Rotherham Council to regain more powers by summer?

MORE powers could return to Rotherham’s councillors by the summer, lead commissioner Sir Derek Myers has said.

A 12-month report to the Government, published today, reviews a year of progress but says further improvement is “necessary and expected”.

Sir Derek is required to give quarterly updates to the secretaries of state every three months as part of the commissioner terms.

He said: “Commissioners are minded to recommend a timetable for the transfer of further powers to councillors by summer. However, there is still much to do if we are to achieve this.

“Elected members are adhering to and promoting a higher standard of conduct and values.

“One third of commissioners’ decision-making responsibilities have been returned to the council, which not only means renewed responsibility for the Cabinet, but also a more prominent role for scrutiny councillors, as ‘call-in’ arrangements are returned.

“Whilst it is clear we have to go some way to restoring the public’s confidence in the council, our trajectory is upwards and we will seek to build on this in the coming months.”

All-out elections will take place in May and every four years after that. The four commissioners are in place until at least 2019.

Sir Derek said: “As lead commissioner I will be holding to account the chief executive and her management team for the agreed necessary improvement activity, and this will not stop once powers are fully returned to the council. 

“Commissioners have a supervising role to play until our appointment ends in 2019. Further progress is both necessary and expected, but a good start has been made.”