Agenda and draft minutes

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

There were no declarations of interest made.

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

A member of the public, Mr Ashraf, asked for an itemised breakdown of all financial contributions including investments, subsidies, loans, core subscriptions, specific levies for functions like transport, and any match funding, contributions etc, as well as funds that Rotherham Borough received a share of from national sources, did Rotherham Borough use to fund South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, as well as projected costs for commitments made and what financial or other returns per year for the financial years 2021 onwards had it received in return?  They stated they would submit the questions by email and were content to receive a written response.

In his supplementary question Mr Ashraf noted that Doncaster Airport for example while a nice idea in theory, did not seem commercially, to be financially viable. The Sheffield tram system was nice for Sheffield, but why did Rotherham residents have to pay for it? As the politicians of Rotherham were primarily responsible to Rotherham Borough residents just as Doncaster and Sheffield politicians were responsible to their residents what give and take had there been. What quid pro quo deals had been made for the benefit of Rotherham Borough residents to justify such expenditure?

The Chair noted that no verbal response could be provided at that time and confirmed that a written response would be provided by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority once the questions were received by email.

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

There were no reasons to exclude the press or public.

A Question-and-Answer session with the Mayor of South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority regarding matters within the scope of their portfolio.

The Chair welcomed Mayor Coppard of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to the meeting. The Mayor began by thanking Members for the opportunity to attend and noted the positive activity in the town centre.

The Mayor explained that questions had been received in advance and would be responded to, and that he did not intend to make a long statement about the work of the Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA), preferring to allow more time for discussion.

In response to a question regarding the Integrated Settlement and fair funding across South Yorkshire, the Mayor outlined that the Integrated Settlement was a mechanism introduced by the previous government and continued by the current one. It enabled the MCA to bring approximately 25 out of 45 funding streams into a single integrated pot, allowing greater flexibility to shift resources between capital and revenue and between different programmes, though within agreed outcome frameworks. The Mayor noted that the model gave more freedom than before but did not allow unrestricted spending. Work was ongoing to ensure money was allocated fairly and in line with priorities, including significant investment in Rotherham.

The Mayor highlighted that more than £60m of projects were currently being delivered in Rotherham, with total funding commitments exceeding £250m. He reaffirmed that the MCA would continue to support major assets such as the Advanced Manufacturing Park and improve the transport connectivity required to sustain and grow these strengths.

On Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), the Mayor acknowledged public scepticism given previous experiences with HS2 and other cancelled rail schemes but emphasised their intention to hold the Government to account. He welcomed that Rotherham’s Main Line Station had been explicitly included and prioritised in the latest NPR plan, crediting sustained lobbying by local Members. Improved rail connectivity to Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester and London, along with electrification of the line to Leeds and future expansion of Sheffield’s Supertram into Rotherham, were identified as further opportunities within the NPR proposals.

The Mayor noted that these schemes formed part of a wider Yorkshire-first approach developed jointly as part of the White Rose Rail Plan. He stressed that the NPR programme was a 15-20?year plan, requiring consistent commitment from future governments, and confirmed that he would continue pressing for delivery, particularly the Rotherham Gateway Station.

The Mayor responded to further questions on transport. He noted that detailed information on the extension of the South Yorkshire Supertram could not yet be shared, as the MCA would be launching its new transport brand and strategy on 16 March 2026. This launch would outline plans for tram extensions, bus franchising, integrated transport, rail, and work relating to the airport. Rotherham was confirmed as central to this work, with several schemes included in the forthcoming proposals.

On ensuring public transport connectivity to key employment sites such as the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District and the Advanced Manufacturing Park, the Mayor stressed that this remained a significant challenge. Only 1% of South Yorkshire residents could access the AMRC training centre within 30 minutes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 110.

Report from the Executive Director of Corporate Services.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet recommend to Council:

1.    Approval of the Budget and Financial Strategy for 2026/27 as set out in the report and appendices, including a basic Council Tax increase of 1.95% and an Adult Social Care precept increase of 2%.

2.    Approval of the extension to the Local Council Tax Support Top Up Scheme, that will provide up to £131.44 of additional support to low income households accessing the Council’s Council Tax Support Scheme. It will support those most financially vulnerable to rising household costs, through reduced Council Tax bills as described in Section 2.5.15

3.    Approval of the updated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) to 2028/29, as described within Section 2.6.

4.    Approval of the Reserves Strategy as set out in Section 2.8 noting that the final determination of Reserves will be approved as part of reporting the financial outturn for 2025/26.

