Government set to return five more powers to Rotherham Council

It will mean that the only areas still under commissioner control are children’s services, special allowances and hiring and firing statutory officers.

The powers to be returned are:

• performance management
• waste collection
• community safety, including community cohesion and domestic violence
• human resources
• asset management, including both land and property assets

It follows the latest report by the government-appointed commissioner team, which noted steady improvement by the council.

Mary Ney (below), who replaced Sir Derek Myers as lead commissioner in April, said: “The council has continued to make significant progress on its improvement journey.

“I and the commissioner team recommend the restoration of powers for these remaining five function.”

Mr Javid 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.”

The commissioners have fallen in number from five to three since the Government sent in the team in 2015 after the CSE scandal.

Commissioners retain oversight over all returned functions. The intervention is expected to end on March 31, 2019.