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Full Council 3rd September 2008

Contents

  1. 1 PETITIONS
    1. 1.1  OPPOSING POST OFFICE CLOSURES IN SYORKS AND N.DERBYSHIRE
    2. 1.2 OPPOSING CLOSURE OF DERBYSHIRE LANE POST OFFICE
    3. 1.3 OPPOSING CLOSURE OF GRIMESTHORPE POST OFFICE
    4. 1.4 OPPOSING CLOSURE OF PARK GRANGE POST OFFICE
    5. 1.5 COUNCIL RESPONSE TO POST OFFICE PETITIONS
    6. 1.6 SECTION 30 DISPERSAL ORDER IN ECCLESFIELD
    7. 1.7 HANDRAIL FOR STANNINGTON RD / POND RD, STANNINGTON
    8. 1.8 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITY SCHOOL
  2. 2 PUBLIC QUESTIONS
    1. 2.1 POST OFFICE NETWORK
    2. 2.2 BARRIERS AT SHEFFIELD STATION
    3. 2.3 OPENNESS AND HONESTY OF COUNCIL
  3. 3 WRITTEN QUESTIONS
  4. 4 MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS TO COUNCIL
    1. 4.1 ITEM 4.1 Revised Arrangements For Council Meetings
    2. 4.2 ITEM 4.2 Appointment Of Substitute Members For Scrutiny And Policy Development Boards
    3. 4.3 ITEM 4.3 Post Office Closures
    4. 4.4 ITEM 4.4 Building Schools For The Future Programme
    5. 4.5 ITEM 4.5 Regional Scrutiny Of South Yorkshire Tourism
    6. 4.6 ITEM 6. St Lukes Hospice and Graves Park (Lib Dem)
    7. 4.7 ITEM 7. Opposing ticket barriers at Sheffield Station (Labour)
    8. 4.8 ITEM 8. Opposing ticket barriers at Sheffield Station (Lib Dem)
    9. 4.9 ITEM 9. Keeping the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield (Lib Dem + Labour)
    10. 4.10 ITEM 10. Encouraging women entrepreneurs in Sheffield (Lib Dem)
    11. 4.11 ITEM 11. Congratulations to Team GB in the Olympics (Labour)
    12. 4.12 ITEM 12. Veolia, the Council, and waste strategy (Green)
    13. 4.13 ITEM 13. Congratulations to Team GB in the Olympics (Lib Dem)
    14. 4.14 ITEM 14. Opting into the Sustainable Communities Act (Green)

PETITIONS

 OPPOSING POST OFFICE CLOSURES IN SYORKS AND N.DERBYSHIRE

(1343 sigs) Calls upon Council to reopen any closed branches. Elderly are most effected, but single mothers and businesses also particularly hit. Council should aim for reopening of Post-Offices within days of closure. Council should call for bonuses of PO managers paid to themselves to be reviewed by parliament.
 

OPPOSING CLOSURE OF DERBYSHIRE LANE POST OFFICE

Collected over 1500 sigs in under three weeks. Local postmaster says PO profitable, quotes head of PO who said would not close a PO that made a profit. Local postmaster working to respond to consultation. Asks for SCC to act with speed and urgency on commitments.
 

OPPOSING CLOSURE OF GRIMESTHORPE POST OFFICE

(242 sigs) [former?] chair of SY branch of UCW union. All people have a right to walk to PO, as others do. After privatisation of parcel services, PO lost 30% of business, yet PO provided quality parcel service including local pick up of parcels. Money put into PO is peanuts compared to what PO has put into coffers of treasury. PO of my day was a good master, PO today are slave drivers.
 

OPPOSING CLOSURE OF PARK GRANGE POST OFFICE

Chair of Norfolk Park TARA. Norfolk Park community has a newly built residential area for older people. Also many young families moving in, and two schools for disabled children. Currently there is a lack of facilities as it is, do not want to add to that – PO is the only shop in Norfolk park. Many on the estate could not handle a bank account, staff at the PO know them and can help. Do not want to travel to Arbourthorne or the Manor for the services.
 

