The planning and building regulations functions, as well as more key services, are to be returned to Rotherham Council from government appointed commissioners following improvements, although more work is still required.<\/u><\/p>\n
DCLG writes:
\n<\/u>Communities Secretary Greg Clark today (21 January 2016) announced plans to return responsibility for the running of a limited number of services to Rotherham council – but warned that significant further improvements are needed before full powers are restored.<\/p>\n
It follows the latest report from government-appointed commissioners to the council, and is in line with their recommendations . The functions, include housing, leisure services, education and financial services, were found by the commissioners to be operating at an adequate standard, and have sufficiently strong leadership in place to be transferred back to local democratic control.<\/p>\n
But while he welcomed the progress made to date, Mr Clark warned that control over the remaining functions, including children\u2019s services and licencing, would be retained by the commissioners while significant challenges remain.<\/p>\n
Communities Secretary Greg Clark said: Louise Casey\u2019s report into Rotherham council made shocking reading \u2013 we must do everything we can to prevent those failings ever being repeated.\u00a0 In the last 11 months, Rotherham has made improvements and so I have proposed to transfer control over some functions back from the commissioners to democratically-elected councillors.\u00a0 But it\u2019s clear there are still significant challenges to overcome before the council can fully regain the public\u2019s confidence and trust, and so it is right that Sir Derek Myers and his team remain in place.<\/p>\n
In February last year, the government appointed 5 commissioners to exercise all executive functions, and some key non-executive functions, at Rotherham council.\u00a0 It followed publication of Louise Casey\u2019s report into the council\u2019s failings, in which she identified widespread failings in governance and service delivery.\u00a0 These failings contributed significantly to the child sexual exploitation outlined in an earlier report by Professor Alexis Jay.<\/p>\n
The full list of services to be returned to council control are:<\/p>\n
The council would also take over budget control in these areas, as well as budget planning.<\/p>\n
In his latest report the Lead Commissioner identified these functions as operating to an adequate standard, having sufficiently strong senior officers in place and having suitably strong leadership from councillors to be transferred back to the council.<\/p>\n
Lead Commissioner Sir Derek Myers said: We are very pleased that the Secretary of State has carefully considered our proposals and at this stage is minded to agree with the commissioners that the time is right to return some limited powers to locally-elected members.\u00a0 While we clearly acknowledge that there is further work to do in some areas if we are to rebuild trust and confidence in the way services are managed and delivered, we would see the restoration of at least some powers as a significant step in the right direction. We await the Secretary of State\u2019s final decision.<\/p>\n
View the press release<\/a><\/p>\n View the letter<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The planning and building regulations functions, as well as more key services, are to be returned to Rotherham Council from government appointed commissioners following improvements, although more work is still required. DCLG writes: Communities Secretary Greg Clark today (21 January … Continue reading