Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Business Growth and Regeneration held on 6th October, 2014 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

Further to Minute No.I10 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Business Growth and Regeneration held on 6th October, 2014, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Finance Manager on the performance against budget for the Environment and Development Services Directorate Revenue Accounts as at 31st August, 2014 and providing a forecast outturn for the whole of the 2014/15 financial year. Members noted the forecast outturn position of an over-spend of £219,000 for the Environment and Development Services Directorate, based on expenditure and income as at 31st August, 2014.

During discussion of this item, Members raised the following salient items:-

: agency costs; consultancy fees; non-contractual overtime – Members requested further information about the budgets for these issues;

: the costs of staff absence because of sickness;

: the current, Council-wide moratorium on non-essential spending.

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

(2) That the latest financial projection against budget for 2014/15, based on actual income and expenditure to 31st August, 2014, as outlined in the submitted report, be noted.

(3) That the submitted 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 (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 items of business on the grounds that they involve 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 Retail Investment Manager, concerning an application for a Business Development Grant in respect of a retail shop situated within the Rotherham town centre and which intended to relocate to alternative business premises.

The report stated that the Town Centre Business Development Grant Scheme is designed to encourage and support existing retail and catering businesses to improve their businesses in the Rotherham town centre. It was confirmed that this project satisfied the eligibility criteria of the Scheme.

Members were informed of the circumstances of this retailer’s intention to relocate the business to alternative premises within the Rotherham town centre (a unit inside the Old Town Hall, off Effingham Street/Howard Street).

It was noted that he grants panel was confident that the application represented a genuine business development project.

Discussion also took place on the impact upon town centre retail businesses of the imminent opening of the new Tesco supermarket on Thursday 13th November, 2014.

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

(2) That a Business Development capital grant of £7,500 be awarded to the premises, now identified, enabling the business to relocate to premises within the Old Town Hall and the following additional conditions shall be applied to this award:-

(a) the Council shall require repayment of the grant in full should the business cease to operate in the Rotherham town centre within a period of three years from the date of payment of the grant;  and 

(b) a graphics design consultancy will work with the tenant to ensure the highest quality branding and signage is used and agreed with the RiDO and Planning teams prior to commencement of the tenancy of the premises within the Old Town Hall.

Further to Minute No. I15 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Business Growth and Regeneration held on 6th October, 2014, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Estates Manager, concerning the five Community Right to Bid applications submitted by Dalton Parish Council. The report stated that the Parish Council was seeking permission to list the individual nominated properties on Rotherham’s successful register as Assets of Community Value.

Details of each of the five applications were included within the report, together with the assessment of each application.

Members discussed the costs of administration of the register of Assets of Community Value.

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

(2) That decisions be recorded in respect of the five applications submitted by Dalton Parish Council, as detailed below:-

(a) Brecks Lane Allotments, Brecks Lane, Rotherham, S65 3SS - the property will be placed on the successful register of Assets of Community Value;

(b) Dalton Youth Centre, Magna Lane, Dalton, Rotherham, S65 4HH - the property will be placed on the successful register of Assets of Community Value;

(c) Sunnyside Community Centre, Flanderwell Lane, Sunnyside, Rotherham, S66 3RL - the property will be placed on the successful register of Assets of Community Value;

(d) Land housing the Doctors’ Surgery located off Magna Lane, Dalton, Rotherham, S65 4HH - the property will be placed on the unsuccessful register of Assets of Community Value and further discussions shall take place with Dalton Parish Council about the possible resubmission of this application;  and

(e) Greenspace located off Dalton Lane, Lane, Dalton, Rotherham, S65 3QX - the property will be placed on the successful register of Assets of Community Value.