Officer Decisions

Date of Decision:

28.06.24

Title:

Parking Fees and Use of Herringthorpe Playing Fields for Car Parking for the The Reytons Concert, Clifton Park– 6 July 2024

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Polly Hamilton, Assistant Director, Culture, Sport & Tourism

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Sub scheme of Delegation - Regeneration and Environment Oct 2022

Operational management and maintenance of Parks, Recreation Grounds, Play Areas, Camping, Caravan and Picnic Sites, Allotments, Country parks, all land held by the Council specifically for public open space and recreation, Countryside Service including the letting of land and premises in collaboration with Asset Management 

Brief Description of Decision:

To approve the proposed parking fee of £5 and the use of Herringthorpe Playing Fields as a temporary carpark for The Reytons’ event at Clifton Park on 6^th July 2024

Reasons for the Decision:

At £5, the proposed fee is significantly lower than the fees normally charged for parking at major events (which can be in the region of £10 - £15). This was suggested for the following reasons:

·        The only other event at which parking at Herringthorpe is offered is Rotherham Show. Unlike Rotherham Show which is free to enter and specifically for Rotherham communities, this event is private and its target audience is fans of the band who may be coming from outside Rotherham borough. Ticket prices for the event are £50.65

·        It offered the opportunity for the Council to test the feasibility of running music events of this nature within the park and at the same time achieve sufficient revenue from the event to recover the anticipated revenue cost of hosting it.

·        In setting the fee lower than other concert venues, it is hoped to encourage concert-goers to use the designated parking rather than parking on the street which could create traffic management problems and cause a nuisance to local residents

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

-         Alternative site. There is no valid alternative site which could cater for the volume of cars expected.

-         Offer free parking.  There is a need to recoup the costs of hosting the event and a modest charge is a way to achieve this.

-         Charge more.  There’s a need to incentivise use of the event car park in order to discourage on-street parking and reduce the risk of nuisance to local residents.

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

Cllr Sheppard, Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion declared a conflict of interest as he has already purchased tickets for the event

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

None

Date of Decision:

18 June 2024

Title:

Revision to District Heating Pricing for 2024-25

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

James Clark, Assistant Director of Housing

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Council agreed on 28 February 2024 (minute number 104 - Resolved (8)) that the decision to reduce the price of District Heating Charges further during 2024-25, be delegated to the Assistant Director of Housing in conjunction with the Assistant Director of Financial Services following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing. The delegation would only be used to respond to a change in Government policy or a significant change in the Ofgem price cap that has the effect of necessitating a lower unit price.

Decision:

Revise the unit price charged for District heating from 1 July 2024 to 12 pence per kwh.

Note that further reductions may be necessary if the Ofgem price cap for subsequent quarters matches energy market forecasts.

Reasons for the Decision:

There will be a 7% reduction in the Ofgem price cap from 1 July 2024 and energy market forecasts predict further reductions in the cost of energy until December 2024. The Council has committed to ensuring that the average bill for residents on District heating match’s the average bill of a resident with gas and benefiting from the Ofgem price cap.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

One alternative pricing options have been considered to achieve full cost recovery. This would have meant a charge of 14.99 pence per kwh. This was rejected as it meant the cost of an average District heating bill would be higher than the average bill under the Ofgem price cap.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet 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

The report of the Strategic Director of Adult care, Housing and Public Health, Ian Spicer – HRA Business Plan, Rent Setting and Service Charges 2024-25

Date of Decision:

21 May 2024

Title:

Review of Temporary Accommodation Portfolio

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Ian Spicer, Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Under Section 4c3: Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health – Delegated Executive Functions.

The Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health is authorised1 to discharge executive functions2 through the commissioning and provision of social services for adults and public health services for the whole population and delivery of housing for the Borough, including:-

2. Housing (d) Housing Options

Decision:

To approve an increase in the current temporary accommodation portfolio by 16 units.

Reasons for the Decision:

Section 206(1) Housing Act 1996 provides that where a housing authority discharges its duty to secure that accommodation is available for a homeless applicant, that accommodation must be suitable. Chapter 17.2 Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities confirms the requirement to provide suitable accommodation applies in respect of all powers and duties to secure accommodation under Part 7, including interim duties

The purpose of this Officer Decision is to agree to increase the provision of temporary accommodation so that there is sufficient temporary accommodation to discharge its homelessness statutory duty

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

None

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

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

Officer Decision Report for a Review of the Temporary Accommodation Portfolio

Approved by Ian Spicer, Strategic Director of Adults, Housing and Public Health.

Date of Decision:

15/05/2024

Title:

Doncaster Gate Substation, Rotherham

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Kevin Fisher, Assistant Director Property and Facilities Services

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Decision taken under the powers granted to the property officer under section 29.12 of the Council’s Financial Procurement Procedure Rules.

Paragraph 29.12.1 states where the estimated disposal value is less than £100,000 the Property

Officer, having taken financial and legal advice, may arrange for the disposal of land or property.

Decision:

That the Property Officer approves the disposal by agreement of the land identified at Doncaster Gate, in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy.

Reasons for the Decision:

Northern PowerGrid is the tenant of Doncaster Gate substation. The District Valuer has completed a valuation and approval is sought to dispose of the asset to Northern PowerGrid at the valuation of £25,500

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Option 1 (Preferred Option) - That the sale is agreed so that Northern PowerGrid can purchase the substation at £25,500, which has been determined independently by the District Valuer

Option 2 – That the sale is not agreed – We sell on open market via auction. The sale would have to be subject to the existing lease to Northern PowerGrid.

