Communities Secretary announces plans to return a
further 5 powers to Rotherham Metropolitan
Borough Council.
Communities Secretary has announced plans to return a
further 5 powers to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.
It follows the latest report by
the government-appointed Commissioner team that noted steady
improvement by the council.
Commissioners have proposed that 5 functions, which include
community safety and waste collection, be returned to the
council.
This council has already regained 8 powers in the last 9 months.
Communities Secretary said:
The council is continuing to make progress under the watchful
eye of our Commissioners. So I am now inviting representations
from the council before making my final decision on returning
these further powers.
Steady progress by the council
The Commissioner team, led by Mary Ney, who replaced Sir Derek
Myers as Lead Commissioner in April 2017, outlined continuing
improvements in her progress report of 18 May 2017.
Based on evidence in that report the Communities Secretary is
considering handing back control of the following functions to
the council:
- performance management in each of the council’s service areas
- waste collection
- community safety which includes community cohesion and
domestic violence
- human resources
- asset management including both land and property assets
To give further assurance to residents, the community safety
service would be returned with enhanced oversight by the
Commissioner team over services supporting victims of domestic
violence. This would allow the relevant Commissioner to veto any
Cabinet decision if they feel necessary.
Commissioners will retain executive decision making power over
children’s services, special allowances, and also the appointment
and dismissal of any statutory officers. They will also continue
to have oversight over all returned functions.
Commissioners with executive responsibilities at Rotherham
Metropolitan Borough Council are:
- Lead Commissioner - Mary Ney
- Children’s Social Care Commissioner - Patricia Bradwell
- Supporting Commissioner - Julie Kenny CBE
The intervention is expected to end on 31 March 2019.
