The agenda and motions for this Council meeting are on the Council site. Was a robust pre-election and pre-budget type Council. More confusion on a couple of votes...

 

 

770 signatures collected by friends of Sheaf Valley Park about the walkway from the tram stop to the train station. East Midlands Trains want a barrier there to stop fare dodging, despite being a major pedestrian route recently made accessible through European funding.
Jan Wilson responded stating she was cross about the proposal, Council and developers Urban Splash are objecting, planning board could stop the barrier being put in place.

 

199 signatures collected about the withdrawal of the 199 Southey Green to Manvers bus service. A European funded 2 year trial has been popular, but not enough for SYPTE to maintain. People being encouraged to leave their car at home but what is the option?
Jan Wilson responded stating the bus would be included on the SYPTE list for routes to be considered for funding

 

320 signatures collected by Anti-Academies Alliance against plans for Parkwood to turn into an academy. Potentially selling off three schools in the north of the city so people will not be able to opt for a council controlled school. Decision seems to have been made already, although only 15 parents have responded stating they are in favour. Parkwood is improving in the tables.
Harry Harpham responded stating Parkwood is still in the bottom 25% nationally. Head/Govenors/Staff approached Council about the Academy route. At this point it is about talking to parents and communities - would be wrong to deny that.

 

484 signatures objecting to Shiregreen Working Mens Club demolition. Club has community spirit, only place that side of the estate for people for relaxation, games, etc. Club recently installed air conditioning, new carpets. Landowner has proposed development 3 years ago but only 25 days given to oppose, no notice given by landowner to club about plans. Already flats and houses being built in the area, demolition would be a loss of a vital amenity for the community.
Tim Rippon responded, stating the decision would rest with the planning board and not the Council. Many community places have been lost in North Sheffield over the past few years. The planning board would take into account the representations of club and councillors.

 

513 signatures requesting Council installs CCTV at junction in Gleadless Valley area to control antisocial behaviour problems. Trouble mainly down to four people but they have not been served with Acceptable Behaviour Contracts. CCTV would be helpful to police in tackling crime.
Chris Weldon responded stating CCTV may not be the best solution. Police say extra officers will be put into the area. A forthcoming report on what is the best solution will be acted on.

 

 

Four questions on Parkwood academy. Asked what expertise Edutrust has in education, so far only Dame Robottom's name been mentioned. Petition against Parkwood was ignored at cabinet, the consultation not representative.
Harry Harpham responded saying schools should be allowed to improve and debate how to improve. Involvement is often low and more involvement from the community on any issue is always welcome.

Cllr Aukland had a question about mis-representation from some quarters around the St Lukes issue. Cllr Lodge responded stating no-one should give out mis-representation and that this had been done by all sides.
Also a congratulation to the University of Sheffield, University Challenge team. The students will be invited to Council.

 

CARRIED in full (All for)
RESULT: Extension of current trial of: 40 minutes maximum for any one debate, limits on time people can speak, and a guillotine of 6pm beyond which there is no more debate. There will be further discussion about how to handle amendments - the 40min cut off means people can't always speak to their amendments

 

CARRIED in full (All for)
RESULT: New voting districts in Fir Vale, Lightways, Hemsworth, Kelham Island.

 

CARRIED in full (All for)
RESULT: Sorts out how people can complain about Councillors with regard to health authority etc.

 

CARRIED in full (LAB for LD abstain GRN for CON/IND for)
RESULT: Admissions procedure made mandatory for all schools including independents, children from low-income families will get free transport to school if living between 2 and 6 miles away.

