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Council Minutes 5 May 2004

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held 5th May 2004

Meeting of the Council of the City of Sheffield held in the Council Chamber within the Town Hall, Sheffield, on Wednesday, 5th May, 2004, pursuant to notice duly given and Summonses duly served.

PRESENT

THE LORD MAYOR (Councillor Diane Leek)

THE DEPUTY LORD MAYOR (Councillor Mike Pye)

1 Beauchief Ward	11 Firth Park Ward	20 Nether Shire Ward
Andrew Sangar	Alan Law	Jane Bird
	Joan Barton	Peter Rippon


2 Birley Ward	12 Hallam Ward	21 Netherthorpe Ward
Angela Smith	John Knight	Sylvia Anginotti
Bryan Lodge	John Hesketh	Steve Ayris
	Duncan Kime	Brian Holmes

3 Brightside Ward	13 Handsworth Ward	22 Norton Ward
Peter Price	Mick Rooney	Chris Tutt
Alf Meade	Ray Satur	Garry Weatherall
John Webster	Marjorie Barker	Beverley Wright

4 Broomhill Ward	14 Heeley Ward	23 Owlerton Ward
Alan Whitehouse	Tessa Hainey	Chris Weldon
Janice Sidebottom	Ian Richardson	James Hanson
	Terry Fox

5 Burngreave Ward	15 Hillsborough Ward	24 Park Ward
Ibrar Hussain	Janet Bragg	Elizabeth Taylor
Steve Jones	Robert MacDonald	John Robson
Jackie Drayton	Peter MacLoughlin	Julie Dore

6 Castle Ward	16 Intake Ward	25 Sharrow Ward
Jan Wilson	Martin Lawton	Jean Cromar
Mike King	John Campbell	Mohammad Nazir
Pat Midgley	Bob McCann	Basheer Khan

7 Chapel Green Ward	17 Manor Ward	26 South Wortley Ward
Kathleen Chadwick	Harry Harpham	Vic Bowden
Graham Oxley	Jan Fiore	Arthur Dunworth
Pat Fox	Gill Furniss	David Baker

8 Darnall Ward	18 Mosborough Ward	27 Southey Green Ward
Mary Lea	Chris Rosling-Josephs	Tim Rippon
Terry Barrow	Sam Wall	Tony Damms
Mohammad Altaf		Steve Wilson

9 Dore Ward	19 Nether Edge Ward	28 Stocksbridge Ward
Colin Ross	Andrew White	-
Keith Hill	Pat White
Anne Smith	Ali Qadar

10 Ecclesall Ward		29 Walkley Ward
Roger Davison		Jonathan Harston
		Veronica Hardstaff

1.	WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIPS 2004
	The Lord Mayor (Councillor Diane Leek) reported that she had been asked by Sir Rodney Walker, Chief Executive of the World Snooker Association, to pass on his thanks and appreciation of the City's hosting of the World Snooker Championships 2004 at the Crucible Theatre.

2.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
	Apologies for absence were received from the Councillors Barbara Belcher, Martin Davis, Mike Davis, Sylvia Dunkley, Doreen Newton and Paul Scriven.

3.	MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
	RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Pat Midgley, seconded by Councillor John Webster, that the minutes of the meeting of the City Council held on 7th April, 2004, be approved as a correct record.

4.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
	Petitions
	The Council considered petitions (a) containing 87 signatures giving notice of their objection to planning application No. 04/00450/FUL for the development of a sports hall and outdoor soccer facility at All Saints Catholic High School, Granville Road, and, after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. A. Hodgett, to which a response was given by Councillor Gill Furniss, the Cabinet Member for Development, Environment and Leisure, referred the petition for consideration by the South Planning and Highways Area Board; (b) containing 30 signatures of members of the Abbeydale Tenants' and Residents' Association requesting the Council to take action against motorists who park in residents' parking bays and pavements on their estate and to stop "Technicar" from washing cars in the road, with hosepipes running over the pavement which was considered to be very dangerous and, after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. S. Holmes, referred the petition for consideration by Councillor Harry Harpham, the Cabinet Member for Streetscene, who gave an undertaking to investigate the complaint and respond to Mr. Holmes; and (c) containing (i) 316 signatures protesting against the proposal of the Post Office to close the Wybourn Post Office at Manor Oaks Road and (ii) 787 signatures protesting at the proposal of the Post Office to close the Brightside Post Office at Jenkin Road and calling upon the City Council to support the petition and make representations to the Post Office to reconsider this proposal which is directly opposed to the Council's "Closing the Gap policy" and referred both petitions for consideration by Councillor Jan Wilson, the Leader of the Council, who stated that she had invited local Post Office Managers to a meeting in her office to discuss details of the branches that were being put forward as potential closures and to explain what improvements were proposed for surrounding branches that would ensure customers continued to have good access to Post Office services, bearing in mind the topography of Sheffield and difficulties in accessing surrounding branches faced by older people, mothers with prams, etc. and that she would be drawing up recommendations for a Council response.

