Agenda and minutes

The Former Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services - Monday 2 June 2008 10.30 a.m.

Venue: Training Room, 3rd Floor, Bailey House, Rawmarsh Road, Rotherham. S60 1TD

Contact: Janet Cromack, Senior Democratic Services Officer 

Items
No. Item

19.

Minutes of a meeting of the Town Centre Events Group held on 19th May, 2008 pdf icon PDF 118 KB

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting of the Town Centre Events Group held on 19th May, 2008.

 

Resolved:-  That the minutes be noted.

20.

Representatives on outside bodies/membership of Groups/Panels etc - 2008/2009 Municipal Year pdf icon PDF 38 KB

-           to consider representation on outside bodies/membership of Groups/Panels etc. for the 2008/2009 Municipal Year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the appointment of representatives on outside bodies and membership of the Council’s Groups/Panels etc for the 2008/2009 Municipal Year.

 

Resolved:- (1)  That the following appointments to outside bodies be made:-

 

ACADEMY OF CONSTRUCTION TRADES

Mr. Paul Woodcock, Director of Planning and Regeneration

 

CHESTERFIELD CANAL PARTNERSHIP

Councillor J. Whysall

 

CYCLE ENGLAND – CYCLING CHAMPION

Councillor Barron

 

DEARNE AND DOVE INTERNAL DRAINAGE BOARD

Councillor F. Hodgkiss

 

HACKNEY CARRIAGE AND PRIVATE HIRE TRADES

– CONSULTATION MEETINGS

Cabinet Member and Senior Advisor from Regeneration and Development Services, plus the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Licensing Board (Councillors Smith, Walker, Wootton and F. Wright)

 

KIVETON PARK MINERS’ WELFARE GROUNDS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Councillor Whysall

 

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH MARKET AUTHORITIES

Councillor G. Smith

 

PLANNING AID COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Vice-Chair, Planning Board - Councillor Dodson

 

ROTHERHAM ARTS CHARITY/ROTHERHAM ARTS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (6 places available)

Trustees:-  currently Councillors Smith, Walker, (Cabinet Member and Senior Adviser); Councillor Swift (from Regeneration Scrutiny Panel) and St. John

together with Elenore Fisher, Cultural Services Manager and

LizzyAlageswaran, Principal Officer, Community Arts

 

SOUTHYORKSHIREFOREST - Members’ Steering Committee:-

Councillors Sangster and Wyatt

 

SOUTH YORKSHIRE FOREST ENVIRONMENT TRUST LTD.

Councillor Sangster

 

SOUTH YORKSHIRE JOINT COMMITTEE ON ARCHAEOLOGY

Councillor Walker (noting that Councillor Boyes is nominated as the Corporate representative)

 

SOUTH YORKSHIRE RURAL PARTNERSHIP

Councillor Smith

 

SOUTH YORKSHIRE SPORTS PARTNERSHIP

Councillor Smith (and Steve Hallsworth, Business Manager- Leisure & Green Spaces, Culture & Leisure Services)

 

SWINTON LOCK ACTIVITY CENTRE

Councillor Doyle

 

TRANS-PENNINE TRAIL

Councillor Pickering, Chair, Planning Board

(or Substitute:  Councillor S. Walker, Senior Adviser)

 

TREETON MINERS’ WELFARE BOWLING GREEN MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (Ward 11 Rother Vale)

Councillors Boyes, Nightingale and Swift

 

TREETON COMMUNITY CENTRE, PLAYING FIELDS AND MEMORIAL SCHEME COMMITTEE

Councillors Littleboy and Swift

 

YORKSHIRE LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION

Councillor Smith, Cabinet Member

Elenore Fisher, Cultural Services Manager and

Bernard Murphy, Manager, Library & Information Service

 

YORKSHIRE TOURISM COUNCIL

Councillor S. Walker and the Tourism Manager

 

(2)                 That membership of the following Groups/Panels be as follows:-

 

CLIFTONPARK RESTORATION PROJECT BOARD

Councillor Smith, Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Development Services

Councillor Walker, Senior Adviser, Regeneration & Development Services

Councillor Rushforth, Cabinet Member for Lifelong Learning

Councillor Falvey, Senior Adviser, Lifelong Learning

Councillor S. Wright, Cabinet Member for Children & Young People’s Services

Councillor Hussain, Cabinet Member for Communities & Involvement (also Ward 2 Boston Castle)

Ward Members from BostonCastle and Rotherham East Wards:-

Councillors Ali, Dodson, Kirk, McNeely and Wootton

 

