Agenda and draft minutes

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 December 2025 as a true and correct record of the proceedings and to be signed by the Chair.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 December 2025 be approved as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

To receive declarations of interest from Members in respect of items listed on the agenda.

Councillor Sheppard declared a personal interest in Minute No. 45 (Flooding Alleviation Update) on the grounds that he was the former Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for this Service within the last 12 months.

Additionally, in relation to Minute No. 45 (Flooding Alleviation Update), Councillor Sheppard declared a personal interest on the grounds that he was the current RMBC representative on the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.

Councillor Sheppard declared a personal interest in Minute No. 46 (Thriving Neighbourhood Annual Report 2024-2025) on the grounds that he was the former Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for this Service within the last 12 months.

To receive questions relating to items of business on the agenda from members of the public or press who are present at the meeting.

The Chair advised that there were no members of the public or representatives of media organisations present at the meeting and there were no questions in respect of matters on the agenda.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any part of the agenda.

The Chair advised that there were no items of business on the agenda that would require the exclusion of the press or public from the meeting.

To consider the presentation which provides an update on the Council’s Flood Risk Management works across the borough and the priority Flood Alleviation Scheme Projects.

At the Chair’s invitation, Councillor Marshall, Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Green Spaces, introduced the item and commented that periods of bad weather often opened bad wounds for Rotherham residents whose homes had previously been flooded. One of the Council’s highest priorities was to ensure the risk of flooding was reduced and that both residents' homes and the vital infrastructure they relied on, were protected.

Over the past year, the borough had experienced how damaging and destructive severe weather could be for communities. The Council’s work to strengthen drainage systems, deliver targeted flood alleviation schemes, and improve long -term resilience remained essential.

The update to Improving Places Select Commission (IPSC) would demonstrate the real, tangible progress made towards the following:-

·         schemes already delivered that were reducing the risk of properties flooding;

·         new systems that would improve how quickly the Council could respond during storms; and

·         major projects that were moving into delivery phase that would provide greater protection for hundreds of households in the years ahead.

This significant programme of work spanned detailed engineering, community engagement, partnership working and long -term planning. Councillor Marshall expressed pride in the commitment shown across the service to keep people safe.

Richard Jackson, Head of Highways and Flood Risk, and Andy Saxton, Highway Asset & Drainage Manager, took members through the update presentation, highlighting the following points:-

·         Storm Claudia in November 2025 had been a cause of anxiety for local residents and communities. The Council had received over 80 flood reports. The Rotherham River network was susceptible to flooding due to the convergence of the River Don and the River Rother. As a result, work had continued throughout the last 12 months on preparing major schemes.

·         The Flooding Team had been involved in community engagement with councillors and local residents in the Catcliffe and Treeton area. For example, Hydro Sacks had been handed out, which could be used by local residents to protect against flooding.

·         An explanation of projects that had been successfully delivered across the borough was provided, including:- a new Highway drain at Dale Hill Close, Maltby; a scheme to manage surface water at Waleswood Camp Site; and additional drainage and creation of a bund (an earth embankment) at New Road, Firbeck;

·         Further drainage schemes, which would be funded via capital monies granted in 2024-25, were planned for the following sites:- Rockingham Road, Swinton; Main Street, Aughton; Meadow Bank Road, Meadow Bank; and Recreation Road, Wath:

·         Work had been done and funding received from the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), to improve the flood resilience of 80 properties in Catcliffe via the installation of flood doors, flood barriers, air grates.

·         As part of the Connected by Water partnership (comprising the four South Yorkshire local authorities, Yorkshire Water, the Environment Agency and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority), work had been carried out to develop an integrated flood and water management plan. There had also been early involvement with Yorkshire Water to look at improvements to combined sewer overflows in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

To consider the report and presentation which indicate progress on the delivery of the Thriving Neighbourhoods Strategy and the Neighbourhood Working model.

At the Chair’s invitation, Martin Hughes, Head of Neighbourhoods, introduced the item, and commented that members lived the Thriving Neighbourhoods Strategy (Strategy) in their day-to-day work representing their constituents and worked to deliver it via their ward plans and priorities.

