Agenda and minutes

Discussion took place on the portfolio for the Cabinet Member for Business Growth and Regeneration, highlighting the following issues:-

: the role of the Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO) in attracting inward investment to the Borough area, to assist in job creation;

: proposed establishment of the Rotherham Town Centre Major Projects Group;

: sources of funding for Town Centre initiatives;

: the Living Wage – the proposed Rotherham Living Wage Charter;

: Corporate Plan priorities:

- to increase the overall employment rate amongst working age residents;

- to increase the number of business start-ups per 10,000 residents;

- to ensure that 85% of businesses  in the Borough’s four incubation centres survive at least three years;

- to increase the proportion of industrial floor space across the Borough area that is occupied.

It was noted that reports on these issues would be submitted to future meetings of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Business Growth and Regeneration.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Markets General Manager, stating that this Council, as a market operating authority, is a long-standing member of the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) and is entitled to representation at NABMA meetings and conferences. In recent years, representation has been by officers rather than Elected Members. In order to maintain its strong position as the leading markets organisation, a NABMA working group has requested that each member authority nominate an Elected Member as its representative. It was noted that this Council’s annual membership subscription to NABMA was funded from the Markets budget.

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

(2) That Councillor Sansome be nominated as this Council’s representative to the National Association of British Market Authorities for the 2014/2015 Municipal Year.

(3) That the attendance of one Elected Member at the quarterly meetings of NABMA be approved and attendance at the annual conference of NABMA shall be subject to further detailed consideration of the costs involved.

Further to Minute No. G137 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Regeneration and Development held on 8th May, 2013, consideration was given to a report presented by the Markets General Manager, containing the annual review of the themed Bazaar-type market held on the outdoor covered area of the Rotherham Centenary Market complex each Thursday. The first Bazaar had been held on Thursday, 27th June, 2013.

The report stated that the first year of operation of the Bazaar had been successful, especially in terms of increasing the footfall of shoppers and visitors to the Rotherham town centre. Discussion took place on other initiatives, related to the provision of markets, which could assist in the further regeneration of the Rotherham town centre.

Members welcomed the success of the Bazaar and noted that the Licence signed by the operator was for a trial period of one year, with the option to extend the Licence for a further two years. In view of the success of the first year of the Bazaar, Members considered a proposal to extend the Licence.

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

(2) That the Licence granted to Mr. Shabir Hussain of Select 2 Limited, trading as “The Bazaar” be extended for a period of 24 months, in accordance with clause 3 of the Licence Schedule.

(3) That a further annual report, describing the progress of the Bazaar, be submitted to Elected Members during the Summer 2015.

The following item is 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 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, including the local authority)

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 (information relating to the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council) and is commercially confidential).

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Business Investment Manager, proposing an exemption from contract standing orders, to allow the Rotherham Investment and Development Office RiDO) to accept written quotes for the replacement of the current inward investment property database and customer relationship management system. 

The system is central to the services which RiDO provides for growing Rotherham based companies, new inward investors to the Borough and new business start-up support. Members noted that the existing system is being discontinued and that there are only two potential products available in the market place which meet the Council’s our requirements. Details of these products were described in the submitted report.

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

(2) That the contract for licencing, support and maintenance of the RiDO inward investment, property database and CRM system shall be exempt from the provisions of standing order 47.6.3 (requirement to invite at least three written quotations for contracts with a value of between £20,000 and £50,000) and the contract be awarded to the company identified in the report now submitted.