Issue - decisions

Date of Decision:

27 October 2026

Title:

Hurley Croft Community Centre – Removal of Community Facility Charge

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Sarah Clyde, Service Director – Housing

Details of Specific Delegation

or

Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

This decision is made under the delegated authority approved by Cabinet through the Housing Delivery Programme Report (July 2026), considered by Cabinet on 6 July 2026 (Minute 28).

Cabinet resolved:

"To delegate authority to the Service Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to remove the service charge at Hurley Croft once work to convert to residential accommodation is ready to start."

The report confirmed that the existing Community Facility Charge would need to be removed once a deliverable project was in place and works to convert the former Hurley Croft Neighbourhood Centre to residential accommodation were ready to commence.

Decision:

To remove the Community Facility Charge payable by affected tenants at Hurley Croft with effect from the date the building is closed and no longer available for residents' use, which coincides with the commencement of the approved conversion works.

Reasons for the Decision:

The former Hurley Croft Neighbourhood Centre is being converted into residential accommodation as part of the Council's approved Housing Delivery Programme. Cabinet previously approved the inclusion of the scheme within the programme and subsequently delegated authority to the Service Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to remove the Community Facility Charge when conversion works were ready to commence.

The facility will no longer be available for residents' use once the contractor takes possession of the site and conversion works commence. It is therefore appropriate to remove the Community Facility Charge from the same date.

Removal of the charge reflects the fact that the facility is no longer being provided and ensures that affected tenants are not charged for a service which is no longer available.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Option 1: Remove the Community Facility Charge from the date the building closes and conversion works commence (Recommended).

This option aligns the removal of the charge with the withdrawal of the facility and is consistent with the authority delegated by Cabinet.

Option 2: Delay the removal of the Community Facility Charge until a later date.

This option was rejected because residents would continue to be charged after the facility had ceased to be available for their use.

Option 3: Retain the Community Facility Charge permanently.

This option was rejected because the neighbourhood centre is no longer operational and the charge would no longer relate to a service being provided.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None declared

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/A

Conflicts of interest declared by the Decision Maker if they sit as a Cabinet appointed representative to an outside body which relates to the decision:

None declared

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/A

Reports or parts of reports considered

Cabinet Report: Annual Housing Development Report 2022/23 (Cabinet 11 July 2022). REPORT TEMPLATE FOR CABINET & COMMISSIONER

Cabinet Report: Housing Delivery Programme 2024/25 Update (Cabinet 29 July 2024). https://moderngov.rotherham.gov.uk/documents/s147230/Report%20-%20Housing%20Delivery%20Programme.pdf

Cabinet Report: Housing Delivery Programme Report 2025-26 Update (Cabinet 7 July 2025), including Recommendation 3 and paragraph 2.14 approving the inclusion of Hurley Croft within the Housing Delivery Programme. REPORT TEMPLATE FOR CABINET & COMMISSIONER

Cabinet Report: Housing Delivery Programme Report - January 2026 and Cabinet Minute 105 confirming delegated authority arrangements. REPORT TEMPLATE FOR CABINET & COMMISSIONER

Cabinet Report: Council Homes Housing Delivery Programme Update - 6 July 2026 Cabinet Minute 28, including Recommendation 4 delegating authority to remove the service charge at Hurley Croft. (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Cabinet, 06/07/2026 10:00