News: Consultees raise same issues again in "left behind" Rotherham

Consultation is underway that will guide a £20m investment into the town over the next ten years, and the issue of feeling safe is coming to the fore again.

Consultees (people who live, work or visit the main urban areas around the town centre) assessed the area low in most themes and picked out safety, run-down streets and parking as key issues.

Rothbiz reported in March that £20m earmarked for Rotherham by the previous Government had been confirmed and given a wider remit focusing on neighbourhood renewal and improving social capital.

Now called Plan for Neighbourhoods, the £1.5 billion programme sets out to invest in 75 areas over the next decade – "a long-term strategy to fix the foundations of those places most left behind." It focuses on three core themes: Thriving Places, Stronger Communities, and Taking Back Control. These themes aim to revitalise local areas, address deprivation, and empower residents by focusing on local needs and priorities.

The findings echo the previous consultation carried out before the government revamped the strategy. Rotherham's long term plan for towns included the key themes of safety and security, high streets, heritage and regeneration, and transport and connectivity.

An update to councillors explains that Rotherham is one of 75 places to receive funding based on its level of need. Money will be spent inside the boundary chosen by Government, known as a "Built Up Area." It is based on data provided by the Office for National Statistics and is the area of a town characterised by urban features such as town centres, major infrastructure and larger populations.

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Consultation used the "Place Standard" tool to assess and improve the quality of places by helping to identify what's good about a place, what needs to be protected, changed, or improved.

Results so far show that the lowest score was for the Influence & Sense of Control theme which scored an average of 2.83 out of 7. A council paper said that "Residents don’t feel listened to. While surveys and councillors are valued, people want clearer evidence that feedback leads to change."

The next lowest theme was Feeling Safe at 2.91, the report adding: "Safety is one of the biggest concerns. Crime, antisocial behaviour, and intimidation make people feel unsafe, especially at night. CCTV and lighting are valued but seen as not enough."

Parking problems in neighbourhoods, litter and fly-tipping have also been flagged up.

In the Street & Spaces theme, the report highlights that "heritage and recent improvements valued, but many streets fee [sic] run-down and in need of better upkeep" and in the Identity & Belonging theme, consultees expressed "pride in heritage, diversity, and friendliness, but stigma and negative perceptions persist. Residents want more positive promotion of Rotherham."

Natural Spaces scored an avaerage of 4.18 out of 7 and was the seen as the strongest asset where parks and countryside was highly valued, "with Clifton Park and Thrybergh often mentioned."

A raft of interventions have been pre-approved by the government which can address the issues from the consultation.

The council report said: "The allocation of funding will be informed by the built-up-area data provided by Government and consultation feedback. Interventions will be prioritised where they have collective benefits and meet the needs of the Geography as a whole."

Undertaking meaningful engagement with the local community is seen a central pillar of the funding and "Neighbourhood Boards" will work up a Regeneration Plan – in partnership with the local authority - to deliver the strategic objectives of the programme.

Rotherham's Regeneration Plan will be submitted to government by November 2025, following which the first tranche of funding will be released in April 2026, broken down to approximately £2m per year with a 75% / 25% split between Capital and Revenue.

The £20m fund is set to be discussed at the council's next Improving Places Select Commission.

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News: One hour free parking in Rotherham town centre

Rotherham Council has introduced one hour’s free parking in council-run car parks in Rotherham town centre.

The scheme aims to "support local businesses, boost footfall, and encourage residents to shop locally."

Rothbiz reported in January on proposals put forward for Rotherham Council's latest budget which included £50,000 for free parking.

Free parking is already offered in the town centre at all Council Off-Street car parks on Saturdays and Sundays and on street after 6pm. The latest offer is now in place Monday to Friday. Anyone wishing to take advantage of the hour free parking must get a ticket from the machine.

Councillor John Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, said: “Our introduction of one hour of free parking is another practical step to support our town centre businesses. Anyone needing to nip to the bank, market or into a shop can now do so without worrying about paying, so long as they display a ticket.

“The free parking initiative underlines our focus on delivering a vibrant, safe, and welcoming town centre experience for all.”

In February Rothbiz revealed that Rotherham Council had decided to offer unlimited free parking for patrons of all businesses at Forge Island, the £47m development in the town centre that includes an 8-screen boutique cinema, food outlets and a hotel.

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Also in the council's budget was £570,000 to launch a new "Street Safe Team" focused on increasing safety in town and village centres.

The uniformed team, made up of 10 staff, will target areas including Rotherham town centre, Dinnington, Wath, Maltby and Swinton, using local intelligence to tackle issues and offer a reassuring and familiar point of contact for residents and visitors.

The team will also be able to enforce local Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) to help tackle issues like anti-social behaviour, street drinking and substance misuse, working closely with partners including South Yorkshire Police.

This initiative aimed to provide a welcoming presence for visitors to the area. The team would undertake a broad range of duties which would include signposting or providing information to the public as well as identifying and addressing issues in relation to the general street scene, such as littering, by enhancing the existing enforcement presence. The service was also aimed at enhancing community safety and improving perceptions of safety in town centres. Cllr Lynda Marshall, Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Green Spaces, said: “Our residents have told us loud and clear that cleaner, safer streets matter to them — and we’re listening.

“This investment is not just about more boots on the ground, it’s about delivering real, visible improvements in our communities. From cracking down on fly tipping to creating a stronger presence in our town centres, we’re taking action that people will see and feel every day. This is about pride in place - and we’re proud to back that with this investment.”

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News: Rotherham town centre ASB rates halved

Daily rates of anti-social behaviour (ASB) reports have been cut in half within Rotherham town centre, say South Yorkshire Police.

In Spring 2024 Rotherham Central Neighbourhood Policing Team received rising reports of anti-social behaviour and crime in the town centre.

These worrying spates of ASB were not only affecting residents and people visiting the town centre, but also were impacting local businesses and the economy.

Rotherham Central NPT Inspector John Crapper, said: “We were receiving complaints from local businesses about shoplifting affecting viability of establishments. Spots within the town centre were attracting rising rates of ASB causing local people to not want to visit the area.