COUNCIL RESPONSE TO POST OFFICE PETITIONS

Paul Scriven (LD) said he was proud to be the leader of a council where communities had stood up. Message is loud and clear for every one of the 16 post offices, one word only, that is no. Council is gathering petitions and carrying out analysis for every post office. Meeting held with postmasters as part of analysis in next week. Analysis will be disseminated on Council website and to organisations and post offices involved. Next stage, if POs are closed, Council will ask for a period of grace and then come back with a detailed response. Need to wait until decision made before saying Council will step in.
 

SECTION 30 DISPERSAL ORDER IN ECCLESFIELD

Recently a dispersal order was put in place in Ecclesfield. Streets around Ecclesfield church were not included in the order and trouble seems to have shifted out to the church, which is an ideal gathering point for local youth. The number of incidents of anti-social behaviour has gradually increased.
COUNCIL RESPONSE Bob McCann (LD) said it was always useful to get local information. Police, Safer Neighbourhood Areas and the Area Panel decide on the extent of dispersal orders. Will pass on information to SNA team.
 

HANDRAIL FOR STANNINGTON RD / POND RD, STANNINGTON

Requesting a handrail as residents and carers are having difficulty on the steep path, which is also not lit.
COUNCIL RESPONSE Sylvia Dunkley (LD) said the provision of handrails is crucial in some areas and will work on it.
 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITY SCHOOL

High quality support project, mainly working with children from Somali backgrounds, over 100 children per year. School has produced clear benefits for children. The school is threatened by leasing arrangements at Spittle Lane site and changes in funding.
COUNCIL RESPONSE Andrew Sangar (LD) said he will contact council officers about the issue and meet with the school to discuss options.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS

POST OFFICE NETWORK

Disappearance of Post Offices will have consequences beyond travel, impacting on local shops, risking disappearance of social networks. Has the Council taken into account the social impact of the harsh plans.
COUNCIL RESPONSE Paul Scriven (LD) agreed getting a map and a piece of string and quoting a mile or three miles is not right. Council looking at the social/economic neighbourhood around them. Distance is also affected by topography with the hills in Sheffield making 1 mile an arduous walk. Communities and community businesses will wither on the vine.
 

BARRIERS AT SHEFFIELD STATION

East Midlands has already installed ticket machines on the station – is this pre-empting a decision at the meeting with Council on the 16th Sept. Also, has Council considered that the route is already a right of way?
COUNCIL RESPONSE Ian Aukland (LD) said the meeting with EM would look at solutions not involving barriers. The concourse and bridge cannot legally be declared a right of way, even if it is a moral right.
 

OPENNESS AND HONESTY OF COUNCIL

Question on the extent the Council has honoured obligations under freedom of information act when information that should be publicly available was stated to be too costly to obtain. Stated leader of Council had brought Council into disrepute through not honouring promises.
COUNCIL RESPONSE Paul Scriven (LD) said any lawful request will be honoured. Any complaint should be taken up with the information commissioner, has used that route himself as a councillor. Is no policy or directive to withhold information from the public.

WRITTEN QUESTIONS

Continuing the practice, many questions asked, below are the highlights, including supplementary answers:
  • Council has spent £2.7m on consultants so far this year, compared to £6m for last financial year;
  • Council is introducing a system of monitoring expenditure on consultants, travel, and conferences;
  • LEGI programme (£25m to stimulate entreprenuership in sheffield) being widened to include all deprived areas;
  • There will be targeted action regarding the Slovak-Roma community, with reference to Page Hall;
  • Selective licensing is being considered for the Page Hall area, with mandatory standards set for private landlords of management and repair;
  • Area Panels and local councillors are to decide on whether to carry out a consultation process with the public regarding the £50,000 devolved to them from central budgets;
  • Community Assemblies, primarily the councillors, will decide on how budgets will be spent and will consider issues such as impact on local services;
  • Council Cabinet will need to approve any decision made by Community Assemblies for legal reasons;
  • SNA inspector in Gleadless valley recommended an extention of a dispersal order. It has not been extended, with the argument that reductions in anti-social behaviour have been acheived through a variety of measures and not just the dispersal order.
  • Impact of free distribution of Green Sacks for garden waste thought to be carbon neutral at worst;
  • The £25m for keeping open Wisewood and Myers Grove would have been found from the General Capital Programme, which will now proceed as originally scheduled;
  • The National Year of Reading scheme (one free book per pupil) will cost £55,000;
  • Critical response to reading initiative will be that from children, that will guide project.  

