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Minutes of Previous Council Meeting held 6th April 2005

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held on Wednesday, 6th April, 2005

Meeting of the Council of the City of Sheffield held in the Council Chamber within the Town Hall, Sheffield, on Wednesday, 6th April, 2005 pursuant to notice duly given and Summonses duly served.

PRESENT

THE LORD MAYOR (Councillor Mike Pye)

THE DEPUTY LORD MAYOR (Councillor Roger Davison)

1 Arbourthorne Ward		10 Dore & Totley Ward					19 Mosborough Ward
Julie Dore		Anne Smith					Mike Peat
John Robson		Mike Waters					David Barker
Tim Rippon							Sam Wall

2 Beauchief/Greenhill Ward		11 East Ecclesfield Ward					20 Nether Edge Ward
Anthony Holmes		Pat Fox					Ali Qadar
Simon Clement-Jones		Vic Bowden
Clive Skelton		Graham Oxley

3 Beighton Ward		12 Ecclesall Ward					21 Richmond Ward
Chris Rosling-Josephs		Sylvia Dunkley					Martin Lawton
Helen Mirfin-Boukouris							John Campbell
							Terry Barrow

4 Birley Ward		13 Firth Park Ward					22 Shiregreen & Brightside Ward
Bryan Lodge		Joan Barton					Jane Bird
Angela Smith		Chris Weldon					Peter Price
							Peter Rippon

5 Broomhill Ward		14 Fulwood Ward					23 Southey Ward
Paul Scriven		John Knight					Tony Damms
Alan Whitehouse		Andrew Sangar					Leigh Bramall
Shaffaq Mohammed		Janice Sidebottom					Gill Furniss

6 Burngreave Ward		15 Gleadless Valley Ward					24 Stannington Ward
Jackie Drayton		Terry Fox					Arthur Dunworth
Ibrar Hussain		Rosemary Telfer					David Baker
Steve Jones		Garry Weatherall					Vickie Priestley

7 Central Ward		16 Graves Park Ward					25 Stocksbridge & Upper Don Ward
Jean Cromar		Peter Moore					Martin Davis
		Barrie Jervis					Martin Brelsford
							Alison Brelsford

8 Crookes Ward		17 Hillsborough Ward					26 Walkley Ward
Brian Holmes		Robert MacDonald					Diane Leek
John Hesketh		Janet Bragg					Veronica Hardstaff
Sylvia Anginotti		Alf Meade					Jonathan Harston

9 Darnall Ward		18 Manor Castle Ward					27 West Ecclesfield Ward
Mary Lea		Pat Midgley					Kathleen Chadwick
Harry Harpham		Jan Fiore					Alan Hooper
Mohammad Altaf		Jan Wilson					Trevor Bagshaw

							28 Woodhouse Ward
							Marjorie Barker
							Mick Rooney
							Ray Satur

1.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
	Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ian Auckland, Mohammad Azim, Kate Dawson, Keith Hill, Alan Law, Ian Saunders, Pat White and Alan White.

2.	DEATHS OF FORMER ALDERMAN PATIENCE SHEARD, CBE, BA, JP AND HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II
	The Lord Mayor (Councillor Mike Pye) referred in sympathetic terms to the recent death of former Alderman Patience Sheard, following which Councillors Veronica Hardstaff, Sylvia Dunkley and Anne Smith paid tribute to her and the contributions she had made to the benefit of the City, particularly in relation to health and clean air issues and in promoting women in politics.
	The Lord Mayor also referred to the recent death of His Holiness John Paul II and paid tribute to his life and work and the influence he had made on world affairs.
	Members observed a minute’s silence in memory of both people.

3.	RESIGNATION OF FORMER COUNCILLOR ANGELA SMITH
	The Lord Mayor (Councillor Mike Pye) reported that Angela Smith had resigned as a member of the City Council with effect from 21st March, 2005 and Councillors Jan Wilson, Paul Scriven and Anne Smith paid tribute to her contribution to the work of the Council and the able manner in which she had performed her duties.
	RESOLVED: On the motion of the Lord Mayor (Councillor Mike Pye), seconded by Councillor Jan Wilson, that this Council places on record its appreciation of the valuable service rendered to the City Council by former Councillor Angela Smith over a period of eight years and 10 months.

4.	LIZ BASHFORTH
	The Lord Mayor (Councillor Mike Pye) referred to the fact that Liz Bashforth was attending her first meeting of the Council in her capacity as Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Governance and members of the Council joined him in offering their congratulations on her recent appointment.