	Public Questions
	There were no questions from members of the public.

5.	SHEFFIELD CENTRAL AREA ACTIVITY REPORT AND SHEFFIELD'S ECONOMIC STRATEGY
	Bill Kirk, Chief Executive, Sheffield One, gave a presentation on a Sheffield Central Area Activity Report for Spring, 2004 that had been produced by Knight Frank. He stated that there had been a steady increase in the take-up of office accommodation in Sheffield since 1998. He illustrated where enquiries were coming from with a graph showing the take-up in the Sheffield Central Business District by sector since 1996, with 2003 seeing an equal split between public and private sector. He commented on the quality of accommodation available which ranged from Grade A (best - with air conditioning suspended ceilings, etc.) to Grade C (poor - older, unimproved office stock). With reference to a graph showing the take up of office accommodation since 1996 by age ranging from the 1930s to the present, he demonstrated that half of the take-up related to new accommodation. On the supply side, he stated that office availability had fallen for seven consecutive years from a peak of 800,000 square feet in 1996 to a current level of 370,000 square feet. Of that, only around 57,000 square feet was of Grade A quality and was largely contained in four buildings. Whilst this represented a steady take-up, there was less choice available. On the issue of central transactions, Bill Kirk stated that these tended to be large with nine deals over 5,000 square feet accounting for the total take-up of 273,000 square feet in 2003, generally in new or modern specification buildings. He listed the key lettings for 2003 and commented on the details of the developments at Riverside Exchange (which was pre-let, not speculative), Milton House, Charter Row (a high specification speculative office refurbishment with air conditioning), Aspect Court and Arundel Gate (speculative refurbishment developments with air conditioning).
	On predictions for 2004, Bill Kirk stated that the City Centre activity/take-up could easily exceed 2003, with three serious enquiries identified totalling 350,000 square feet, a figure that needed to be targeted each year. As the consequences of the earlier Masterplanning exercise, a potential shortage of space had been averted and he added that the potential for decentralised Government requirements as a result of the Lyons Review could continue the trend for public sector office requirements. He stated that a start on site was expected in the Summer on the first phase office building at St. Paul's Place and that legal agreements had been signed for Castlegate, which was a speculative development that reflected the confidence developers had in the regeneration of the City. Further developments would also be taking place at Riverside Exchange, Moorfoot, Holly Street/Carver Lane and the E-Campus at Pond Street. In summarising, he stated that the Knight Frank research had identified sustained growth in office accommodation with a further 8,200 jobs to be created over the next 10 years. Considerable improvements in the immediate/medium term supply were being delivered, and there was a need to act now in order to secure the longer term supply of around 350,000 square feet each year. This was being looked at by a Working Group comprising representatives of Sheffield One, Sheffield First for Investment, the City Council and cross referenced to private sector focus groups.
	Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive, Sheffield City Council, gave a presentation on Sheffield's Economic Strategy in which he outlined the importance of the economy to the regeneration of the City, reviewed progress made and elaborated on the move to transformation. He referred to the Economic Vision for Sheffield, which had been drawn up through Objective 1 work, to become the core City of a balanced, diverse and sustainable high growth economy in South Yorkshire by 2010, recognised as a growing European Centre for high technology, manufacturing and knowledge based services and offering opportunities for the whole community. He stressed that, without a strong economy, this vision could never be achieved. He described the policy challenges to achieving high level measures of success and the critical initiatives to respond to them as follows:-

	· creating a City Centre of European significance
	· harnessing the strengths of the knowledge institutions
	· developing dynamic business clusters
	· providing the skills that a modern economy requires
	· creating a distinctive set of economic assets
	· enhancing Sheffield's strategic transport connections.