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS TO COUNCIL

You can see full details of motions and amendments on this site. See the agenda and motions on the SCC website

ITEM 4.1 Revised Arrangements For Council Meetings

PROPOSAL: Extention of existing trial arrangements for another four months, pending full recommendations. 
VOTE: ALL for
CARRIED

ITEM 4.2 Appointment Of Substitute Members For Scrutiny And Policy Development Boards

Revising arrangements so that there will always be full attendance on Scrutiny boards by allowing councillors to nominate a substitute if they are ill or otherwise can't attend (recommendation and amendments on this site).
 
PROPOSAL 1 (GRN): Amendment changing way numbers of substitute members are calculated so that smaller groups have more flexibility and can nominate more than one person if applicable.
WITHDRAWN after discussion
 
PROPOSAL 2 (ALL): Change to recommendations so that 2 substitute councillors can be nominated from the minority group.
AGREED
 
VOTE: ALL for
CARRIED 

ITEM 4.3 Post Office Closures

Recommendations to Council on the report to Cabinet on post office closures (recommendations and amendments on this site). Every group stated that Post Offices were vital to communities and local businesses and closures should be fought, with many Councillors making reference to the post offices within their area and the vital service they fulfilled.
 
LIB DEM
  • Council is a champion of Post Offices and will support all 16 that are proposed to be closed;
  • Most Post Offices are successful and in profit;
  • Vital we have a plan B to provide Post Office services should there be closures, but would be foolish to reveal the hand we are playing before closures announced;
  • Six weeks for consultation over summer holidays is abominable;
  • Analysis will be given to Post Offices and community groups in good time for making submissions to the consultation;
  • Labour MPs have created situation through changes to benefit system, TV licensing, resulting in loss of Post Offices over past 12 years;
  • Labour hypocritical in stance given councillors did not support original motion to protect Post Offices, Richard Caborn says Council wasting its money. 
LABOUR
  • Council should support SCAPOC in committing to keep all Post Offices open;
  • Will have to tell constituents that Council does not guarantee Post Offices being supported;
  • Important for Council to support SCAPOC demonstration, Labour members would be attending the demonstration;
  • Evidence based responses to Post Office consultation more useful than petitions;
  • Distance to travel a real problem given hills in Sheffield;
  • More difficult to get petitions together from some areas, such as Southey, need Council support in all cases. 
GREEN
  • Cabinet report is overdue given original proposal to explore keeping Post Offices open was made in June 2007;
  • Council should commit now to supporting Post Offices, following the Essex County Council model;
  • Post Office Ltd will expect the Council to support commercially viable Post Offices, so would not give the game away;
  • Council should support demonstration as the strongest campaigns are those that include the broadest support and ways of campaigning. 
RESOLUTION
  1. Council to campaign to prevent Post Office closures;
  2. The impact closures would have on local communities will be analysed and assistance provided to people preparing cases against closures;
  3. Options to safeguard Post Office services are explored in the event that Post Offices are scheduled for closure;
  4. A period of grace, allowing Post Offices to remain open, be requested from the Post Office to allow options to be discussed. 
AMENDMENT 1 (LAB)
Adds a clause that detailed information from the analysis will be provided for each post office by 15th September.
VOTE: ALL for
CARRIED
 
AMENDMENT 2 (GRN)
Options to safeguard services are explored immediately and brought back to Council in October;
Council supports city-wide demonstrations.
VOTE: LD against, LAB for, GRN for
LOST
 
MOTION as amended (will campaign against closures and provide detailed analysis on impact of closures to Post Offices)
VOTE: ALL for
CARRIED 
 

ITEM 4.4 Building Schools For The Future Programme

Seeking approval of the BSF programme in light of the go ahead with the Myers Grove/Wisewood merger (resolution and amendents on this site). Pretty much a rehash of the last debate on the Myers Grove/Wisewood issue.
 
