WHAT’S ON: Rawmarsh and Parkgate

MARQUIS BOWLS CLUB: The club is in need of new members. Contact K Birch 01142 453669/ 07708324797.

MINUTES OF THE LAST WENTWORTH SOUTH AREA ASSEMBLY MEETING: At the last meeting on June 23 at the Town Hall, there were 38 present. Cllr Evans introduced himself as the new chair of Wentworth South Area Assembly. Asim Munir, community engagement officer from RMBC, gave a presentation outlining the results of the budget consultation which took place November-December 2014 which reflects the three priority areas considered in the consultation: protecting the most vulnerable children and adults, getting people into work and making work pay, making the streets cleaner and better. Feedback from the consultation indicated a rise in council tax would be acceptable provided detail was given on how the extra money raised would be used. A 1.95 per cent increase in council tax has been approved to keep frontline service running and protect the vulnerable. Resources are being put in place to ensure children’s services meet the standards expected and that the failings to the victims and survivors of child sexual exploitation can be put right. The children’s safeguarding budget will be ring-fenced and an additional £824,000 into children’s services budgets to be allocated to: £234,000 for the development of outreach youth work based provision to engage with young people at risk of CSE, £390,000 for additional social workers to make sure children at risk are seen by children’s services as quickly as possible and £200,000 additional support for CSE victims and survivors. Feedback from residents states they want their local area to be clean and smart. An extra £200,000 investment in street cleansing services across the borough and an additional investment of £5 million to improve roads and fix potholes over the next two years. Some of the major proposed cuts include: cutting the cost of councillors by more than £200,000 by reducing allowances and removal of the leader’s car, stopping the Imagination Library scheme to save £400,000 over two years, reduction in funding to City Learning Centres to save £200,000 and reducing the number of buildings the council owns to save £180,000. It was noted that some of the above could still change depending on consultation. School meal price increase by an additional 5p per meal to save £195,000 over 2 years, review of supporting people contract to save £360,000 over 2 years, direct provision-enabling care, saving £250,000 over 2 years, restructuring drug and alcohol services to save £348,000. Residential care: review of the independent sector contract inflation/fee uplifts, saving £280,000, further voluntary redundancies and staff restructures. Other savings will be realised by doing things differently including: putting more services online. The comments and suggestions received from the consultation played an important part in the package of measures that will see savings of £23m in the 2015/16 budget, which was given full council approval on March 4. Cllr Vines stated that the budget was approved by Labour members only, opposition members did not approve it and provided an alternative budget. The minutes of the previous meeting held in March were agreed. Sarah Currer gave the following updates from questions raised at the meeting: the changes to the road layout on Green Lane had made a great improvement to the traffic flow outside St Joseph’s School. There were increasing problems with traffic issues and dangerous parking outside Rosehill Junior School and it was asked if similar changes could be made in this location? The response was that there have been several complaints in the past relating to the usual parking problems around Rosehill School and that the introduction of waiting restrictions (single or double yellow lines) on Kilnhurst Road outside the School had previously been considered but that this is something which can be looked into. It was asked if there are any plans to provide any further parking bays at the Rawmarsh Shopping Centre development, as it is felt there currently are not enough spaces to provide adequate parking, the response was that as this is a very recent retail development, the car parking will have been carefully worked out to reflect the amount of retail space and number of operators and as such there are no further plans to provide additional parking. The redundant shopping centre is now in the process of demolition and once the land is cleared the council will dispose of the cleared site for residential development. The new development will be subject to a planning application and formal consultation which will give the local community the opportunity to raise their concerns about there not being enough parking. Rawmarsh East has been identified as a disadvantaged area within in Wentworth South and now has a partnership action plan to look at how  work with communities can help to bring about improvements in the neighbourhood. Trevor Wilson, area housing manager, reported that in the area there are now 56 empty properties, the number of notices seeking possession served was 70 and the number of evictions for rent arrears was four. Partners and Communities Together (PACT)reported that the CSE awareness day held in March where Rawmarsh SNT staff had a stand at Morrisons in Parkgate was well received by the public. PACT Priority Area 2 is Ingshead Avenue and Oates Avenue where there are issues with anti-social behaviour and youth nuisance. It was reported that they tackled issues with a problem family. ABC contracts were issued, which has led to a reduction in demand and problems. After discussion it was agreed to keep the PACT priorities the same with the addition of Brameld Road and surrounding area to PACT Priority Area 2: Ingshead Avenue and Oates Avenue, Rawmarsh. There have been a number of arson attacks in area. The next meeting is on Tuesday 6.15pm at the Town Hall.

ACTIVATE: Activate Rawmarsh – Outrageous Youth Club runs every Tuesday at The High Street Centre for school years 3-6 5-6.30pm. Cost £1.50 per child. Contact 01709 719478.

RAWMARSH METHODIST CHURCH: September 6 – the preacher was Rev Alistair Sharp. September 8 – the Prayer Group met and holy communion was led by Rev Alistair Sharp. Sunday – the service at 10.45am will be a Songs of Praise.   

£175 MILLION DEAL: Parkgate Shopping Park has changed hands in one of Rotherham’s biggest property deals. In a transaction worth around £175m, BMO Real Estate Partners (BMO) has acquired the park, which is one of the largest retail parks in the UK and home to over 40 shops, from the Hercules Unit Trust (HUT).