Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meetings held on 4th and 19th December, 2012, were considered. 

Resolved: -  That the minutes of the previous meetings of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism be agreed as a correct record for signature by the Cabinet Member.    

There were no Declarations of Interest to record.  

Consideration was given to the petition received containing twenty signatures requesting that a skate park facility be built on parkland at Queen Street, Dinnington. 

The petition had been passed to the Leisure and Green Spaces Department, Environment and Development Services, to investigate the request.

The Leisure and Green Spaces Manager informed the Cabinet Member of the progress to date on investigating the issue.  A meeting had been arranged with the lead petitioner and a Councillor in the Dinnington Ward to discuss the options under consideration.    

Resolved: -  (1)  That the receipt of the petition be noted, and Leisure and Green Spaces Officers investigate and consider the request.  

(2)  That a progress report be provided to the Cabinet Member following detailed investigations concluding.    

• Leisure and Green Spaces Manager, Environment and Development Services, to report. 

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Leisure and Green Spaces Manager, Environment and Development Services, which outlined the annual review of fees and charges for Leisure and Green Spaces Services that had taken place for the 2013/14 financial year. 

The submitted appendices outlined the proposed charges for 2013/14, and the submitted report outlined the rationale for the proposals.  Managers for each Service had assessed the proposed charges potential impact/s on uptake and financial performance. 

It was proposed that the changes would take effect from 1st April, 2013.  However, the proposed changes for allotments rents and Rother Valley Country Park had different effective dates.  In line with legislative requirements, the proposed change to allotment rents would be effective from the 2014/15 financial year, in order to give the required 12 months’ notice.  The proposed charges for water sports at Rother Valley Country Park would take effect from 16th February, 2013, as this was when the service re-starts for the 2013 season. 

The proposed increases were expected to generate the levels of income required to operate services within the available budgets, and also take account of the standard 2.5% increase in income targets being applied to all relevant budgets. 

The Manager of Leisure and Green Spaces confirmed that the pricing structure would be monitored throughout the financial year.

Resolved: -  That the fees and charges for Leisure and Green Space Services, as set out in the submitted report and appendices, be approved.

• Manager, Customer and Cultural Services, Planning and Regeneration, Environment and Development Services, to report. 

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Manager, Customer and Cultural Services, Planning and Regeneration, Environment and Development Services, which outlined legislative changes that came into effect on 1st October, 2012 permitting local authorities to extend the times when they offered marriages and civil partnerships. 

Prior to 1st October, 2012, legislation stated that marriages and civil partnerships could only take placed between the hours of 8.00 am and 6.00 pm.  The Protection of Freedoms Act, 2012, had effectively removed this time restriction.   

A proposal to extend the hours that the Rotherham Registration Service could perform marriages and civil partnerships in approved venues (excluding the Rotherham Town Hall) was presented to the Cabinet Member. 

The proposal suggested that an extension be made to the times of service delivery for marriages, civil partnerships, naming ceremonies and renewal of vows ceremonies on Saturdays and Bank Holidays from a maximum time of 6.00 pm, to 8.00 pm. 

The report outlined proposed fees for the time period for Saturdays and Bank holidays for the period 6.00 – 8.00 pm.  The fees were based on a cost-recovery basis and reflected the additional staffing requirements of the increased hours. 

Consultation had taken place with staff, customers and stakeholders on the proposal to increase the time period. The report noted the concerns received through the consultation process, and the main risks and uncertainties associated with the proposal. 

Discussion ensued and the following issues were raised: -

• Demand for later weddings;
• Benchmarking against other Local Authorities. 

Resolved: - (1)  That the extension of service delivery, outlined in the submitted report, be approved.

(2)  That the fees for the extended service delivery, as outlined in the submitted report, be approved. 

• Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing, Commissioning, Policy and Performance, Resources Directorate, to provide a verbal update.    

The Corporate Communications and Marketing Manager, Commissioning, Policy and Performance, Resources Directorate, provided a verbal update in relation to Rotherham’s marketing strategy.

The issues included: -

• Local Enterprise Partnership Board – Rotherham had been represented at a recent meeting of this Board.  The focus of the meeting was on improving business tourism to local areas;
• An announcement was expected from Welcome to Yorkshire on the route of the 2014 Tour de France tournament;
• A communication strategy for Elected Members on issues around marking the borough;
• Benchmarking with other local authorities;
• The Rotherham Visitors’ Centre;
• The work of the South Yorkshire Tourism Advisory Group in maximising local authorities’ contributions to Welcome to Yorkshire. 

Resolved: -  (1)  That the information shared be noted.  

(2)  That further updates be provided to the Cabinet Member in relation to the outcome of the Local Enterprise Partnership Board and the South Yorkshire Tourism Advisory Group. 

• Tuesday 5th February, 2013, to start at 10.00 am in the Rotherham Town Hall.  

Resolved: - That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism take place on Tuesday 5th February, 2013, to start at 10.00 am in the Rotherham Town Hall.