	He added that Sheffield's approach to economic development had been rated as good, with excellent prospects, in the recent Comprehensive Performance Assessment Inspection Report. In creating a future for Sheffield, he indicated that it needed to build on its past reputation to become an internationally recognised "innovative producer" City that was accessible and easy to get around and memorable for a distinctive City Centre and green environment.
	In describing the positive progress that was being made, he referred to the national recognition of the need to tackle regional disparities and he stated that the Rt. Hon. Keith Hill, M.P., Minister of State would be visiting the City in July to discuss plans to develop the economy. In stressing that major Cities were crucial to regional prosperity, he referred to the Five Key Cities report for Yorkshire and the Humber where Sheffield had been recognised as part of the solution at regional and national level. He elaborated on the City Centre regeneration, stronger and simpler business support arrangements, new developments and opportunities and he illustrated a steady improvement since 1996 in the City's productivity and economic growth, with businesses becoming more competitive.
	With reference to unemployment, Bob Kerslake stated that, prior to 1996, Sheffield's unemployment rate was 2.5% above the national average but was now continuing to fall faster than the national rate and at present was 0.5% above the national average. He then showed pie charts indicating the percentage of businesses assisted by Business Link South Yorkshire, 42% of which were in Sheffield, and showing the percentage split of new high growth start up businesses in South Yorkshire, 64% of which were in Sheffield. In relation to City Centre regeneration, he commented on the good progress that had been made in the last seven years since the original briefing was given on Heart of the City and he stated that Sheffield's Urban Regeneration Company (Sheffield One) was regarded as a good model of how things should be done. New developments and opportunities included the Northern Growth Corridor which stretched from Liverpool to Hull and would provide a challenge to the economic position of London and the South East. He elaborated on development opportunities outside the City Centre, which included the Lower Don Valley, Sheffield Business Park, Riverside sites and the Upper Don Valley which could put Sheffield in a position to become an importer of jobs. Investment planning led by Yorkshire Forward gave an opportunity to plan for the coming five years with significant funds available from the Single Pot and European funding beyond 2006. He also considered the City to be well placed to accommodate any public sector relocations arising from the Lyons Review. In relation to knowledge based jobs, Sheffield was still poorly placed in relation to other major Cities and needed to improve its position.
	In summarising the City's position, Bob Kerslake stated that the economic revival had begun but there still needed to be a transformation. The City was holding its own against other core Cities but the challenge was to become a front runner. It was performing strongly on a social indicator such as health and crime but was still vulnerable without economic transformation. He commented on the establishment of the Creative Sheffield Economic Board which would oversee the continuing economic development of the City and he described the Sheffield Priorities for Investment Plan which would see continuing investment in City Centre Projects, matching people to jobs, regeneration areas outside the City Centre and developing community based regeneration organisations as they managed the transition from Single Regeneration Bid funding. He stated that the key headlines for the City's move to transformation included better programme management, grasping opportunities, playing to the City's strengths, thinking big to make an impact and developing prosperity and inclusion.
	At the conclusion of the presentation, Bill Kirk gave a visual demonstration of a simulated "fly through" the Heart of the City developments in the vicinity of the Peace Gardens. Members then asked questions (Q) and made comments (C) on a number of issues, to which responses (R) were given by Bob Kerslake and Bill Kirk, and are summarised as follows:-

	Q How was the City placed, in competition with Cities such as Leeds and Manchester to provide accommodation arising from the Lyons review?

	A Sheffield was well placed to respond to any requirements arising from the Lyons review and had, in the past provided accommodation for relocated Government Departments.

	Q How important were major public sector developments such as the Barker’s Pool area to raising the City's profile and instilling confidence in developers?

	R The Public Realm works were crucial to the delivery of the overall Masterplan; developers looked at the long term and wanted to be confident that the City had clear direction and commitment. Rents were being pushed to £18 per square foot and beyond which was a good indicator of developer confidence.

	Q In bidding for provision of office accommodation arising from the Lyons review, cognisance needed to be taken of planned future cuts in the number of Civil Servants; was the balance right between public and private sector take-up in generating wealth in the City and could more be done to meet the needs of the finance sector in creating dynamic business clusters?

	R The development plans would harness the private sector, with a large take-up of the St. Paul's developments, with the creative IT sector accommodated in the E-Campus, but the City must respond to opportunities for new knowledge based businesses and capturing Government relocations.