LIB DEM
  • Deep regret and reluctance that had to take decision to merge Myers Grove and Wisewood;
  • Need to make sure BSF rebuilding programme and new school on Wood Lane is a success;
  • Took decision to ensure BSF funding was kept for the City, now need to move forward;
  • Said before election would try and find a way to support local services like POs and Myers Grove/Wisewood;
  • Will be picking up the tab for the merger in 15-20 years time;
  • Letter from Government minister was blackmail;
  • If Labour had supported bid with backing from MPs both schools could have been saved;
  • Councillors job is to speak up for local people, Labour minister does not care about local communities;
  • If Government investment so good, why is attainment and staff morale so low; 
LAB
  • Lib Dem amendment is critical and divisive, not a way of moving forward;
  • Cllrs Ayris and Taylor knocked on doors and said "we could save your school", but have been quiet in debate;
  • Promises were made to save schools, knowing that the schools could not be saved, never was a two school solution;
  • Saw posters saying "Get rid of Alf Mede and we'll save your school", totally dishonest;
  • Never were Government threats to withdraw £100, just need for a valid business case;
  • Labour MPs obtained unprecedented investment in Sheffield, but based on an agreement that could not be broken;
  • Administration now implementing Labour policy, Cllrs Ayris and Taylor should resign and fight seats honestly; 
PROPOSAL
Original plans for schools in the city, including the merger of Myers Grove and Wisewood, be submitted to Partnership for Schools so that Building Schools for Future money can be obtained.
 
AMENDMENT 1 (LIB DEM)
Condemns Labour government for threatening to withdraw £100m, dismayed at local Labour Party opposing two school solution, regrets the merger of the schools is now inevitable, thanks local parents and young people for campaigning.
VOTE: LD for LAB against GRN for, except for point about Council providing £25m
CARRIED
 
PROPOSAL as amended (original plans be submitted, Labour Party condemned, etc)
VOTE: LD for LAB for, except for amendment GRN for, except one point
CARRIED as amended 

ITEM 4.5 Regional Scrutiny Of South Yorkshire Tourism

Joint working between councils in South Yorkshire on tourism (resolution and report on SCC website)
 
VOTE: ALL for
CARRIED in full
 

ITEM 6. St Lukes Hospice and Graves Park (Lib Dem)

See full motion and amendments on this site. Several councillors paid tribute to the work of St Lukes and the need for relocation, especially John Robson who gave a moving tribute regarding a member of his family.
 
LIB DEM
  • City was divided on the issue, through leadership and direction there is now a solution;
  • Land at Norfolk Park will be sold at a fair value;
  • Norton Nurseries site would have been sold at a value including cost of relocating Streetforce depot;
  • Has been a meeting between Council officers and local TARA representatives on 17th August;
  • Consultation will be carried out as part of the planning process;
  • Critisised Richard Caborn who scotched the idea;
  • Was a system to speak to local residents before it went public but it was leaked by a 'national colleague' of Labour councillors;
  • Decision was only finalised a couple of days before information was released;
  • Have no quarrel with St Lukes but they have been badly advised at times;
  • Councillors should have told St Lukes Norton Nurseries site was not available;
  • Somebody in the chamber gave a nod and a wink to St Lukes saying the move to Norton Nurseries was ok [on a request for Peter Moore to clarify the allegation he stated 'if the cap fits, wear it']
LAB
  • Pleased to support St Lukes moving to Bluestones site at Norfolk Park;
  • New site is perfect, close to trams and bus stop, borders onto a wooded path with excellent views of the city centre;
  • Should have a proper consultation with Area Panels and councillors, not just through planning process;
  • Lib Dems critisised PO Ltd for short period of consultation, yet there was no consultation on this;
  • Masterplan for the area has been put together for 10-12 years, as with Graves Park local residents should be heard;
  • Would have been very easy to go to Area Panel in Norfolk Park a few days before annoucement;
  • There was no formal plans ever submitted by St Lukes, just a formal letter after which councillors were advised not to comment;
  • Streetforce are moving from the Norton Nurseries site anyway and costs of relocation would have never been an issue;
  • Congratulates people of Norfolk Park for not giving a alarmist or kneejerk response. 
AMENDMENT 1
Critisises administration for not conulting with people of Norfolk Park on the move.
VOTE: LD against LAB for GRN for
LOST
 
MOTION (Proposes move to Bluestones site at Norfolk Park, critises previous administrations role)
VOTE: LD for LAB for, except criticism of previous administration GRN for, except criticism of previous administration
CARRIED in full
 

ITEM 7. Opposing ticket barriers at Sheffield Station (Labour)

See full motion and amendments on this site.
 
