Meeting of the Council of the City of Sheffield
CITY OF SHEFFIELD
METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
COUNCIL SUMMONS
Notice is hereby given that a Meeting of the Council of the City of Sheffield
will be held in the Council Chamber within the Town Hall, Sheffield, on
Wednesday, 1st December, 2004, at 2.00 p.m.
THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS IS PROPOSED TO BE TRANSACTED-
1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING
To receive the record of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 3rd November, 2004 and to approve the accuracy thereof.
2. PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
To receive any questions or communications from the public, or communications submitted by the Lord Mayor or the Chief Executive and to pass such resolutions thereon as the Standing Orders permit and as may be deemed expedient.
3. MEMBERS' QUESTIONS
(a) Questions relating to urgent business - Standing Order No. A18(4).
(b) Questions on the discharge of the functions of the South Yorkshire Joint Authorities for Fire and Civil Defence, Passenger Transport, Pensions and Police - Section 41 of the Local Government Act, 1985 - Standing Order No. A18(4).
(c) Questions on the discharge of the functions of the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly –
Standing Order No. A18(4).
(d) Supplementary questions on Written Questions submitted at this meeting - Standing Order No. A18(1).
(e) Verbal questions to Cabinet Members and Chairs of Scrutiny Boards and Regulatory Boards - Standing Order No. A18 (3).
4. REPRESENTATION
To consider any changes to the memberships and arrangements for meetings of Boards etc., delegated authority, and the appointment of representatives to serve on other bodies.
5. ITEMS REFERRED TO COUNCIL
LICENSING ACT 2003 – STATEMENT OF LICENSING POLICY
To consider a decision which was referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 10th November, 2004.
FOOD SERVICE PLAN
To consider a decision which was referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 10th November, 2004.
6. OBSERVATIONS
To receive observations on the minutes of the meetings of the various Council bodies for the period
16th October to 12th November, 2004.
7. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR JAN WILSON
That this Council:
(a) welcomes the City Council’s commissioning of an independent assessment of the viability of Sheffield Airport before any final decisions are taken that would affect its future;
(b) notes that the study is being carried out by external experts in aviation who are independent of the current operators of the airport, Sheffield City Airport Ltd;
(c) further notes that the study will specifically look at:-
(i) current and future operational and financial viability of the airport as either a business or full commercial airport;
(ii) the current and future operational and financial viability of the proposals put forward by Sheffield City Airport in their planning application; and
(iii) the economic impact that the proposals from Sheffield City Airport would have on the Sheffield City Region compared to the continuation of the airport in its current form;
(d) recognizes that a robust independent assessment is necessary and therefore is pleased to note that:-
(i) the study will take in to account the opening of the Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport in January of next year and will take evidence from the opponents of the current proposals as well as from Sheffield City Airport Ltd;
and (ii) Sheffield City Airport Ltd. has agreed to the study and for determination of the planning application to be held over for a period of six months to allow the study to be completed;
(e) notes with surprise the minority group’s sudden need to debate the viability of the airport in full Council, something which they evidently did not feel when they considered the matter when they were in the majority; and
(f) recommends that the Leader and the Chief Executive of the Council oversee the study and that it be reported to Cabinet and then Scrutiny Council.
8. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR PAT MIDGLEY
That this Council:
(a) welcomes the publication of the Government’s Social Exclusion Unit report, “Breaking the Cycle – Taking Stock of Progress and Priorities for the Future”;
(b) notes in the report the significant progress since 1997 in tackling poverty and employment and in particular welcomes the fact that:-
(i) there are 700,000 fewer children living in poverty;
(ii) there are 500,000 fewer pensioners living in relative poverty and 1.8 million less living in absolute poverty;
(iii) there are 1.85 million more people in work and faster increases in employment among lone parents, people with disabilities and those over 50 years old; and
(iv) progress in schools in the most disadvantaged areas has been faster than elsewhere;
(c) recognises that some significant challenges remain and welcomes the report’s identification
of priorities for action over the coming years on:-
(i) low educational attainment among some groups;
(ii) economic inactivity and concentrations of worklessness;
(iii) health inequalities;
(iv) concentrations of crime and poor environments in some areas; and
(v) homelessness;
(d) welcomes the report’s conclusion that hard work must be put into breaking the links between
inherited disadvantage and life chances and sustaining current progress and in particular
notes the enhanced drive to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in deprived areas;
(e) believes the majority group’s focus on “closing the gap” will play an important part in addressing the challenges laid out in this timely report; and
(f) requests that a Scrutiny Council in Spring 2005 looks at social exclusion and how agencies across the whole City have and will be tackling the challenges outlined above.
9. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR HARRY HARPHAM
That this Council:
(a) recognises the hard work done by Streetforce and others across the whole City in tackling littering, fly-tipping, fly-posting and other anti-social behaviour that the majority of Sheffield people find unacceptable;
(b) is stunned by the minority group’s breathtaking display of hypocrisy in fly-posting in the very Ward their Leader represents; and
(c) is disappointed that the minority group felt unable to offer a clear and unqualified apology for their anti-social behaviour and calls that:-
(i) such an apology be made immediately;
(ii) a promise be made that such a transgression will never happen again; and
(iii) the minority group spokesperson for Streetscene resigns without delay to
demonstrate that the minority group do take seriously the public’s concerns about
street cleanliness.
10. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR ANNE SMITH
That this Council: -
(a) notes the increasing public and business unease concerning the future of Sheffield City Airport and its original terms of approval;
(b) recognises that an airport is vital for any City which is serious about economic regeneration and has aspirations to be a City of European significance and believes that the current uncertain situation surrounding Sheffield Airport, caused by a seemingly lack of openness from both the operator and the present administration, is having a detrimental effect on business and public confidence in Sheffield;
(c) believes that, given Sheffield is the fourth largest City in England and has high economic regeneration aspirations, the option of having a city airport for Sheffield should be kept open and any move to close the airport would be a major economic step backwards; and
(d) instructs that a full public enquiry is carried out in public and open for members of the public to contribute to assess the future viability of Sheffield City Airport and believes that the people of Sheffield are entitled to an open and transparent investigation into one of Sheffield’s most important assets.
11. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR CLIVE SKELTON
That this Council:
(a) recalls the gridlock caused by the present administration’s failure to grit sufficiently, the highway network during last winter;
(b) furthermore recalls that, instead of accepting responsibility, the present administration attempted to blame gridlock on the “wrong weather” and commuters leaving work early;
(c) therefore urges the present administration to accept full responsibility for gritting our roads to a satisfactory standard this winter, and learn from the mistakes made last year which lead to the gridlock and move to a predictive mobilisation system for gritters in order to improve response times; and
(d) acknowledges the present administration’s failure and requests that all Area Panels be asked to hold consultation sessions which aim to allow residents to highlight local “ice hotspots”, both on highways and footways, which should be used as a key tool for planning the gritting of Sheffield’s highway and footway network.
12. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR PAUL SCRIVEN
That this Council:
(a) notes the widespread concern by residents and tenants of Park Hill flats at the lack of planning in dealing with the removal of tenants as part of the clearance scheme;
(b) is appalled at the stress and strain that some tenants and residents have been put under and the subsequent problems they and their families have had to encounter due to the lack of planning;
(c) is concerned that the local Councillors, including the Leader of Council, had no idea what was going on at a Tenants and Residents Association meeting on 16th November 2004, despite the fact that local tenants had been to a meeting of Cabinet a week before and informed Cabinet of the specific problem;
(d) notes with alarm the comments made by officers from Sheffield Homes, an arms length management organisation of the Council, that problems were down to the lack of supply of suitable homes to move people into and is further alarmed that the present administration on 18th September, 2002 agreed to look at up to an extra 3000 properties, not including the Park Hill clearance, in the demolition process which is now contributing significantly to the problems experienced by the Park Hill Tenants and Residents;
(e) is concerned that as the clearance process moves into phases three and four, such supply and demand issues will cause further problems which shows a total lack of strategic planning on the present administration’s part, and believes therefore that the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods is directly responsible for this debacle;
(f) is pleased that after constant campaigning the administration has finally agreed to a four week period for tenants to move once they have signed a tenure for a new property, but instructs that this minimum guarantee must be for all phases of the Park Hill clearance scheme;
(g) requests that a full strategic plan on the supply and demand issues in housing linked to future clearance schemes around the City be the subject of the March 2005 Scrutiny Council, the aforementioned plan will cross reference how “like for like” properties are to be provided and which areas future clearance scheme tenants will have access to, as supply will be plentiful allowing them to move; and
(h) demands that the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods gives a full and unreserved apology to the tenants and residents of Park Hill for the failings of the administration in planning properly the Park Hill clearance scheme and matching it to a strategic demand and supply plan.
13. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR CLIVE SKELTON
That this Council:
(a) notes the changes taking place within the Army and, with some concern, the implications of these to the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding), its County Infantry Regiment;
(b) recognises that within Sheffield the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment is the principal ‘face’ of the Army; that the Regiment has recruited from the old West Riding, which included Sheffield, for over 250 years and is an integral part of the City’s community; that it is through the Regiment that many follow, and understand, what the Army does on behalf of the Nation; and that in the modern world, where fewer and fewer people have direct experience of the military, it will serve neither side well to erode those important links of understanding that remain;
(c) is exceptionally proud of the Regiment; sets a high priority in maintaining a close relationship with the Regiment as an integral and living part of its heritage and an active, vibrant and important part of the City’s identity; and recognises that its stature as a well-recruited, thoroughly professional Regiment that reflects the best qualities of Sheffield people’s character, is one the City takes pride in and has been an active participant in helping to create;
(d) will, with reluctance, accept a new Yorkshire Regiment which allows the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment to continue as a Battalion within it - so long as its name and identity acknowledge the close links the City now enjoys; for instance the Council could accept, ‘The 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington’s); but the Council would not welcome an amorphous Regiment that does not include within it the name, and through this its links to Sheffield, of the Regiment in any meaningful way and, in the light of the current speculation over the future of the Scottish Regiments, it would not wish to see a lesser option imposed on the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment to that offered to Regiments in Scotland;
(e) has, alongside the other Councils and Districts in the old West Riding, played an important part in helping to recruit and nurture a fully staffed Regiment with its own strong identity, in the Council’s opinion probably the best in the Country; and
(f) instructs the Chief Executive to send a copy of this Motion to the Secretary of State for Defence, the Chair of the Defence Select Committee, the Prime Minister, all Sheffield Members of Parliament and the current Commanding Officer of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.
14. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR PAUL SCRIVEN
That this Council:
(a) recognises that the genetic modification of crop plants is a branch of science where the issue of safety is currently under question, and notes that:-
(i) there is currently vigorous debate about the safety and impact of GM crops;
(ii) the commercial growing of GM crops presents legal, economic and ethical problems; and
(iii) the growing of GM crops has an adverse effect on organic growers and indeed all other growers within our district; and
(b) in light of these issues, shall:-
(i) within its legal powers, ensure that no GM crops are planted on land over which it has jurisdiction; and
(ii) adopt a GM free policy for all goods and services for which the Council is responsible.
15. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR SYLVIA ANGINOTTI
That this Council:
(a) recognises that HIV is still one of the biggest social, economic and health challenges in the World;
(b) notes that HIV/AIDS is both a local and international problem, demonstrated by the fact that the number of people who were reported to have HIV/AIDS doubled in Sheffield last year;
(c) applauds the work carried out by all organisations who are working to elevate the problem on a local, national and international level;
(d) thanks all those organisations and individuals in Sheffield such as partners, carers, parents, the Forge Centre, The Royal Hallamshire Hospital, the Centre for HIV and Sexual Health, SHIELD and others who tirelessly care and support those people living with HIV/ AIDS;
(e) fully supports “World AIDS day” and its objectives, and furthermore commits to flying the “red ribbon” flag above the Town Hall on future World AIDS days and, one month before World AIDS day, shall promote the sale of Red Ribbons at public points the Council controls; and
(f) instructs the Chief Executive to send a copy of this Motion to the aforementioned organisations and Sheffield’s four Primary Care Trusts.
16. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR JILLIAN CREASY
That this Council :-
(a) notes that:
(i) the average gambler visits a mega casino twice a month and spends £44 and that this would be beyond the means of most workers in the leisure industry;
(ii) the smallest of the proposed mega casinos for Sheffield expects to have 9000 visitors a day and that the majority of these will travel by car or taxi;
(iii) pollution levels in Tinsley are already twice the recommended level and contribute to the excess morbidity and mortality in that part of Sheffield; and
(iv) traffic congestion at junction 33 of the M1 is notoriously severe;
(b) concludes that:
(i) any economic benefit to local people will be reduced as soon as they start to use the casino themselves;
(ii) attracting gamblers from elsewhere in Sheffield or the Region runs counter to the Local Transport Plan (which seeks to reduce car usage) and threatens the respiratory and cardiovascular health of some of the most vulnerable people in the City; and
(iii) there is a real risk that this form of inward investment could open more gaps than it closes; and
(c) therefore:
(i) welcomes the economic assessment being undertaken by the Chief Executive and
the health assessment being undertaken by the Directors of Public Health; and
(ii) recommends that an independent environmental assessment is also undertaken.
17. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR JILLIAN CREASY
That this Council:
(a) deplores all acts of aggression and terrorism;
(b) notes the loss of civilian life and destruction of the infrastructure in Fallujah, Iraq;
(c) wishes to express its sympathy and solidarity with all people of good will in that City who are now faced with rebuilding it;
(d) therefore requests the Chief Executive to investigate the possibility of forming a Friendship Link with Fallujah and to report back to full Council in two months' time; and
(e) requests the Chief Executive to send a copy of this Motion to the Prime Minister and the Sheffield Members of Parliament.
Dated this 23rd day of November, 2004
Bob Kerslake
Chief Executive