“We quickly realised that a cohesive response to tackle these issues was urgently required. We have implemented more high-visibility foot patrols which act as a deterrent to potential criminals and also provided the team opportunities to identify any prolific offenders.

“Reacting quickly and launching prompt investigations into new reports of ASB meant that no opportunities were lost to identify perpetrators and take action against them.”

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The key themes of safety and security were highlighted in the consultation for a £20m fund for the town centre. Rotherham Council committed £570,000 for 2025/26 to launch a new "Street Safe Team" focused on increasing safety in town and village centres.

Catching repeat criminals has helped reducing the rates of ASB in the town centre, but the way these offenders are handled has played a big part in reducing the amount of crime in the area.

Inspector Crapper added: “It has been important to appropriately deal with offenders on a case-by-case basis to ensure minimise the risk of re-offending. This included the use of behavioural contacts, such as Criminal Behaviour Orders and Criminal Community Protection Notices.

“We have worked with Rotherham Council, identifying offenders whose behaviour could be tackled through civil remedies and out-of-court disposals.

“Establishing regular meetings with partners has been essential to handling this problem, as well as setting up a Business Crime Reduction Partnership which has attracted over forty local businesses.

“Thank you to all the businesses, retail workers and local people who engaged with us and helped us achieve this result.

"Although it is fantastic to see these results, we will not rest on our laurels. We will continue to work proactively to target anti-social behaviour as we know just how much it affects local communities.

"Please continue to report any issues or concerns you have to us so we can properly and thoroughly investigate, identify the offenders and take appropriate action."

Images: Rotherham Central Neighbourhood Policing Team / Facebook

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News: New investment aims to boost visitor numbers in Rotherham town centre

Rotherham Council's new budget for the next financial year includes proposals for two new initiatives around parking and safety that are designed to attract more visitors into Rotherham town centre.

Thanks to an additional £1.3 billion in government funding for councils, Rotherham will benefit from a £14m boost in 2025/26—one of the largest funding increases for local councils in the country. The council said that "While this extra funding is welcome, it comes against the backdrop of years of austerity, inflation, and growing pressures on local services."

One key investment in the budget for 2025/26 is £570,000 to launch a new "Street Safe Team" focused on increasing safety in town and village centres.

This uniformed team will target high footfall areas including Rotherham town centre, and the principal towns of Dinnington, Wath, Maltby and Swinton, using local intelligence to tackle issues and offer a reassuring and familiar point of contact for residents and visitors.

A paper to the council's cabinet adds: "Negative perceptions of the town centre are seen to have a significant impact on people choosing to spend time in the town centre and when they do, not fully enjoying the experience, which is improving because of the Council’s focus on regeneration.

"The new "Street Safe Team", funded by this investment, will have dedicated resources and the ability to deploy various powers to bolster enforcement. Alongside existing uniformed officers, they will provide a welcoming and reassuring presence in the town centres.

"A highly visible team, they will act as the eyes and ears of the Council and will be expected to identify and report issues where they are unable to intervene directly. The team will focus on making best use of intelligence data and information in order to target resources and problem solve Community Safety issues."

The team will deal with issues such as street drinking, anti-social behaviour, parking enforcement, as well as enforcement for issues such as littering and wider environmental issues.

With investment in a dedicated team, the aim is to reduce both actual and perceived crime and increase feelings of safety. Rothbiz reported in September that this issue was fedback through the consultation for a £20m Long Term Plan for Towns where the idea of a coordinated town centre team made it into the draft plan.

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£50,000 has also been budgeted by the Council to offer free parking for the first hour in Council-operated car parks in the town centre. This scheme aims to "support local businesses, boost footfall, and encourage residents to shop locally."

Free parking is already offered in the town centre at all Council Off-Street car parks on Saturdays and Sundays and on street after 6pm.

A price freeze is also expected at Drummond Street, Wellgate North, Wellgate Multi Storey, Douglas Street, Unity Place, Westgate, Clifton Hall, Forge Island and Scala, ahead of the major developments planned in future years. A small increase in parking charges is listed at Clifton Park where £33,000 is set to be spent improving the overflow car park which can also double as an event space.

The move comes as the authority continues to report that the ongoing economic impact on Rotherham town centre footfall continues to see a reduction in income from parking charges.

Across the borough, investment is being made to improve the council's business centres, extend the Employment Solutions programme, drive forward negotiations and bring the Bassingthorpe Farm site to delivery, and invest in flood protection for Catcliffe.

The Council is proposing a 3% Council Tax increase and budget proposals will be presented to Cabinet on February 10, before going to Full Council for final approval on March 5.

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News: Safe, welcoming, green, and with accessible services and facilities - £20m vision for Rotherham town centre

Councillors in Rotherham have been given an update on how £20m of government funding could be used to continue the regeneration of Rotherham town centre, despite doubts being raised whether the money will reach the borough.

After a consultation period, the key themes of safety and security, high streets, heritage and regeneration, and transport and connectivity are at the forefront of local priorities with a number of objectives and potential schemes being looked at.

Rothbiz reported last month that the town's MP, Sarah Champion, and leader of the Council, Cllr. Chris Read, had written to the government regarding regeneration funding awarded to Rotherham town centre under the previous government.

In 2023 Rotherham was selected as one of 55 towns to be given £20m endowment-style funds to invest in local people’s priorities. A government deadline of August 1 2024 was moved and a submission date remains unconfirmed.

The Rotherham Town Board, a private-sector chaired board that oversees government spending in the borough, has been working on a new 10-year vision and 3-year investment plan relating to the £20m fund. An update was recently presented to the council's Improving Places Select Commission.

Setting out a geographic area and broad investment themes, the government also published a policy toolkit, a list of interventions that provide the opportunity for Town Boards to take bespoke, ‘off-menu’ approaches.

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For Rotherham, one of the main areas of investment is around "feeling safe." The report states: "Investment will contribute to the establishment of a 'Rotherham Town Team' with dedicated, cross-organisation resources and powers to bolster enforcement, providing a welcoming and reassuring presence in the town centre.

"The town centre team will increase capacity for both preventative and responsive interventions such as building and coordinating local intelligence, dealing with street drinking, anti-social behaviour and signposting people to support and services."

