Agenda and minutes

The Former Cabinet Member for Town Centres (to 22nd June 2011) - Monday 20 September 2010 9.30 a.m.

Venue: Town Hall, Moorgate Street, Rotherham. S60 2TH

Items
No. Item

11.

Minutes of a meeting of the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel held on 9th July, 2010 pdf icon PDF 30 KB

Minutes:

The following report was submitted:-

 

Health, Welfare and Safety Panel

 9th July, 2010

 

Present:- Councillors Nightingale, R. S. Russell, Whelbourn and Wootton; Mr. C. Booth (GMB), Mrs. S. D. Brook (NASUWT), Mrs. J. Adams (NUT), Mr. K. Moore (UNITE) and Mr. P. Waterworth (UNISON)

 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dodson, P. A. Russell and Swift and from Mr. J. W. Clay (ATL), Mr. P. Scholey, Mrs. R. Asquith and Mrs. C. Maleham (UNISON) and from Mr. M. Eyre (GMB).

 

L11(1) 

Appointment of Chairman for 2010/2011

 

 

Agreed:-  That Councillor R. S. Russell be re-appointed Chairman of the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel for the 2010-2011 Municipal Year.

 

(Councillor R. S. Russell in the Chair)

 

 

L11(2)    

Appointment of Vice-Chairman for 2010/2011

 

 

Agreed:-  (1) That Mrs. S. Brook be appointed Vice-Chair of the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel for the 2010-2011 Municipal Year.

 

(2) That the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel place on record its appreciation of and thanks to Mr. K. Moore for his extensive service as Vice-Chair of this Panel.

 

L11(3)    

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 23rd April, 2010

 

 

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel, held on 23rd April, 2010, be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

 

L11(4)    

Statistics of Accidents, Injuries and Incidents of Violence to Employees

 

 

The Senior Health and Safety Officer presented the graphs and statistics which illustrated the following details:-

 

(a) Incident totals for Borough Council Employees - January 2008 to May 2010 – including a breakdown for Children and Young Peoples’ Services, Neighbourhood and Adult Services, Economic and Development Services, Corporate (including RBT) and Finance;

 

(b) Violence to Borough Council employees - January 2008 to May 2010; and

 

(c) Incidents involving members of the public, pupils, work placements, schemes and other – January 2008 to May 2010.

 

Resolved:- That the statistical information be noted.

 

L11(5)    

Health and Safety Bulletin

 

 

Consideration was given to the Health and Safety Bulletin, containing recent articles and reports of legal cases relating to health and safety.

 

The following items were highlighted:-

 

- matters of interest from the Health and Safety Executive;

- myth of the month (securing vehicle loads; risk assessments);

- recent Court Cases.

 

Resolved:- That the Principal Health and Safety Officer distribute copies of the bulletin throughout the Authority and also publish the bulletin on the Council’s Intranet web site.

 

L11(6)    

Health, Welfare and Safety Panel - Overview of Initiatives and Procedures

 

 

The Panel considered a report, presented by the Senior Health and Safety Officer, summarising issues dealt with by the Emergency and Safety Team since the last Panel meeting:-

 

- attendance at Manvers Lake (June 2010) because of a fatality;

 

- attendance at various schools in response to incidents;

 

- investigation of RIDDOR reportable accidents.

 

Resolved:- (1) That the information be noted.

 

(2) That it be noted that the Borough Council is undertaking a review of its health and safety policy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Boots Fountain, Howard Street, Rotherham - remedial works pdf icon PDF 70 KB

John Bufton, Schemes and Partnerships Manager, to report.

-           to consider removal of the fountain and to pave the area it previously covered.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Schemes and Partnerships Manager, relating to the fountain at the junction of Howard Street and Effingham Street, known as the Boots fountain, which was in need of repair.  It was reported that Yorkshire Water had issued the Council with a notice under Section 75 of the Water Industry Act to repair a leak in the water supply. 

 

Reference was made to various previous proposed schemes.  It was reported that currently the fountain attracted litter and some low level anti-social behaviour, for example some members of the public had taken to swimming in it during hot weather. 

 

Consideration was given to a proposal to remove the fountain and pave the area it previously covered.  It was also proposed to install new seating, and it was suggested that the possibility of installing removable seating to enable the area to be used for events should be investigated.

 

It was reported that limited funding was available from the Council’s Minor Strategic Capital Programme.

 

It was emphasised that the surfacing should be free from obstacles and easy to clean from a street cleansing point of view, and planters and seating should be able to be lifted out in order to create an events space.

