What makes you #LoveRotherham?

Supporting commissioner Julie Kenny — appointed in February to help turn Rotherham Borough Council around following the damning Jay and Casey reports — has joined her colleagues in leading Rotherham Views “roadshow” sessions.

Rotten roads, litter and the impact of the child sex abuse scandal have all emerged as the worst things about living in Rotherham as part of the ongoing mass public survey, while community spirit and the borough’s parks and countryside have been highlighted as the best things about living here.

The project is on target to gather opinions from 1,000 people but Ms Kenny said it was vital everyone had their say on the way forward — and insisted the council’s reputation for ignoring public opinion was a thing of the past.

“I can assure people that their views will be listened to,” she said.

“We started this consultation because we wanted to engage with people.

“It does feel that people are getting involved but it’s vital to speak to as many people as we can.

“I really believe this is a new start and one we can make a real difference with.

“What we’re getting back is a feeling of being proud and wanting to be proud.

“In many cases, these are people who have lived their whole lives and they want to be proud of their town again.

“When asked what one thing they want, people give various replies but tend to pick out a town to be proud of and a council to be proud of.

“They like the people, the green spaces and some aspects of their community.

“When asked what they don’t like, a lot comment about the council and how it is run.

“They talk about integration into communities, litter, potholes, street cleaning and the lack of bigger shops in the town centre.”

Businesswoman Ms Kenny, who runs Hellaby-based security products firm Pyronix, said the views gathered would form “a new vision for Rotherham” which will develop into a  community strategy for the future.

Consultation meetings have been held so far with parish councillors, church goers, mosque users, community groups, representatives of voluntary sector organisations, the Chamber of Commerce and council staff.

A public session was held two weeks ago, attracting between 20 and 30 people rather than the 50 hoped for.

Ms Kenny admitted the attendance had been disappointing but noted that 35 had booked spots, with several failing to turn up on the evening.

More than 300 have also completed an online survey and Ms Kenny said the commissioners and senior councillors were keen to hear from more, with another public session to be held at Wickersley’s St Alban’s Church Hall from 6-8pm on September 9.

Fifty spaces will be available and can be booked by email to [email protected] or on 01709 823491.

The commissioners will also have a stall at the Rotherham Show to gather more public views.

The borough council has been mocked in the past for boasting of being “a listening council” while disregarding mass objections.

But council leader Cllr Chris Read said the roadshows had been “a great opportunity to engage directly with hundreds of people and hear from them about their worries, complaints and hopes for the future”.

He added: “They’re one of the ways in which I’m determined we’ll do business differently to how it has been done in the past.

“The child sexual exploitation scandal has affected very many people in different ways, and, of course, we have discussed that — people’s pride in Rotherham and the pain caused by the awful events that have taken place here.

“But the council also faces big financial challenges as a result of government cuts, so we have been keen to hear about people’s priorities between council services.”

A full report on the survey’s findings will be published in September or October.

You can have your say online until September 4 at www.rotherham.gov.uk/views