Under "social interaction" funding is set to go to events, activities and campaigns to attract more people into the town centre, encourage them to stay and visit again.

Tackling the number of empty buildings is also listed as a priority, supporting work that is already underway where the council is undertaking acquisitions, with potential grant schemes and managed refurbishment projects.

A new focus for the town centre is around improving services and facilities with the report stating that: "The primary focus for this work will bring health to the High Street. Objectives will ensure the developing town centre community has access to good health facilities as well as giving those from around the Borough another reason to visit the town centre."

Improvements to public spaces links to both regeneration and safety so investment could follow in more high quality, well maintained public spaces.

Under transport and connectivity, interventions in the report include active travel schemes and improvements for gateways and routes to areas such as Clifton Park and the new mainline station zone towards Parkgate.

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News: Constituents' crime concerns at Carlton Park

Concerns are being raised about the goings on at a longstanding Rotherham hotel.

Local MP, Sarah Champion says that she has been made aware of "increasing issues with crime, drug use and anti-social behaviour in the Moorgate area and seemingly associated with the Carlton Park Hotel."

Since opening its doors in 1981, Carlton Park has hosted eberything from family events, party nights and visiting football teams. A change of ownership in 2019 saw Red Admiral Vintage pledge to embark on an extensive refurbishmnet but the hotel was closed during the COVID pandemic and has never fully reopened.

The MP believes that the issues are concerning, particularly given the close proximity of Thomas Rotherham College and Oakwood High School.

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In a letter to Rotherham Council and South Yorkshire Police, Sarah Champion says: "Residents have contacted me reporting an increase in anti-social behaviour, drug activity and drinking in the area. Residents are concerned that this is linked to the Carlton Park Hotel.

"Residents understand that the hotel is not open to paying guests, but that people arrive and leave at all hours, many of whom appear to be under the influence of drink or drugs.

"Constituents have suggested that the building may be being used as a bail hostel or halfway house."

Authorities are being asked regarding the use of the hotel and the operations at the building.

DJ Hotels & Resorts Ltd had been operating the site but Barton Huxley Management Ltd, a London-registed asset management firm, is currently responsible for the business rates for the premises.

The hotel continues to take bookings and its website states that: "While we are working hard to restore facilities please bear with us while our pool & dining options are closed.

Some recent online reviews seem to back up residents' claims.

One reviewer said last month: "No way can I recommend this hotel to stay in. It’s shabby and run down. I was confronted by a drunk man who was just outside reception. He appeared to be living in the hotel and was aggressive and had wet himself. After confronting us he wandered back inside."

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News: Rotherham firm fined £1.2m

A Rotherham metals recycling company has been fined £1.2m after a worker was injured after being struck by a wagon at its processing site.

On 10 August 2020 an employee of CF Booth Limited was walking across the site yard in Rotherham when he was struck by a moving 32-tonne skip wagon. The man was not wearing his hi-vis jacket and did not see the wagon approaching. The wagon driver did not see the employee prior to the collision due to concentrating on manoeuvring the vehicle around some low-level skips which had been placed on the corner near where the employee was crossing the yard.

Following the incident, the man sustained a fractured skull and also fractured his collar bone in two places but has since made a full recovery.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that at the time of the incident the site was not organised in such a way that pedestrians and vehicles could circulate in a safe manner. A suitable and sufficient workplace transport risk assessment was not in place for the segregation of vehicles and pedestrians. The company had failed to take steps to properly assess the risks posed by the movement of vehicles and pedestrians. The incident could have been prevented by adequately assessing the risks and implementing appropriate control measures such as physical barriers and crossing points.

Every workplace must be safe for the people and vehicles using it and traffic routes must be suitable for the people and vehicles using them. HSE has guidance on workplace transport with advice on keeping traffic routes safe and separating people from vehicles.

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At Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on April 25, CF Booth Limited pleaded guilty of breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They were fined £1.2m and ordered to pay costs of £5,694.85.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Kirstie Durrans said: “If CF Booth Limited had assessed the risks and ensured vehicles and pedestrians could circulate in a safe manner, this incident could have easily been avoided.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyers Karen Park and Kate Harney, and supported by paralegal officer Rebecca Forman.

CF Booth Ltd had a turnover of £135.7m for the financial year ending March 31 2023.

CF Booth website
HSE website

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News: Wickersley pub and bar policy to continue

Rotherham Council's cabinet has approved the continuation of a policy that affects the number of new or varied alcohol licences being granted in the popular Wickersley area of the borough.

A statement of licensing policy was approved in 2020 as the council is responsible for licensing the sale of alcohol, hot food and various events. It included a Cumulative Impact Policy which detailed that an area of Wickersley village would become a Cumulative Impact Zone.

Policies are introduced if the authority considers that the number of licensed premises within a defined area is at such a level that the granting of further licences would be inconsistent with the promotion of the licensing objectives.

The zone covers Wickersley North, Thurcroft and Wickersley South and was introduced to combat "problems surrounding anti-social behaviour, low-level crime, public nuisance including noise and ambulance related alcohol call outs in a mainly residential area."

Following a review, cabinet members met recently to agree that the policy stays in place.

42 of the 47 responses relating to Wickersley were from local residents, all of whom stated that they had experienced noise disturbance and littering / dumping of rubbish in the last 12 months. All but two of the residents that responded indicated that they have experienced vandalism / criminal damage or antisocial behaviour in the last 12 months.

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A council report adds: "Five Wickersley based businesses responded to the consultation, all of whom disagreed that the Cumulative Impact Assessment has had a positive impact on their business. However only two of those expressed the view that the Cumulative Impact Assessment has prevented them from carrying out their business activities / interests."

Sam Barstow, Assistant Director, Community Safety & Street Scene, at Rotherham Council said: "In 2020 The council considered that the number and type of premises in the Wickersley area were having a detrimental on the lives of local residents, and particularly on the licence holders to meet the licencing objectives - particularly around crime and disorder and public nuisance.

"We have used the consultation to assess whether the zone in Wickerlsey is still justified, but also to see if any other areas of Rotherham would benefit from a similar zone.

