To receive questions from members of the public who wish to ask a general question in respect of matters within the Council’s area of responsibility or influence.
Subject to the Chair’s discretion, members of the public may ask one question and one supplementary question, which should relate to the original question and answered received.
Councillors may also ask questions under this agenda item.
Minutes:
A member of the public asked whether it was ethical and acceptable for Leader of the Council or any Elected Member to identify that a member of the public had suffered a serious illness in a pre-prepared answer. In response, the Leader sought clarification that the individual asking the question was referring to a response provided to a question at a previous Council meeting in January 2020 and confirmed his understanding that he did not identify any individual. If the response had referred to individual medical histories, but the Leader was clear that he had not referred to an individual or provided information by which an individual could be identified that would be within the parameters of the law on information that could be publicly discussed.
In supplementary remarks, the member of the public stated that it was surely correct to be on the right side of the law and it was important to be seen by survivors of child sexual exploitation (CSE), those who assist survivors and the wider community as being on the right side of the line, as there had been an implication that someone could be identified as a survivor. In response, the Leader agreed that it was correct that it was important to be seen to be on the right side of the law. He further indicated that he would reflect on the comments made and take representations.
Another member of the public attended the meeting to ask the Leader of the Council what he considered his legacy, especially in relation to support for adult survivors and victims of CSE, to be after five years in the role as Leader. In response, the Leader did not believe it was appropriate to talk about legacies, but with regard to CSE, he reflected that Rotherham was in a better place after five years, and after another five years, it would be in a lot better place. He reiterated the need to continue to learn and support people.
In a supplementary question, the member of the public referred to a publication which had documented the voices and experiences of victims and survivors of CSE and the processes that he had gone through to get to the truth in respect of the Council’s actions in respect of the publication. He considered that part of the legacy was that the truth had not been told about the publication. The member of the public told the Leader that his legacy could be to ensure that the truth was told in respect of the publication. In response, the Leader referred to the publication as casting some light on a difficult and dark time in the history of the borough, but he disagreed with the remarks that he would be able to do anymore than he had previously in respect of the publication and he was not in a position to reopen a discussion on the matter.