Agenda and minutes

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 11 May 2022 and 27 May 2022 and to approve them as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

Regarding the minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 2022 the following was noted:

·       Minute Number 30, Petition - Improve Road Safety on Cumwell Lane/Kingsforth Lane.  The progress report on the implementation of the proposals outlined would be submitted to OSMB within six months’ with another progress updated report being submitted to the Improving Places Select Commission within twelve months.

·       Minute Number 30, Petition - Improve Road Safety on Cumwell Lane/Kingsforth Lane.  A request had been made for a Road Safety Seminar to be arranged on road safety issues.  Clarification was sought that this seminar had taken place.

·       Minute Number 33, Work Programme.  It was still the intention to hold a face-to-face meeting to discuss the work programme and a date would be circulated in due course.

Regarding the minutes of the meeting held on 27 May 2022, the following was noted:

·       Minute Number 42, Rotherham Safeguarding Children Partnership – CSE Review Final Report.  The Anti-Poverty Strategy was a topic that was being added to the Improving Lives Select Commission work programme.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 11 May 2022 and 27 May 2022 be approved as a true record.

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

There were none.

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

There were none.

Agenda Item 6 has an exempt appendix. Therefore, if necessary when considering that item, the Chair will move the following resolution:

That under Section 100(A) 4 of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of such Act indicated, as now amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

The Chair advised that an appendix linked to Minute 64 contained exempt information, however, the meeting remained open to the public and press throughout.

Cabinet Portfolio: Housing

Strategic Directorate: Adult Care, Housing and Public Health

The Chair noted that Ian Spicer, Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health and Paul Walsh, Interim Assistant Director Housing and Jane Davies, Head of Strategic Housing and Development in attendance.

This report details progress made against the Council’s Housing Development Programme and proposed new projects for 2022/23.  There are a number of schemes that have previously been presented to Cabinet and renewed approvals are being sought for sites in East Herringthorpe, Thrybergh, Wingfield, Eastwood, Kiveton Park, Thurcroft, and West Melton amongst others not listed.  The two new sites proposed for development are Carver Close, Harthill and Warden Street in Canklow.

The Head of Strategic Housing and Development explained that the annual report set out the performance to date against the Council’s ambitious housing development programme along with seeking further approvals to continue to deliver Council homes.  The report gives an overview of progress against previously approved schemes.  The report set out the number of homes the Council had already delivered or committed to delivering.  Since January 2018 to end of June 2022 the Council had built or committed to build 608 homes, comprising of 350 homes for council rent,133 for council shared ownership, 125 homes for sale to allow cross subsidisation of receipts to allow further development of council homes.

The report also noted the number of homes the Council had enabled to be built.  Not the council’s own delivery but through its strategic enabling role the Council made significant contribution to hitting Rotherham’s overall housing requirements.  Since 2018 the Council had enabled more than 500 homes to be delivered.  

A survey of customers of new council homes had been introduced to learn from their experiences, repeat what’s working well, consider how developments may need to be changed to meet needs, along with working with colleagues in Public Health to consider ways the longer-term outcomes for communities from the homes being delivered could be evaluated.

The report noted the various risks associated with new housing development, specifically, rapidly increasing costs, which makes it challenging to deliver.  The report also proposed some new schemes. 

The following was raised/responded to during discussions:

·       Further information on the number of bungalows built would be provided outside of the meeting.

·       The majority of the council homes were for council rent with a smaller number becoming shared ownership homes.

·       A wide range of sites were considered across the borough with consideration being given to the demographics of the ward.  Work was also undertaken with developers to influence the nature of the homes being provided.

·       It was clarified that detailed assessments and business cases were carried out for each site considered.

·       Social value information was captured.

·       The programme was diverse encompassing both smaller and larger sites.

·       It was understood that further engagement with communities and ward members could be undertaken with the Neighbourhoods team to increase the current engagement levels.

·       Members providing information on potential sites was welcomed.

·       The management of waste from the sites was controlled through the contract and information regarding the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

To consider the report and recommendations from the Children’s Commissioner’s Takeover Challenge – Climate Change held on 16 March 2022.