5.	MINUTES OF PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETINGS
	RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Pat Midgley, seconded by Councillor Joan Barton, that the minutes of the meetings of the City Council held on 2nd and 4th March, 2005, be approved as a correct record, with the correction of the name of the Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service by the substitution of “Mark Smitherman” for “Mark Smitherson”.
	(NOTE: Following comments made by Councillor Clive Skelton with regard to a perceived omission from the minutes of the meeting of the City Council held on 2nd March, 2005, officers of the Committee Secretariat have held discussions with Councillor Skelton on this matter and Councillor Skelton has accepted the explanation given by the officers as to the reasons why certain matters raised by him were not recorded in the minutes of the meeting).

6.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

6.1	Petitions
	The Council received petitions containing (a) 63 signatures raising concerns about the condition of Bradwell Street, in particular problems of discarded needles, tipping, graffiti, uneven flagstones, untrimmed bushes, litter and rubbish and calling upon the City Council to take action and remedy this situation and referred the petition for consideration by Councillor Harry Harpham, the Cabinet Member for Streetscene and (b) 523 signatures calling upon the First Bus Group and the South Yorkshire Passenger Executive to ensure that the 31 bus route serving the Walkley/Hillsborough area continues to be in service and referred the petition for consideration by Councillor Jan Wilson, the Leader of the Council and the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority.

6.2	Public Questions
	No public questions were asked at this meeting.

7.	MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS

7.1	Urgent Business
	A question purporting to relate to urgent business, for which notice had not been given, under Standing Order A18(6) was ruled inadmissible.

7.2	Questions
	A schedule of questions to Cabinet Members submitted in accordance with Standing Order A18(2) was circulated, which contained written answers to certain questions, and those Cabinet Members who were identified on the schedule as intending to give verbal answers, responded accordingly.

	(Note: A completed set of questions containing written and verbal answers is available for inspection on the Council’s website)

7.3	Supplementary Questions
	No supplementary questions were asked on written questions submitted at the meeting under the provisions of Standing Order A18(4) as the time limit of 30 minutes allocated for Members’ written and verbal questions had expired.

7.4	South Yorkshire Joint Authorities
	No questions were asked on the discharge of the functions of the South Yorkshire Joint Authorities for Fire and Civil Defence, Passenger Transport, Pensions and Police under the provisions of Standing Order A18(6) as the time limit of 30 minutes allocated for Members’ written and verbal questions had expired.

7.5	Yorkshire and Humber Assembly
	No questions were asked on the discharge of the functions of the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly under the provisions of Standing Order A18(6) as the time limit of 30 minutes allocated for Members’ written and verbal questions had expired.

8.	REPRESENTATION
	It was moved by Councillor Joan Barton, seconded by Councillor Pat Midgley, that (a) approval be given to the following changes to the memberships of Boards, etc. and the appointment of representatives to serve on other bodies:-

	Care, Health and Protection Scrutiny Board		-		Councillor Sam Wall to replace Councillor Jean Cromar

	Corporate Planning Scrutiny Board		-		Councillor Ian Saunders to replace Councillor Sam Wall

	Education Scrutiny Board		-		Remove Councillor Ray Satur to create a vacancy and Councillor Chris Rosling-Josephs to replace Councillor Bryan Lodge

	Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board		-		Councillor Julie Dore to replace Councillor Marjorie Barker

	City Centre and East Planning and Highways Area Board		-		Councillors Trevor Bagshaw, Martin Davis, Sylvia Dunkley and Brian Holmes to fill vacancies as appointed Members of the Board

	West Planning and Highways Area Board		-		Councillors Arthur Dunworth, John Hesketh, Tony Holmes and Alan Hooper to fill vacancies as appointed Members of the Board

	Planning Policy Advisory Group		-		Remove Councillor Arthur Dunworth to create a vacancy

	Schools PFI Steering Group (Contract 2)		-		Councillor Robert MacDonald to fill a vacancy

	Sheffield Futures Board		-		Councillor Sam Wall to fill a vacancy

	Sheffield Homes Local Board Area I		-		Councillor Garry Weatherall to replace Councillor Terry Fox

	Sheffield Homes Local Board Area K		-		Councillor Harry Harpham to replace Councillor Mary Lea

