Rotherham council to regain some powers from commissioners

Children's services and adult social care are to remain with the commissioners

Rotherham Council is to take back the running of some of its services from government appointed commissioners.

The authority was taken over in February 2015 after it was declared "not fit for purpose" over its handling of child sexual exploitation in the town.

It is planned that local councillors will take control of education, public health and leisure services.

The commissioners will retain control of children and adult social services.

Announcing the decision in the House of Commons, Communities Secretary, Greg Clark, said: "Nearly a year on, a number of challenges remain but there have been significant areas of progress" and many of the authority's functions, which have been run by a team of commissioners, will be returned to the council.

He added: "The returned functions do not include licensing, children's services, adult social care, audit, and other functions which still remain high risk."

'Democracy restored'

The final formal decision to hand over of powers will be made by Mr Clark next month.

Lead commissioner, Sir Derek Myers, said: "We are very pleased that the Secretary of State has carefully considered our proposals and at this stage is minded to agree with the Commissioners that the time is right to return some limited powers to locally-elected members."

Council leader Chris Read said he was "pleased" with the progress the council was making, describing it as "democracy restored in Rotherham".

Five commissioners - Sir Derek Myers, Stella Manzie, Malcolm Newsam, Mary Ney and Julie Kenny - were appointed to head-up the council until 31 March 2019.

However, following the appointment of Sharon Kemp as chief executive Mrs Manzie will leave her £160,000-a-year managing director role next month.