The Strategy had initially been approved in 2018 and was updated and refreshed in 2022. The Strategy was due to be refreshed and renewed again in 2026 and the Head of Neighbourhoods confirmed that discussions were taking place with the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive about how to progress with a new strategy.

The Strategy played a key part in the delivery of the strategic outcomes under the Council Plan but particularly, that “places are thriving, safe and clean”. The Head of Neighbourhoods expressed pride in the collaborative work of the Council, the Neighbourhoods Teams and ward members during the lifetime of the Strategy and referred to the Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Review in 2023, which had praised the exemplary approach of the Council to community engagement. The success of this model was also due to the important work that wider services across the Council had provided to support delivery of local ward priorities.

The Head of Neighbourhoods took members through the update presentation, highlighting the following points, which demonstrated the breadth and depth of support for members on the neighbourhood working model:-

·         Member development and support - The Neighbourhoods Team had facilitated up to 250 ward briefings over the 2024-25 municipal year. This period also covered the induction programme delivered to newly elected members after the May 2024 local elections, which helped to provide members with some knowledge and background to their wards. The member development programme was continually provided by the Member Support team within Democratic Services.

·         Ward priorities and plans - A summary of the priorities and plans for all wards was provided at Appendix 3 of the Report. The Head of Neighbourhoods confirmed that during spring/summer 2026, the Neighbourhoods Team would be speaking to all members about updating and refreshing their ward priorities, as they head into the second half of their four-year term of office. Ward data, advice and input from Council services and external partners, along with local community intelligence, would be used to develop and update ward priorities.

·         Ward budgets - At the beginning of 2024, over £1 million pounds had been available for projects, initiatives, activities and enhanced services to tackle ward priorities. In the financial year 2024-25, £275,116 of this was spent, which was less than when last reported. This was largely explained by the fact that it been the first year of members’ four-year term office where they had been settling into their roles. The amount of spend was expected to increase over subsequent years as ward projects, services and activities continued to develop. £62,000 had been allocated to some 160 community groups within the Voluntary & Community Sector across the borough. The remaining budget from that initial £1 million would be carried over  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

To consider and endorse the outline schedule of scrutiny work for the 2025-2026 municipal year.

The Governance Manager introduced the work programme update and drew Members’ attention to the following developments:

·       School Road Safety Review

It was reported that two further meetings had taken place with the Crossing Patrol team and the Parking Enforcement team. Contacts at the SYMCA had been identified and the Governance Advisor would work to arrange a meeting with them. After this, members would consider if any further meetings or information gathering were required, prior to work commencing on pulling out outcomes and potential recommendations.

·       Awaab’s Law – Member Development Training

Members were encouraged to attend the twilight training to be delivered on Thursday 5 February 2026 by the Housing Team, which would provide an update on how service was dealing with the implementation of systems to deal with Phase 1 hazards (damp and mould and emergency repairs) and information on what plans were in place for the increased scope when Phase 2 comes in.

·       Markets/Library Redevelopment Site Visit (joint with OSMB)

The Governance Advisor confirmed that this visit had been rearranged and was due to take place on the afternoon of 10 February 2026. Members from IPSC, OSMB, the relevant Cabinet Members and officers from Regeneration & Environment would be attending and information on the visit would be fed back to IPSC.

·       Results of IPSC Members Survey

The Governance Advisor thanked members for their responses to the recent survey that had been circulated regarding the timing of future meetings. The outcome of the survey was that the majority of IPSC members had voted to continue with meetings taking place on a Tuesday afternoon. The results with regard to the timing of a proposed pre-meet were more split and the Governance Advisor confirmed that they would liaise further with the Chair on this.

Resolved:-

1.    That the current work programme be noted; and

2.    That that the Governance Advisor be authorised to make any required changes to the work programme in consultation with the Chair/Vice Chair, and would report any such changes back at the next meeting for endorsement.

To consider any item which the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

The Chair advised that there were no urgent items of business requiring the Commission’s consideration.