 

With regard to recent report into a scandal in Stocksbridge, also a proposal to consult about probationary tenancies with TARAs etc (see report in the Star).
(LAB) Review of age-banding has made issue clear, especially in Stocksbridge; there should be age-designation in flats. Age-banding came off in the 90s when there was surplus flats and younger people wanting the bedsit and 2beds available, whilst older people wanted to move to larger properties. A difficult and dynamic issue as some people want more mixed communities, others less. Need a consultation over temporary tenancies for new residents, Tenants Associations have been arguing for this. People having their lives blighted by the length of the legal process to evict tenants. If Cllr Weldon should resign, the whole Scrutiny Board should also resign, has been responsible and proactive in enforcing legislation.
(LD) Policy enacted by LD Cabinet in 2001, that decisions should be based on age of tenants and needs of older and younger population, were not implemented by Council. Ombudsman states it was mal-administration by Council. More cases coming through and Stocksbridge is the tip of the iceberg. There is already an option for a 6 month probationary period but it is not enforced. There is a problem of mixing age groups; lettings department is thoughtless. Sheffield Homes states there has been no complaints, yet many tenants are complaining. Cllr Weldons responsibility part of a systematic failure, he should consider his position.
(IND) Labour motion acts as if the review is a surprise. At large meetings and in response to petitions on the issue over past two years, officers and Labour councillors consistently stated the correct policy was being followed when it was not. Paperwork relating to whole situation including files and casework has been “lost”. Either Cllr Weldon misled Council or was unaware of his own department’s actions.
(GRN) Motion is about anti-social behaviour, but no other solutions apart from ending tenancies, where will these people go? They need more support to solve problem. In trying to make amends motion gives Council officers more power. Vast majority of claimants currently taken to court for late payment, not anti-social behaviour. 3 out of 4 given Council places are priority cases including many with mental health/behaviour issues; need more affordable housing so there is a wider community to handle them.
(CON) Deal with problem people and be tough from the outset.
LD amendment CARRIED in parts (LAB for one part, LD for all five parts, GRN for three parts, CON/IND for four parts)
GRN amendment FELL (LAB against LD against GRN for CON/IND for one part)
LAB motion CARRIED as amended (LAB for LD for)
RESULT: Council supports review on age-banding in flats, will consult about probationary tenancies. Also will explore how TARAs can give more support to new tennants, and explore if different age groups can live in the same area if they want to.

 

Lib Dems put forward a motion stating no confidence in Labour, also mentioning lack of effectiveness in Dispersal Orders and ASBOs; also a LD amendment about funding for police.
(LD) Area facing loss of 101 service and reduction of 106 officers in SY, yet government spending billions on ID cards. 101 was a great success, will cost Council £400k to keep, unacceptable if lost. Extra policing in Gleadless has to come from somewhere, should not deprive neighbouring areas. Policing in Woodseats will be cut, never got 14 officers promised, now there are just 10. Dispersal orders disperse rather than tackle crime, young people say there is nothing to do in evenings and youth clubs gone. Residents never see police on the streets. Council should provide more wardens. There is no follow through by Labour from headlines to actions, too many meetings. Government has reclassified ways of looking at crime, calling it anti-social behaviour, so that figures go down; on the street people say it is getting worse.
(LAB) There is funding for increased police and support officers, the resources going into Gleadless are not coming from other areas. Police Inspector in Gleadless should decide where resources go, not Councillors. Crime and anti-social behaviour has fallen according to police; wardens and “allotment watch” have made a real impact. Crime is reducing but fear of crime is not. Summer activities for kids a positive way of reducing crime. Need tougher action to be taken but other parties oppose it. People disagree about solutions to problems. Need accurate local figures on crime and meetings to decide how to best use resources.
LD amendment CARRIED (LAB against LD for GRN for CON/IND for)
LD motion CARRIED apart from reference to Lib Dem budget last year (LAB against most LD for GRN for most IND for most)
RESULT: Council resolves they have no confidence in Labour administration to make people feel safer, lobbies parliament.

