Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of a meeting of the Local Development Framework Members’ Steering Group held on 11^th December, 2009.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes, and continuing progress, be noted.

Consideration was given to the minutes of a meeting of the Townscape Heritage Initiative Partnership held on 15^th December, 2009.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes, and the grant offer, be noted.

Tom Finnegan-Smith, Acting Transportation Unit Manager, will provide a verbal update at the meeting.

Further to Minute No.  G98 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation held on 4^th January, 2010, consideration was given to a report presented by the Acting Transportation Unit Manager, detailing the road safety proposals for the A618 Aughton Road, and reporting the outcome of the further consultation.

Reference was made to:-

-                      the agreement between DC Leisure and Aston Comprehensive school to provide extra parking space for leisure customers outside school hours

-                      the continuing complaints from residents about parking issues

-                      the hours of operation of the proposed no waiting restrictions

-                      the greater than anticipated number of users at the Leisure Centre

-                      issues associated with introducing residents’ parking schemes

-                      options and scope within the proposed scheme

Those present commented on:-

-                      the need to ensure that the agreement for DC Leisure to use the school car park in the evenings was operating

-                      the need to inform users of the Leisure Centre that parking was available on the school site after school hours

-                      elements of the scheme which could be progressed i.e.  the pedestrian refuge at Alexandra Road; amendments to bus stops, sheltered parking and improvements to the pedestrian crossing outside the school

-                      the current policy regarding residents’ parking

Resolved:-  (1)  That, apart from the proposed single yellow line waiting restriction on the western side of the A618 Aughton Road, the scheme, as shown on Drawing No 126/17/TT 98, be approved for detailed design and implementation, funded from the Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport Capital Programme for 2009/10 and 2010/11.

(ii)  That the objections to the relocation of the bus shelter opposite 44 Aughton Road be upheld and the shelter remain in its existing location but with a minor alteration to the bus standing position.

(iii) That the objections to the bus stop alterations and parking lay-by outside 101 to 109 Aughton Road  be not acceded to.

(iv) That further consultation take place with affected frontages in respect of the proposed single yellow line waiting restrictions together with their initial views on residents’ parking, and that a further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation.

(v) That DC Leisure and Aston Comprehensive School be encouraged to operate according to the agreement regarding after school hours parking, and that DC Leisure be encouraged to inform users of the availability of this parking.

Chris Johnston, Planning Officer, to report.

-           to consider the principle of the BSF Project and outlined in the planning briefs.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Development Control Officer, relating to the Planning Briefs prepared on behalf of the Council’s Education Service as a guide for future development on the sites for the Building Schools for the Future Project.

It was explained that the Briefs outlined details of the proposed redevelopment of two schools in the Borough on their existing sites (Maltby and Aston). 

Approval was sought to an in principle agreement to the redevelopment of these sites which aimed to provide more modern and improved facilities.

Resolved:-  That approval be given to the principle of the Building Schools for the Future project as outlined in the BSF Planning Briefs as detailed in the report now submitted.

Simeon Leach, Economic Strategy Manager, to report.

-           to consider a request for RERF funding.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Economic Strategy Manager, which sought approval to allocate £420,000 of Rotherham Economic Regeneration Fund (RERF) capital funding to deliver an estimated 50 parking spaces through the provision of undercroft parking, as part of the river frontage public realm between Tesco Bridge and the Riverside precinct.

Resolved:-  That approval be given for £420,000 of RERF capital to fund the provision of undercroft parking on the river frontage as detailed in the report now submitted.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraphs 2 and 3  of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended March 2006) to the Local Government Act 1972 (information likely to reveal the identity of an individual/financial affairs):-

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 Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006) (financial/business affairs).

Simeon Leach, Economic Strategy Manager, to report.

-           to note the contents of the report, and to agree to the signing of contracts with BEST and Nicholas Associates, the delivery organisations for the project, subject to a clause being inserted in the contract between them and  RMBC as detailed in section 9 of the report.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Economic Strategy Manager, relating to the submission of a full Business Plan to Yorkshire  Forward, approval for which had been given in December 2009.

However, it was reported that until the full Offer Letter had been signed by both parties, which would not occur until March 2010, then any spend by the Council was theoretically at risk.

An explanation was given about the tendering process in respect of four strands of activity, details of which were set out in the submitted report.

In order to ensure that there was no significant risk to the Council and to progress the four strands of activity, it was explained that a clause would be included in the contract between the Council and the delivery partners.

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

(2)  That agreement be given to the signing of contracts with BEST and Nicholas Associates, the delivery organisations for the project, subject to a clause being inserted in the contract between them and the Council, as detailed in Section 9 of the submitted report.

Bernadette Rushton, Assistant Town Centre Manager, to report.

-           to consider a variation to the Business Vitality Grant awarded to the applicant on 27 July 2009 in respect of rental contribution and capital fit out costs to relate to 18 Corporation Street, Rotherham.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Assistant Town Centre Manager, seeking approval to issue a variation to a Business Vitality Grant awarded on 27^th July, 2009 (Minute No. 37 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation held on 27^th July, 2009 refers).

The reasons for the request were explained in full and it was confirmed that the new property and proposed lease satisfied the eligibility criteria of the Vitality Scheme.

Resolved:-  That approval be given for a variation be issued to the Business Vitality Grant awarded to the applicant on 27 July 2009 in respect of rental contribution and capital fit out costs to relate to 18 Corporation Street, Rotherham, as detailed in the report now submitted.