	Q Referring to the citation by the Chair of Yorkshire Forward at a recent breakfast seminar at Westminster of Sheffield as a model for economic regeneration and enquiring what building blocks were used and what was done differently by Sheffield One?

	R Sheffield One had a fully resourced business plan for Sheffield which had been developed from a realistic Masterplanning process and activity was monitored monthly to ensure delivery; not many other Urban Regeneration companies could say this.

	C Suggesting that the City needed a well resourced Tourist Information Centre to promote Sheffield's vision.

	R The provision of tourist information had focused on people's requirements, with good access via the internet and telephone. The City was working closely with Yorkshire Forward on tourism and it was recognised that a network of information points for tourism and transport was needed in the City and it was proposed to create a series of interchanges with enquiry points.

	C Commenting on the need for Sheffield to be accessible as well as creative and to address difficulties faced by motorists in getting around the City.

	R Access in and around the City would improve with the completion of the northern leg of the Inner Ring Road and the provision of high quality signage.

	C Pointing out that public sector jobs can disappear as well as private sector jobs.

	C Intimating that, whilst there was a growth in the gross domestic product, there was still a big social divide in the City.

	Q Sheffield needed to be more accessible to business people and what support was available to help establish businesses in Sheffield?

	R Support arrangements for businesses had been simplified with a single point of contact through Sheffield First for Investment.

	C The City needed to provide better leads on the promotion of environmental policies, for example through requiring eco-friendly air conditioning in buildings and imposing 10% green energy requirements as part of planning conditions. How could this be achieved?

	A The City was seeking to promote environmental policies in the City, Sheffield First for the Environment had been created recently and the Groundwork Sheffield Trust had been launched. Environmental based economic regeneration was important and whilst the Heart of the City was using the district heating system, the City's capacity to influence was linked to overall economic success.

	Q What was being done to address a potential shortage of electrical power in the City?

	R Sheffield One had been looking at the City's energy requirements which had led to national research being commissioned, the results of which would be available in four months' time.

	Q Contending that the Northern Growth Corridor will not work without adequate road and rail links which, as far as Sheffield were concerned were not good enough and asking if there were any links in the pipeline and was there a strategic voice?

	R Transport infrastructure will be a key issue in the development of the Northern Growth Corridor and, through joint working, Government funding could be influenced. Business Link and the Learning and Skills Council were soon to come under Regional Development Agencies who were keen to work together on the Corridor.

	Q Welcoming the 8,200 jobs and extra housing in the City Centre and enquiring whether there was any investment apart from student housing?

	R The housing market was very active for one or two bedroomed flats and the City Living Strategy would be providing high quality residential accommodation.

	C Commenting on social and private housing provision, the Barker Review of Housing Supply and the massive pressures for more housing in the South West of the City and the threats to the green belt.

	Q What plans were there to attempt to relocate professional businesses to Sheffield and, with reference to recently reported comments made by a Sheffield First Board Member advocating a buy local policy and putting more emphasis on an inward investment approach and less on supporting small businesses, enquiring if there were any examples of Cities that had created long term success using such approach?

	R A twin track approach was being adopted to create economic growth in the City and to attract quality investors whilst supporting indigenous growth and retaining small businesses in the City.

	Q Welcoming the Castlegate proposals and the progress made on the Heart of the City and indicating that, whilst the minority administration's questioning of the Projects might appear critical it did not necessarily mean they were against the Scheme; and enquiring about the long term situation in relation to the availability of suitable sites for accommodation and what was required to ensure that land would be available?

	R The City had a good supply of available land and would continue to do so; the Lower Don Valley and Upper Don Valley demonstrated where economic regeneration opportunities were available in the longer term.

	C Expressing the need to guard against complacency and for all Members to continue to promote the City and expressing disappointment at certain Councillors' negative comments.

	Q Commenting on the investment in improving parks and other key environmental issues and asking what part a good environment played in attracting investment to the City?

	R Quality of life and a good environment were important factors in attracting businesses and more public open space was being created in the City.

	C Commenting on the past reliance on a single industry, e.g. steel, and suggesting that a whole range of specialisms needed to be developed without relying too much on the public sector?

	Q Enquiring if Sheffield One was confident that the correct amount of accommodation was being made available in its forward planning and without having to rely on speculative developments and was sufficient cognisance being taken of access, parking and transport issues?

