Agenda and minutes

-           to note the opening of tenders.

Resolved:-  That the action of the Cabinet Member in opening tenders on 29^th August, 2008 for Bellow Road Shopping Centre Re-development, be recorded.

Sandra Crofts, Senior Technician, to report.

-           to report activity for the period December 2007 to July 2008.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Road Safety Officer, which detailed the work undertaken by the Road Safety Education, Training and Publicity staff between December 2007 and July 2008.

Members’ attention was drawn to the following:-

-                      continued work with the comprehensive schools

-                      Heroes Roadshow sponsored by the Yorkshire and HumberPCT’s

-                      distribution of South Yorkshire ‘Safe Driving at Work’ pack for companies

-                      working alongside staff at Mothercare re:  correct fitting of child seats

-                      partnership working with PCSO’s promoting road safety and seat belt safety

-                      successful bid for DfT funding for the “Drive for Life” programme

-                      supporting Crucial Crew 29^th September to 24^th October and 3^rd to 11^th November

-                      Ape Theatre Company production of the play “Too much punch for Judy”

-                      new materials for Junior Road Safety Officers scheme (which had been running for more than 30 years)

Members referred to the importance of road safety for the elderly and involvement of Area Assemblies.

Reference was made to the limited staffing and funding available.

Resolved:-  That the Road Safety Officer and staff be congratulated on the contents of the report.

(2)  That work that had been carried out during the period December 2007 to July, 2008, and future planned work, be noted.

(3)  That the report be referred for information to the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel.

Greg Liindley, Partnership Implementation Officer/Chris Majer, Programmes Officer, to report.

-           to request funding for Phase 2 of the Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Further to Minute No. 223 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services held on 17^th March, 2008, consideration was given to a report, presented by Partnership Implementation Officer, seeking approval for an amendment to the existing financial allocation of £248,482 of Rotherham Economic Regeneration Fund (RERF) to the Flood Alleviation Scheme, which would cover a shortfall in funding for Phase 1 costs.

It was reported that a request had been made to Yorkshire Forward and Objective 1 to meet these costs and an answer was expected shortly. It was explained that if funding was received then the RERF amount would be adjusted accordingly.

It was also explained that Phase 2 works had been reviewed and additional items added to the contract.   It was therefore proposed to allocate £34,000 of capital to Phase 2 Design work (for extra site investigations and option development work around the review of the left bank flood cell extend and the design solutions for Rotherham Lock) with the existing Phase 1 capital allocation being reduced accordingly. Thus the revised amount for Phase 1 approval was £214,482.

Resolved:-  (1)  That approval be given for £34,000 of RERF Capital to be allocated for the Phase 2 Flood Design Scheme.

(2)        That the existing Capital approval for Phase 1 be reduced accordingly to £214,482 from Rotherham Economic Regeneration Fund.

Brian Barrett, Facilities Manager, to report.

-     to seek authority to accept a tender for the works to refurbish and extend the existing building at Mowbray Gardens Library.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Acting Building Services Manager, seeking authority to accept a tender for the works to refurbish and extend the existing building at Mowbray Gardens Library

It was explained that the work had been awarded to Wildgoose Construction Limited from within the team of RCP’s strategic contractor partners, in accordance with the agreed criteria. The contractor had been an integral member of the project team and had agreed the target price (£789,148.00) and guaranteed maximum price (£901,775.00) based on the approved design.

The Cultural Services Manager explained that due to health and safety reasons it had been decided that the library would need to close during the works and customers were being informed accordingly.

The proposed build period was 27 weeks.  The scheme was predominantly being funded through grant awarded by the BIG Lottery Fund with additional funding from the Council’s Minor Strategic Programme 2008/2009.

Resolved:-  That the tender submitted by Wildgoose Construction Ltd in the sum of £901,775.00 be accepted.

Tom Finnegan-Smith, Senior Traffic Engineer, to report.

-           consider proposed options and consultation.

Further to Minute No. 162 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services held on 10^th December, 2007, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Transportation Unit Manager, relating to a clerical error in the Traffic Regulation Order for the one-way system on Main Street, Bramley, which had now given the opportunity for

officers to investigate options to the current one-way arrangement, bearing in mind the need to re-advertise and the likely level of objections.

