Agenda item

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

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Note the overall position in relation to the Year Ahead Delivery Plan activities.

2. Note the Quarter 4 data for the Council Plan performance measures.

3. Note the updates on the Council Plan long term measures of success.

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

Consideration was given to the report which provided an update on the progress of the Year Ahead Delivery Plan. The Year Ahead Delivery Plan for 2025-26 (and the associated Council Plan performance measures) was approved by Cabinet on 19 May 2025. In line with the previous Council Plan, it was agreed that there would be two monitoring reports published over the year. Cabinet received the first progress update on 19 January 2026. The second progress report for 2025-26 was attached at Appendix 1. It included progress on Year Ahead Delivery Plan actions up to 15 June 2026, performance measures at Quarter 4 (January to March 2026), and the year-end overview of the long-term measures of success.

As of 15 June 2026, the activities within the Year Ahead Delivery Plan were rated as follows:

-       82% (73) complete

-       2% (2) are delayed by less than 3 months

-       16% (14) will not be met within 3 months of original target date.

For the report covering Quarter 4, the status of the performance measures was:

Progress against targets

-       Performance has met target – 22 measures (81%)

-       Performance has not met target – 5 measures (19%)

For the report covering Quarter 4, the status of the 12 social care measures was:

Progress against targets

-       Performance is on or above target – 7 measures (58%)

-       Target cannot be assessed this quarter (i.e. Annual measure or awaiting publication of data) – 2 measures (17%)

-       Information measure targets not applicable (i.e. Volume/Demand measures where ‘good’ is neither high or low) – 3 measures (25%)

For the report covering Quarter 4, the status of the long-term measures of success was:

Progress against baseline 2024/25

-       22 measures have improved since the baseline (58%)

-       10 measures have not improved since the baseline (26%)

-       6 measures are N/A - do not have data for current reporting period (16%)

During the meeting, the Leader explained that there were four updates to report:

-       Kimberworth Park Partnership were successful in their bid to The Cruyff Foundation for a multi-use games area and have secured £75k to progress the project, alongside additional £80k of council investment.

-       Groundworks began on the new homes at Eastwood – one of the two actions marked as amber in the report.

-       The Rotherham Market Hall main floor area, where the stalls would be, was handed over on Friday 19 June. The new market would be open to the public from Friday 10 July 2026.

-       Whiston Flood Alleviation Scheme was progressing, with the contractor commencing works onsite on 6 July to install a new culvert on Worrygoose Lane.

Councillor Marshall spoke in support of the commencement of works for the Whiston Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme and reported that progress had been made with the Catcliffe Flood Alleviation Scheme with a delivery partner being appointed to develop the design.

Councillor Cusworth highlighted several aspects for the Children and Young People’s Portfolio. This included baby packs, development reviews and EHCP timelines.

The report was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board who advised that the recommendations be supported. Three additional recommendations had been put forward. These were, that:

1. OSMB recommends that Cabinet ensures the Council clearly demonstrates in future updates how delays affect residents, the seriousness of the associated risks, and the measures in place to mitigate them.
   
   
2. OSMB recommends that Cabinet ensures the Council clearly identifies the main reasons for missed targets, demonstrates what actions are being taken to improve performance, and evidence whether those actions are delivering results, supported by named ownership, detailed action plans, progress tracking, impact data, and clear examples of learning and escalation.
   
   
3. OSMB recommends that Cabinet, in collaboration with senior officers, undertakes a review of the shop unit grant programme to assess whether the full range of available mechanisms and powers, such as planning controls, design standards, and regulatory tools, were being effectively utilised to maximise long-term improvements to Rotherham’s high streets.
   
   

Cabinet accepted all of the additional recommendations. However, the Leader stated that the shop unit grant programme would be underway shortly and so the review would have to wait until time could be allocated.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the overall position in relation to the Year Ahead Delivery Plan activities.

2.    Note the Quarter 4 data for the Council Plan performance measures.

3.    Note the updates on the Council Plan long term measures of success.

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

5.    Ensures the Council clearly demonstrates in future updates how delays affect residents, the seriousness of the associated risks, and the measures in place to mitigate them.

6.    Ensures the Council clearly identifies the main reasons for missed targets, demonstrates what actions are being taken to improve performance, and evidence whether those actions are delivering results, supported by named ownership, detailed action plans, progress tracking, impact data, and clear examples of learning and escalation.

7.    In collaboration with senior officers, undertakes a review of the shop unit grant programme to assess whether the full range of available mechanisms and powers, such as planning controls, design standards, and regulatory tools, were being effectively utilised to maximise long-term improvements to Rotherham’s high streets.