Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to a report of the visits of inspection made by members of the Council’s Health, Welfare and Safety Panel, on Friday, 18^th June, 2010, to a 2010 Neighbourhood Office.  The Panel had recommended that a new pair of steps be purchased for the store room area and improved general housekeeping.

Resolved:- That the report be received and appropriate action be taken in response to the issues noted.

Further to Minute No. J132 of 15^th February, 2010, the Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services gave an update on the Local Air Quality Management work that had been carried out by the Safer Protection Unit and the proposed revocation of the A630 Fitzwilliam Road Area Quality Management Area.

The Council declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) along the A630 Fitzwilliam Road near to St. Ann’s roundabout due to elevated levels of small particles in the air (PM₁₀) in 2004.    A detailed assessment of the air quality in the A630 Fitzwilliam Road AQMA was submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in April, 2010.  The conclusions were that air quality had improved in the AQMA and the objective was now met and was predicted to do so during future years.

The improvement had been observed since First Buses improved the bus fleet which operated through the area to a higher Euro specification and the signalisation of St. Ann’s roundabout.

Monitoring would continue at the site and the overall situation kept under constant review.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the improvement of the air quality in Rotherham be recognised and the Council’s direct action and leadership role with partners to ensure that road-based PM₁₀ emissions continued to be reduced.

(2)  That the revocation of the “Rotherham A630 Fitzwilliam Road Air Quality Management Area (2004) for PM₁₀” 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 Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council))

The Landscape Manager reported that expressions of interest had been invited for the above contract by advertising in the Official Journal of the European Union in August, 2009. 

15 companies returned the Pre Qualification Questionnaire and scored accordingly with the 7 highest scoring companies invited to tender.  5 of the 7 companies had submitted tenders which had accordingly been evaluated on price and quality.

The Tree Services Contract included planned maintenance work to trees throughout the Borough including adopted highways, parks and open spaces and woodlands.  It also included for the 24 hours, 7 days a week, response required in the event of an emergency.

Resolved:-  That the 4 year Tree Services Contract be awarded to Glendale Countryside Ltd.

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

The Director of Independent Living submitted a report regarding a recent change in Policy regarding GSM diallers (mobile technology supporting Rotherham) which required the Housing Allocation Policy to be updated.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care approved the revision to the use of GSM diallers on 12^th July, 2010 (Minute No. H12 refers) subject to an evaluation.  To ensure that the Policy shift remained robust it was proposed that the Housing Allocation Policy be amended to reflect that having a telephone landline became a mandatory requirement for customers wishing to access the Council’s sheltered or aged persons accommodation.

To ensure new Rothercare customers were aware of the requirement to install a telephone landline, work was being undertaken with the Property Shop to ensure that customers were aware of such.  Wider publicity would be undertaken with partner agencies to ensure a consistent message was disseminated to all tenants.

Resolved:-  That the Housing Allocation Policy be amended with immediate effect stating that the provision of Rothercare in Aged Persons or Sheltered Housing accommodation required the installation of a telephone land line.  This amendment reflected the recent change to GSM dialler policy approved by the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care on 12^th July, 2010, Minute No. H12 refers.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business fairs 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 for consideration options that had been explored for the future use of the depot once the occupants had relocated in November, 2010.

A review of depots across the Borough was currently ongoing with a view to relocating the majority of services operating from within smaller depots to the new Hellaby depot upon its completion.

The 3 options considered were as follows:-

Option 1          retain for RMBC Service delivery

Option 2          Retain in RMBC ownership and lease to an external organisation

Option 3          Sell the depot on the open market

There was no requirement from other Service areas within the Council to retain the depot for operational purposes, therefore, resulting in a vacant site.

The site was located within an area which was currently designated for business use in the Rotherham Unitary Development Plan.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Hamilton Road Building Works Depot be declared surplus to requirements.

(2)  That option 3 set out in the report submitted be approved.

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