Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Regeneration and Development, held on 29th July, 2013, be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

Resolved:- That the action of the Cabinet Member in opening the following tenders on Tuesday, 6th August, 2013, be noted:-

-  former depot and joiners workshop at Wadsworth Road, Bramley

Further to Minute No. 164 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Regeneration and Development Services held on 5th January, 2009, consideration was given to a report presented by the Project Officer concerning the successful conclusion of the MARE (Managing Adaptive Responses to the Environment) project, including the success of the bid for European Union funding for the CAMINO (Climate Adaptation Mainstreaming through Innovation) project.

The details and financing of both of these projects were included in the submitted report. Members noted that the MARE project entailed research into the effects of flooding on the environment and economic development of an area. The CAMINO project will help to increase the Council’s knowledge of the wider climate change agenda.

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

(2) That the successful conclusion of the MARE (Managing Adaptive Responses to the Environment) project be noted.

(3) That the implementation of the CAMINO (Climate Adaptation Mainstreaming through Innovation) project be endorsed, in order to continue the work already delivered in this subject area.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Leisure and Green Spaces Manager concerning the proposal to declare the area known as Centenary Riverside as a Local Nature Reserve, in accordance with the provisions of Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The area, consisting of 4.5 hectares, is situated adjacent to the A6178 Sheffield Road and Riverside Way, in the Templeborough area of Rotherham and is an urban wetland nature park and part of the River Don flood alleviation scheme.

The report referred to the legislative process of declaring an area as a Local Nature Reserve and also summarised the views of the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Wildlife Trust for Sheffield and Rotherham about the proposal.

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

(2) That the formal declaration of Centenary Riverside as a Local Nature Reserve, in accordance with the provisions of Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, be approved.

(3) That the formal public notice be issued and the declaration of this Local Nature Reserve be announced in accordance with the guidelines provided by Natural England.

(4) That Natural England be formally notified of the declaration of this Local Nature Reserve.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Senior Planner concerning the request made by residents of Moorgate Grove and Whiston Grove to include their two streets as part of the Moorgate Conservation Area which was originally designated in March, 1977. As a consequence of this request, a public consultation exercise has been carried out in order to gauge local opinion about this proposal.

Members noted that, within the Borough area, there are twenty eight existing Conservation Areas. The Local Planning Authority has a duty under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to review the exercise of its functions in respect of the designation of conservation areas and to consider the designation of further parts of its area as conservation areas. In addition, every Local Planning Authority has a duty to review periodically the boundaries of its existing Conservation Areas.

A plan of the proposed Conservation Area extension was appended to the submitted report.

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

(2) That the proposed Conservation Area Extension at Moorgate, Rotherham, as detailed in the report now submitted and shown on the submitted plan, be approved.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Transportation and Highways Projects Manager concerning the proposed highway improvement scheme at the crossroads of the A631 Bawtry Road, Cross Street and Flash Lane, Bramley. The report stated that the works will involve the resurfacing of Cross Street. Members noted the details of the costs of the works, which are to be funded from the Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport (Network Management theme) budget and also from the Local Transport Plan Highways Maintenance budget during the 2013/14 financial year.

Members noted that there will be an element of night-time working in order to try and minimise traffic disruption in the area.

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

(2) That the implementation and funding of the highway improvements scheme at the crossroads of the A631 Bawtry Road, Cross Street and Flash Lane, Bramley, as detailed in the report now submitted, be approved.

Further to Minute No. 43 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Regeneration and Development held on 28^th August, 2012, consideration was given to a report presented by the Traffic Manager concerning the proposed shared use footway on the A633 (linking Rotherham and Parkgate) between the St. Ann’s and the Great Eastern Way roundabouts. The submitted report detailed the result of consultations carried out in relation to this proposal, including the one objection received and also detailed the proposed highway changes and funding of the scheme from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund Programme for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015.

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

(2) That the objection to the proposed scheme be not acceded to.

(3) That approval be granted for detailed design work to be undertaken in relation to this proposed shared use footway scheme along the A633 between Rotherham and Parkgate and for the scheme to be implemented during the 2013/2014 financial year.

(4) That the footways identified on drawings numbered 129/LSTF/A633.consult1 and 129/LSTF/A633.consult2 be designated as shared pedestrian and cycle use under Sections 66(4) and 65(1) of the Highways Act 1980.

(5) That negotiations commence with land owners for the purchase of land to enable the proposed shared use footway to be widened to 3.0 metres in the locations shown on plan number 129/LSTF/A633/LAND/01 and subject to completion of successful negotiations for the land to be purchased, the detailed design be undertaken and works be implemented before the end of the 2014/2015 financial year.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Traffic Manager concerning the proposal to introduce a pedestrian crossing stage in the A6021 Hollowgate/A618 Moorgate Road traffic signal-controlled junction. The report included details an objection to an associated proposed prohibited right turn for vehicles from Hollowgate into Moorgate Road. Members noted that funding for the scheme is available from the Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport Programme during 2013/2014.

