Agenda item

To note the minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 16 May and 20 June, 2022.

Councillor Bennett-Sylvester referenced the Cabinet Minutes of 16th May, 2022, Minute No. 150, in relation to the school holiday voucher support. Councillor Bennett-Sylvester had asked a question at the Council meeting about this matter and it had been confirmed that the Council provide the funding but that it is up to the schools to design the schemes. Had there been any feedback from schools/SEND clubs in relation to broadening the choice for parents of where they can shop.

The Leader did not have that information and confirmed that a written response would be provided.

Councillor Bennett-Sylvester also referenced the Cabinet Minutes of 20th June, 2022, Minute No. 10 and asked the Cabinet Member for Housing about Housing Strategic Acquisitions. Councillor Bennett-Sylvester asked if there had been any serious looks at acquiring leaseholder properties that had been bought from the Council? There had been anecdotal evidence from people in Dalton and Thrybergh that the only people that got to buy these properties are private landlords which continues the cycle of privatisation of ownership. Could the Council look at this in the future and investigate the issues leaseholders might be having that leave them open to buybacks from the Council?

Councillor Brookes confirmed that she would look into the matter and asked Councillor Bennett-Sylvester to send her any information on the matter. 

Councillor Ball asked about Coronation Park which he raised at the last Cabinet Meeting. He stated that he had attended the Park that week and there had never been as much glass. Councillor Ball asked what help could be provided for Coronation Park at this moment in time because it was dangerous? Children could not play there, dogs could not be walked there. Nothing could be done in the Park without a risk of harm.

Councillor Beck explained that the Council would support him as much as they could in turning round Coronation Park as there was a role for the Council. However, there was also a role for the police. It was not the Council’s fault that every Monday morning the Park was generally in the state that it was. There was an issue of anti-social behaviour there which had been acknowledged by all and needed to be gotten on top off. Councillor Beck would be happy to facilitate site meetings/pull the relevant people together. The frequency of bin collections had been increased in the Park. However, it was acknowledged that work needed to be done together to resolve the issues. 

Councillor A. Carter raised the Council Tax Rebate Scheme and stated that the matter had been reviewed by OSMB a number of weeks ago. That review had found that a significant number of residents who had received cheques for the rebate had not yet cashed them. Councillor A. Carter stated that the Council had let those residents down as they had not received those much needed finances. He asked if any progress had been made and what the latest figures were?

The Leader explained that he would have checked the latest figures if he had been given notice. However, the clear majority of those cheques had been cashed and residents have taken that money. The Leader accepted that, for some people, the specific measure of using a cheque, had been a challenge and some of those people had missed out on some of that money because of the way they had needed to cash that. It was regrettable. The Leader, however, stated that if Members looked at the way the system was set up, comparing it to systems across the country that required applications, those residents impacted would not have even got applications in by the time Rotherham had sent cheques out. The 30 something councils that were using Post Office vouchers had also encountered issues in that it was a further month before those could be sent out and it relied on residents having access to a Post Office in order to receive that money. The Leader accepted the criticism about the problems some residents had had with cheques but reiterated that there was no great mechanism that would get money into all the pockets of those who need it easily. The Council did well to get the money out to residents quickly. As time passed by, the Council would chase up the people who had not been able to cash their cheques, would be able to issue reminders and possibly reissue cheques as well as bringing residents in to be able to physically hand over cash. Further, the Council could credit the money against Council Tax accounts where those people had tax outstanding. The fear was that those who needed it the most were probably the most likely to struggle to get it but that would have been the case no matter what system had been used.

Resolved:- That the reports, recommendations and minutes of the meetings of Cabinet held on 16th May and 20th June,2002,  be received.

Mover:- Councillor Read                         Seconder:- Councillor Allen