"The review has concluded that the Wickersley zone should be retained but we have not identified any evidence at this stage to justify any zones elsewhere across the borough."

The Council was keen to make clear that the policy does not create a ban on the grant of licenses within Wickersley but an applicant "must be able to demonstrate to the Council and other responsible authorities that granting a new or varied licence will not add to the cumulative impact already being experienced within the area."

Since the policy's introduction, FIKA Coffee Lounge successfully secured a licence for the sale by retail of alcohol and over the road, The Garrison restaurant secured planning permission in 2021 to operate as a drinking establishment, despite objections.

In 2022, Rothbiz reported that operators of Seasons restaurant, who are also the owners of The Courtyard next door, wanted to vary its premises licence. Earlier this year, The Yard applied for planning permission so that it can continue to open later.

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News: Owners of eyesore Rotherham site prosecuted

Rotherham Council has successfully prosecuted a company after fire services were called out five times within a year to deal with fires within a derelict building and grounds.

Millside Developments Ltd were taken to court for their failure to comply with notices served under the Anti-social Behavior, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Sheffield Magistrates Court heard how a former school and training centre, the Millside Centre, on Doncaster Road in Dalton, was visited by Council officers following complaints of fire damage, broken windows, and open access to the building and grounds.

The authority agreed to dispose of the property in 2012 after it was deemed surplus to the requirements. Auctioneers, Mark Jenkinson & Son, sold the lot for £175,000 in 2017 and it was wrecked by fire in the same year. In 2021, outline planning approval was secured for a residential scheme on the site, which was sold again after going to auction.

In addition to the reported fires in 2021 and 2022, the building was attracting anti-social behavior, fly tipping and rough sleeping. Concerns had been raised around the potential harm to someone accessing the building, as well as the site having a detrimental effect on the surrounding area.

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Following evidence collected on site showing easy access to the building and perimeter, notices were sent to the owners ordering the premises be secured, a structural survey to be carried out, and for the waste to be removed and properly disposed of.

Failing to comply with the notices, the company was found guilty in their absence from court, fined £5000 and ordered to pay £2,819 costs and a victim surcharge of £2,000.

Former Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, Cllr. Dominic Beck, said: "I hope this case sends out a message to all companies to secure their empty premises and prevent them to be used as a dumping ground for waste.

“It makes the area look unkempt and uncared for, affecting the wellbeing of residents. We are committed to doing what we can to hold owners to account and I am pleased that we have secured these convictions as a deterrent to others.”

Shayne Tottie, Rotherham district commander at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: “We welcome this prosecution by Rotherham Council. Repeated call outs to preventable incidents such as this tie up our resources and, more importantly, put lives at risk.

“If you own a business and are not sure what responsibilities you have when it comes to fire safety, we have plenty of resources on our website to help you ensure your business is compliant.”

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News: Rotherham Council consults on taxi licensing

Rotherham Council is inviting people to have their say on a consultation about proposed changes to the Hackney Carriage (taxi) and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

The 2015 Casey report into Rotherham Council found that it had "weak and ineffective arrangements for taxi licensing which leave the public at risk" when it concluded that the authority "has not taken, and does not take, sufficient steps to ensure only fit and proper persons are permitted to hold a taxi licence."

That same year, a new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy was introduced by the Council and it is widely regarded as a benchmark for other local authorities.

An updated policy came in during 2020 and several additional requirements were introduced, although the implementation of some measures has been delayed.

Now the policy is up for review, with the increase in out of town vehicles and sub-contracting being one focus.

The council acknowledges that, since the pandemic, the way that drivers are working has changed. Many choose to work for firms that have licences to operate in a number of different districts, such as Uber. Local firms are also using of drivers and vehicles licensed by other Councils.

And with the more stringent regulations in Rotherham around the age of vehicles and emissions, it has been suggested that a local driver can save between £2,000 - £3,000 on the cost of a vehicle by opting for a licence elsewhere.

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A report from Rotherham Council said: "The proliferation of out of town vehicles is concerning, not least because this activity undermines the standards that are set by the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy. In addition, members of the local trade are not working within a “level playing field” and are finding that drivers licensed elsewhere are benefiting from an unfair commercial advantage due to lower operational costs."

Additional conditions are proposed to be included within the revised policy. Private Hire Operators will need to inform the customer at the time of booking if it will be sub-contracted to another Private Hire Operator. Operators must also maintain records of each subcontracted booking and inspections / compliance visits will include a detailed assessment of any arrangements that are in place for the sub-contracting of bookings to other operators.

Other proposed changes relate to vehicle age and emissions, vehicle testing, vehicle signage, the driver application process, and more offences are to be added to the convictions that bar drivers from the job.

Cllr Denise Lelliott, Cabinet member Jobs and the Local Economy, said: “Rotherham taxis and private hire cars are strongly regulated, but we’re always striving to improve vehicle and customer safety. For us to be able to do this, we need to listen to your views and make any necessary changes that will further strengthen taxi licensing for customers, drivers and operators.”

All responses to the consultation will be considered before the policy goes back to Cabinet for approval later this year.

Chair of the Licensing Board, Cllr Sue Ellis, said: “I’d encourage all residents to take a look at our proposed changes and let us have their thoughts on them. It’s only by working together that we can further improve and protect our communities.”

“The Council is a beacon for good practice nationally and it’s essential that we continue to lead the way when it comes to taxi safety.”

RMBC consultation website

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News: Government grants £20m "endowment" for Rotherham regeneration

Rotherham has been selected by the government as one of 55 towns to be given £20m endowment-style funds each over ten years to invest in local people’s priorities.

The Prime Minister said that he is putting local people in control of more than £1 billion with a long-term plan for left-behind towns that have been overlooked and taken for granted.

With dwindling council budgets and European funding allocations, areas have been forced to bid for funding from various government pots. Rotherham has had success. In March it was announced that Rotherham will receive £20m for regeneration in The Budget for Wath and Dinnington.

In 2021, Rotherham secured £31.6m from the Town Deal to revamp areas of Rotherham town centre as well as Templeborough and Eastwood, and £12.6m from the Future High Streets Fund. In the same year, two of the three bids from Rotherham were successful in securing money from the Government's Levelling Up Fund - £19.5m for the town centre and £19.9m for a number of connected projects which aim to build a new leisure industry.

