Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Regeneration and Development, held on (i) 3rd February, 2014 and (ii) 14th February, 2014, be approved as correct records for signature by the Chairman.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Transportation and Traffic Manager, containing this Council’s proposed response to the Highways Agency’s consultation on a maximum mandatory speed limit for the M1 motorway between junction 28 (Mansfield) junction 35a (Chapeltown, Sheffield).

The report stated that the Highways Agency, on behalf of the Department for Transport, is currently progressing proposals for the implementation of the Smart Motorways Project (previously known as the Managed Motorways Project), which if implemented, will see the hard shoulder of the M1 Motorway between Junctions 28 and 31, and Junctions 32 and 35a converted to a live running lane for all traffic.

An environmental assessment had been carried out indicating that the scheme, which has all-lane running at all times could have a significant adverse effect on local air quality at sensitive receptors and in Air Quality Management Areas, particularly in the Sheffield and Rotherham areas, when operating at the national speed limit and the predicted levels of traffic growth.

In order to mitigate the adverse impacts on air quality which arise from operation at the national speed limit, the Highways Agency is proposing to implement a maximum mandatory 60mph speed limit on the section of the M1 Motorway between Junctions 28 and 35a.

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

(2) That this Council’s response to the Highways Agency’s consultation on a maximum mandatory speed limit for the M1 motorway between junction 28 (Mansfield) junction 35a (Chapeltown), as now submitted, be approved.

(After the meeting, His Worship The Mayor agreed to exempt this decision from the call-in process, because of the nearness of the deadline for submission of responses to this consultation)

Further to Minute No. G79 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Regeneration and Development held on 7th January, 2013, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Transportation and Traffic Manager, concerning the proposed construction of a new off-road cycle path between Centurion Street and the Rotherham to Sheffield canal towpath, to allow a new, direct cycle route to be signed between Templeborough and Kimberworth.

The report stated that the scheme involves the introduction of a three metres wide, bound, waterproof surface constructed of tarmacadam or similar material between Centurion Street in Templeborough and the canal towpath. This section of the route is in a poor condition with no hard surface and is almost impassable during wetter months. Part of this route falls within Sheffield and the proposals have been agreed with landowners. The improvements would allow a longer cycle route to be signed from Sheffield Road in Templeborough, along Bessemer Way and Centurion Street to the canal towpath and along Steel Street and Psalters Lane towards Kimberworth. The route was outlined on the submitted drawing number 126/17/TT274. The scheme will provide a new cross-town cycle route to the south east of the Rotherham town centre, improving sustainable access between the residential areas of Kimberworth/Holmes and employment in Templeborough. The route will also provide direct access to the canal towpath and employment in the Lower Don Valley. The works are estimated to cost £50,000 and will be funded from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

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

(2) That detailed design work and construction be undertaken to provide a new cycle path from Centurion Street, Templeborough to the Rotherham to Sheffield canal towpath, as shown on drawing number 126/17/TT274 submitted, incorporating a three metres wide, waterproof surface constructed of tarmacadam or similar material.

(3) That appropriate cycle signage be provided for a new cycle route between Templeborough and Kimberworth, as described in the report now submitted.

Further to Minute No. G119 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Regeneration and Development held on 5^th April, 2013, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Principal Engineer, Streetpride, containing proposed amendments to the current fees and charges made for a range of highway services provided by the Council. The fees and charges were for the provision of a licence and a temporary traffic regulation order to allow for the:-

(i) placement of a builder’s skip and container on the highway;

(ii) installation and maintenance of apparatus and the making of an excavation in the highway;

(iii) construction of permanent and temporary vehicle access crossings in the highway;

(iv) installation of scaffolding and hoarding in the highway; and

(v) the regulation of traffic during planned and unplanned (emergency) activities on or near the highway.

Members were informed that properly licensed highway services help fulfil the aims of the Local Transport Plan (LTP3) and the Traffic Management Act 2004, in terms of helping to keep the highway safe and reducing disruption. A review has been carried out to benchmark the appropriate cost of providing highway and street works licences and the cost of arranging a temporary traffic regulation order, against eleven other local authorities including the three other South Yorkshire district councils.

