Agenda and minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest to record. 

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism held on 23^rd April, 2013, were considered.

Resolved: - That the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as an accurate record for signature by the Cabinet Member. 

To include: -

·         Tour de France – Cycling legacy. 

Councillor A. Rushforth, Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism, introduced the Transportation Planner (Transportation and Highways Design, Environment and Development Services) who had been invited to attend the meeting to provide an update on the efforts of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to capitalise on the Grand Depart of the Tour de France to be held in Yorkshire in July, 2014.  Consideration was being given to how the local area could maximise the benefits and the opportunities provided to the local population. 

The Tour de France was the third largest sporting event in the world and was expected to be watched/followed by three and a half billion spectators globally.  An estimated two to three million road-side spectators were expected across Yorkshire, bringing a boost of £100 million to local economies. 

A wide-range of existing projects were being undertaken to promote the benefits of cycling to residents across the Borough as means of sustainable transport to access employment, education, retail and leisure opportunities.

It was hoped that existing projects would benefit from the spotlight of the Tour de France, and that the close proximity to the Grand Depart would encourage people of all ages to try cycling for the first time, or to increase the amount of journeys they made by bike. 

The Council was leading a number of projects related to cycling issues: -

·         Bikeability Cycle Training: -

o    Aimed at Year 5 and 6 pupils across the Borough.  Two-thousand children had taken part in these opportunities in the last two years.

·         Adult and Family Cycle Training: - 

o    Over three hundred adults or families in Rotherham had received cycle training in 2012 to give them confidence and ability when cycling on the road.

·         Try Cycling to Work Bike Leasing Project: -

o    This project included the free loan of a quality bike and commuter equipment to enable people to try cycling to work over a four-week period.  There was the option to buy the bike at the end of the challenge.

o    The scheme also included: free cycle training, free bike maintenance support, an online diary to record miles ridden and carbon emissions saved, online and telephone support.

A number of businesses and organisations had taken part in this project.

·         Cycle Shelters: -

o    Cycle shelters were being introduced in a number of schools and businesses in Rotherham to encourage cycling to work and school by providing secure and sheltered bike storage.

·         Bike It!: -

o    Project aimed at school children to encourage them to cycle to school, learn about bike safety and to develop their cycling skills.

·         Cycle Routes: - 

o    Improvement of a number of cycle routes in the Borough, including an off-road route between Rotherham town Centre and Sheffield; improvements between Rotherham and Rawmarsh and a route between Swinton and Manvers.

·         Improvements were being planned to the already popular cycling facilities and equipment facilities available at Rother Valley Country Park;

·         Welcome to Yorkshire was facilitating an all sector event on 5^th June, 2013, to help sectors  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and the 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 item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended 2006 – information relates to finance and business affairs).

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Leisure and Green Spaces Manager (Streetpride, Environment and Development Services) that outlined a request to exempt a contract from Standing Order 48.1 (the requirement to invite between three and six external tenders for contracts with estimated values of £50,000 or more).  The contract related to essential repairs required to the water play facility at Clifton Park. 

Minute No. F26 of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism held on 19^th December, 2012 (Clifton Park: - Waterplay Repair Procurement) gave authorisation to charge Ustigate Waterplay Ltd. to undertake inspections on the water play equipment used in Clifton Park to determine repair works required through investigation and detailed design works.  There had been on-going issues since the original instillation of the equipment in 2009. 

The Leisure and Green Spaces Manager confirmed that this had been completed and Ustigate Waterplay Ltd. had reported on the outcomes of their investigations.  A number of issues required modifications to be undertaken relating to the equipment’s infrastructure and water treatment facilities.  It was proposed that this be completed as Phase One of the work and would allow partial operation over the peak-demand summer period during 2013. 

The second Phase of the work would be undertaken during the quieter winter period, and would allow the complete system to be operational from summer, 2014. 

The quote that had been provided by Ustigate Waterplay Ltd. for Phase One of the works was £122, 697.  The report noted that the costing of Phase One could be met from the capital budget and also noted that, should the budget not be sufficient to cover this, there were prudential contingencies in place which could be offset against expected future income. 

Following the completion of works for Phase One, a decision would be made on whether to progress the works under Phase Two of the project. 

Due diligence had been undertaken to ensure that Ustigate Waterplay Ltd. were the best company, including benchmarking their costs and receiving positive feedback from other companies that had used them.

Resolved: -  That exemption from Standing Order 48.1 (the requirement to invite between three and six external tenders for contracts with estimated values of £50,000 or more) be approved and the contract for repairs to the water play facility at Clifton Park be awarded to Ustigate Waterplay Ltd. 

(Subsequent to the meeting, His Worshipful the Mayor exempted this decision from the call-in procedure.)

·         Tuesday 9^th July, 2013, to start at 10.000 a.m. in the Rotherham Town Hall. 

Resolved: -  That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism be held on Tuesday 9^th July, 2013, to start at 10.00 a.m. in the Rotherham Town Hall.