Joint Working Group meeting minutes

Meeting: RMBC and Local Councils Joint Working Group

Date: 24 March 2025

Venue: Gordon Bennett Memorial Hall

Chair: Martin Hughes

Minute taker: Catherine Oxtoby

In attendance

• Martin Hughes: Head of Neighbourhoods, RMBC
• Catherine Oxtoby: Parish Council Liaison Officer, RMBC
• Dave Rowley: Ravenfield Parish Council
• Karen Jay: Ravenfield Parish Council
• Les Clarke: Dinnington Town Council
• Andrew Bates: Wickersley Parish Council
• Sarah Christie: Programme Manager, Children’s Capital of Culture, RMBC

Apologies

• Kate Butler: Aston cum Aughton PC
• Mick Elliott: Aston cum Aughton PC
• Clive Jepson: Anston Parish Council
• Cllr Sheppard: Rotherham Council

Items to discuss

1. Welcome and Introductions

   Martin welcomed all to the meeting and introductions were made.

   The meeting was not quorate so no actions were agreed.

2. Notes from last meeting

   CO to ensure that who to contact leaflets are sent to clerks.
   Awaiting confirmation that all Who to Contact leaflets are updated, once this is done they will be sent to all Clerks.

   CO to distribute South Yorkshire police contact details.
   Contact details have been received from Inspector Birley, he has stated that these details should only be used to keep in contact with local police and not to report any crime. Contact details to be sent to Clerks with previous statement.

   CO to identify training opportunities from JWG Workplan.
   Currently consulting with Parish Councils re training, once consultation is complete training package will be developed and promoted.

   CO to invite Bal to next Network Meeting and plan discussion session.
   Bal was invited to the January meeting but was unable to attend, she has agreed to attend the May meeting instead.

   CO to request minutes from Transport Advisory Group be distributed to all Clerks.
   Completed, a link to all minutes was forwarded to all Clerks.

   CO to feedback to Wickersley Parish Council
   Update sent to AB and e-mail sent to Wickersley Clerk informing I was happy to arrange a meeting between Wickersley Parish Council and Licensing.  No response received as yet.

   Andrew Bates stated that Wickersley would be interested in speaking to somebody from planning rather than licensing.  All correspondence should be sent to the Deputy Clerk and the Clerk is currently off sick. 

   CO to contact Sarah Christie for update.
   Completed, Sarah Christie invited to March meeting.

3. Children’s Capital of Culture update

   This year Rotherham became the first ever Children’s Capital of Culture.  This was not a government mandated scheme but came from the children and young people in Rotherham and was written into the cultural strategy in 2019.

   The ambition is for the events and activities that are launched as part of the Children’s capital of culture to continue after the programme ends.  It is a partner led programme, all of which was designed in different ways by Children and Young people. 

   There is a lot of work done in schools to increase the creative learning in schools. 

   The programme has been successful in a funding bid from Big Lottery.  This will fund 25 young people, 16-25 years old, to be heritage producers.  These producers will work in their wards to collect people’s stories about what life is and was like in those communities. 

   The stories will be submitted into Rotherham Archives for preservation for the future and the memories shared will be used as inspiration for another project. 

   Each ward will then have a small ward based project that will create a legacy.

   Last month community micro grants were launched, these will fund small activities throughout the borough.  If there hasn’t already been an activity in a ward then the hope is that this money can be used to do some targeted work.  It would be useful to engage with Parish Councils as they will be aware of groups who may be able to support this work.

   Questions

   • What is the age range?

     Babies to 25 year olds.  The older end is more likely to be in one of the paid roles.

   • How are you recruiting young people?

     On 31 March the opportunity will be put out with a simple recruitment process that does not rely on academic achievements.  It would be useful if Parish Councils could promote these opportunities as ideally young people will be recruited from the ward they will be working in.  This will hopefully encourage those young people to continue to be engaged in their ward once the role has ended.

   • What social platforms will be used?

     Facebook, Instagram, website and mailing list.  We also have a monthly column in The Advertiser.  We have found that young people find out about the roles through word of mouth.

   • Can Parish Councils share these opportunities on their websites? 

     Yes, in addition to the online resources there are promotional dressings such as posters, bunting etc that can be used to draw attention to notice boards etc.

   Some members of the group were not aware of this project and expressed disappointment that they had not been able to get engaged.  It was stated that this project has been promoted for over a year and information has gone out several times to Parish Councils. 

   The programme hasn’t been planned in its entirety yet so there is plenty of time to engage and ideas for events and activities can still be submitted.

   Anyone that is already running something for Children and Young People in the borough can notify CCOC and they will add this to the website for promotion as well as include in the printed material. 

4. JWG Election

   Kevin Oxley from Dalton Parish Council was recently elected.  Turnout for voting was very poor, only 5 votes were received and only 1 of those was from a nominating council.

   It was suggested that a profile of nominated candidates goes out to Parish Councils as part of the voting process.  Candidates are asked to complete a profile when nominated so it is possible this already happens.

   ACTION: CO to confirm.
   UPDATE:  YLCA have confirmed that all councils are sent a profile of each candidate as part of the voting process.

5. Network Meetings

   Attendance at Network Meetings has been fairly low recently, numbers are expected to be higher at the May meeting due to the Solar Farm agenda item but need to increase numbers attending in general.  The best way to do this is to put topics on the agenda that are of interest to Parish Councils, suggestions for future topics would be appreciated.

   The following topics were suggested:-

   • Pot holes
   • Standards and Ethics
   • Parish Councils supporting each other
   • Social media platforms
   • Youth engagement
   • Engagement with Rotherham Council and residents
   • Precept
   • Management of community buildings
   • Social Values – corporate volunteering

6. AOB

   There was no other business

7. Date and time of next meeting

   Tuesday 17 June 1.00 until 3.00 at The Gordon Bennet Memorial Hall, Thurcroft