LABOUR
  • Many people use station as an attractive route into the city centre;
  • Midland Mainline had no problems whatsoever;
  • Hopes different way of fare evasion can be developed;
  • Development of Park Hill and Sheaf Square makes more important;
  • Route across old bridge does not feel inviting. 
GREENS
  • Council should acknowledge causes of current situation;
  • Motion notes huge amounts of money for station;
  • East Midlands are hindering integrated transport;
  • Profit motives are bad for public transport;
  • Active and well-informed community group opposing closure;
  • Suggestions that Government picked StPancras, Derby, and Sheffield for trial sites. 
LIB DEMS
  • Greens stuck in reverse, current rail system needs more investment and strengthening of regulation;
  • Do not need nationalisation;
  • Some part of Labour support re-nationalisation but cannot speak, other parts do not; 
AMENDMENT 1 (GRN)
Calls for renationalisation of railways.
VOTE: LD against LAB abstain GRN for [recorded vote, ironic cheers from LDs as each Labour councillor abstained]
LOST
 
MOTION (opposes ticket barriers, will work with East Midlands to find alternatives, lobby Government)
VOTE: ALL for
CARRIED in full
 

ITEM 8. Opposing ticket barriers at Sheffield Station (Lib Dem)

See full motion and amendments on this site.
 
AMENDMENT 1 (GRN)
Calls for renationalisation of railways.
VOTE: LD against LAB abstain GRN for
LOST
 
MOTION (opposes ticket barriers)
VOTE: ALL for
CARRIED in full
 

ITEM 9. Keeping the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield (Lib Dem + Labour)

See full motion and amendments on this site.
 
VOTE: ALL for
CARRIED in full

ITEM 10. Encouraging women entrepreneurs in Sheffield (Lib Dem)

See full motion and amendments on this site.
 
VOTE: ALL for
CARRIED in full
 

ITEM 11. Congratulations to Team GB in the Olympics (Labour)

See full motion and amendments on this site.
 
AMENDMENT 1 (LAB)
Congratulates Government on investment in sports through, e.g. BSF funding for schools.
VOTE: LD against LAB for GRN abstain
LOST
 
MOTION (congrats to Team GB)
ALL for
 

ITEM 12. Veolia, the Council, and waste strategy (Green)

See full motion and amendments on this site.
 
AMENDMENT 1 (LD)
Critisises previous administration and current opposition groups, notes members and local people will be consulted on new waste strategy
VOTE: LD for LAB against, but for point on consultation GRN against
LOST
 
MOTION (as amendment)
VOTE: LD for LAB against, but for point on consultation GRN for, but against point critising opposition groups on recycling
 

ITEM 13. Congratulations to Team GB in the Olympics (Lib Dem)

See full motion and amendments on this site. 
 
AMENDMENT 1 (LAB)
Congratulates Government on investment in sports through, e.g. BSF funding for schools.
VOTE: LD against LAB for GRN abstain
LOST
 
MOTION (congrats to Team GB, Paul Goodison, et al)
ALL for
 

ITEM 14. Opting into the Sustainable Communities Act (Green)

See full motion and amendments on this site.
 
AMENDMENT 1 (LD)
Council to consider how the Act can influence the work of the Council and Local Strategic Partnership, including Community Assemblies (Green motion included Community Assemblies only in this particular clause)
VOTE: ALL for
CARRIED
 
MOTION as amended (opts Council into Sustainable Communities Act)
VOTE: ALL for
CARRIED
 
 
Subpages (1): 20080903-Full Motions and Amendments