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That, subject to available funding, a detailed scheme be developed which incorporates the removal of the fountain, options for the surfacing of the footprint of the fountain and seating (removable if possible).

 

(2)        That the developed scheme options be brought to a future meeting for consideration.

13.

Deferment of proposed parking charges increases pdf icon PDF 57 KB

Martin Beard, Parking Services Manager, to report.

-           to recommend that the proposed parking price increases be cancelled.

Minutes:

Further to Minute No. 7 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Streetpride held on 19th July, 2010, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Parking Services Manager, recommending that the implementation of the parking price increases be deferred, in order to encourage and help town centre businesses.

 

Reference was made to:-

 

-                      withdrawal of other free parking initiatives

-                      the loss of revenue to the Council

-                      anticipated further budgetary pressures in year

-                      review of the charges prior to April 2011

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the parking charge increases, set out in the report approved on 19th July, 2010, be deferred.

 

(2)  That a joint Parking Services and RiDO press release be issued.

14.

Centenary Market Fees and Charges Review pdf icon PDF 78 KB

Robin Lambert, Markets Manager, to report.

-           to report on the mid year review of Centenary Market Fees and Charges.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Pursuant to Minute Number G137(2) of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation held on 26th March, 2010, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Markets General Manager, relating to the mid year review of Centenary Market Fees and Charges.

 

Reference was made to the following:-

 

-                      meeting of the market trader representatives

-                      market statistics and current trends

-                      impact of the new Coalition Government

-                      review and rationalisation of leases

-                      maintenance of disability access

-                      the need to remodel the entrance to the indoor market

-                      introduction of VAT from 4th January, 2011

-                      the need for a further review in March 2011

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Fees and Charges, as identified in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be deferred.

 

(2)  That the fees and charges be reviewed in March 2011 and a report submitted to the Cabinet Member for consideration.

 

(3)   That, having listened to the concerns of the traders and in order to continue to support the markets, a joint press release be issued from the Markets Service and RiDO.

15.

EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

The following items are 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) (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular individual (including the Council)):-

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

16.

Town Centre Business Vitality Grants Scheme

Joanna Favill, Retail Investment Manager, to report.

-  to consider the application for grant.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Manager, Planning and Regeneration, relating to an application that was considered by the Town Centre Business Development Steering Group at its meeting on 7th September, 2010  when the Grants Panel agreed to support the project.

 

Details of the application, including a Business Plan and supporting financial information, were set out in the submitted report.

 

The proposal was in respect of an electronics retail outlet offering customers the opportunity to purchase high end electronics at affordable prices.  The business would trade at Unit 14, Imperial Building, Church Street, Rotherham.

 

Reference was made to the risks and uncertainties associated with this application.

 

It was confirmed that the proposed business would enhance the town centre offer.

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the award of Rental Contribution to this project to provide 50% of annual rent in year one and 25% of annual rental in year two, to be paid quarterly in arrears on submission by the Applicant of proof of payment of rent, be supported.

 

(2)        That support be given to the award of a capital improvement grant to this project to cover 75% of total cost of eligible works (excluding VAT), up to a maximum grant payment of £7,500 to include fitting out and shop front sign writing, subject to the submission and approval of satisfactory specifications and quotations, the grant to be paid in arrears on submission by the Applicant of proof of payment to suppliers and contractors, and upon satisfactory completion of the capital works.

17.

Town Centre Business Vitality Grants Scheme

Joanna Favill, Retail Investment Manager, to report.

-  to consider application for grant.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Manager, Planning and Regeneration, relating to an application that was considered by the Town Centre Business Development Steering Group at its meeting on 7th September, 2010 when the Grants Panel agreed to support the project.

 

Details of the application, including a Business Plan and supporting financial information, were set out in the submitted report.

 

The proposal was in respect of a foot spa business to trade at No. 59 Wellgate.

 

Reference was made to the risks and uncertainties associated with this application.

 

It was confirmed that the proposed business would enhance the town centre offer.

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the award of Rental Contribution to this project to provide 50% of annual rent in year one and 25% of annual rental in year two, to be paid quarterly in arrears on submission by the Applicant of proof of payment of rent be supported.

 

(2) That support be given to the award of a capital improvement grant to this project to cover 75% of total cost of eligible works (excluding VAT), up to a maximum grant payment of £7,500 to include fitting out and shop front sign writing, subject to the submission and approval of satisfactory specifications and quotations, the grant to be paid in arrears on submission by the Applicant of proof of payment to suppliers and contractors, and upon satisfactory completion of the capital works.