Sheffield City Council - Summons 4th June 2003

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, 4th June, 2003, 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 7th May, 2003, and to approve the accuracy thereof. (Copy herewith - "A")

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 of Boards etc. and the appointment of representatives to serve on other bodies.

5. ITEMS REFERRED TO COUNCIL

BEST VALUE PERFORMANCE PLAN

To consider any decision which may be referred by the Cabinet at its meeting on 28th May, 2003.

6. OBSERVATIONS

To receive observations on the minutes of the meetings of the various Council bodies.

7. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR PETER MacLOUGHLIN

That this Council:

(a) recognises that both major parties represented on the Council have now had the opportunity to consider the long-term investment need of Sheffield's Council housing and neighbourhoods;

(b) also recognises that, as the current and previous administrations, both major parties have had the opportunity to devise strategies for meeting this long-term investment need, with due reference to the Government's 2010 Decent Homes target;

(c) regrets that the issue of finding additional investment for Sheffield's Council housing and neighbourhoods has once again been used as a political football in the recent local elections;

(d) believes that such tactics do nobody any long-term good, because:

(i) they scare and confuse tenants;

(ii) they purport to promise alternative solutions where none exist; and

(iii) they detract from the crucial issue of ensuring that the investment needed is actually found;

(e) calls upon all Members to recognise the common ground that exists between both major parties on the City Council and to use this constructively, namely:

(i) that both parties have, at some point, said that they are determined to meet the 2010 Decent Homes target;

(ii) that both parties have, at some point, said that they want to go beyond the limitations of the Government's definition of a decent home, to include tenants' priorities to improve the local environment, community safety, economic regeneration and to create sustainable mixed neighbourhoods;

(iii) that both parties have, at some point, said that doing nothing is not an option;

(iv) that both parties have, at some point, said that they will work within the parameters of investment opportunities identified by the Government and will seek a solution for all neighbourhoods across the City;

(v) that both parties have, at some point, said that they would prefer to pursue local solutions in partnership with tenants, including the use of local ballots, and welcome the fact that this is now possible;

(vi) that both parties have, at some point, committed themselves to holding ballots of tenants for any proposed change of ownership or management of their homes; and

(vii) that both parties have, at some point, recognised that stock transfer has a role in the City's housing investment strategy and should be offered as an option to tenants;

(f) recognises that both parties have, at some point, recognised that adequate finance and recourse is made available to bring in the inward investment for whichever option the tenants may choose together with the appropriate staffing, both internally and externally, in order that tenants may be an equal partner in all aspects of their involvement;

(g) recognises that both parties have, at some point, stated that they are open, honest and transparent in their dealings on all Council matters and have also stated their desire to work constructively in the interests of the people of Sheffield;

(h) acknowledges that Sheffield, along with all other Councils, needs to have its plan for achieving decent homes agreed with the Government by 2005 or face intervention;

(i) asserts that this is not a threat to tenants, but a directive to Councils to get on with the job;

(j) also acknowledges that to not have a plan in place, Sheffield will run the risk of losing credibility and sources of funding which go hand-in-hand with a robust housing strategy;

(k) acknowledges the recent calls of the Audit Commission for there to be all party support for Sheffield's strategy to deliver decent homes;

(l) therefore calls for an end to these issues being used as an electioneering device, steeped in misinformation and inflammatory language, and instead asks for all Members to work together to bring into Sheffield the investment that is so crucial to the future of the City's homes and neighbourhoods;

(m) requests that the Chief Executive calls a meeting of representatives of the major parties to finally agree a common approach towards securing the investment needed, and for the outcome of this meeting to be reported to the next meeting of the full Council together with a full written statement of the outcome to all Councillors;

(n) recognises that the obstacles to cross party agreement as stated in the letter from the Chief Executive dated 3rd January, 2001, to the Leaders of both major parties no longer exists;

(o) therefore recognises that there are no excuses left to mislead the tenants of this City on the whole issue of Council housing and looks forward to a period of long overdue stability together with an end to the political opportunism of the past which has done so much damage to the tenants and their neighbourhoods by causing unnecessary delay in obtaining the appropriate inward investment;

(p) hopes that with genuine and consistent goodwill on all sides a new beginning will emerge where Sheffield can move forward in partnership with tenants and the Government for the prosperity and wellbeing of some of the most deserving and vulnerable people of this City; and

(q) instructs that copies of this Motion be sent to the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Housing Minister and to the Members of Parliament for Sheffield, and the Tenants' Associations of this City.

8. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR PETER MacLOUGHLIN

That this Council:

(a) recognises that;

(i) both major parties represented on the Council have acknowledged that since the early eighties there has been low investment in Council stock for various reasons;

(ii) both major parties represented on the Council have acknowledged that since the mid nineties there has been a low demand for Council stock for various reasons;

(iii) both major parties have supported the Government's policy regarding low demand for Council housing particularly in the North of England;

(iv) both major parties have recognised the need for action to be taken to address this ongoing problem by alternative use of Council stock, rationalisation, stock reduction/demolition etc.;

(v) both major parties have recognised the great distress this emotive topic has caused to many tenants across the City;

(vi) both major parties have recognised that during the learning curve of the stock reduction programme, mistakes were made to the detriment of some tenants;

(vii)both major parties recognising these mistakes, have sought to address them by implementing new procedures and initiatives within legal and financial constraints; and

(viii) both major parties recognise that more can and should be done by the City Council and where appropriate by a change in Government policy;

(b) therefore, as consensus from both major parties is apparent on this emotive issue, calls for the political bickering to stop immediately so that tenants and residents are not led up the garden path to feed the political opportunism of the past;

(c) therefore calls upon the leaders of the two major parties to give a public assurance to tenants and

residents across Sheffield that there is agreement on dealing with this sensitive issue and that political

opportunism will cease from today;

(d) recognises that whilst operating in the spirit of this Motion, the rights of individual Councillors to represent their constituents and deal with any genuine concerns regarding pending or future stock reduction programmes is paramount; and

(e) hopes that with genuine and consistent goodwill on all sides, and honest, open and transparent policies, tenants will have a clear understanding of the benefits as the Council creates mixed, sustainable, confident, thriving neighbourhoods for this and future generations.

That this Council:

(a) notes that the method by which traffic schemes are prioritised is being considered and that all such schemes, including those already approved for detailed investigation, are being suspended until a decision is reached;

(b) notes that the methodology instigated and approved by the previous administration was welcomed by the Government Office as a model of good practice;

(c) believes that the present administration is returning to a model whereby decisions are made in private without any clear methodology as to why decisions are made for or against specific schemes; and

(d) directs the administration to immediately publicise fully the aims and objectives of any revision of the existing methodology.

10. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR PAUL SCRIVEN

(a) supports sustainable energy and accordingly broadly welcomes the Sustainable Energy Bill which gives statutory backing to robust and demanding energy efficiency targets but regrets that the Energy White Paper has completely ignored the advice of the Performance and Innovation Unit, the Sustainable Development Commission, the Energy Saving Trust and the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution regarding the need for firm targets for energy efficiency and 'renewables'; and

(b) accordingly resolves to:

(i) write to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the Minister of State for Energy, and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and their opposite numbers in the two main opposition parties, asking them to support legislation to improve energy efficiency and uses of sustainable energy based on the advice of the Performance and Innovation Unit, the Sustainable Development Commission, the Energy Saving Trust and the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution; and

(ii) ask local Members of Parliament to support Early Day Motions 148 and 910 (A2) in support of legislation to encourage greater energy efficiency.

11. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR JEAN CROMAR

That this Council:

(a) congratulates Sheffield United F.C. on a brilliant season;

(b) commiserates with players, ground staff and fans on a disappointing result in the play-off final;

(c) is convinced that United will take first or second place in the league next season;

(d) looks forward to seeing a swift return to the First Division and ultimately the Premier League for Sheffield Wednesday F.C.; and

(e) believes that the people of the 4th largest City in England deserve to see weekly Premier League football.

12. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR JAN WILSON

That this Council:

(a) thanks all those voters in Sheffield who took part in the recent Municipal elections;

(b) supports measures designed to improve the interest of citizens in Local Government;

(c) believes that the electorate of Sheffield gave a vote of confidence to the current administration on 1st May because:

(i) they rejected the minority party's policy of playing politics as recently witnessed by the campaign around Mortomley Residential Home, which under the previous administration was part of their homes closure strategy;

(ii) they did not trust a party which has different policies in different parts of the City;

(iii) they did not feel comfortable about a party which was secretive about their flagship policy of Local Income Tax;

(iv) they were suspicious of a party which says one thing in power and another in opposition, for example, in power the previous administration supported both the 'Waste to Heat' plant and the City Centre hotel, but took a different view in opposition;

(v) they did not trust a party which became obsessed with a sink installation for hard working

secretaries; and

(vi) they were concerned about a party which lacks cohesion and cannot muster sufficient of their

members to promote a serious debate on major policy issues, even within a Council with no

overall control; and

13. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR HARRY HARPHAM

That this Council:

(a) notes that the recent election results demonstrate that the current administration has:

(ii) made a fresh start;

(iii) concentrated on the issues that matter most to people; and

(iv) worked in partnership to make Sheffield a better place to live;

(b) welcomes its commitment to making Sheffield cleaner, greener and safer; and

(c) instructs that work to promote a cleaner, greener, safer City is embedded in all activities undertaken

by the Council.

Dated this 27th day of May, 2003