Health, Welfare and Safety Panel:-

Councillor Sharman, Deputy Leader

Councillor Smith, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development

Councillor S. Walker, Senior Adviser, Regeneration and Development

 

Councillor R. S. Russell, Cabinet Member for Streetpride

 

together with one Member (and a substitute) from each of the Scrutiny Panels (these will be confirmed in June 2008 by each Panel)

 

Parish Liaison Committee:- (General & Ad Hoc Meetings):-

Councillor Smith, Cabinet Member, Regeneration and Development

Councillor Pickering, Chair, Planning Board

Councillor Dodson, Vice-Chair, Planning Board 

 

ROTHER VALLEY COUNTRY PARK MEMBER’ STEERING GROUP

Councillor Smith, Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Development

Members from Wards Nos. 6 (Holderness),  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Ulley Reservoir - Pumping Support and other Miscellaneous Services pdf icon PDF 48 KB

John Bufton, Schemes and Partnerships Manager, and Steve Hallsworth, Business Manager, Leisure and Green Spaces, to report.

-           to seek exemption from Standing Orders and continue existing arrangements.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Schemes and Partnerships Manager, detailing services provided by J N Bentley at Ulley Reservoir and seeking an exemption to the Council’s Standing Orders, under the provisions of clause 38.2, such that these services can be retained until rehabilitation works are complete or until it is felt that other arrangements are more beneficial.

 

The reasons for the request were set out in the report and it was pointed out that retaining this company would ensure continued safety of the dam, reservoir and associated Country Park.

 

The current satisfactory performance of this contractor was reported

 

It was confirmed that both Legal Services and Financial Services had indicated their support for this request.

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That in accordance with Standing Order No. 38.2 an exemption to Standing Order 48 be granted and the Council continue the existing contractual arrangements with J N Bentley for the provision of the company’s services in connection with the works to the dam embankment. 

 

(2)  That the Director of Streetpride review, from time to time, the need for the continuance of the arrangements and whether the company continue to provide value for money.

22.

Museums Galleries and Heritage Service Flood Recovery Project pdf icon PDF 74 KB

Steve Blackbourn,Principal OfficerMuseums, Galleries and Heritageto report.

-           to report the recovery project.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Principal Officer, Museums, Galleries and Heritage Service, relating to the flooding of the Museums, Galleries and Heritage Service by contaminated mains drainage water in June 2007, and subsequent damage caused to the school loans and handling collections and social, industrial and natural history artefacts.

 

The report included an interim delivery plan together with a Flood Recovery Project designed to run over the next two financial years and which aimed to redefine some provision and to improve delivery capacity.

 

Reference was made to:-

 

-                      on going risks

-                      costs associated with continuing the present storage and acquisition and conversion of a new storage facility

-                      conservation/restoration of items

-                      insurance

-                      affect on the BVPI 170c and new National Indicator 10

 

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

 

(2)  That the Flood Recovery Project Programme and budget be approved.

 

(3)  That the interim service delivery measures be approved.

23.

Flood Alleviation Scheme - Don Bridge/Old Grafton Bridge pdf icon PDF 92 KB

Greg Lindley, Partnership Implementation Officer, and Steve Smith, Assistant Development Co-ordinator, to report.

-           to seek approval to undertake the development work for the potential removal of this bridge.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Assistant Development Co-ordinator, seeking approval to undertake the development work for the potential removal of the Don Bridge/Old Grafton Bridge, which acts as a major obstruction to the river flow.

 

It was reported that Phase 1 of the flood alleviation scheme was on track for completion by the Summer 2008, and detail design of the remainder of the scheme was currently on-going.

 

It was pointed out that the technical analysis had shown that the determination of the levels of flood defence was significantly influenced by the presence of the Don/Grafton Bridge and that the bridge was a significant obstruction to flood flows.  The bridge itself was considered structurally unsound and closed to traffic in 1998.  It was noted that although the bridge was a Grade 2 Listed building the corroded superstructure had suffered significant repair with modern materials with little of the current appearance being original.

 

Members present commented on:-

 

-                      possibility of retaining the coat of arms

-                      re-use of the walkway, railings and stonework elsewhere in the locality

-                      historical vs. aesthetic value

-                      possible rebuild with modern materials

-                      involvement of a university or college

-                      funding

 

Officers pointed out the engineering costs and health and safety issues re:  the above.

