Agenda and minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest made at the meeting.

A member of the public asked the following question with regard to the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP):-

“We have been asking for the consultation period to be extended.  Within the model IRMP planning procedures you can have a period from 2-12 weeks; because of the late feedback from the Service and on examining that feedback we have some other issues.

My original question submitted to 8^th March Council meeting was around response times and whether the Councillors were aware of the impact of the proposals on second night time fire engine response times in Rotherham.”

Councillor Atkin, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority representative, stated that the consultation at the moment was on the IRMP going forward from this year for the next 4 years; the issue relating to the removal of the second pump on nights was part of the consultation that took place 4 years ago.  There was extensive consultation at this time and the proposals were agreed, which are now being enacted.

Cllr Atkin apologised for not being at full Council on 8^th March. He had to attend a conference in Newcastle as the Vice-Chair of the Fire Authority.

With regard to the consultation event at Parkgate on 7^th March, I have spoken to Councillor Taylor, who was an ex-fire fighter, who attended who thought that it was unsatisfactory.  I have raised it with our officers and awaiting feedback.

The Fire Authority have met with a full Brigade Committee to consult on the IRMP. There is a 6 week period for consultation because there are few proposals in it and this will not vary.  Cllr Atkin stated that the questions raised issues relating to a decision that was made 4 years ago.

Cllr Atkin explained that the removal of the night time pump at Rotherham will have an effect on turnout figures but suggested that it would be marginable. 

The member of the public asked a supplementary question.

“You had just quoted about the negative impact on the response time but in the detailed response I got from the Service, this is not based on the impact of the 4 years’ worth of cuts to the Fire Service. These have impacted on the second pump response times and where the resilience pumps are coming from which they have collated the data to put into the new IRMP. 

In terms of where we are with the last IRMP and the new IRMP, it is the job of Scrutiny to scrutinise the direction of travel in terms of primary calls, secondary calls, fire deaths throughout the period of that IRMP so an IRMP is not considered solely within a 3 year period but considered throughout that period and formulates part of the next IRMP.  The difficulty is that the Service handled in 2012 around 20,000 calls; currently we are now handling about 30,000 calls.  In 2012 we had 740 fire fighters but now 556.  We are severely under strain and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 114.

It was reported that Councillor Price had submitted his apologies for the meeting due to his wife having given birth to a baby the previous day.

The Select Commission congratulated Councillor Price and his wife on their new arrival.

In accordance with Minute No. ?(2) of 3^rd February, 2017, the Leader and Leona Marshall, Interim Head of Communications and Marketing, presented a report on setting out the principles with which the consultation and engagement would be undertaken by the Council and the role of consultation as part of the budget setting process.

A strategy was to be developed once the budget process for 2018/19 was formally underway and which the Board would be consulted as part of finalising the approach.

The report set out the process for the consultation process for the 2017/18 budget process.  Specific public consultation had ran from 1^st December, 2016 to 3^rd January, 2017 and resulted in a total of 31 responses by email and separate responses from the Council’s partners recognising the difficulties the Council was facing and supporting the proposals put forward.

For the 2018/19 budget process it was the intention that:-

-          All communications would be set in the context of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy as well as the Council’s established strategic priorities as set out in the Corporate Plan;

-          The Council would be looking to maximise its resources and engage with its target audiences to ensure representation from across the Borough via combination of online and more traditional offline channels

-          In line with the Council’s digital-first approach, the Council’s consultation events alongside the use of Council and partner publications;

-          It was important for all feedback and opinion to be captured by the Council and stored in one accessible central location in order to ensure that this could also be incorporated into the final decision making process and final budget setting report.

Discussion ensued on the report with the following issues raised/clarified:-

·           Response rate was approximately 30 a year to the formal consultation

·           Complexity of the budget and ability of the layperson to understand the implications for themselves

·           Higher response rate to open consultation e.g. Learning Disability and Autism consultation with service users

·           Vulnerable and minority groups should be included in the key audiences

·           Additional information had been included on the new Council Tax bills

·           The use local radio and newspaper had been used to publicise the consultation

·           Use of social media/digital technology - the Council’s Facebook had been relaunched and would be used

·           Piggybacking onto partner’s events/meeting and increased work with voluntary and community sector partners

·           Consult with key stakeholders about services that affected them

·           Minimum period for consultation was 6 weeks – consultation around sensitive groups was much longer with face-to-face engagement taking place

·           The Strategy would include consultation, engagement and communication

·           Dedicated resources specifically for consultation v diverting resources to consult about budget cuts

Resolved:-  (1)  That the principles with which the consultation and engagement will be undertaken by the Council and the role of consultation as part of the budget seeing process for 2018/19 be noted.

(2)  That it be noted that a consultation and engagement strategy would be developed once the budget process for 2018/98 was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 116.

No issues had been referred.

Following a successful Children’s Commissioner Take-Over Day, a report was being produced and expected in May.

Improving Lives Select Commission

Councillor Clark reported that at the last meeting the agenda had included:-

-          Alternative models for CYPS – it was hoped that the findings would be reported at the end of April

-          The next meeting was to focus on SEND with some Service users invited to attend

Health Select Commission

Councillor Sansome had nothing to report.

Improving Places Select Commission

Councillor Mallinder reported at the last meeting the agenda had included:-

-          Presentation by RIDO on economic growth and the Town Centre

-          Dignity – a visit had been made to Maltby Cemetery with a further visit to Rotherham Crematorium.  There would then be a strategic meeting to discuss Dignity provision in Rotherham

-          A report would be submitted in the next Municipal Year on the waste contract with Doncaster Council

No issues had been referred.

The following item is 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)).

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 I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act (as amended March, 2006) (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)).

Councillor Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, together with Simeon Leach (Economic Development Manager) and Jon Baggaley (Finance Manager), presented an update on the Council’s purchase of the Advanced Manufacturing Park Technology Centre (AMPTC) using capital funding secured through the Sheffield City Region, subject to a satisfactory valuation of the building and securing the funding.

Purchase of the Advanced Manufacturing Park Technology Centre using Sheffield City Region capital funding would retain it within the public sector in the Sheffield City Region, without putting the Council at the financial risk of using its own funding.

The report had previously been considered at the Cabinet/Commissioners’ Decision Making Meeting on 9^th January, 2017 (Minute No. 146 refers).

Discussion ensued on the report with the following issues raised and appropriate responses given:-

-          Repairs and maintenance/service charge

-          Title Deeds

-          Occupancy

-          Ownership/management of the Centre

-          Funding/cost of acquisition

-          Risk

Resolved:-  That the latest situation with regard to the Council’s purchase of the AMPTC and the operation of the facility subsequent to the purchase be noted.

Resolved:-  That a further meeting be held on Friday, 31^st March, 2017, commencing at 9.00 a.m.