Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of a meeting of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership Executive Steering Group held on 28^th October, 2010.

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

-  to consider attendance at the UK Business Incubation 12^th Annual Conference, 23^rd – 24^th March, 2011 – Manchester.

Consideration was given to attendance at the following:-

-           UK Business Incubation 12^th Annual Conference – 23^rd – 24^th March, 2011 – Manchester

Resolved:-  (1)  That approval be given for the attendance of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Environment and the Director of Planning and Regeneration.

-                      The New Planning System – 23^rd March, 2011 – London

Resolved:-  (2)  That approval be given for the attendance of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Planning Board (or substitutes).

Jane Muffett, Customer Service Manager, to report.

-           to consideration the provision of a school crossing patrol site serving Kiveton Park Infant School in accordance with the national recommended criteria.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Customer Services Manager, relating to a request, in accordance with the national recommended criteria, for the provision of a school crossing patrol site serving Kiveton Park Infant School.

It was explained that following receipt of the request the site was assessed in November 2010, against the national recommended criteria for the establishment of crossing patrol sites.  It was reported that the results indicated that the site met the criteria for the provision of a school crossing patrol site.

It was pointed out that a zebra crossing was already sited on Station Road where it is proposed the school crossing patrol would operate from.

Funding for the post would be met via redistribution of funds from within the Facilities Services revenue budget, due to the introduction of a pelican crossing on an existing school crossing patrol point.  Reference was made to the hours of operation of the patrol at the site and to the recruitment process.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the request for the provision of a school crossing patrol serving Kiveton Park Infant School in accordance with the national recommended criteria be noted.

(2)  That the source of funding for the post be noted.

Rachel Overfield, Countryside Planning Assistant, to report.

-  to seek approval of an update of the list of Local Wildlife sites and Regionally Important Geological Sites in Rotherham.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Countryside Planning Assistant and the Ecologist, seeking approval of an update of the list of Local Wildlife Sites and Regionally Important Geological Sites in Rotherham.

It was pointed out that this information would form part of the environmental evidence base for the Local Development Framework and be used in the determination of relevant planning applications.

It was explained that the setting up of the Local Wildlife Site System also included responsibility for site additions and amendments generated by proposals from landowners and members of groups represented on the Local Wildlife Sites Panel.  The proposal of 3 additional sites which met Local Wildlife Site qualifying criteria was reported.  Also a number of minor changes and revised boundaries were proposed.  A summary was attached to the submitted report at Appendix 1

It was explained that Forward Planning had commissioned a geological survey and this work had identified 3 new additional sites and proposed boundary changes for many of the existing Regionally Important Geological Sites.  Appendix 3 gave an update of the Regionally Important Geological Sites. Appendix 2, Table 1 set out the selection criteria and Appendix 2, Table 2 set out the Rotherham boundary methodology.

Members present commented that it would be helpful to include district and postcode information.

It was confirmed that the cost of the geological survey work had been met by the Local Development Framework budget.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Rotherham Local Wildlife Sites 2010 boundaries (as shown in Appendix 1 to the submitted report) be accepted.

(2)                 That approval be given to proceed with the integration of the Local Wildlife Sites 2010 boundaries into the preparation of the Local Development Framework and in the determination of relevant planning applications.

(3)                 That the Regionally Important Geological Sites 2010 boundaries (as show in Appendix 3 to the submitted report) be accepted.

(4)  That approval be given to proceed with the integration of the Regionally Important Geological Sites 2010 boundaries into the preparation of the Local Development Framework and in the determination of relevant planning applications.

Tom Finnegan-Smith, Transportation Unit Manager, to report.

-  to consider the current position relating to the A57 Worksop Road / Sheffield Road Major Scheme, and to seek to gain Cabinet Member’s support to use LTP Integrated Transport capital funding and Maintenance allocations and to increase RMBC’s local contribution and to confirm with the DfT the Council’s continued support for the scheme.

Further to Minute No. C134 of the meeting of the Cabinet, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Transportation Unit Manager, outlining the current position relating to the A57 Worksop Road / Sheffield Road Major Scheme, the Department for Transport’s (DfT) review of the ‘best and final offers’, and the subsequent request from the DfT to reduce their contribution towards the scheme. 

The report sought to gain Cabinet Member’s support to use Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport capital funding and Maintenance allocations and to increase the Council’s local contribution and to confirm with the DfT continued support for the scheme.

A summary of the background to the scheme was given.  Reference was made to the previous funding arrangements for the scheme and the decision by the coalition Government to abolish Regional Development Agencies which had meant that funding from Yorkshire Forward was no longer available.

It was explained that the ‘best and final offer’ approved by Cabinet and submitted to the DfT allowed for a reduction in scope which included the retention of a dual carriageway scheme designed for a 50mph speed limit including an at grade signalised crossing to replace the subway at a total scheme cost of £14.7m. The offer sought a £12.7m contribution from the DfT and included a £2.0m local contribution from the Council’s Capital Programme.

The amended scheme therefore removed the funding gap created by the lack of Yorkshire Forward funding and reduced the DfT contribution from around £12.8m to £12.7m.

However, it was now reported that the DfT had suggested that the A57 (M1 to Todwick Crossroads) Major Scheme was unlikely to receive continued support from the DfT unless their contribution was reduced by a further £900,000.

In order to reduce the DfT contribution by a further £900,000 either the cost of the scheme would have to reduce; the local contribution would have to increase; or a combination of the two.

Whilst the report to Cabinet indicated that further cost savings may be achievable at the time the scheme is put out to tender, at present these costs had not been quantified.  It was therefore considered that in order to confirm the Council’s continued support of the scheme that additional funding should be identified.

Consideration was therefore given to identifying £900,000 of additional funding from LTP Integrated Transport capital funding and future Maintenance allocations as a contribution towards the A57 Major Scheme.  It was anticipated that the additional funding would be required in 2013/14.

This would increase the Council’s Local Contribution to £2,900,000 thereby reducing the DfT contribution to £11,800,000.

Reference was made to the following:-

-          potential savings to be achieved as the scheme was designed and tendered for

-          planning permission and anticipated public inquiry

-          risk assessment and contingencies

-          likely scheme commencement date

-          speed limits between M1 (J31) and Anston

Resolved:- (1)  That approval be given to increase the Council’s local contribution towards the A57 (M1 to Todwick Crossroads) Major Scheme from £2,000,000 to £2,900,000  ...  view the full minutes text for item 97.