Rotherham regains further powers

The Communities Secretary has confirmed the return of a further five functions to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.

The move to return the functions, which include community safety and waste collection, comes after the latest report by the government-appointed commissioner team that noted steady improvement by the council.

The council has already regained eight powers in the last nine months.

Sajid Javid will hand back control of these functions to the council: performance management in each of the council’s service areas; waste collection; community safety which includes community cohesion and domestic violence; human resources; and asset management including both land and property assets.

The community safety service will be returned with enhanced oversight by the commissioner team over services supporting victims of domestic violence, allowing the relevant commissioner to veto any cabinet decision if they feel necessary.

Commissioners will retain executive decision-making power over children’s social care services, special allowances, and also the appointment and dismissal of any statutory officers. They will also continue to have oversight over all returned functions.

Javid will continue to receive three-monthly reviews from the commissioners.

The intervention is expected to end on 31 March 2019.

Sajid Javid, Communities Secretary, said: “The council is continuing to make progress under the watchful eye of our commissioners and the return of additional powers to Rotherham reflects this progress.

“However, the commissioners will remain in place and continue to work with the council to help restore full democratic powers.”