	R Car parking was important and had been addressed in the masterplanning and a strategic approach to car parking had been agreed by the Cabinet, which included a modest increase in car parking. The John Lewis Partnership had also developed a strategy.

	Q Commenting on the role of private sector investment in the City and enquiring what targets had been set in respect of the number of public/private sector jobs needed for Sheffield to become a front runner?

	R Targeting job numbers was an imprecise science but it was important to create the opportunities for jobs.

	Q Commenting on Inner-City activity and linkages with the E-Campus and Park Hill Projects and asking if there were any groups that Sheffield One had not engaged with and might wish to?

	R The Creative Sheffield Board should bring all groups and linkages together and a City Centre Management Board was in place.

	C Suggesting that Park Hill might be developed for private housing and expressing concerns about the social housing element and asking whether the development of skills based, as opposed to knowledge based jobs, was being addressed?

	R Speculative development was a good indicator of confidence in the City's regeneration; a huge amount of work was being done on skills development and the key to any successful City was a highly skilled workforce.

	Q Expressing the need for adequate parking provision within walking distance of theatres, congratulating the Lord Mayor on being a good ambassador for the City in relation to the recent World Snooker Championships 2004 and the use of all opportunities to promote the City and asking whether there were any strategies for joint marketing with the four South Yorkshire Local Authorities?

	R A new South Yorkshire agency for inward investment had been created, with Yorkshire Forward performing at regional level and Renaissance South Yorkshire at sub-regional level

	Q Asking whether the new high-growth business start-ups were high risk and what research on knowledge based business was carried out in conjunction with the two Universities?

	R Business and University collaboration had been highlighted in the Lambert Review in order to grasp the opportunities for economic growth and joint projects were being undertaken with the University, with the Advanced Manufacturing Park being driven by research.

	Q How can the City harness the added value that the social economy and local communities could give in regenerating the City and how might the "closing the gap" policies be meshed with the overall plan?

	R The importance of community based regeneration and links into jobs was recognised.

	Q Asking when the improvements to the Sheffield Midland Station frontage would be taking place?

	R Preliminary works had started on the new concourse and station canopies at Midland Station using £12.8m Strategic Rail Authority funding and work on site was expected shortly.

	Q Enquiring what progress was being made with the E-Campus development?

	R The remodelling of the Transport Interchange would be completed within five/six weeks and this would be followed by site investigation works and a revised Masterplan for the site.

	Q Was Sheffield losing business to Leeds because it had no stock market profile?

	R In relation to the City's profile on the stock exchange, the investment market was looking very seriously at Sheffield.

	Q Commenting on the relationship of Sheffield with Rotherham and querying whether at some stage a strategic partnership should be investigated?

	R A spatial strategy was being developed, but the Advanced Manufacturing Park would benefit both Sheffield and Rotherham.

	Q Commenting on the growth in the City's gross domestic product and welcoming an encouraging upward movement but, in feeling that the City was too dependant on manufacturing, asking how far the City was starting to attract the financial sector?

	R The provision of good quality accommodation underpinned the strategy to attract investors to the City

	Q Recognising that Sheffield had a multi-faith community and asking if provision would be made in the City Centre for Muslim students who did not have space for community prayers?

	R There was a greater recognition of the role that faith groups could play in the regeneration of the City and the New Retail Quarter offered the most scope for responding to multi-faith community requirements.

	Q Asking what was being done with the office accommodation presently standing vacant?

	R The vacant office accommodation was mainly grade “C” quality, some of which would be refurbished or converted into residential use or into potential development sites.

	Q Commenting that whilst manufacturing skills were declining nationwide, Sheffield was not but might be in 15 years time and asking what was being done to ensure that such skills were not lost for ever?

	R Details would be supplied outside the meeting

	On behalf of the Council, The Lord Mayor (Councillor Diane Leek) thanked Bob Kerslake and Bill Kirk for their excellent presentations and congratulated Bill Kirk on his recent appointment as Chief Executive of Sheffield One Board.

6.	REPRESENTATION
	RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Harry Harpham, seconded by Councillor Pat Midgley, that approval be given to the following changes to the memberships of Boards, etc.:-

	Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board	-	Councillor Robert MacDonald to replace Councillor Jackie Drayton

	Care, Health and Protection Scrutiny Board