Recommendations:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board:

1.    Receive the report and recommendations outlined in Appendix 1.

2.    Agree that the report and recommendations be forwarded to Cabinet for response.

The Chair explained that the Children’s Commissioner’s Takeover held on 16 March 2022 was Chaired by Josie Brown, Rotherham Youth Cabinet (RYC).  RYC chose climate change as the theme for this year’s takeover challenge, as it was one of the key priorities in their manifesto for 2022 and identified through consultation.  The Chair requested that her thanks were recorded regarding alumni, Amelia Ashton, who was a member of the RYC for many years for her kind message.

The Vice Chair said it had been a pleasure to chair the meeting, to see the passion the Youth Cabinet (YC) have, their ideas and their challenge to Officers.  The topic considered was climate change and the RYC made the following recommendations:

1.    That Youth Cabinet are invited to visit the Waste Treatment Centre at Manvers.

2.    That the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment meets with members of the Youth Cabinet to discuss plastic waste / pollution and action to minimise single use plastics.

3.    That the Assistant Director for Education works with the Youth Cabinet to look at the feasibility of developing an environmental awards scheme for schools.

4.    That Council officers work with the Youth Cabinet to strengthen its engagement strategy with young people, specifically young people of BAME communities or other hard to reach groups.

5.    That Council officers work with the Youth Cabinet on widening carbon literacy training/awareness.

The Chair explained that this was on the Forward Plan for September and the recommendations were that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board receive the report and recommendations outlined in Appendix 1 along with agreeing the report and recommendations be forwarded to Cabinet for response.

Resolved: That the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board:

·       Received the report and recommendations outlined in Appendix 1.

·       Agreed that the report and recommendations be forwarded to Cabinet for response.

To consider the Board’s Work Programme.

The Board considered its Work Programme. 

The following items were due for consideration at the September meeting:

·       Council Plan 2022-2025 and Year Ahead Delivery Plan Progress report.

·       July 2022/23 Financial Monitoring Report, this item would be considered as pre-decision scrutiny.

·       Safer Rotherham Partnership Plan 2022-25, this item would be considered as pre-decision scrutiny.

·       Household Support Fund, it was proposed that a briefing on this item to be provided by Wednesday 7 September 2022 (report circulated by email).

·       Towns and Villages Fund, it was proposed that a briefing on this item to be provided by Wednesday 7 September 2022 (report circulated by email).

The Social Value Mid-Year Review was due to be considered at the October meeting.  The Safer Rotherham Partnership Annual Report was due to be considered at the November meeting.

The Chair explained that discussions had been held with the Assistant Chief Executive, who was the Boards Link Officer regarding holding a meeting to cover the cost-of-living crisis including food banks.  It was proposed that this matter could be facilitated during October either in the scheduled meeting or by holding an additional meeting. 

Resolved: - That the Work Programme be approved.

To receive updates from the Chairs of the Select Commission on work undertaken and planned for the future.

The following updates were received from each of the select commissions outlining current areas of work.

It was noted that an additional Improving Places Select Commission meeting would be held to consider the Market Regulation document.

The Health Select Commission had received the report from RDASH.

Resolved: That the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board noted the updates provided.

To review and identify items for pre-decision scrutiny from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions covering the period from 1 June 2022 – 31 August 2022.

The Board considered the Forward Plan of Key Decisions 1 June 2022 to 31 August 2022.

It was explained that an updated on the Household Support Fund and the Towns and Villages Fund be in the form of briefings, rather than forming part of the formal meeting.  These would be received a week before the next OSMB meeting to provide members with an opportunity to feed into the Cabinet meeting.

Resolved: - That the Forward Plan be noted.

To consider any issues referred for call-in from recent Cabinet meetings.

There were no call-in issues.

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

There were no urgent items.

The next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board will be held on 14 September 2022 at 10am at Rotherham Town Hall.

Resolved: That the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board will be held at 10am on Wednesday 14 September 2022 at Rotherham Town Hall.