Now Rotherham has been given the opportunity to develop a long-term plan supported by a Towns Board (A private-sector chaired Rotherham Town Deal Board is already established to oversee regeneration progress and a place-based investment strategy was published earlier this year).

It means that, local people, not Whitehall-based politicians, will be put in charge, and given the tools to change their town’s long-term future.

Rotherham is set to receive a ten-year £20m endowment-style fund to be spent on local people’s priorities, like regenerating local high streets and town centres or securing public safety.

The Town Board will bring together community leaders, employers, local authorities, and the local MP, to deliver the Long-Term Plan for their town and put it to local people for consultation.

The plan will set out Rotherham’s vision and priorities for investment and regeneration, aligned to themes of safety and security, high streets, heritage and regeneration, and transport and connectivity.

The cash will be used alongside a suite of regeneration powers to unlock more private sector investment by auctioning empty high street shops, reforming licensing rules on shops and restaurants, and supporting more housing in town centres.

Town Boards will have direct government support in addition to the funding and powers they receive through the government's new "Long-Term Plan for Towns," and will be required to engage local people on their long-term plan.

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Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said: "Towns are the place most of us call home and where most of us go to work. But politicians have always taken towns for granted and focused on cities.

"The result is the half-empty high streets, run-down shopping centres and anti-social behaviour that undermine many towns’ prosperity and hold back people’s opportunity – and without a new approach, these problems will only get worse.

"That changes today. Our Long-Term Plan for Towns puts funding in the hands of local people themselves to invest in line with their priorities, over the long-term. That is how we level up.

"On the occasions over the years when governments have tried to help towns, the story has always been the same. Short-term funding pots, often put in the control of councils that are already failing, with little or no consultation with the people that really matter – local people. It’s time to invest directly in the places that need it most, not politicians that squander the most."

Levelling Up Secretary, Michael Gove said: "We know that in our towns the values of hard work and solidarity, common sense and common purpose, endeavour and quiet patriotism have endured across generations. But for too long, too many of our great British towns have been overlooked and undervalued.

"We are putting this right through our Long-Term Plan for Towns backed by over £1 billion of levelling up funding.

"This will empower communities in every part of the UK to take back control of their future, taking long term decisions in the interests of local people. It will mean more jobs, more opportunities and a brighter future for our towns and the people who live and work in them."

Funding is set to be used to improve transport and connections to make travel easier for residents and increase visitor numbers in centres, tackle crime and anti social behaviour, and enhance town centres to make high streets more attractive and accessible, including repurposing empty shops for new housing, creating more green spaces, cleaning up streets or running market days.

Once a town board is in place, some "capacity funding" will be released in Spring 2024 so that long term plans can be drawn up and submitted from summer 2024 and draw down funding for the first year.

The government is establishing a "Towns Taskforce" that will help Town Boards to develop their Town Plans, and advise them on how best to take advantage of government policies, unlock private and philanthropic investment and engage their communities.

Images: RMBC / Jackson Civil Engineering

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News: Wickersley pub and bar policy under review

Rotherham Council is consulting on its policy that affects the number of new or varied alcohol licences being granted in the popular Wickersley area of the borough.

A statement of licensing policy was approved in 2020 as the council is responsible for licensing the sale of alcohol, hot food and various events. It included a Cumulative Impact Policy which detailed that an area of Wickersley village would become a Cumulative Impact Zone.

Policies are introduced if the authority considers that the number of licensed premises within a defined area is at such a level that the granting of further licences would be inconsistent with the promotion of the licensing objectives.

The zone covers Wickersley North, Thurcroft and Wickersley South and was introduced to combat "problems surrounding anti-social behaviour, low-level crime, public nuisance including noise and ambulance related alcohol call outs in a mainly residential area."

The policy is required to be reviewed every three years, and any review must be consulted upon, before being published alongside an appropriate evidence base.

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The latest Cumulative Impact Policy consultation will focus on a review of the effectiveness of the current cumulative impact assessment active in Wickersley, and look at whether any other parts of the borough would benefit from a cumulative impact assessment being introduced.

Residents are asked about how licensed premises have affected their quality of life whilst business owners are asked about the positive impact of the zone or if it prevents them trading.

The Council was keen to make clear that the policy does not create a ban on the grant of licenses within Wickersley but an applicant "must be able to demonstrate to the Council and other responsible authorities that granting a new or varied licence will not add to the cumulative impact already being experienced within the area."

There were nineteen premises within Wickersley back in 2020, sixteen located along a 300 metre section of Bawtry Road. It was explained that the area does not have the required infrastructure to deal with a large and sustained night-time economy and residents have cited noise nuisance from premises as a key issue, alongside issues with street scene such as broken glass, fouling and vomiting.

Since the policy's introduction, FIKA Coffee Lounge successfully secured a licence for the sale by retail of alcohol and over the road, The Garrison restaurant secured planning permission in 2021 to operate as a drinking establishment, despite objections.

In 2022, Rothbiz reported that operators of Seasons restaurant, who are also the owners of The Courtyard next door, wanted to vary its premises licence. Earlier this year, The Yard applied for planning permission so that it can continue to open later.

The Council is also consluting on its Gambling Act Policy. The authority is responsible for licensing local gambling places in the borough and sets conditions by which these places must be run. This responsibility provides an opportunity to influence the local gambling industry and minimise where possible, the harm that might be caused by problem gambling.

The current Gambling Act Policy includes a number of clauses that are intended to promote safer gambling practices and protect vulnerable people. This latest consultation will determine whether changes to the policy should be recommended to the Council Cabinet for review and implementation.

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News: Police have "no confidence" in Pitches events proposal

Environmental health officers and South Yorkshire Police are both recommending that Rotherham Council's licensing board turn down an application that would enable a number of near 10,000 capacity outdoor events on a plot of greenbelt land.

Having been turned down planning permission for housing on the land close to The Stag known as The Pitches, the owners recently applied for an events and alcohol licence to cover the whole site.