Labour motion about new Your Council Your Say (YCYS) including congratulation about what Council has done to make City cleaner; Lib Dem amendment calls for a review.
(LAB) YCYS presents an opportunity for people to feedback to Council and promote Council services. People come to Fargate from all over Sheffield, people who would not otherwise take part. Will take every consultation seriously, although there are always constraints over the budget. Objections might put people off taking part. LibDems should participate like other opposition parties, there is opportunity to comment on YCYS in scrutiny boards.
(LD) YCYS is an expensive random meet with the public on the ruling groups agenda. Having a tent on Fargate is not getting out into the community; Councillors can do that for free. Would like to see citizen’s targets rather than government targets and consultation for the people’s benefit rather than the Councils. Real consultation must allow for the possibility of change, need to convince people the Council will listen. If people say there is a problem money should be spent on tackling it, not more meaningless questions.
(GRN) Listening is good and have taken part in YCYS, but haven’t learnt anything different than from knocking on doors and attending forums. Labour motion includes glowing section on achievements, just like YCYS. Greens made a critique on research methodology, that questions were biased, these points not acted on. Should review YCYS.
LD amendment CARRIED in full (LAB against GRN for CON/IND abstain - carried on the casting vote of the Lord Mayor)
LAB motion CARRIED as amended (LAB against GRN for CON/IND abstain - carried on the casting vote of the Lord Mayor)
RESULT: There will now be a review of the effectiveness and value for money of the Your Council Your Say consultation. It has been decided to go ahead with YCYS as scheduled.

 

Lib Dem motion calling for local lists to be drawn up now; Labour amendment argues Council should wait and much already being done; Sheffield Group amendment also argues Council should wait until lists legally binding.
(LD) Local lists can be involved in material planning consideration, allows local people to nominate buildings of local interest. Starting work now would mean that lists would be in place when the Heritage White Paper is passed, making them lawfully binding. Local people are resources of knowledge and can help Council. Need to act quickly otherwise the buildings will be gone.
(LAB) Is a consensus of concern over buildings, but a disagreement over timescale. Local lists would offer no protection against demolition. Making the lists would take significant resources in order to survey the buildings and have officers at local area panels, at a time when there is a review being undertaken to prepare the groundwork. Once groundwork is completed Council should look at local lists, in around 2 years, when the Heritage Bill becomes law.
(CON) Local lists currently have no power. Also, English Heritage is currently drawing up guide criteria, should wait for these. Implementing local lists now will risk landowners demolishing buildings before the lists become binding. Motion is self-defeating.
LAB amendment FELL (LAB for LD against GRN against CON/IND against)
CON/IND amendment CARRIED in full (LAB for LD against CON/IND for GRN for)
LD motion CARRIED as amended (LAB for in parts LD against CON/IND for GRN for)
RESULT: Preparations will be made for when local lists become binding.

 

GUILLOTINE ON DEBATE

 

This comes from the argument that Council concentrates resources on some areas at the expense of others, Labour argues this is to close the gap between richer and poorer areas of Sheffield. Nick Clegg highlighted the issue of the difference in poverty across Sheffield. Lib Dems state Council’s policy is not working and that is why they oppose.
LD amendment FELL (LAB against LD for GRN abstain Con against  IND abstain)
LAB motion CARRIED in full (LAB for LD against GRN abstain Con for IND abstain)
RESULT: Not a lot

 

Lib Dem motion calls for Government to keep support for people doing second degrees; Labour amendment states the money will go towards those with no qualifications
LAB amendment CARRIED in full (LAB for LD against GRN against CON/IND abstain – Mayor declined to use his vote)
LD motion CARRIED as amended (LAB for LD against GRN against CON/IND abstain – Mayor declined to use his vote)
RESULT: Support Government policy on lifelong learning.

 

Green motion calls for Council to report in three months on implications of moving to cage-free eggs; Lib Dem amendment signs up to Good Egg scheme for 2012; Sheffield Group amendment limits commitment to Council services.
LD amendment CARRIED in full (LAB for LD for GRN against CON/IND abstain)
CON/IND amendment WITHDRAWN
GRN motion CARRIED as amended (ALL for)
RESULT: Council will sign up to “Good Egg” campaign of Compassion in World Farming with changes to procurement and contracting strategy of Council.