5.    To delegate authority to the Service Director of Planning, Regeneration and Transport in consultation with the Service Director of Financial Services and Cabinet member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, to approve the specific detailed allocations and use of the Local Plan Reserve. 

6.    To note and accept the comments and advice of the Executive Director of Corporate Services (Section 151 Officer), provided in compliance with Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, as to the robustness of the estimates included in the Budget and the adequacy of Reserves for which the Budget provides as set out in Section 2.14.

7.    To note the feedback from the public and partners following the public consultation on the Council’s budget for 2026/27 which took place from 28 November 2025 to 9 January 2026, attached as Appendix 5.

8.    Approval of the proposed increases in Adult Social Care provider contracts and for Direct Payments as set out in Section 2.4.

9.    Approval of the proposed approach and increases in Children’s Social Care costs as set out in Section 2.4.23.

10. Approval of the revenue investment proposals set out in Section 2.7 and Appendix 2.

11. Approval of the proposed revenue savings set out in Section 2.7 and Appendix 4.

12. Approval of the Council Fees and Charges for 2026/27 attached as Appendix 7.

13. Application of the Business Rates Reliefs as set out in Section 2.10, in line with Government guidance.

14. Approval of the proposed Capital Strategy and Capital Programme as presented in Section 2.12 and Appendices 3A to 3F.

15. Approval of the Treasury Management matters for 2026/27 as set out in Appendix 9 of this report including the Prudential Indicators, the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy, the Treasury Management Strategy and the Investment Strategy. 

16. Approval that any changes resulting from the Final Local Government Finance Settlement 2026/27 be reflected in the Budget and Council Tax Report to Council on 4 March.  

17. Continuation of the principles and measures adopted since April 2020 to make faster payments to suppliers on receipt of goods, works and services  ...  view the full agenda text for item 111.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Community Safety, Councillor Alam OBE introduced the 2026/27 budget, noting that it had undergone extensive consultation with officers, the budget working group, and Cabinet Members, and was now out for wider consultation. It was stated that scrutiny’s views were sought at this meeting, and that any recommendations would be reported to Cabinet. It was noted that a couple of Cabinet Members would contribute, specifically on investments.

The Service Director, Financial Services, Rob Mahon provided a technical overview of the main points from the budget report. Noting that the 2026/27 budget process had been more challenging than in recent years due to delays in the Government’s Fair Funding Review. Although the final outcome was positive, the slow progress had required the Council to plan for both potential savings and potential investment scenarios.

It was reported that the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) had been updated in November and that a briefing on the budget journey had been presented to OSMB in January following the outcome of the Fair Funding Review. Key points highlighted included:

• The Fair Funding Review had been positive for the Council, simplifying funding mechanisms and providing a three?year funding position.
• The Council had received an increase of £9.2m for 2026/27, rising to £21.2m by 2028/29, alongside the 2025/26 recovery grant.
• Pensions revaluation was expected to reduce contributions by £6.6m per year from 2026/27.
• September CPI of 3.8% had uplifted certain grants and the settlement funding assessment, improving the funding position.
• Service grants, including extended producer responsibility, had been uplifted, increasing spending power.
• Council Tax and Business Rates collection remained strong overall, despite a significant issue connected to speciality steel.
• Savings for 2025/26 were on track, with route optimisation savings expected to be fully realised in 2026/27.
• The Council’s reserves remained robust, with no further use proposed for 2026/27 onwards other than the Local Plan, identified as appropriate one?off expenditure.

However, continued financial pressures were noted, particularly rising demand and complexity in both adults’ and children’s social care. Market inflation and the loss of a major business rates payer, Speciality Steel, had created further pressures and increased the likelihood of business rates write?offs. Capital financing costs linked to the wider capital programme also continued to impact the MTFS.

The Service Director, Financial Services went on to outline the key financial implications within the budget report. Adult Social Care demand and inflationary pressures had been addressed through an additional £8.6m allocation. CYPS was due to receive £4.8m, including £2.8m to correct historical under?inflation and £2m to meet inflationary pressures in 2026/27.

Home?to?school transport was reported to be in a more stable position following work over the previous 18-24 months; however, national demand pressures remained, and £0.5m per year had been added to the MTFS to accommodate expected growth.

Pay awards, the removal of national pay spine point 2 from 2026/27, and ongoing Real Living Wage obligations had been built into the budget. The update presented to OSMB in January  ...  view the full minutes text for item 111.

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

There were no urgent items.