Option 3 - Do Nothing - Northern PowerGrid remain paying rent of £672 per annum to the council, and we do not receive a capital receipt

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

No conflicts of interest declared.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

Not Applicable

Reports or parts of reports considered

Date of Decision:

15/05/2024

Title:

Ivanhoe Road Thurcroft

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Kevin Fisher, Assistant Director Property and Facilities Services

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Decision taken under the powers granted to the property officer under section 29.12 of the Council’s Financial Procurement Procedure Rules.

Paragraph 29.12.1 states where the estimated disposal value is less than £100,000 the Property

Officer, having taken financial and legal advice, may arrange for the disposal of land or property.

Decision:

That the Property Officer approves and negotiates the release of the restrictive covenant in, in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy.

Reasons for the Decision:

Ivanhoe Road, Thurcroft was a single residential dwelling. The owner of the property has built another property on the land at the side within the boundary.  The owner is requesting a release to the restrictive covenant which limits this legal title to one dwelling. This will allow the new property to be sold.

Approval is sought to release the restrictive covenant on 1 Ivanhoe Road. The agreed fee for release is £45,000

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Option 1 (Preferred Option) - That the release of the restrictive covenant is agreed at the valuation, so the Council would receive the capital receipt and professional fees and the owners can sell the bungalow which has already been built.

Option 2 – That the sale is not agreed - The owner won’t be able to complete on the proposed sale lawfully as the restrictive covenant will remain in place.

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

No conflicts of interest declared.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

Not Applicable

Reports or parts of reports considered

Date of Decision:

17^th June 2024

Title:

22-250 Centenary Way Viaduct, Central Reservation Slabs Strengthening and Repairs & 23-257 (Works) Packman Road Wall Collapse Repairs (Design and Build)

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Andrew Bramidge

Interim Strategic Director for Regeneration & Environment

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Within the Council’s constitution the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment has the following delegated powers: -

Section 4C6: 3 (f)

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment is authorised1 to discharge executive functions for Planning, Regeneration and Transport (f) Transport Strategy

And;

Contract Procedure Rule 42:

In relation to their Directorates, each Strategic Director has a general power to make council contracts, including the power to determine select lists of tenderers, to accept tenders and to award contracts.  This is subsequently delegated to Assistant Directors in the sub-scheme of delegation.

Brief Description of Decision:

Approval of Centenary Way Structural Repairs and Packman Road emergency stabilisation works, via a call-off from YORCivil3 framework encompassing design and build activities, awarded to CR Reynolds to the following estimated works value or £973k.

Reasons for the Decision:

To ensure that the structures of Centenary Way and Packman Road can be repaired.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Various design options for the structural solution of both schemes have been considered and costed.  The recommendation is that a do minimum repair will not provide a suitable repair and significant residual risk will be present.  Therefore, the option of a comprehensive repair for both structures is the viable and recommended option.  Do nothing is not an option given the proximity of properties s, an important A and B classified road and public interest. 

Alternative routes to market were considered as part of the Procurement Business Case submission.   The other options were discounted due to the expected time-consuming nature of the evaluation process, the potential delays in awarding the contract, their suitability in terms of cost-effectiveness and availability of expertise.

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

Not applicable.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

Not applicable.

Reports or parts of reports considered

Procurement Business Case - 22-250 Centenary Way Viaduct, Central Reservation Slabs Strengthening and Repairs & 23-257 (Works) Packman Road Wall Collapse Repairs (Design and Build)

Date of Decision:

1 March 2024

Title:

Strategic acquisition of 18 new homes from the Brecks Lane development in Brecks

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

James Clark, Assistant Director of Housing

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Enaction of recommendation 2 from the Annual Housing Development Report – 2022/23, approved by Cabinet 11 July 2022:

“2. That Cabinet approves the purchase of homes from any of the schemes identified in Exempt Appendix 3”.

Reaffirmed in recommendation 3 of the subsequent Housing Development Programme Report – 2023/24, approved by Cabinet 23 January 2023:

“3. That Cabinet approves the purchase of homes from any of the schemes identified in Exempt Appendix 5”.

Decision:

Approval to enter into contract with Avant Homes to purchase 18 new homes from the Brecks Lane development in Brecks – identified in both Appendix 3 to the July 2022 Cabinet report and Appendix 5 to the January 2023 report.

The Council will purchase:

·       Nine, two-bedroom houses

·       One, two bedroom bungalow

·       Seven, three-bedroom houses

·       One, four-bedroom house

The homes will be brought into the Council’s existing housing stock and made available to applicants from the Housing Register.

Reasons for the Decision:

The decision has been taken in-line with the Cabinet approval, to ensure that the Council can continue to deliver new council homes to meet residents’ needs.

The financial detail of the acquisitions is set out within the capital business case. It is not included within the decision record on the basis that it is commercially sensitive. This is in-line with the over-arching Cabinet report exemption.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

The July 2022 Cabinet report considered the alternative option not to pursue new acquisition opportunities and this was not recommended because: “the Council needs to ensure a continuous pipeline to deliver the council homes needed”.

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

Reports or parts of reports considered

Report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health – Annual Housing Development Report – 2022/23.

Report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health – Housing Development Programme Report – 2023/24.

Full Business Case (FBC) – Brecks Lane Strategic Acquisitions