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

(2) That, with effect from 1st April, 2014:-

(a) the fee for a licence to enable skip companies to place a skip on the highway for two weeks shall be increased from £17.50  to £20.00;

(b) the current charge of £450.00 for processing and implementing a Street Works License under Section 50 of The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 shall be increased to £500.00;

(c) the fee for a highways licence for a trial hole shall be increased from £300.00 to £400.00;

(d) the fee for a licence to construct a permanent vehicle access crossing at a residential premise, which involves dropping kerbs, shall be increased from £50.00 to £60.00;

(e) the fee for a temporary vehicle access crossing at a development site, for construction vehicles, shall be increased from £100.00 to £120.00;

(f) the fee for permission to install scaffolding and hoarding in the highway shall be increased from £150.00 to £170.00 for two weeks, plus £50.00 per additional four weeks;

(g) the fee for a temporary traffic regulation order, for a planned activity, shall be increased from £800.00 to £900.00, which includes a fee for the required advertisements in the press;  and

(h) the fee for an emergency temporary traffic regulation order shall be increased from £625.00 to £700.00.

i)  Householder Design Guide

ii) Development in the Green Belt

Further to Minute No. 70(a) of the meeting of the Planning Board held on 13th December, 2012, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Planning Manager stating that separate guidance documents have been prepared to assist in dealing with planning applications. The guidance documents are:-

: Householder Design Guide (for residential properties);  and

: Development in the Green Belt.

It was noted that both of these documents have been referred to in officer reports for approximately twelve months and the intention is to adopt them formally as the Council’s supplementary planning guidance. The documents will eventually form part of the Rotherham Local Development Plan.

Both documents were appended to the submitted report. Reference was made to the feedback received as part of public consultation process.

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

(2) That the two supplementary guidance documents: (i) Householder Design Guide (for residential properties); and (ii) Development in the Green Belt be adopted by the Council as Interim Planning Documents, to ultimately be adopted as Supplementary Planning Documents as part of the Local Plan.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Principal Planning Officer, concerning the consultation by the Land Registry, entitled “Land Registry, Wider Powers and Local Land Charges”, affecting the Local Land Charges service.

The report stated that the Land Registry is proposing to take over the Local Land Charges Register and provide search information (a statutory duty of the local authority), whilst leaving local authorities with responsibility for completing enquiries of the local authority (via form CON29), effectively splitting the interdependent service currently provided by Local Land Charges. Such a proposal would reduce the income to local authorities from the operation of these services.

This Council’s proposed response to the consultation was appended to the submitted report.

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

(2) That this Council’s proposed response to the Land Registry consultation, as now submitted, be approved.

(After the meeting, His Worship The Mayor agreed to exempt this decision from the call-in process, because of the nearness of the deadline for submission of responses to this consultation)

Consideration was given to a report submitted by the Finance Manager concerning the budget monitoring of the Environment and Development Services Directorate Revenue Accounts for the period to 31st January, 2014, including the forecast out-turn of overspending of £449,000 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 financial projection against budget for the 2013/14 financial year, for the Environment and Development Services Directorate, based on actual income and expenditure to 31st January, 2014, be noted.

(3) That the report be referred to the Self-Regulation Select Commission for information.

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)).

Further to Minute No. G105 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Regeneration and Development held on 4th March, 2013, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Planning Policy Manager, concerning the need to purchase support and maintenance for the Objective Online software used by the Council to prepare, publish and consult on all stages of the Local Plan. Members noted that the costs could be contained within existing revenue budgets and the report included a detailed business case of this proposal.

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

(2) That the contract for the support and maintenance of the Objective Online software shall be exempt from the provisions of standing order 47.6.2 (requirement to invite at least two oral or written quotations for contracts with a value of between £5,000 and £20,000) and the contract be awarded to Objective Corporation UK Ltd., in accordance with the details contained in the report now submitted.

Further to Minute No. G122 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Regeneration and Development held on 5^th April, 2013, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Planning Manager, proposing an exemption from Standing Order number 47.6.2 (relating to contracts valued at more than £5,000 but less than £20,000) to allow the appointment of the Civica company to continue to provide the back office functionality (FastPlanning, FastControl, FastCharges) for the Development Management, Building Control and Local Land Charges services. The report stated that this software is used by all three of these Council services and the user licence is renewed annually.

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

(2) That, for the reasons stated in the report, approval be granted for an exemption from Standing Order 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) to facilitate (i) the purchase of the back office functionality (FastPlanning, FastControl, FastCharges) from the Civica company and (ii) the annual renewal of the user licence.