 

Consideration was therefore given to the recommendations of Jacobs that the bridge be removed on the grounds that:-

 

  • it will result in community wide benefits in lowering the required flood defence levels upstream of the bridge by up to 670mm
  • lowering the visual impact of defences needed upstream
  • lowering the required defence heights and reduce the extent of defences adjacent to the Scheduled AncientMonument near ChantryBridge
  • reduced costs of the flood defence scheme ( by £400-£450k )
  • reduced risk of debris blockage which would create additional flood risk

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That development work be undertaken in respect of the possible removal of the Don Bridge/Old Grafton Bridge  including:-

 

(i)                   Process for ListedBuilding consent for demolition

(ii)                 Highways procedures

(iii)                Planning application

(iv)                Budget and Timetable

(v)                 Continued consultation

(vi)                Assessment of transportation impacts

 

(2)      That a further report be submitted to the Cabinet Member in three months time in respect of:-

 

·        proposal details

·        final budget costs

·        possible re-use of the bridge’s components elsewhere in the Borough.

24.

Rotherham Play Pathfinder pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Nick Barnes, Principal Project Development Officer, to report.

-           seeking agreement to the prioritised list.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Principal Project Development Officer, relating to the proposed selection process which had identified the 28 play areas of the lowest quality in the Borough (priority listed in Appendix 1 to the report).

 

Consideration was also given to the request to publicise which sites had been selected and where necessary the initial financial allocations against specific play areas.

 

It was pointed out that in a limited number of cases, the play areas identified were not considered suitable and so alternatives in the vicinity of the original area would be considered to ensure coverage in the same target area.

 

Consideration was also given to the request to exempt the contract for the play area works in relation to Clifton Park from the provisions of Standing Order 48.1.

 

Reference was made to the master planning for Clifton Park and linkages which could be made to that project to incorporate an innovative “AdventurePlay Park” funded through the award from the Play Pathfinder programme.

 

With this in mind, arrangements were in hand to extend the Clifton Park Restoration project design consultant's commission to include the planning of the play park area to ensure a good fit with the existing proposals.   It was therefore suggested that the works in connection with the play park be included within the package of works to be undertaken by the main contractor whose appointment would follow the completion of the procurement process for the HLF funded works.  This would mean that one firm would be responsible for contract operations across the whole site, and avoid the possibility of two firms on separate contracts working in close proximity to each other with the risks that would bring of complications, delays and claims. 

 

It was confirmed that both Legal Services and Financial Services were in support of the proposals.

 

Members commented on:-

 

  • the amount of consultation needed
  • keeping facilities within the locality
  • initiatives to tackle vandalism and anti social behaviour
  • Safety of surfaces e.g. sand
  • links to the other events e.g. Library Services story telling

 

It was noted that it was proposed to engage Groundwork DearneValley, through a secondment, to carry out the consultation.

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the priority list of play areas be approved and that work now commences to deliver these areas as soon as possible.

 

(2)  That, in accordance with Standing Order No. 38.2, the contract for the construction of the Clifton Park Adventure Play Park be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order 48.1 (requirement to invite three to six tenders for contracts with an estimated value of £50,000 or more) and be awarded to the contractor appointed to deliver the Clifton Park Restoration project.

25.

EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006)(financial/business affairs).

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 item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006) (financial/business affairs).

26.

Budget Savings - Library and Information Services

Sean Bury, Manager Delivery and Evaluation. Library and Information Service, to report.

-           to report budget planning for 2008/2009.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Director of Culture and Leisure Services and the Cultural Services Manager, relating to the budget exercise planning for the financial year 2008/09 which requested a number of base budget savings from the Library and Information Service equating to £120,000. It was pointed out that this was a year on year saving.

 

It was explained that to date savings of approximately £107,000 had been identified and these were highlighted in the report, along with the service impact. 

 

The savings suggested were to be accrued from:-

 

  • the cessation of Mobile Library 3 which was approaching  the end of its usable life
  • significant reduction in hours at Kimberworth and Kimberworth Park Libraries;  minor adjustments to opening hours at Swinton and Wath Libraries

 

Also included in the report were details of the alternative provision which would be available for members of the public affected by these proposals.  It was also pointed out that there was adequate provision within the home delivery service.

 

The impact of each proposal was indicated and it was stressed that no facility had to close.

 

The proposals would also provide an opportunity to explore more cost effective joint/community provision for the future.

 

Reference was made to the anticipated opening of the new Wickersley Library.

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the restructuring of opening hours, as outlined in the report now submitted, be approved to achieve the listed savings.

 

(2)        That a further report to be submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet Member identifying the remainder of the savings required.