Purpose

The decision is to accept and
enter into a Grant Agreement with the South Yorkshire Mayoral
Combined Authority (SYMCA) for £350,000 of Gain Share grant
funding for the Snail Yard scheme.

Decision

ROTHERHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF OFFICER EXECUTIVE DECISION

 

Date of Decision:

31st October 2024

Title:

SYMCA Gain Share Funding Snail
Yard

Decision Maker:
(Including Job
Title)

Simon Moss
Assistant Director, Planning, Regeneration
& Transport
Regeneration & Environment

Specific Delegation:
(If any)

General delegation to ADs applies: The
implementation of any functions associated with any grant/funding
regime, including, but not limited to, National Grants/funding,
SYMCA funds, Grants & Programmes and European
Funding/Grants.

Brief Description of
Decision:

The decision is to accept and
enter into a Grant Agreement with the South Yorkshire Mayoral
Combined Authority (SYMCA) for £350,000 of Gain Share grant
funding for the Snail Yard Pocket Park scheme.

Reasons for the Decision:

Following submission of a Business
Justification Case to (SYMCA) RMBC have been awarded £350,000
of Gain Share Funding and are seeking to obtain authorisation to
accept monies to contribute towards the installation of the Pocket
Park and delivery the desired outcomes for the scheme.

Details of alternative options
considered and rejected:

The site formerly known as
Primark, was empty for 4 years and in total was marketed for sale
or rent for a period of 3 years with no successful tenancy, this in
turn created a hot spot where the building was becoming an eyesore
and attracting anti-social behaviour and receiving
damage.  The building also started to
suffer from break ins and was becoming a danger to those
potentially entering the building.
 
Towns Deal
‘accelerator’ money to the value of £1m was
secured in October 2020 that has previously funded the acquisition
of 9-13 High Street Rotherham and its subsequent demolition and
partial remediation of the site. This left a significant brownfield
site on the High Street in Rotherham and planning permission has
been secured for use of the front of the site as a ‘pocket
park’.
 
The preferred option of
delivering the public realm scheme, would deliver a substantial
green space in the heart of Rotherham Town Centre. This larger
public realm site is more likely to attract higher numbers of
people to visit and enjoy the space and subsequently increase
footfall numbers on High Street and across the town centre
generally.
 

Conflicts of interest declared by any
Executive Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to
the decision:

n/a

Dispensations Granted:
(If any)

n/a
 

Reports or parts of reports
considered

SYMCA Grant Agreement between South Yorkshire
Mayoral Combined Authority and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough
Council for signing.

 
I certify that this is a true
record of the executive decision to accept
and enter into a Grant Agreement with the South Yorkshire Mayoral
Combined Authority (SYMCA) for £350,000 of Gain Share grant
funding for the Snail Yard Pocket Park scheme.
 
Signed by the Decision
Maker          

Dated: 31st October, 2024
 
Name: Simon
Moss                                        
Job Title: Assistant Director,
Planning, Regeneration & Transport