Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendations:

1. That Cabinet approves the recommended changes set out in this report to deliver a new Rothercard scheme as detailed at Section 3 (Options considered and recommended proposal).

2. That Cabinet note the changes to the eligibility criteria and the improvements that will be delivered to make it easier for customers to apply for/benefit from the scheme by:

·       Automatically providing residents who qualify for Council Tax Support (with consent) with a Rothercard

·       Raising awareness of the scheme with those who have already qualified for Council Tax Support so they can be provided with a Rothercard should they wish to have one.

3. That Cabinet approve the proposal to offer the following new discounts to Rothercard holders:

·       10% reduction off the cost of a hot drink effective from 1 April 2023, at the following locations:

o   Clifton Park Museum Café,

o   Thrybergh Country Park Café

o   Rother Valley Country Park Café

·       5% reduction on the cost of the 2024/25 garden waste collection service (1st bin only).  This reduction will be applied from December 2023 when residents are invited to renew/subscribe for the collection service that will commence from 26th February 2024.

4. That Cabinet approve the intention to engage with businesses to explore the potential for developing a universal discount scheme that supports local businesses and retailers to benefit all Rotherham residents.

5. That Cabinet approve the intention to introduce an electronic alternative to a paper based Rothercard.

6. That Cabinet notes the intention to undertake an annual review to assess how the scheme is benefiting residents and helping deliver improved outcomes.  

Consideration was given to the report which set out the changes identified from the outcome of the Rothercard review which, once implemented, would deliver an improved Rothercard scheme.

The Rothercard scheme was launched as an anti-poverty initiative in 1993 to prioritise support for Rotherham people living on a low-income by offering a discount on a range of Council services, as well as discounts on goods and leisure activities from a small number of other organisations.

The current scheme had not been developed or promoted for some time which was likely to mean that some of the people who could most benefit from the scheme, were missing out. A review of the Rothercard scheme by a cross party Rothercard Working Group had been completed. The findings from the review were set out in Appendix 1 and summarised within the report.

The members of the Rothercard Working Group were thanked for their participation.  The aim was to target those most in need and to simplify the application process.  It was proposed that anyone who was eligible for Council Tax Support would also receive a Rothercard application.  It was also proposed to extend the eligibility criteria for young people, focusing discounts to help them keep healthy.  The Working Group also considered the need for a digital Rothercard to compliment the plastic card.

Consideration had also been given to engaging with local shops and businesses, who could offer discounts for residents of the Borough at quieter times.

It was acknowledged that the Council had limited resources but it was right that it targeted those who needed assistance most, making access to that support easier.  An annual review of the scheme would be carried out.

This report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board as part of the pre-decision scrutiny process. The Board fully supported the recommendations but made a number of recommendations which were accepted by Cabinet (recommendations 7-9.)

Resolved:

1.     Cabinet approves the recommended changes set out in this report to deliver a new Rothercard scheme as detailed at Section 3 (Options considered and recommended proposal).

2.    That Cabinet note the changes to the eligibility criteria and the improvements that will be delivered to make it easier for customers to apply for/benefit from the scheme by:

·       Automatically providing residents who qualify for Council Tax Support (with consent) with a Rothercard.

·       Raising awareness of the scheme with those who had already qualified for Council Tax Support so they could be provided with a Rothercard should they wish to have one.

3.    That Cabinet approve the proposal to offer the following new discounts to Rothercard holders:

·       10% reduction off the cost of a hot drink effective from 1st April, 2023, at the following locations:

o   Clifton Park Museum Café,

o   Thrybergh Country Park Café

o   Rother Valley Country Park Café

·       5% reduction on the cost of the 2024/25 Garden Waste Collection Service (first bin only). This reduction would be applied from December 2023 when residents were invited to renew/subscribe for the Collection Service that would commence from 26th February 2024.

4.    That Cabinet approve the intention to engage with businesses to explore the potential for developing a universal discount scheme that supported local businesses and retailers to benefit all Rotherham residents.

5.    That Cabinet approve the intention to introduce an electronic alternative to a paper based Rothercard.

6.    That Cabinet notes the intention to undertake an annual review to assess how the scheme was benefiting residents and helping deliver improved outcomes.

7.    That consideration be given to extending the eligibility criteria to include:

                          i.         young adults (up to the age of 24 years) with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs); and

                        ii.          care leavers.

8.    That further work be undertaken to ensure that the initiative aligns with the ‘cost-of-living’ workstream and neighbourhood agenda and Ward priorities.

9.    That as part of the planned Rothercard annual review, consideration be given to:

                        i.         the number of disabled people participating in the scheme and if extending the eligibility criteria could encourage more disabled people to apply; and

                       ii.         the feasibility of increasing the level of discount on Garden Waste collections.