Agenda item

Cabinet Portfolio: - Leader of the Council             

Strategic Directorate: - Assistant Chief Executive

Consideration was given to a report that was submitted for pre-decision scrutiny ahead of the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 22 March 2021 that provided a report on the on progress made in delivering the key activities as set out in the Council’s Year Ahead Plan in the plan. The Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive, the Assistant Chief Executive and the Head of Policy, Performance and Intelligence attended the meeting to present the report.

The report noted that the Year Ahead Plan was the Council’s plan for operating in and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and that it set out key activities for the Council for the period September 2020 to May 2021. The  report stated that the plan detailed in the key activities that would be undertaken in order for the Council to support residents, communities and businesses through the ongoing challenges and uncertainties of the pandemic and also direct the Council’s ambitious plans for Rotherham’s future.

The Leader noted that of all the activities contained in the Year Ahead Plan:

·       26% (20) of the activities outlined within the Year Ahead Plan had been completed

·       54% (41) were on track

·       16% (12) were behind schedule

·       4% (3) were off track.

The Leader advised that the three activities that had been delayed had been impacted by the restrictions surrounding the pandemic.

The Leader provided further information surrounding the activity that had been taking place to deliver on the actions detailed in the Year Ahead Plan. The Leader also noted the activity that had been carried out regarding the cross-cutting objectives contained in the plan regarding climate change and equalities.

A document that outlined progress against all of the actions contained within the Year Ahead Plan was attached as an appendix to the officer’s report.

Members acknowledged the impact of the pandemic on the delivery of some of the actions contained in the plan but noted that the reasons for the activity of “£425,000 of investment in the borough’s other business centres” being off track appeared to be around problems with the allocated budget being insufficient and asked for further information about this. The Head of Policy, Performance and Intelligence advised that she would look into the reasons for this activity being off track and circulate the information the members of the Board.

Members welcomed the increase in the number of residents who had subscribed for ward information email updates from the Council and asked what type of information they had subscribed to receive. The Leader advised that the majority of the increase in subscribers for email updates were related to information on the pandemic. The Chair asked that further information on the number of email subscribers, broken down by ward, be circulated to members of the Board. Members noted the importance of promoting this facility as widely as possible.

Members noted the work that had been carried out by Parish Councils to support the development of their websites to enable them to share Borough Council information with residents. The Cabinet Member for Cleaner, Greener Communities, who was in attendance at the meeting noted the key role that Parish Councils played in information sharing and advised the additional work that had been carried out to provide them with briefings on numerous local issues that had included the pandemic and flooding.

The Chair thanked the Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive, the Assistant Chief Executive and the Head of Policy, Performance and Intelligence for attending the meeting and answering member questions.

Resolved: -

That Cabinet be advised the recommendations be supported.