The Rotherham Council Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB) convened on 9 September 2025, to discuss the July financial monitoring report, the Community Safety Strategy, investment in community facilities, the Pathways to Work programme, and the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report. Councillor Brian Steele, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, led the meeting, which included pre-decision scrutiny of key strategic documents and updates on ongoing initiatives. The board supported recommendations for cabinet approval on the Community Safety Strategy and investment in community facilities, while also reviewing financial performance and strategies for economic development.

July 2025-26 Financial Monitoring Report

The board reviewed the July 2025-26 Financial Monitoring Report, which highlighted a forecast overspend of £2.4 million in the General Fund Revenue Budget. This overspend was attributed to directorate overspends of £7.7 million, particularly in Children and Young People's Services (CYPS) due to rising costs of residential placements and Adult Care, Housing & Public Health (ACH&PH) due to increased care package costs, which were partially offset by a projected £5.3 million underspend in central services. The underspend reflected the use of a £5.4 million social care contingency and savings from the council's treasury management strategy.

The board noted that the Local Government Pay Award had been agreed at 3.2%, costing £2.3 million above the allocated budget. The council's treasury management strategy, which minimises borrowing and uses short-term loans, was expected to generate savings to offset budget pressures.

Councillor John Blackham queried the credibility of the budget process, given the continued overspend in CYPS. The Assistant Director Financial Services acknowledged the concern, noting that the overspend was due to non-delivery of savings plans, and that a contingency had been included in the 2025-26 budget.

The board supported the recommendations that Cabinet:

• Note the current General Fund Revenue Budget forecast overspend of £2.4m.
• Note whilst there is a projected overspend, the Council expects to be able to manage this pressure during the year and return to a balanced position following mitigating actions, and that should that not be possible, the Council will need to draw on its reserves to balance the 2025/26 financial position.
• Note the updated position of the Capital Programme.

Community Safety Strategy 2025-2028

The board considered the Community Safety Strategy 2025-2028, a key document outlining the Safer Rotherham Partnership's (SRP) priorities. The SRP, of which the council is a key statutory partner, has agreed a new strategy, setting out priorities and commitments for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028. The strategy identifies three main priorities: Safer Neighbourhoods, Tackling violence, abuse and exploitation, and Preventing offending and building resilience.

The strategy was developed using an evidence-based approach, drawing on analysis of crime and community safety data and consultation with stakeholders. The board noted that the strategy streamlines priorities and supporting structures to focus on statutory requirements and areas not governed by other boards.

The board supported the recommendations that Cabinet:

• Endorse the Safer Rotherham Partnership Strategy and recommends it to Council for approval.
• Note the requirement for scrutiny of the Safer Rotherham Partnership Annual Report, which is discharged by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.
• Approve the ongoing informal consultation to capture service user voices throughout the duration of the plan.

Investing in our Community Facilities

The board discussed a report on investing in community facilities, which proposes allocating £600,000 to improve several community buildings across the borough. The investment aims to address health and safety issues, compliance, and structural integrity. The priority buildings identified for investment are:

• The Black Hut
• Oaklea Retreat
• Clifton Learning Centre
• The Meeting Place (Wingfield)
• Artworks, Brook Hill

The investment will be targeted at buildings with the greatest need, with a focus on health, safety, compliance, and structural integrity. Officers from Property and Facilities Services, in collaboration with the Council's Neighbourhood Teams and community groups, will define the scope of works and ensure that any investment is aligned with sustainable occupancy and governance arrangements.

The board supported the recommendations that Cabinet:

• Approve the works set out in section 1.7 in relation to the Black Hut, Oaklea Retreat, Clifton Learning Centre, The Meeting Place (Wingfield), and Artworks, Brook Hill.
• Delegate authority to the Assistant Director for Property and Facilities Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Community Safety to amend the works as required within budget.

Progress update on the implementation of the Pathways to Work Economic Inactivity Trailblazer programme

The board received a progress update on the implementation of the Pathways to Work Economic Inactivity Trailblazer programme¹. The Pathways to Work programme is a UK government initiative focused on supporting individuals with disabilities, health conditions, or other barriers to employment to find and maintain work. The Pathways to Work Economic Inactivity Trailblazer (EIT) is a government-funded initiative piloted in nine regions across England to test and learn new approaches to reducing economic inactivity.

Fiona Fletcher, Pathways to Work Service Manager, reported that contracts to deliver engagement activity have been awarded to nine local Voluntary Community Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations, and a dedicated Pathways to Work Employment Support team has been recruited. The programme aims to move 400 economically inactive residents into employment by 31 March 2026.

The board was informed that a reprofile of spend and outputs is being agreed with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), with financial and activity outputs/outcomes remaining consistent but more backloaded due to a slower-than-expected start.

The board agreed to receive annual updates on the programme's progress.

Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-2025

The board reviewed the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-2025, which provides an overview of scrutiny activity and outcomes achieved during the municipal year. The report highlights key findings and recommendations from various scrutiny reviews and selected outcomes resulting from these recommendations.

The board approved the Annual Report for consideration by the Council on Wednesday 10 September 2025.

Councillor Brian Steele noted in the report that as the Vice Chair of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Authority (SYMCA) Overview and Scrutiny Committee, he felt privileged to be able to represent Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and its communities in scrutiny at that regional level.