If approved, a number of events a year would be allowed related to the performance of plays, exhibition of films, live music, recorded music and the perrformance of dance. The capacity for the events would be no more than 9,999 and would include the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises, that is the open space. The hours sought in the application are between 12 noon and 10pm every day of the week, closing at 11pm.

The application, from Pocket Sports Bar Limited, which operates in Worksop and Mexborough, is due to be discussed by councillors on the authority's Licensing Sub-Committee next week.

Catherine Lunn, Community Protection & Environmental Health Manager at Rotherham Council, said: "Following a review of the above application I am unable to agree to the granting of this licence due to concerns regarding noise affecting the surrounding residential area. The premise is surrounded on all sides by residential properties and the area is densely populated. Allowing the licence is likely to breach licensing objective in relation prevention of public nuisance."

The representation adds that there is not enough detail in the application - for example regarding controlling noise and other nuisance, traffic management, including vehicular entrance and egress to the site and parking, maintaining blue routes for emergency vehicles and policies around alcohol, drugs, entry, security and staff training.

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The report adds: "The application relies on, an as yet unseen, event management plan to provide effective control. It fails to provide site specific information. There is no option for the Responsible Authorities to reject any event management plan submitted. This means that an event could proceed regardless of any concerns any of the Responsible Authorities may have.

"The applicant has employed a professional event management company to make the application on their behalf. It is accepted that the event management plans they have produced for alternative venues are comprehensive. However, should an application be granted, there would be no obligation on the part of the applicant to employ the services of a professional event management company.

"It is therefore critical that the detail of the intended operation of an event is clearly set out in the application. The Licensing Authority would reiterate the recommendation that the application is refused as it fails to demonstrate how the licencing objectives would be promoted should a licence be granted."

South Yorkshire Police is raising an objection based on crime and disorder, public nuisance and public safety.

Tracey Klein, Licensing Assistant at SYP, said: "The applicant has not provided enough evidence as to how the premise will operate and what measures will be put in place to enable to premise to operate within the guidelines set out in the Licensing Act.

"The applicant held a pre-consultation, where South Yorkshire Police provided additional conditions we would require, it was noted that the formal application would still have to be processed and other departments within South Yorkshire Police would be consulted to provide comments, unfortunately other than the conditions we initially requested no other conditions were offered. As a result South Yorkshire Police have no confidence that the premise will run within the guidelines set out in the Licensing act and uphold the four licensing objectives."

The nine acre site on Wickersley Road has previously been used for football, cricket, hockey, tennis and bowls but it has been vacant for over five years. However, the club house remains on the site, complete with alcohol licence.

A number of residents have made representations on the latest licence application. They raise concerns around crime, traffic, noise, safety and the impact on the green space.

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News: Auditor resigns from Liberty Speciality Steels

The firm paid to audit Liberty Speciality Steel, which operates facilities in Rotherham, has resigned, with the annual accounts still unpublished.

The company, part of Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance, employs hundreds of staff in South Yorkshire, including in Rotherham. Gupta completed a £100m deal to acquire the Speciality Steels division of Tata Steel UK in 2017.

Last year, a group of MPs has noted a series of audit and corporate governance "red flags" around Liberty Steel having looked at the steel industry more closely following the collapse of Liberty's principal lender, Greensill Capital.

Since the inquiry, Liberty Steel has restarted production in Rotherham, having injected £50m of shareholder funds whilst it continues to look for longer term financing.

A relatively small audit firm, King & King, has now resigned its position at Liberty Speciality Steel and has brought a number of issues to the attention of the company's creditors.

In a letter to Sanjeev Gupta, Milan Patel, partner at King & King, said that it had been “unable to complete” audits of accounts for the year ending March 31 2020 "due to a lack of information and evidence in connection with the publicly reported SFO [Serious Fraud Office] investigation, the alleged fraud(s) and any internal investigations."

In April, the SFO attended trading addresses linked with Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance to request documents including company balance sheets, annual reports and correspondence related to the SFO’s investigation into suspected fraud, fraudulent trading and money laundering in relation to the financing and conduct of the business of companies within the GFG Alliance, including its financing arrangements with Greensill Capital UK Ltd.

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King & King also said that there was a lack of evidence on the company's ability to fund its future operations for at least 12 months from the approval of the financial statements.

The audit firm also reported a lack of information and evidence regarding related parties and the "recoverability of related party balances."

With talk of Government support for the business last year, Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng described GFG as having an "opaque structure" with "no guarantees where that money might eventually go." The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee discussed the structure and "questionable corporate governance arrangements" and added: "We believe that until Mr Gupta restructures his GFG Alliance companies into a more acceptable corporate structure and publishes consolidated accounts that are adequately audited, that he fails to fulfil the criteria that we believe should be applied to define a fit and proper person for the purposes of receiving any form of Government support."

The committee also discussed the choice of auditor and reported: "We found it utterly unconvincing, and do not believe that King & King had the capacity, expertise, or resources to audit the accounts of multiple large GFG Alliance and Liberty Steel UK companies representing over £2.5 billion of revenue.

"The reputation of Liberty Steel UK has been threatened by the poor audit and accounting practices of GFG Alliance, including the changing of accounting deadlines and its inability to produce consolidated accounts. As these accounts are yet to be published it is difficult to see the true financial picture of Liberty Steel UK. Unless remedied, these deficiencies severely limit the potential of that firm to be viewed as a reliable partner in any long-term strategy for the UK steel industry."

In May, the regulator of auditors, accountants and actuaries, the Financial Reporting Council, launched an investigation regarding four audits by King & King, including the audit of the consolidated financial statements of Liberty Speciality Steels Limited for the year ended 31 March 2019.

In June, courts ruled that financial firms Citibank and Credit Suisse could continue with their winding up petition against the speciality steels division of Liberty Steel. Issued to the courts by those seeking to recover money that they are owed, the move came ater HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) issued a petition to have the speciality steel company wound up but following positive discussions, the petitions were withdrawn.

In a statement to the Financial Times, GFG Alliance said: "We have parted company with King & King due to overall issues resulting from the collapse of Greensill Capital. We are in the process of appointing new auditors. There is no impact on the operations of any of our businesses."

