Agenda item

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

Recommendation:

That Cabinet endorse the Rotherham Together Partnership’s new strategic direction as set out in the Rotherham Plan 2026-2036: A decade of opportunity, focused around the four identified gamechangers.

Consideration was given to the report which summarised the Rotherham Together Partnership’s (RTP) new Rotherham Plan, which replaced the expired Rotherham Plan 2025. The new Plan set out the RTP’s vision for partnership working over the next decade, focused on the successful delivery of the4 identified gamechangers for the Borough, to improve quality of life for residents across Rotherham and address inequalities.

The RTP was a partnership which brought together 8 key local organisations across the Borough (RMBC, South Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire ICB, The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust, Voluntary Action Rotherham, and RNN Group), facilitating strategic collaboration on key issues with the aim of improving quality of life for residents. A number of thematic partnership boards and operational groups had been established.

Since forming in the early 2000s, initially as Rotherham’s statutory Local Strategic Partnership, this collective of partners had delivered significant developments for the Borough. The first partnership strategy committed to delivering the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) at Waverley as a breakthrough project. Since 2017, the Partnership’s work had been guided by the strategic priorities set out within the Rotherham Plan 2025, resulting in wide-ranging achievements including the development of the Urgent and Emergency Care Centre, opening of University Centre Rotherham, delivery of the world leading Children’s Capital of Culture festival year, development of immersive careers education site at Skills Street and opening of the town centre’s first cinema in 30 years at Forge Island.

The Partnership had identified 4 gamechangers for Rotherham, as set out in paragraph 2.6 of the report, which would define the Borough over the next decade and catalyse improvements for residents. These were:

-       Growing a fair and thriving economy.

-       Enabling strong and thriving communities.

-       Unlocking the full potential of Rotherham Gateway.

-       Creating vibrant town centres.

The gamechangers comprised key investments and developments which would require a collaborative approach from the RTP to ensure successful delivery. Further to that, the Partnership would seek to address inequalities which presented barriers to residents benefitting from the gamechangers.

A 2 year delivery plan would be developed in the first instance, to map outcomes and partner commitments to reach the first milestone within the plan. Following that a 3 year delivery plan would be developed to reach the 5 year milestone, offering a natural review point for the Strategy. 

Resolved:

That Cabinet endorse the Rotherham Together Partnership’s new strategic direction as set out in the Rotherham Plan 2026-2036: A decade of opportunity, focused around the 4 identified gamechangers.