CABINET Venue: Bailey Suite, Bailey House, Rawmarsh Road, Rotherham. S60 1TD Date: Wednesday, 20 January 2010 Time: 10.30 A.M
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CABINET Venue: Bailey Suite, Bailey Date: Wednesday, 20 January 2010 House, Rawmarsh Road, Rotherham. S60 1TD Time: 10.30 a.m. A G E N D A 1. To consider questions from Members of the Public. 2. To determine if the following matters are to be considered under the categories suggested in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972. 3. To determine any item which the Chairman is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency. 4. Minutes of the previous meeting held on 2nd December, 2009 (copy supplied separately) 5. Local Government Reform – The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act, 2009 (report herewith) (Pages 1 - 17) - Chief Executive to report. 6. Legislative Programme 2009/10 (report herewith) (Pages 18 - 24) - Chief Executive to report. 7. Year Ahead - mid Year Update (report herewith) (Pages 25 - 31) - Chief Executive to report. 8. Lord Laming Response. (report herewith) (Pages 32 - 40) - Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services to report. 9. Children and Young People’s Services Improvement Plan (report herewith) (Pages 41 - 51) - Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services to report. 10. Capital Programme Financial Monitoring Report - November, 2009 (report herewith) (Pages 52 - 61) - Strategic Director of Finance to report. 11. Update on Herringthorpe Leisure Site Proposals (report herewith) (Pages 62 - 78) - Strategic Director of Environment and Development Services to report. 12. Continuation of Legal Authorisations in respect of Illegal Money Lending Activities (report herewith) (Pages 79 - 95) - Strategic Director of Neighbourhoods and Adult Services to report. 13. Minutes of a meeting of the Local Development Framework Members' Steering Group held on 11th December, 2009 (herewith) (Pages 96 - 102) - Strategic Director of Environment and Development Services to report. 14. ICT Strategy (report herewith) (Pages 103 - 122) - Strategic Director of Financial Services to report. 15. Calculation of the Council Tax Base for 2010/11 (report herewith) (Pages 123 - 126) - Strategic Director of Finance to report. 16. Housing Rent Increase 2010/11 (report herewith) (Pages 127 - 131) - Strategic Director of Finance to report. 17. Care Quality Commission (CQC) Annual Performance Assessment, 2009 (report herewith) (Pages 132 - 171) - Strategic Director of Neighbourhoods and Adult Services to report. 18. Waverley Link Road (report herewith) (Pages 172 - 176) - Strategic Director of Environment and Development Services to report. 19. Building Schools for the Future (Transforming Rotherham Learning) – Outline Business Case (report herewith) (Pages 177 - 184) - Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services to report. 20. The Masbrough Centre, Devonshire Street, Masbrough and Wheatley Road Clinic, Wheatley Road, Kimberworth Park (report herewith) (Pages 185 - 192) - Strategic Director of Environment and Development Services to report. 21. Minutes of a meeting of the Members' Training and Development Panel held on 17th December, 2009 (herewith) (Pages 193 - 197) - Chief Executive to report. 22. Exclusion of the Press and Public. The following items are likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006) (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular individual (including the Council)):- 23. Disposal of Garage Site at St. Witholds Avenue, Thurcroft (report herewith) (Pages 198 - 203) - Strategic Director of Neighbourhoods and Adult Services to report. 24. Proposals and Heads of Terms for the Disposal of the Vacated Civic Site and Crinoline House, Walker Place Rotherham (report herewith) (Pages 204 - 212) - Strategic Director, Environment and Development Services, to report. 25. Grounds Maintenance (report herewith) (Pages 213 - 216) - Chief Executive to report. Page 1 Agenda Item 5 ROTHERHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL – REPORT TO MEMBERS 1. Meeting: Cabinet 2. Date: 6th January, 2010 3. Title: Local Government Reform – the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 4. Directorate: Chief Executive’s 5. Summary The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20) received Royal Assent on 12 th November. Parts one to seven take forward the remaining legislative requirements from the White Paper “Strong and Prosperous Communities; and some of the legislative requirements from the White Paper “Communities in Control”. The Act also includes some provisions that arose in the “Strengthening Local Democracy” consultation paper. Part eight of the Act provides for amendments to the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996. This report relates to the local government reform aspects contained in parts one to seven of the Act together with actions on commencement to be taken forward through the workstreams of the Council’s Local Government Reform Implementation Plan. 6. Recommendations That Cabinet:- a) Note the policy and constitution issues set out in the report and at Appendix A . b) Require lead officers for the workstreams identified at Appendix A to bring forward policy options papers in relation to the issues identified . c) Require the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal & Democratic Services) to bring forward amendments to the Council’s constitution as and when required. Page 2 7. Proposals and Details The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20) takes forward the remaining legislative requirements from the White Paper “Strong and Prosperous Communities; and some of the legislative requirements from the White Paper “Communities in Control” together with amendments to the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996. The Act also includes some provisions that arose in the “Strengthening Local Democracy” consultation paper. This report gives a headline overview of those parts of the Act (parts one to seven) that are relevant to the local government reform agenda and associated proposed legislative provision. Commencement details are also included, with dates where these are known. At Appendix A to the report identifies implications for, and actions required by the Council, as part of the Council’s Local Government Reform Implementation Plan. Overview of parts Part 1 Duties relating to Promotion of Democracy – Sections 1 - 30 Democratic arrangements The Council now has a duty to promote understanding of its functions and democratic arrangements including the role of councillors and how to become one. The duty also provides for the participation by people in meetings of the Council, Cabinet and scrutiny. The Council also has a duty to promote understanding of what are described as authorities which are connected with the Council. These include, but not exclusively:- • Parish Councils; • Fire; • Transport; • Health; • School and FE college governors; and • The Homes and Communities Agency etc. Further duties require the promotion of understanding of the roles of Monitoring Boards; Court Boards; Youth Offending Teams; and Lay Justices. These provisions come into effect on a day to be appointed by the Secretary of State. Statutory guidance may be produced, which would be subject to consultation and Orders may be made. Petitions A duty to respond to petitions is included in the Act that requires the Council to make a scheme for handling valid petitions. Specific provisions include:- Page 3 • Providing a facility for making petitions in electronic form; • Making and publication of the scheme; • What constitutes a valid petition; • Acknowledgement of valid petitions; • Requirements to take steps including consideration at a meeting; holding an inquiry, holding a public meeting; and commissioning research; and • The scheme must set out specific periods in which actions will have been taken. Valid petitions may call for an issue to be debated at a council meeting or for an officer to be called to account. In the later case, the relevant officer would be required to attend scrutiny to answer questions. Petitioners would also be able to request a review of how a petition had been handled. The review function would be undertaken by scrutiny, who would then report and would be able to make recommendations. The Act also give powers for the Secretary of State to make provisions for the handling of petitions by other bodies including parish councils; transport authorities etc. These provisions come into effect on a day to be appointed by the Secretary of State. Orders and Guidance may prescribe a scheme for handling petitions and performance of related functions under these duties. Involvement in functions of public authorities This is the extension of the duty to involve to other public authorities. The Act provides that a named list of public authorities must take steps to provide information; consult; or involve in other ways where the body considers it appropriate to do so. These provisions come into effect on a day to be appointed by the Secretary of State. Statutory guidance may be produced, which would be subject to consultation with the public authorities concerned. Housing The Act provides that the Secretary of State may establish and provide support to a body that would represent the interests of housing tenants in England. The Act also amends the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 to provide that the Secretary of State may nominate an organisation to be consulted by the new Social Housing Regulator established by that Act.