Shame of the unspent thousands: Rotherham councillors failing to tap into windfall cash

Each of Rotherham’s 21 wards was given £10,000 for capital projects last year — as a replacement for area assemblies — but only four spent the money in full.

In total, £110,000 was spent in 2017/18, although a further £61,000 was committed to other projects from the cash being carried forward.

All wards were also given a £1,453 revenue budget but only six spent this in full — and four left it completely untouched.

Michael Sylvester (pictured), a campaigner in Valley ward — which spent nothing for the first year — said: “Councillors constantly use the excuse that there is no money, yet here we have a budget entirely under their control that they fail to spend.

“Valley is the second most deprived ward. That councillors couldn’t find anything to spend these budgets on to improve lives is unbelievable.

“We have some great people trying to make our area better, running school breakfast clubs, sports teams or helping the elderly be less lonely. Our councillors should be spending every penny of these budgets and screaming for more.”

Rotherham Borough Council’s Improving Places commission discussed a report about the new neighbourhoods model, which replaced area assemblies last year.

Cllr Ian Jones said the report “edged on fiction” when it talked of meetings he and other his fellow Rotherham West ward members had not been notified about.

He also cited the example of the planned demolition of the old Kimberworth School, which was decided without consultation.

“There should have been some kind of communication and engagement with residents,” he said. “All I’ve been getting from residents is them asking where was the engagement? As far as they’re concerned, this would have made the community hub that we’re talking about.”

Cllr Alan Atkin, Wath ward, criticised the council’s expensive fees for hiring community centres.

“I’ve had loads of groups want to hire the community building on Fir Close,” he said. 

“It’s hardly got any bookings. It’s losing money every year. It’s £16 or £18 an hour and a small group can’t pay that.”

The report said: “Overall, wards committed and spent 82 per cent of the capital budget and 74 per cent of the revenue budget in 2017/18. In some cases, there were unavoidable delays related to projects requiring quotes, delivery and installation.

Unallocated funds have been carried over to 2018/19.”

Cllr Gordon Watson, Rotherham Borough Council deputy leader, said: “The actual money that’s being spent is there as seedcorn to get various groups, individuals and elected members all working together for the betterment of places for residents.

“While spending is an important part because it enables groups to do things they might not have been able to do otherwise, it’s not the be all and end all.”

Assistant chief executive Shokat Lal added: “It’s fair to say that one challenge is consistency.

“There are wards that are really embracing this new way of working. In other places, that’s not the case and in some wards there’s still further work to be done.”