where Rotherham would like to be in terms of market renewal, how public sector partnerships could work and hopefully engaging the private sector in working alongside.

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

(2)  That the HMR Team develop a framework to engage the private sector and progress reports be submitted bi-monthly.

- report of any Board decisions.

It was noted that the TSY Board meeting was to be held later this week.

There was no other business.

Agreed:-  That a further meeting be held on Monday, 4th September, 2006, commencing at 11.30 a.m.