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News: Objectors don't want Seasons to change

Local councillors are accusing the operators of a new restaurant in a Rotherham village of going back on their word following an application to vary the premises licence.

Rothbiz reported in 2019 on proposals for a change of use at 151 and 153 Bawtry Road and Unit 6 on The Courtyard to create a combined unit as a restaurant.

Earlier plans for a craft ale bar were refused by the Council and Seasons Restaurant opened in Wickersley in early 2022. A decked area was later added to the premises.

The area of Wickersley village has been designated as a Cumulative Impact Zone and applicants "must be able to demonstrate to the Council and other responsible authorities that granting a new or varied licence will not add to the cumulative impact already being experienced within the area."

Operators, who are also the owners of The Courtyard, want to vary the premises licence that currently restricts Seasons to operate solely as a restaurant, save for alcohol being served to those waiting to be seated or ancillary to a restaurant meal.

Applicants want the venue to be used similar to a drinking establishment during private prebooked functions (the current condition states that customers shall remain seated when consuming alcohol), and, at all times, for up to 20 customers to be permitted to stand while consuming beverages in a small area at the entrance.

The current licence requires a minimum of three SIA door supervisors to manage customers from Seasons and adjacent premises from 10pm on Friday and Saturday evenings when the Courtyard is open and trading. Applicants also want this condition removed.

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The licencing officer at Rotherham Council said that the changes would make the premises "more akin to a pub than a restaurant and would adversely affect residents within the locality due to noise and the likelihood for increased disorder following increased demand for drinks only within the premises."

The representation from the officer adds: "With the current licence allowing until midnight and the applicant wishing to retain midnight on a Friday and Saturday there would be the likelihood of the premises becoming a bar after 22.00hrs with no door supervision and significant adverse impact on residents in the locality.

"The applicant has also requested the terminal hour remain midnight Monday – Thursday should the premises be carrying out a pre-booked function. This would result in the premsies having vertical drinking only until midnight with no door supervision or restriction. The ability to operate in this way would affect the crime and disorder and public nuisance licensing objectives."

An objection on behalf of the three local councillors, Cllr. Ellis, Cllr. Read and Cllr. Hoddinott adds; "At the original hearing [in 2020] the committee were on numerous occasions told and reassured that the premises would only be solely used as a restaurant and that they aspired to becoming a Michelin star restaurant. Due to this the committee attached various conditions to ensure this happened and to ameliorate the problems that the local community are facing. It was only due to the conditions being attached that the license was granted.

"The proposed removal of some of the conditions ... would enable an extensive area to become a bar area, only being used for the serving of alcohol with no necessity for any food to be served or consumed. This is at complete odds to all that was said to the committee and the community."

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News: Rotherham director banned for wrongly claiming Bounce Back Loans

A Rotherham-based director overstated turnover for his four construction contractor companies to secure £200,000 Covid-19 financial support to which he was not entitled.

Stephen Burke, 63, from Woodhouse Mill, has been disqualified as a director for 11 years after he took £200,000 of taxpayers’ money through the Bounce Back Loan scheme that his companies were not entitled to.

Burke was director of four companies that provided services to construction projects: Yorkshire Plant Hire and Sales Ltd, Yorkshire Site Preparation Ltd, Woodhouse Civil Engineering Ltd and Richmond Brokers Ltd.

One of the four companies, Yorkshire Site Preparation Ltd, was listed as dormant with Companies House by January 2020. Of the other three, their company accounts ending January 2020 indicated turnover ranging from just £635 to £3,400.

Despite this, Burke, who was sole director of each company by 2020, stated on the application forms that turnover was between £200,000 and £320,000 for each company. This allowed him to secure four Bounce Back Loans for the full £50,000 permitted under the scheme.

He spent £174,000 repaying a personal loan to his former partner, which was also a breach of the loans’ conditions as they could only be spent on legitimate business expenditure.

In February 2021, Burke sought to dissolve all four companies. This was blocked due to the outstanding loans being identified, and instead the companies were placed in liquidation. The Liquidator has begun recovery action.

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The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy accepted a disqualification undertaking from Stephen John Burke, after he admitted obtaining £200,000 in government Bounce Back Loans, the maximum amount available of £50,000 per company, by overstating company turnover, then using the funds obtained to repay a personal loan and not for the economic benefit of the company.

His ban is effective from 4 August 2022 and lasts for 11 years.

The disqualification undertaking prevents him from directly, or indirectly, becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.

Rob Clarke, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: "Coronavirus support schemes were introduced to help British businesses through the most testing of times, providing them with the financial support to protect jobs and return to prosperity.

"Stephen Burke not only sought to defraud the Bounce Back Loan scheme for personal gain, but then sought to cover his tracks by dissolving the companies he’d used. This abhorrent conduct has rightly resulted in a lengthy ban, removing his ability to trade with the benefit of limited liability until 2033."

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News: PSPO to continue in Eastwood

Powers to address anti-social behaviour (ASB) are set to be re-implemented in the Eastwood area of Rotherham.

2017 saw the introduction of the borough's first Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in the town centre and Clifton Park after the Council said that it continued to receive complaints about a minority of people who behave in an unacceptable way.

A PSPO introduces a number of prohibitions to address the anti-social behaviour of individuals visiting these areas. By outlining these prohibitions it makes it clear what kind of behaviour is acceptable.

A similar order was implemented in 2019 in Eastwood, a residential and business area on the edge of Rotherham town centre.

A report submitted to Rotherham Council, which was approved at the Cabinet meeting earlier this month, showed that 90% of respondents to recent consultation supported a new designation which will run for a further three years.

Cllr Saghir Alam, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Community Safety and Finance, said: “The consultation showed public support for continuing with the PSPO for this area of Rotherham.

“The new powers which were introduced to tackle the minority of people who make life unpleasant for others have had an effect but it is clear from the results that more needs to be done. We are pleased that Cabinet has approved the report’s recommendation.”

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Conditions in the PSPO include: behaving in such a way or using language that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to another person; drinking alcohol other than in a licensed premises or event; causing noise that is likely to have a detrimental impact on a person(s) quality of life.