	(b) Councillor Steve Jones be appointed as Cabinet Member for Education and Training in addition to his existing portfolio;
	(c) Councillors Jonathan Harston, Graham Oxley and Shaffaq Mohammed be appointed as Substitute Members of the Planning and Highways Area Boards;
	(d) Councillors Robert MacDonald and Sam Wall (1 vacancy) be appointed to serve on a new Building Schools for the Future Project Board;
	(e) Councillor Pat Midgley be appointed to serve as a Director of the All Saints Sports, Education and Recreational Company;
	(f) Councillor Tim Rippon be appointed to serve on the Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield Consultative Committee;
	(g) the Chief Executive be appointed as the Electoral Registration Officer and the Returning Officer for the City Council; and
	(h) it be noted that the operations of the Sheffield Racial Equality Council have been transferred to a company established with the same name, and it be confirmed that the City Council’s representatives on the Council (Councillors Terry Barrow, Jackie Drayton and Ali Qadar) should now serve as Directors of the Company.

	Whereupon it was moved by Councillor Paul Scriven, seconded by Councillor Andrew Sangar, as an amendment, that the motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of the membership changes to the City Centre and East and West Planning and Highways Area Boards in paragraph (a) and the addition of the following words as a new paragraph (i):-

	“due to the fact that the Council has not discussed the changes to the Planning and Highways Area Boards, the three Boards as constituted on 1st February, 2005 be reconstituted and that the Members who sat on those Boards on that date be reinstated until such time as the Council has discussed the changes to the Constitution of the Council as implemented on 2nd February, 2005.”

	During discussion of the amendment, it was moved by Councillor Pat Midgley, seconded by Councillor Joan Barton, that in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order A20(11), the question be now put.

	The votes on the motion, that the question be now put, were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-

	For the motion (40)			-		Councillors Julie Dore, John Robson, Tim Rippon, Chris Rosling-Josephs, Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Bryan Lodge, Jackie Drayton, Ibrar Hussain, Steve Jones, Jean Cromar, Mary Lea, Harry Harpham, Mohammad Altaf, Joan Barton, Chris Weldon, Terry Fox, Rosemary Telfer, Garry Weatherall, Robert MacDonald, Janet Bragg, Alf Meade, Pat Midgley, Jan Fiore, Jan Wilson, Mike Peat, David Barker, Sam Wall, Martin Lawton, John Campbell, Terry Barrow, Jane Bird, Peter Price, Peter Rippon, Tony Damms, Leigh Bramall, Gill Furniss, Veronica Hardstaff, Marjorie Barker, Mick Rooney and Ray Satur.

	Against the motion (33)			-		The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Roger Davison) and Councillors Tony Holmes, Simon Clement-Jones, Clive Skelton, Paul Scriven, Alan Whitehouse, Shaffaq Mohammad, Brian Holmes, John Hesketh, Sylvia Anginotti, Anne Smith, Mike Waters, Pat Fox, Vic Bowden, Graham Oxley, Sylvia Dunkley, John Knight, Andrew Sangar, Janice Sidebottom, Peter Moore, Barrie Jervis, Ali Qadar, Arthur Dunworth, David Baker, Vicky Priestley, Martin Davis, Martin Brelsford, Alison Brelsford, Diane Leek, Jonathan Harston, Kathleen Chadwick, Alan Hooper and Trevor Bagshaw.

	Abstained (1)			-		The Lord Mayor (Councillor Mike Pye).

	On being put to the vote, the procedural motion was carried. The amendment was then put to the vote and was lost.

	The votes on the amendment were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-

	For the amendment (33)			-		The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Roger Davison) and Councillors Tony Holmes, Simon Clement-Jones, Clive Skelton, Paul Scriven, Alan Whitehouse, Shaffaq Mohammed, Brian Holmes, John Hesketh, Sylvia Anginotti, Anne Smith, Mike Waters, Pat Fox, Vic Bowden, Graham Oxley, Sylvia Dunkley, John Knight, Andrew Sangar, Janice Sidebottom, Peter Moore, Barrie Jervis, Ali Qadar, Arthur Dunworth, David Baker, Vickie Priestley, Martin Davis, Martin Brelsford, Alison Brelsford, Diane Leek, Jonathan Harston, Kathleen Chadwick, Alan Hooper and Trevor Bagshaw.

	Against the amendment (41)			-		The Lord Mayor (Councillor Mike Pye) and Councillors Julie Dore, John Robson, Tim Rippon, Chris Rosling-Josephs, Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Bryan Lodge, Jackie Drayton, Ibrar Hussain, Steve Jones, Jean Cromar, Mary Lea, Harry Harpham, Mohammad Altaf, Joan Barton, Chris Weldon, Terry Fox, Rosemary Telfer, Garry Weatherall, Robert MacDonald, Janet Bragg, Alf Meade, Pat Midgley, Jan Fiore, Jan Wilson, Mike Peat, David Barker, Sam Wall, Martin Lawton, John Campbell, Terry Barrow, Jane Bird, Peter Price, Peter Rippon, Tony Damms, Leigh Bramall, Gill Furniss, Veronica Hardstaff, Marjorie Barker, Mick Rooney and Ray Satur.