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

(2) That the objection to the proposed scheme be not acceded to.

(3) That the approval be given for detailed design work to be undertaken in relation to this proposed scheme to introduce a pedestrian crossing stage in the A6021 Hollowgate/A618 Moorgate Road junction, as shown on drawing number 126/17/TT239 and for the scheme to be implemented during the 2013/2014 financial year.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Traffic Manager concerning the proposed pedestrian and cycle improvement scheme on Fenton Road, Bradgate, including a new Toucan crossing and shared use footway. Members noted that funding for the scheme is available from the Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport Capital Programme during 2013/2014.

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

(2) That the outline scheme proposals be noted and approval be granted for the footways at Fenton Road, Bradgate, identified on drawing 126/17/TT238/2, to be designated as shared pedestrian and cycle use under Sections 66(4) and 65(1) of the Highways Act 1980.

(3) That the detailed design for the proposal be undertaken and, subject to no objections being received, the scheme be implemented.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Traffic Manager containing details of the 2013/14 Local Safety Scheme programme. The report stated that Local Safety Schemes are targeted at highway locations which have a history of treatable collisions in which someone has been injured. Locations are subsequently analysed to determine whether a treatable pattern exists and whether cost-effective remedial treatment can be justified. A list of the various highway locations in the Borough area, proposed to be included in the 2013/14 Local Safety Scheme programme, was appended to the submitted report.

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

(2) That detailed design and consultation on the schemes listed in the appendix to the report be undertaken and, subject to no objections being received, the various schemes be implemented.

(3) That the schemes be funded from the Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport Programme for 2013/14.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Senior Planner stating that an exemption from Standing Orders 47.6.2 and 47.6.3 was being sought to allow orders to be placed with Jacobs UK Ltd to continue the Sustainability Appraisal of the Local Plan Sites and Policies document. Members noted that essential further work will be required by the consultants to enable the adoption of the Sites and Policies document after its Examination in Public. The report explained the various additional work to be undertaken. Details of the costs of this proposal were provided for Members.

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

(2) That approval be granted for the exemption from Standing Orders 47.6.2 (requirement to invite at least two oral or written quotations for contracts with an estimated value of £5,000 but less than £20,000) and 47.6.3 (requirement to invite at least three written quotations for contracts with an estimated value of between £20,000 and £50,000) in respect of the proposed appointment of Jacobs UK Ltd to undertake the Sustainability Appraisal of the Sites and Policies Document to enable its subsequent adoption.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Finance Manager concerning the budget monitoring of the Environment and Development Services Directorate Revenue Accounts for the period to 31^st July, 2013, including the forecast out-turn of overspending of £856,000 to the end of the 2013/14 financial year. The submitted report included information on the variances reported by each Division of Service. 

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

(2) That the latest financialprojection against budget for the 2013/14 financial year, for theEnvironment and Development Services Directorate, based on actual income and expenditure to 31st July 2013, be noted.

(3) That the report be referred to the Self Regulation Select Commission 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 Public Rights of Way Officer concerning the receipt of a petition, containing 144 signatures, from residents of the streets and area around Birch Wood and Hague Avenue, Rawmarsh, requesting that the barriers which prevent illegal motorcycle access into Birch Wood be removed or modified and that the vegetation be cut back annually.

Correspondence from the Local Government Ombudsman, about this matter, was appended to the report.

Reference was made to the Council’s programme of annual vegetation clearance on the public footpath network, which occurs twice per year (during the Spring and during the Summer) and includes work on all of the three public footpaths within Birch Wood.

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

(2) That the lead petitioner be informed that:-

(a) the removal of the barriers from the access to Birch Wood be not approved;

(b) the vegetation on the public footpaths in Birch Wood is scheduled to be cut back and cleared twice per year; and

(c) any further improvement works to these public footpaths will be added to the programme of proposed future works.

Consideration was given to reports presented by the Business Investment Manager concerning three applications for a Business Vitality Grant in respect of retail shops 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 all of the projects satisfied the eligibility criteria of the Scheme.

Resolved:- (1) That the reports be received and their contents noted.

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

(3) That a Business Vitality capital grant of £3,500 be awarded to the premises at Corporation Street, now identified, as a contribution towards the cost of fitting out the premises and the award of this grant be subject to the applicant preparing a detailed marketing plan to the satisfaction of this Council’s Head of Business and Retail Investment and, subsequently, the implementation and effectiveness of the marketing plan be reviewed at quarterly intervals.

(4) That a Business Vitality capital grant of £3,000 be awarded to the premises at Corporation Street, now identified, as a contribution towards the cost of fitting out the premises.

(5) That, in respect of each of the three premises, now identified, 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 grants shall be paid quarterly in arrears on submission by the applicants of proof of payment of rent.