Consideration was given to the issues related to four alternative options and to the recommendation that residents and businesses could be consulted for their views on the existing scheme and the only feasible option (Option D), which would involve introducing two way traffic to Main Street in conjunction with banning the left turn from Cross Street into Main Street.

Bearing in mind the fact that these were the only feasible options, the Cabinet Member was of the opinion that the previously agreed amendment relating to the extension of the Right Turn lane on the A631 into Church Lane, and the minor works on Church Lane to improve residents’ access, should be implemented since this would be of benefit to either.

Resolved:-  (1)  That further views be sought on the merits of the existing traffic management scheme, including approved amendments (as agreed at Minute No. 162(1) of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services held on 10^th December, 2007, apart from the extension to the Right Turn lane on the A631 into Church Lane) and Option D (as detailed in the report now submitted).

(2)        That the extension of the Right Turn lane on the A631 (right turn into Church Lane), and minor works to improve residents’ access, be implemented as soon as practicable.

(3)  That the remaining amendments to the existing traffic management scheme as approved on the 10 December 2007 continue to be held in abeyance pending the outcome of further consultation.

(4)        That the consultation takes the form of a two day exhibition, at a suitable venue in Bramley, and that an article containing information relating to the options being considered be published within the first available edition of ‘Rotherham News’.

(5)        That, as soon as possible following the consultation, a further report detailing the views and comments received during the consultation be presented to a future meeting of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services.

Lisa Broadest, Principal Officer, Archives and Local Studies, to report.

-           to consider the closure to the public of the Archives and Local Studies Service for five days to carry out essential work on its collections.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Cultural Services Manager, requesting permission to close the Archives and Local Studies Service to the public for five days in December, 2008, to carry out essential work on its collections.  It was explained that this was especially important in view of the potential office accommodation moves.  The closure at this time would minimise the effect on the service to the public.

Resolved:-  That approval be given for the closure to the public of the Archives and Local Studies Service for five days, from 1^st December to 6^th December, 2008 inclusive, to carry out essential work on its collections.

Marc Hill, Traffic Liaison Officer, to report.

-           to receive a 58 signature petition and 1 associated piece of correspondence regarding parking problems on Byrley Road, Kimberworth Park and consider a request a grassed verge/banking to be turned into resident parking and outline investigations into this issue.

Consideration of this item was deferred to the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services so that the report author could present the report.

(The following item, originally on the agenda as an exempt item, was considered in the open session following advice from Legal Services)

Martin Beard, Parking Services Manager, to report.

-           to justify price increases.

Further to Minute No. 121 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services held on 15th October, 2007, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Parking Services Manager, relating to the receipt of a 139 signature petition received from the residents living within the area of Wellgate Residents’ Parking Zone, concerning the costs of the residents’ and visitor parking permits in the existing Wellgate residents’ parking zone which were to be increased to ensure that the scheme was cost effective.

It was explained that the scheme had been in place for the past ten years and an increase in the prices would bring the scheme in line with those of other residents’ parking schemes.  The increase was also required to ensure that the parking scheme could be administered within a ‘break even’ budget and to ensure that commuter parking was prevented through parking officer patrols of the area.

Letters had recently been sent to residents within the scheme explaining the proposed increases.   It was re-emphasised that the application of the increase for this scheme would be introduced in two phases.

Resolved:- That the petition be acknowledged but the increases recommended within the report, resolved on 15th October, 2007, be implemented.

(The Cabinet Member authorised consideration of the following item in order that a place could be booked.)

RTPI Manchester Business School One Day Conference – The Rt. Hon Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government – 11^th October, 2008 – Manchester.

Resolved:-  That approval be given for Councillor Ali to attend.

The following items are likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under those Paragraphs, indicated below, of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006).

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 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006) (information likely to reveal the identity of an individual).

-           to note the decision of the Complaint Panel

(Exempt under Paragraph 2 – information likely to reveal the identity of an individual)

Resolved:-  That the report of the meeting of the reconvened Panel, together with the decision reached, be noted.