In addition, residents, landlords and managing agents, will need to put their wheelie bins away, as the council receives complaints regarding the street scene.

Any individual in breach of the PSPO is subject to a £100 penalty. Those that failed to pay this would be liable for prosecution.

Chief Superintendent Stephen Chapman said: “We fully support the application for the refreshed Public Space Protection Order in relation to Fitzwilliam Road. Numerous complaints are regularly received from within the community which relate to anti-social behaviour, and environmental issues including waste management.

“There have been 34 reports to South Yorkshire Police within the area for these incident categories so far this year to date, this is in addition to issues that will have been dealt with by officer intervention without an incident being created, or ASB that would be linked to other recorded matters.

“The refreshed PSPO would afford SYP and partner agencies the powers and tools to deal with such complaints in a robust manner, whilst also raising awareness to those that may behave in such a way that this conduct is not acceptable. The additional powers afforded under the PSPO would serve to reassure the community that SYP and partners are taking their concerns seriously and seeking to take appropriate action.”

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News: £200k Covid-19 Bounce Back Loan fraud uncovered in Rotherham

A Rotherham-based director who fraudulently obtained £150,000 Covid-19 financial assistance has been banned from running a business along with a friend who also took £50,000.

Muneef Ihsan, 26 from Rotherham, was director of three companies between 2019 and 2020. All three, Porthart Ltd, Bargain Basement 90 Ltd and Bargains Basement 90 Ltd, were registered at the same residential address in Rotherham, and were each placed into voluntary liquidation by Muneef Ihsan in September 2020.

The liquidations triggered an investigation by the Insolvency Service, which found that Muneef Ihsan opened a bank account for each company in June 2020, after the pandemic began, for the sole purpose of fraudulently obtaining three £50,000 Covid-19 Bounce Back Loans.

As there was no evidence that any of the companies had ever traded, none of them were eligible for the loans, which the government made available for genuine firms that were struggling keep going during lockdown.

Upon receiving the funds, Ihsan made cash withdrawals from each of the companies’ bank accounts totalling £24,342. He then set about transferring the remainder of the Bounce Bank Loan funds to companies controlled by Mahir Towid Ul Haque, who he described as ‘a close friend’, as well as other third parties.

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Mahir Towid Ul Haque (21), also from Rotherham, was appointed director of Hiitness Ltd in May 2020, which Ul Haque claimed was an online sports good retailer.

The company was placed into voluntary liquidation by Ul Haque in November 2020, which again resulted in an investigation by the Insolvency Service.

Investigators uncovered that similar to Muneef Ihsan, Ul Haque opened a bank account for the company in June 2020 and took out a £50,000 Covid-19 Bounce Back Loan.

Further enquiries established that Ul Haque used the loan funds by purchasing a Rolex watch, transferred £16,050 to his personal account, withdrew £8,410 in cash from the company bank account and transferred £12,500 to other third parties.

There was no evidence that the Bounce Back Loan had been used for the benefit of Hiitness Ltd or that it had ever traded during Ul Haque’s time as a director of the business.

The Secretary of State accepted disqualification undertakings from both directors, with Muneef Ihsan banned for 13 years, and Mahir Towid Ul Haque banned for six years.

The pair cannot, directly or indirectly, be involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company without the permission of the court.

Robert Clarke, Chief Investigator for the Insolvency Service, said: "Abuse of Covid-19 support schemes, which have provided essential financial assistance to millions by helping businesses trade during the pandemic and protecting jobs, cannot be tolerated.

"The Insolvency Service has sent out a clear message that where a company is being used to facilitate fraudulent activity, action will be taken to remove the directors from the corporate arena for a lengthy period of time."

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News: Rotherham engineering company fined

C F Booth (Engineering) Ltd has been sentenced after a 37-year-old worker became entangled and pulled into a CNC lathe.

Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard that, on 9 May 2018, he was working on a Hankook CNC lathe setting up a workpiece on a jig which was held in the chuck and on the steady at the company's site at Lyme Street, Rotherham. As he leaned over the workpiece and the steady to adjust a rear screw, the grub screws on the workpiece caught his t-shirt and he was pulled into the machine. He sustained a large open cut to his arm, 24 stitches to his lip and underwent an operation on his arm.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that machinery had interlock devices fitted but they had been by-passed/defeated so it was possible to move guards/doors that should have been interlocked out of the way during set up, to allow access to the rotating chuck and workpiece.

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C F Booth (Engineering) Ltd of Wharfe Road Doncaster South Yorkshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company has been fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £3,077 in costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Carol Downes commented: “This case highlights the importance of ensuring safety features are working correctly and carrying out proper risk assessments.

“This incident could so easily have been avoided by ensuring safety devices are not defeated and by ensuring the correct control measures and safe working practices are in place.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

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News: Rotherham proprietor admits food hygiene standards breaches

A takeaway business proprietor has been hit with fines and legal costs totalling more than £3,000 after evidence of a rat infestation was found at his premises by Environmental Health Officers from Rotherham Council.

Faisal Syed appeared at Doncaster Magistrates' Court on this week and pleaded guilty to three offences dating from January 2020. He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £861 which reflect the costs of the investigation and prosecution. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £181. The total amount payable is £3,042.

The charges followed a routine food hygiene inspection at Planet Pizza, 18 Main Street, Rotherham, on 29 January 2020 by Environmental Health Officers. The officers found the premises to be in poor structural condition and requiring pest proofing. They also discovered evidence of the presence of rats, which presented an imminent risk to health.

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A Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice was served on Syed, requiring him to immediately close the premises due to unacceptable hygiene standards. A subsequent hearing at Sheffield Magistrates Court on 6 February 2020 confirmed the Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order and agreed with the actions of the Environmental Health Officers to immediately close the premises following the inspection, due to the presence of rats resulting in an imminent risk to health.

Rotherham Council’s Assistant Director of Community Safety & Street Scene, Tom Smith, said: “The hygiene standards at Planet Pizza fell well below what the public should expect.

“Food business operators have a legal duty to keep their premises to a high standard of cleanliness – and as in this case, we will not hesitate to take swift and decisive action against any failure to do so.”

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