Agenda item

Report from the Interim Director of Policy, Strategy and Engagement.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Agree the new Year Ahead Delivery Plan for 2026-27.

2. Note that future progress reports will be presented to Cabinet in January and July 2027.

Consideration was given to the report which presented the 2026/27 Year Ahead Deliver Plan for approval. The 2026/27 Year Ahead Delivery Plan was the second delivery plan that had been produced to deliver the Council Plan 2025-2030. It set out the key activities to be delivered over the upcoming financial year ending 31 March 2027.

The Plan included 81 priority actions and 35 performance measures, alongside a further 12 social care measures. Six-monthly progress reports would be produced for Cabinet and made publicly available. The reports would include progress and performance updates on the actions in the Year Ahead Delivery Plan. The year-end progress report would include an update on the long-term measures of  success. It was proposed that the mid-year progress report, covering the period April 2026 to September 2026, be reported to Cabinet in January 2027 and year-end report for the period October 2026 to March 2027 be reported to Cabinet in July 2027. 

During the meeting the Leader confirmed that four changes were to be made to the Plan:

-       Measure Reference P4 (Deliver at least 50 enforcement interventions, including formal warnings, FPNs and notices) – amended to include specific reference to the Street Safe Team.

-       Measure Reference P31 (Increase the proportion of waste sent for reuse (recycling and composting) to 45%) and P16 (Plant at least 500 trees across the borough) – amended the Cabinet Member from Finance and Community Safety to Street Scene and Green Spaces.

-       Measure Reference SC1 (Proportion of adults with social care support, remaining at home) – amended the table to show that good is high, rather than not applicable and the target is 73% rather than not applicable.

Cabinet Members highlighted aspects of the Year Ahead Plan from their portfolio. Councillor Baker-Rogers, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, praised on the on-going work in Public Health which had been very successful.

Councillor Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy highlighted the commitment to deliver the first twelve Ward Road Safety Plans and to complete the designs for five pedestrian crossings. Regeneration work was continuing throughout the town centre with the new Central Library set to open along with the completion of Phase one of the Town Centre Health Hub.

Councillor Cusworth, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, highlighted the Best Start Plan and the focus on improving development in the early years of a child’s life. She spoke in support of the Families First Partnership and of the Best Start Family Hubs programme. Work would continue on the Neighbourhood Strategy and on delivering the Domestic Abuse Strategy.

Councillor Marshall, Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Green Spaces, spoke about the commencement of works on the Whiston Brook Flood Alleviation scheme and the procurement of a contractor for the Treeton Lane/Catcliffe Bridge replacement scheme. Work would continue to development the Country Parks. Councillor Marshall encouraged everyone to attend the St George’s Day celebrations in Clifton Park on 18 April 2026. 

Councillor Beresford, Cabinet Member for Housing, highlighted the work done to deliver new Council Homes across the last year and the work that would be done to continue the programme in the coming year. Work would also be done to improve the existing Council homes stock with refurbishments, repairs and energy efficiency works. Councillor Beresford also praised the work done to involve tenants in the Selective Licensing process.

The Leader spoke in support of the Delivery Plan, particularly the delivery of public realm improvements in Maltby and Swinton along with the work to be done on the Rotherham Gateway Station project. He highlighted the additional healthy holidays places that had been funded along with playground improvements and the in-house children’s residential care programme. The Castleview Day Centre was also complete and over 65’s would be able to access cheaper swimming at leisure centres.

The report was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board who advised that the recommendations be supported. Discussion had focussed on building programmes being off target, especially around the Dinnington area and HR issues.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.    Agree the new Year Ahead Delivery Plan for 2026-27.

2.    Note that future progress reports will be presented to Cabinet in January and July 2027.