Officer Decisions

Date of Decision:

1 October 2021

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Jo Brown, Assistant Chief Executive

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Nonspecific

Brief Description of Decision:

That the existing partnership agreement with Migration Yorkshire be extended to include the provision of ‘wraparound’ support to Afghan guests in bridging accommodation.

Following the urgent evacuation of Afghan nationals following the fall of the country to the Taliban, emergency ‘bridging accommodation’ was set up in hotels across the UK, including a hotel in Rotherham.

Rotherham Council has an existing Partnership Agreement with Migration Yorkshire, following the Cabinet decision on 26 May 2016 to participate in the Vulnerable People’s Resettlement Scheme (VPRS). Under this arrangement, support is provided by the Refugee Council to those people resettled in Rotherham under the relevant programme. An extension was agreed to the arrangement in 2019, when RMBC agreed to take additional families under the VPRS.

The existing partnership arrangements will be extended to provide wraparound support for Afghan guest in bridging accommodation.

The wraparound support will be provided for a six-month period, with a break clause inserted after three months should the hotel no longer be in use. Should guests still be accommodated after three months, monthly reviews will be scheduled thereafter, to assess numbers with the fees amended proportionately.

Funding options have been explored with Finance Officers and there are sufficient funds in the Home Office funding allocation to support an extension to the existing agreement. Assurance has been given that mitigations are in place to minimise financial risks should hotel use cease prematurely.

Reasons for the Decision:

To ensure that appropriate wraparound support is provided to Afghan guests.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

The alternative option to continue the use of existing RMBC staff to provide wraparound support was rejected as it created thus approach created pressure on the delivery of other services as roles could not be backfilled. Council staff also to do not have access to the range of specialist support available through existing partnership arrangements.

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

N/A

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/A

Reports or parts of reports considered

17.09.21 Letter from Sean Palmer – Home Office re. Bridging Accommodation

Record of Delegated Decision; 5 April 2019

Cabinet Report from 26th May 2016

Date Of Decision:

6 October 2021

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Judith Badger

Section 151 Officer

Strategic Director Finance and Customer Services

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Appendix 9 of the Constitution (Responsibility for Functions) – Delegation to the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services to determine requests for early release and flexible retirement, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member

Brief Description of Decision:

Approval was given to request ERP0204 for a flexible retirement in the Children & Young People’s Directorate

Reasons for the Decision:

The employing service had considered service delivery implications and was supportive of the request.  There was no cost associated with granting the early release of pension entitlements.

Details of Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None

Where the decision is made under specific delegation from a decision-making body, the names of any member of the relevant body who has declared a conflict of interest in relation to the decision and name of the body granting the specific delegation and the date when it did so:

None

Background Papers:

Date Of Decision:

6 October 2021

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Judith Badger

Section 151 Officer

Strategic Director Finance and Customer Services

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Appendix 9 of the Constitution (Responsibility for Functions) – Delegation to the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services to determine requests for early release and flexible retirement, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member

Brief Description of Decision:

Approval was given to request ERP0205 for the compulsory redundancy of an employee in the Children’s and Young People’s Directorate

Reasons for the Decision:

The service where the individual was employed had restructured resulting in the loss of a post and the employee had not been successful in being redeployed. 

Details of Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

Redeployment options had been explored and no suitable alternative post found.

Where the decision is made under specific delegation from a decision-making body, the names of any member of the relevant body who has declared a conflict of interest in relation to the decision and name of the body granting the specific delegation and the date when it did so:

None

Background Papers:

Date of Decision:

29 September 2021

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Paul Woodcock. Strategic Director, Regeneration and Environment

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Nonspecific

Brief Description of Decision:

That the inclusion of the roads suggested by local Councillors, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the officers report, be included in the current indicative Highway Repair Programme.

Reasons for the Decision:

To honour the Council’s commitment to include a minimum of one street that had been suggested by each local Councillor in the Highway Repair Programme.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

The alternative option of not including a minimum of one street that had been suggested by each local Councillor in the Highway Repair Programme was not recommended as it would not honour the Council’s commitment to do so.

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

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

The report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment - Strategic Management and Maintenance of Highways

Date of Decision:

1 October 2021

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Paul Woodcock. Strategic Director, Regeneration and Environment

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Nonspecific

Brief Description of Decision:

That the Council instructs Muse development Ltd to commence detailed technical design of the Forge Island Leisure Scheme immediately on the basis that, should the Council decide not to progress with the scheme for any reason, Muse is indemnified against its abortive costs.

Reasons for the Decision:

To enable the next stage of the processes involved in the delivery of the Forge Island Leisure Scheme.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

The alternative option to continue with marketing activity to food and beverage operators, but to place detailed design on hold until heads of terms are agreed with occupiers was rejected as it was considered likely to be a longer route to delivering a start on site. This alternative option would have delayed the completion and opening of the scheme and, in the short term, would not have maximised the opportunity the scheme has to build on the current momentum in the market gained through the recent pre-letting announcements.

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

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

The report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment - Forge Island Delivery

Date of Decision:

19 August 2021

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Suzanne Joyner - Strategic Director, Children and Young People Services.

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Non-specific.

Brief Description of Decision:

That the revised Elective Home Education Policy be approved. 

Reasons for the Decision:

To refresh the Council’s Elective Home Education Policy in order to reflect the latest Department for Education guidance regarding Elective Home Education.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

The alternative option to retain the 2017 policy was not recommended as the policy did not reflect current DfE guidance.

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

No conflicts of interest declared.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/A

Reports or parts of reports considered

The report of the Head of Service – Access to Education - Refresh of the Elective Home Education Policy 

Date of Decision:

22 September 2021

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Assistant Chief Executive

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Nonspecific

Brief Description of Decision:

1.    That the approved budget of £100,000 for the Food Resilience Project be allocated to in order to enable:

the employment of a Food Sustainability Development Officer for one year.

and

that the associated revenue funding be used enable the development of two to three sustainable social supermarkets and the associated activity working in partnership with Food in Crisis Partnership and VCS partners.

2.    That the grant support that will be made available will be provided through invitations to bid in accordance with the Council’s standing orders.

Reasons for the Decision:

As part of the Council’s budget setting process for 2021/22, approval was given to a £100,000 investment allocation to develop further approaches to supporting people in crisis and tackling food poverty. This decision enables the use of the allocated budget that has been made available.

Details of the original budget allocation approved by Cabinet on 15 February 2021 can be view here.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

The alternative option of not utilising the allocated budget was not recommended as it would not further the Council’s commitment to supporting people in crisis and in tackling food poverty.

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

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

Briefing paper - Food Resilience Development – 22 September 2021.