Agenda and minutes

To consider the minutes of meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 16 September 2020 and to approve them as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

Resolved: -

That the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 16 September 2020 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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 no questions from members of the public or press.

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

Resolved: -

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for agenda item 7, Towns Fund – Town Investment Plan on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 (financial and business affairs) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Cabinet Portfolio: - Cleaner, Greener Communities

Strategic Directorate: - Regeneration and Environment

Consideration was given to a report that was submitted for pre-decision scrutiny ahead of the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 19 October 2020 in respect of the proposed Libraries Strategy 2021 - 26.

The Cabinet Member for Cleaner, Greener Communities, Assistant Director - Culture, Sport and Tourism and the Head of Operations and Business Transformation attended the meeting to present the report.

This report set out the vision and framework contained in the proposed Library Strategy 2021 – 2026 and detailed how the Strategy, along with the new service offer would enable the Council to fulfil its statutory duty under the Public Library Act and to meet the needs of the community through the delivery of the Libraries and Neighbourhood Hubs Service.  The proposed Strategy and service offer had been finalised following feedback from a final phase of consultation, and along with an Equalities Impact Analysis, would underpin all future service delivery changes for Rotherham libraries.

The full Library Strategy 2021-2026 was attached as an appendix to the officer’s report.

The Cabinet Member for Cleaner, Greener Communities in introducing the report noted the extensive consultation process that had taken place during the development of the proposed Libraries strategy and the high number of responses received. A comprehensive report and analysis of the consultation responses was included as an appendix to the officer’s report. The Cabinet Member noted how much libraries in Rotherham were loved by library users, with the library service receiving a 99.1% customer satisfaction rating from its users.

The Cabinet Member noted how the proposed Libraries Strategy would link in with other strategies including the Rotherham Cultural Strategy and Rotherham’s Thriving Neighbourhood Strategy. The Cabinet Member also outlined the strategic outcomes that the strategy would deliver that included:

•         Increasing reading and literacy

•         Stronger and more resilient communities

•         Cultural and creative enrichment

•         Improving digital access and literacy

•         Helping everyone achieve their full potential

•         Healthier and happier lives for residents

•         Greater prosperity.

The Cabinet Member noted the proposals for capital investment for Rotherham’s libraries and the further development of community partnership activity including a pilot of a community-managed library at Brinsworth and an increased number of volunteer opportunities across the library service.

The Assistant Director - Culture, Sport and Tourism noted the extensive Equalities Impact Assessment that had been completed for the proposed Libraries Strategy and noted the library services’ commitment to addressing issues of underrepresentation. The Equalities Impact Assessment was attached as an appendix to the officer’s report.

Members welcomed the proposed strategy and noted the important role that libraries played across the Borough as community hubs. Members also noted with approval the large numbers of Rotherham residents that were active library users.

Members noted the issues that had been highlighted in the report regarding the underrepresentation of BAME groups in accessing and using library services, and asked why this may, as well as for information on what actions were being planned to address the issue. The Cabinet Member advised that BAME groups  ...  view the full minutes text for item 225.

Cabinet Portfolio: - Jobs and the Local Economy

Strategic Directorate: - Regeneration and Environment

Consideration was given to a report that was submitted for pre-decision scrutiny ahead of the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 19 October 2020 in respect of the Towns Fund – Town Investment Plan.

The Assistant Director for Planning - Regeneration and Transport attended the meeting to present the report.

The Assistant Director for Planning, Regeneration and Transport advised that the Town Deal was a £3.6bn programme seeking to “unleash the economic potential” of 100 places across the country, with Rotherham having been given the opportunity to bid for up to £25million through the programme. It was noted further that the government had advised that bids of up to £50m would be considered in exceptional circumstances for the most ambitious and credible projects. The report stated that the fund would focus investment on three main areas of activity, urban regeneration, skills and enterprise and infrastructure, and that the ‘bid’ for funding would be a Town Investment Plan.

The Assistant Director advised that a requirement for participation in the Town Deal programme had been for the Council to set up an overarching Town Deal Board, and that as such, a board had been established in January 2020. The Assistant Director noted that the Town Deal Board served both as an advisory body and also enabled the vision and strategy for the town to be defined in order for the Town Investment Plan to be produced.

The Assistant Director advised that the Town Deal would be an agreement in principle between government, the Council and the Town Deal Board that would set out a vision and strategy for the town, detailing the underlying interventions needed to achieve the vision being set out in the Town Investment Plan. It was noted that the Town Investment Plan would be a long-term strategic plan for the town and that it would also set out a vision for Rotherham with a clear strategy and direction for the economic turnaround of the town over a decade.

The Assistant Director advised that the Town Deal study area included Eastwood, Templeborough and the town centre. The report provided information on the type of schemes that were being considered for each area that included:

Eastwood

·       Upgraded link to Parkgate

·       Improved connectivity at St Anne's roundabout

·       Environmental improvements at Fitzwilliam Rd

·       a New housing development at York Rd Netherfield Court and other areas Refurbishment of selected properties and landscape improvements

Templeborough

·       Urban Agriculture

·       Business park and innovation centre

·       Bridge link to Blackburn Meadows

·       Connectivity improvements to Sheffield Rd, Ickles Roundabout and Bessemer Way Route cleaning and maintenance

·       Improved wayfinding and signage 

Central and Town centre

·       Linked water side development sites for residential and supporting uses to create a Riverside community

·       Outdoor green spaces, squares and water to support, leisure, evening and food and drink diversification

·       Improvements for retail

·       Gateway improvements.

A full list of proposed schemes was attached as an appendix to the officer’s report. The Assistant Director advised that the final list of proposed schemes contained in the Town Investment Plan would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 226.

To review and identify items for pre-decision scrutiny from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions covering the period from 1^st October to 31^st December, 2020.

The Board considered the Forward Plan of Key Decisions 1 October – 31 December 2020.

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 was no urgent business.

The next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board will be held on Wednesday 4 November at 11am as a Microsoft Teams Meeting.

Resolved: -

That the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board will be held at 11am on Wednesday 4 November 2020 as Microsoft Teams meeting.