To receive a statement from the Leader of the Council in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9.
Minutes:
The Leader welcomed everyone back to the Council Chamber and referenced the General Election that had taken place since the last meeting. He stated that the public had spoken and that it was time for change in the country. Change was needed in Rotherham as much as anywhere else. The Leader hoped that all Members would send their good wishes and good luck to the new Prime Minister and his team.
The Council would
continue to make their case to the new government on behalf of the
people of Rotherham. That started in the week prior to the Council
meeting with the work that Cllr Allen had been leading on,
alongside the other 19 biggest social landlords in the country,
making the case for more coordinated support for council housing
and social housing more widely. This would ensure that more homes
were not just built – although the country needed more homes
– but ensured that they were affordable and accessible to
all, as they should be in a civilised society.
The Leader congratulated Jake Richards on his election as the new
MP for Rother Valley and confirmed that the new MP had already been
in direct contact with him on behalf of his residents. Members in
Dinnington should feel assured that Jake Richards MP had been
making the case on behalf of Dinnington Regeneration Scheme.
The Leader also congratulated John Healey MP on his new role as Defence Secretary. In what was a more uncertain time for the world than had been known for some years there was no one the Leader could think of with a better temperament, intellect and work ethic to be representing the nation in the Oval Office last week and on the global stage over the months and years to come.
The Leader highlighted the programme of summer events that was now well underway:
· Rotherham Pride on 8 June which returned for the first time in 5 years
· National Civic Day which was celebrated at Clifton Park Museum on 15 June
· Armed Forces Day on 22 June where Rotherham came together to say thank you to the Armed Forces community
· The Reytons concert in Clifton Park which 20,000 people attended.
The Leader stated that
he had often said that for too long Rotherham and the community had hidden its light under a bushel, but
the Reytons gig prompted everyone once again that they must not do
that. Rotherham was a place that mattered, and a community that
mattered. There was a question later on the agenda that the Leader
stated seemed dismissive about the Children’s Capital of
Culture and hoped he was misunderstanding it. This was because
Rotherham’s children deserve that it stand a bit taller, a
bit more assertive on their behalf, so that it gives them the
status and the opportunities that they deserve, not running itself
down.
On the subject of successes, the Leader acknowledged that the Chief Executive, Sharon Kemp, had been awarded the OBE in the Kings Birthday honours list. He believed he spoke for all present in congratulating her on her well overdue recognition, for a lifetime of public service. The Leader explained that the Council would not have been able to make the changes it had made and the progress it had made on behalf of the public of Rotherham without the dedication and leadership which the Chief Executive has shown, and the Leader stated that he was deeply grateful for that.
In response to the statement, Councillor A Carter offered his congratulations to the new government and to John Healey MP on his post within the Cabinet. The Liberal Democrat group echoed the Leader’s comments that the country had voted for change and Councillor A Carter stated that the Liberal Democrats would hold the new government to account. Councillor A Carter also offered his congratulations to Jake Richards MP on his election and offered his thanks to the former MP for Rother Valley, Alexander Stafford, for the work he had done for his residents. The Liberal Democrat group also offered their congratulations to the Chief Executive on the award of the OBE.
Councillor Z Collingham spoke to offer the Conservative Group’s congratulations to the Chief Executive and to wish good luck to all the new MP’s whilst acknowledging the outgoing vote of thanks to Alexander Stafford from Councillor A Carter. Councillor Z Collingham’s question to the Leader was: does he feel that the new Labour government will need luck, particularly given that it has squeaked into office at the fifth time of asking the public with the lowest share of the vote from the lowest turnout in decades, especially given the news that the Labour leadership in Wales collapsed after only four months? He asked how much time the Leader would give the government and the milk and honey that the Council and the country have been promised?
In response, the Leader stated that the Labour government came into office off the worst self-inflicted economic debacle for decades; a crisis from the former Conservative Prime Minister which could be aligned to something as disastrous as the Suez Crisis. That government had been elected on restoring good standards in the public finances but ended up with a record level of debt to GDP ratio and with trust in politicians and public servants on all sides reaching new lows which was reflected by the low turnout. The Leader stated that the country was in a very very deep hole after 14 years of Conservative government so, yes, the Leader agreed that the new Labour government would need luck to help them make the changes that were needed. It would take time because it was not possible to simply rebuild after 14 years of taking away. The Leader encouraged everyone to rally behind the new Government to help them achieve the goals set out. In relation to the comment regarding milk and honey, the Leader stated that the manifesto had gone to great lengths to make minimal commitments, honest commitments, about what could be delivered. The Leader hoped that the would be delivered and exceeded over time.
Councillor Bennett-Sylvester offered his congratulations to the Chief Executive and noted her exceptional work, along with officers at the Council, during the COVID-19 pandemic which led to lives being saved. He also wished to place on record his thanks to the Civic Support team who had been supporting him and Councillor Ryalls especially following vile online abuse. Thanks was also given to the Leader for his letter lobbying in relation to Voter Identification. Councillor Bennett-Sylvester asked the following question: in relation to affordable homes and ownership, would the Leader also be stressing the need for funding for the communities those homes reside in? For example, numbers in the 1960’s lead to unsustainable communities.
In response, the Leader confirmed he would pass on his thanks to the Civic team and stated that he had been sorry to hear about the abuse Councillor Ryalls had been receiving and the difficulties in the community. It was not acceptable, and Members of any party should not be subject to that. Members were elected to represent their communities and they were making democracy work. Respect was vital otherwise the whole system would fall apart. In relation to funding for communities, not just homes, the Leader agreed with Councillor Bennett-Sylvester. There had been some promising noises from the government in terms of bringing forward infrastructure investments with bigger housing developments. In the past housing had been built and, in some circumstances, community development had followed but this was not always the case. In the community development work could take place up front it would be beneficial for those communities and would ease some of the concerns around house building.
Councillor Bacon asked the Leader to commit to following on the work from Alexander Stafford, specifically the petition regarding Ulley Crossroads and he asked the Leader to commit to ensuring the greenbelt that surrounded Todwick would not be touched and would be protected.
In response to Councillor Bacon, the Leader confirmed that there were no plans to change any road safety measures but if this particular matter had not been picked up it could be brought forward in the usual way. In relation to Todwick greenbelt, the Leader confirmed that a report had been published for the Cabinet meeting to be held on 29 July 2024 regarding the Local Plan and it was not thought that any further land was required for the housing land supply for the period up to 2040. Therefore there were no plans to build on the Todwick greenbelt. This could not be committed to in perpetuity as there may come a point after 2040 where that was no longer the case. The Leader however reiterated that between 2024 and 2040, there were no plans whatsoever to allow development on those sites outside Todwick beyond what was already in the Local Plan.