Agenda and minutes

Members placed on record their appreciation of the work of the Streetpride Service for the Winter maintenance of the Borough’s roads during the current period of inclement weather.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Regeneration and Development, held on 7^th January, 2013, be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Transportation and Highways Projects Manager providing details of current road safety activity in Rotherham. The report highlighted the following issues:-

: Local Safety Schemes;

: Rotherham town centre – proposed 20mph speed restriction;

: Parking outside schools – ‘Keep Clear’ Traffic Regulation Orders;

: Education, Training and Publicity Initiatives;

: Drive for Life – presentation about safer driving for 17-24 year olds;

: Crucial Crew – personal safety education programme for 10 and 11 year olds; this year the course has been very well attended by all primary schools;

: Schools – further study of roads outside schools, to assess their suitability for the introduction of 20mph speed limits;

: South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership – various road safety initiatives and coordination / partnership working with colleagues in the Police, Fire and Rescue and Health Services.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the report be referred to the Children, Young People and Families Partnership Board for information.

The following items are 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 relates to finance and business affairs).

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 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information relating to the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council)).

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Streetpride Network Manager stating that, as part of the proposals to improve the Council’s Winter service, Network Management plan to purchase, for its Winter service fleet, an advanced salting package with route navigation and a tracking system.  The system will allow the tracking of salting activities, navigate Winter service drivers along routes without the need for route familiarisation training, automatically control the rates of salting, thereby minimising the salt used and allow data to be retrieved in the future for analysis, to create an audit trail and help in the defence of third party claims. 

Accordingly, approval was being sought to waive Standing Order number 48 to enable the purchase of the system from Exactrak, the only company which is able to supply a Winter maintenance system that is compatible with the Econ Hardware system used and operated by this Council on its gritting vehicles.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That an exemption from Standing Order number 48 (the requirement to obtain 6 tenders) be approved and the advanced salting package with route navigation and a tracking system be obtained from Exactrak on the terms described in the report now submitted.

(nb: subsequent to this meeting, The Mayor gave the necessary authorisation to exempt this decision from the Council’s call-in procedure)

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Business Investment Manager concerning an application for a Business Vitality Grant in respect of a retail shop situated within the Rotherham town centre.

The report stated that the Town Centre Business Vitality Scheme is designed to encourage and support new independent niche retail businesses to open up in the Rotherham town centre. Members noted that this project satisfies the eligibility criteria of the Scheme.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That a Business Vitality capital grant of £7,500 be awarded as a contribution towards the cost of fitting out the premises.

(3) That a rental contribution be approved, to provide 50% of annual rent (exclusive of VAT) in year 1 and 25% of annual rent (exclusive of VAT) in year 2 and the grant is to be paid quarterly in arrears on submission by the applicant of proof of payment of rent.