Agenda and minutes

The Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services submitted a request from 2010 Rotherham Ltd. for a loan of £200,000 for the implementation of the Business Improvement Project.

The new operating model had been approved by the Cabinet Member on 7^th June, 2010 (Minute No. 5 refers) and set to generate £450,000 of efficiency savings.  However, in order to complete the various work streams involved in the project, developmental and process costs would be incurred and, due to the tight financial constraints within 2010, a loan had been requested.

The loan would be spent on:-

-           Contact Centre move and upgrade

-           Knowledge database

-           Northgate training

-           Mobile working

-           Repairs text messaging

-           PDA satisfaction surveys

-           Process analyst costs.

The repayment of the loan would form part of the financial arrangements between 2010 Rotherham Ltd. and the Council in 2011/12.

Resolved:-  That a loan of £200,000 to 2010 Rotherham Ltd. for the purpose of completing the Beyond 2010 Business Improvement Project be approved.

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 those paragraphs indicated below of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

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 those paragraphs, indicated below, of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

(Exempt under Paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council)/information connected to labour relations matters)

Further to Minute No. 5 of 7^th June, 2010, the Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report regarding members of staff that had requested voluntary severance.

The report had been considered and approved by the 2010 Board on 4^th August, 2010.

It was also noted that, as previously advised, there could be a further 7 posts (maximum) within the In House Service Provider which would need to be lost prior to externalisation.

Resolved:-  (1)  That 2010 Rotherham Ltd.’s intention to downsize its workforce by 5 posts, as a result of implementing the new operating model, be noted.

(2)  That 2010 Rotherham Ltd.’s intention to reduce the IHSP by up to a further 7 posts prior to externalisation of the Repairs and Maintenance contracts be noted.

(3)  That 2010 Rotherham Ltd. be supported in developing a financial approach to meeting the associated costs.

(Exempt under Paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council)/information connected to labour relations matters)

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council))

The Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services submitted the above Business Plan which highlighted 2010 Rotherham Ltd.’s aspiration to attain a 3 star quality rating in 2011 which had been agreed by 2010’s Board in December, 2009.

The 5 overarching objectives which underpinned 2010’s core business and the key services they delivered on behalf of the Council were:-

-        To deliver excellent customer services

-        To maintain sustainable communities in safe, healthy and attractive neighbourhoods which are accessible to everyone

-        To support and positively influence partnership working within Rotherham and the sub-region

-        To be a successful, well managed, well governed and viable company

-        To have excellent relationships with:-

o             Tenants and residents

o             Our client Rotherham MBC

o             Our staff and partners

o             Our regulators

It was envisaged that concentrating on defined objectives and core services and by critically reviewing and adjusting how current resources were applied, would lead to achieving 3 star quality rating by 2011.

Resolved:-  That 2010 Rotherham Ltd.’s Business Plan – 2010 and Beyond – be noted.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council))

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council))

The Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services submitted proposals to review 2010 Rotherham Ltd. Board Expenses Policy taking into account the cost saving agreed by the Council whereby the mileage rate was reduced in line with Council employees’ mileage allowance and HM Revenue and Customs Approved Mileage rates as at 1^st April, 2010.

The Articles of Association required all allowances payable to non-executive directors to be approved by the Cabinet Member.

Resolved:-  That the proposed changes to the level of recompense to the Board be approved.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council))

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council))

The Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services submitted an amendment to Article 15(1) of the Articles of Association to enable the company to review the size and make-up of the Board without having to hold an election to appoint 2 tenant representatives as currently required.

A Task and Finish Group had been reviewing a number of governance issues, the remaining issue being the size and make-up of the Board.  Rather than undertake a postal ballot (approximately £23,000) to elect 2 tenants when the number of places may be reduced, it was proposed to amend Article 15 to remove the requirement to conduct an election in 2010.

Informal consultations had taken place with RotherFed on the need for change and the implication of reviewing the size of the Board during a year in which a tenant election would ordinarily have been conducted.  1 tenant Board member whose place on the Board was due to re-election has also been consulted as they had intended not to seek re-election.  They had agreed to serve on the Board until Christmas by which time the review should be completed.  The tenant currently filling the other place due for election had indicated a willingness to continue to serve on the Board.

Resolved:-  That the proposal to waive the requirement to hold an election in 2010 to appoint 2 tenant representatives to the Board by the addition of sub-clause (3) above to Article 15 be approved.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council))

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council))

The Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services reported that the Council had commissioned PWC to conduct an appraisal of the options for the future management of Rotherham’s Council housing.

PWC would provide an illustration of the financial and service quality implications of the most appropriate models, with a clear recommendation on which to base tenant and stakeholder consultation by the end of September, 2010.  A clear tenant and stakeholder consultation plan would then be developed.

Resolved:-  That the scope of the options appraisal process to be completed by PWC be noted.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council))

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

It was noted that an Appeals Panel had been held on 27th July, 2010, comprising Councillors Atkin, Ellis and J. Hamilton, to review a decision to terminate an Introductory Tenancy.

The Panel had confirmed the decision made on 25th June, 2010.

Resolved:-  That the Panel's decision be noted.

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