20 May 2022
Welcome to the Rotherham Round-up, your regular email update with news, video and events from Rotherham Council.
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VIDEO: Bird's eye view of new canal barrier taking shape
 Click the image to see a bird's eye view of the canal barrier taking shape
There's an impressive new addition to Rotherham town centre's skyline.
The new £3m canal barrier next to Forge Island is nearing completion.
Not only will it reduce the risk of flooding for homes, businesses and infrastructure, it provides a stunning new addition to the Rotherham skyline.
The barrier is a key part of the Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme (RRFAS) - new flood defences which will ensure that the town centre, including Rotherham central station, is more resilient to future flood events.
It will sit alongside Forge Island, where work is set to get underway soon on a major new leisure development, including an eight screen cinema, a 69 bed hotel, restaurants and car parking.
Construction of the barrier has been a significant civil engineering project, courtesy of our main contractor, Jackson.
Watch our video of the canal barrier being being constructed.
Rotherham welcomes its new Mayor, Tajamal Khan
 Pictured with new Mayor Tajamal Khan are new Mayoress Shagufta Khan (both centre), out-going Mayor Cllr Jenny Andrews (right)and Mayoress Jeanette Mallinder
New Mayor elected for first time in three years
Rotherham's new Mayor is Councillor Tajamal Khan. He succeeds Councillor Jenny Andrews who has served in the role throughout the pandemic - and in so doing became the first ever Mayor of Rotherham to serve for three successive terms.
Mayor Khan grew up in Rotherham, attending Clifton School and Wath Sixth Form and is known to lots of local people through his driving school business.
Looking forward to his term as Mayor, Tajamal said: "The pandemic has been incredibly hard on everyone and I see a key part of my role as bringing our residents back together, opening up our doors again to welcome people to civic events and getting out and about into all our communities to highlight the best of Rotherham. And in that regard, there's plenty to see."
Mayor Khan has chosen Rotherham United Community Sports Trust, homeless charity, Shiloh Rotherham Hospital & Community Charity and Cancer Care Rotherham as his charities for the year.
Read more about the Mayor here.
Mayor's Civic Parade - Saturday 21st May
The new Mayor's first duty will be to lead the Civic Parade and service this Saturday, 21st May.
It is the first time the parade has been held in three years because of the pandemic.
The parade will form up at 10.30am in All Saints Square before looping around Effingham Street and Effingham Square and back around to Rotherham Minster where the Civic Service will be held.
Click on the image to see the full parade route and timings. Free parking is available in Rotherham Town Centre.
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UEFA Womens Euros - countdown to kick-off
 Rotherham is ready to welcome fans, players and officials to UEFA Women's EURO 2022
Play your part in the biggest sporting event to come to Rotherham…EVER!
This Saturday marks 50 days to go until the start of the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 tournament at New York Stadium and we're counting down to the days to Rotherham hosting major international tournament football for the first time ever.
And there's so much more than the matches themselves to look forward to, with three months of music, dance, theatre, art and much more across Rotherham.
SEE OUR GUIDE FOR A FULL RUN-DOWN OF WHAT'S ON IN ROTHERHAM.
It all kicks-off THIS SUNDAY, 22nd May (11am to 5pm) when Clifton Park plays host to the national UEFA Womens Euros roadshow.
The free Roadshow will offer an introduction to football, with a chance to learn new football skills and tricks as well as try matchday presenting and interviewing in a special TV studio.
Featuring live music from local artists and a showpiece football pitch, alongside the opportunity to get a picture with the trophy itself, the event will provide a variety of fun for all the family.
UEFA Women's Euros at the New York Stadium
Tickets priced from just £10 for Adults and £5 for Concessions are on sale now from the UEFA website for the matches here in Rotherham:
- Sunday 10th July 2022, 8pm (France v Italy)
- Thursday 14th July 2022, 8pm (France v Belgium)
- Monday 18th July 2022, 8pm (Iceland v France)
- Saturday 23rd July 2022, 8pm (Quarter Final tie, teams TBC)
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 Voucher scheme is part of cost-of-living support for families
A supermarket voucher scheme for families with children entitled to free school meals will continue for another five months.
Rotherham Council’s Cabinet agreed to extend funding for the scheme as part of its response to the cost-of-living crisis.
Nearly 12,000 eligible children in Rotherham currently claim free school meals. Rotherham Council has been funding a scheme which sees supermarket vouchers worth £15 per week per child provided to support families out of term-time since October 2020. The £15 equates to the amount it costs to provide a meal for each child per week when they are in school.
The measures mean that vouchers will continue to be provided to feed children during the early Summer half-term, the six-week Summer-break and the October half-term – which equates to £120 per child.
Sharp increase in number of children claiming free school melas
Since January 2020, the number of children in Rotherham entitled to means-tested free school meals has risen by more than a third, from 8,557 to 11,912, as the impact of the pandemic and soaring prices has hit family budgets.
The £1.4m required to extend the scheme is being met by Rotherham Council’s allocation of the Household Support Fund (HSF), which was extended by the Government through 2022/23 to help councils support those most in need and struggling with the cost of living.
Meanwhile the Council is also preparing to provide financial support to parents with school uniform costs. Vouchers will be provided to parents with children eligible for free school meals who moving from reception to main school, infants to juniors or primary to secondary. Schools will also support the distribution of these vouchers on behalf of the Council.
Have your say on the things that matter to you
Did you know the Council is regularly asking local residents and businesses for their views on a huge variety of topics?
From taxi licensing to cycling strategies and our annual budget to local plans, we would really like to hear your views on what's happening locally, what you support, what you're against - and why. Public opinion matters.
Current consultations include proposed changes to day opportunities for people who need a high level of support, the new school for children with social, emotional and mental health needs at Dinnington and the Safer Rotherham Partnership priorities.
View all consultations, including those which have closed, on the Council's website: www.rotherham.gov.uk/consultations
Planning Applications
You can view and comment on planning applications on the Planning Portal.
Licensing Applications
View the latest licensing applications and have your say on our Licensing web pages.
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