	Abstained (0)			-		NIL.

	The original motion, to approve changes to memberships of Boards, etc., was then put to the vote and carried.

	The votes on the motion were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-

	For the motion (40)			-		Councillors Julie Dore, John Robson, Tim Rippon, Chris Rosling-Josephs, Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Bryan Lodge, Jackie Drayton, Ibrar Hussain, Steve Jones, Jean Cromar, Mary Lea, Harry Harpham, Mohammad Altaf, Joan Barton, Chris Weldon, Terry Fox, Rosemary Telfer, Garry Weatherall, Robert MacDonald, Janet Bragg, Alf Meade, Pat Midgley, Jan Fiore, Jan Wilson, Mike Peat, David Barker, Sam Wall, Martin Lawton, John Campbell, Terry Barrow, Jane Bird, Peter Price, Peter Rippon, Tony Damms, Leigh Bramall, Gill Furniss, Veronica Hardstaff, Marjorie Barker, Mick Rooney and Ray Satur.

	Against the motion (33)			-		The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Roger Davison) and Councillors Tony Holmes, Simon Clement-Jones, Clive Skelton, Paul Scriven, Alan Whitehouse, Shaffaq Mohammed, Brian Holmes, John Hesketh, Sylvia Anginotti, Anne Smith, Mike Waters, Pat Fox, Vic Bowden, Graham Oxley, Sylvia Dunkley, John Knight, Andrew Sangar, Janice Sidebottom, Peter Moore, Barrie Jervis, Ali Qadar, Arthur Dunworth, David Baker, Vickie Priestley, Martin Davis, Martin Brelsford, Alison Brelsford, Diane Leek, Jonathan Harston, Kathleen Chadwick, Alan Hooper and Trevor Bagshaw.

	Abstained (1)			-		The Lord Mayor (Councillor Mike Pye).

8.	OBSERVATIONS
	The following members made observations on the under-mentioned matters referred to in the minutes of the various Council bodies held from 12th February to 11th March, 2005:-

	Member			Observation

	Councillor John Hesketh			Making an observation on the minutes of the previous Council meeting that was ruled out of order by the Lord Mayor (Councillor Mike Pye) (page 1048).

	Councillor Peter Rippon			Welcoming the extra resources to address the problem of litter in the Brightside/Shiregreen area and commending the work of the Panel as a good example of collaborative working between local Councillors and members of the public (page 1131).

	Councillor Mike Waters			Noting the importance that the City Council attaches to protecting Sheffield’s heritage and urging the Council to protect the future of Beauchief Abbey having regard to the possibility of barns being sold for residential development (pages 1155 and 1159).

	Councillor Veronica Hardstaff			Commenting that there were a number of questions left unanswered by the majority opposition party in their budget amendment at the Council meeting on 4th March, 2005 that called for Council Tax to be replaced with a local income tax (page 1069).

	Councillor Jonathan Harston			Suggesting that Councillor Veronica Hardstaff should put her questions about the local income tax in writing and that an answer would be provided (page 1069) and commending the work of Councillor Diane Leek in helping to save bus service 31 from being withdrawn in the Hillsborough/Walkley area (minute 126 SYPTA 3rd March 2005).

	Councillor Ray Satur			Commenting on various targets being worked to by the Directorate of Development, Environment and Leisure in relation to environmental issues and commending the work of Councillor Harry Harpham, the Cabinet Member for Streetscene, and highlighting, as an example of helping to save the environment, the changes in the way the Council volume of minutes are bound and thanking Mick Ogle, Committee Secretariat Manager, for implementing this change (page 1119).

	Councillor Paul Scriven			Commenting on the inequalities of the Council Tax and suggesting that the only fair way to fund local government was a system that taxed people on their wealth, such as a local income tax (page 1069); thanking Councillor Diane Leek for working with the local community in connection with the petition requesting the reintroduction of service 31 serving the Walkley/Hillsborough area (minute 126 SYPTA 3rd March 2005); drawing attention to public questions asked at Area Panel meetings concerning litter and claiming that the litter problem has not been solved and that basic services were not being delivered to the standards required by the public (page 1150).

	Councillor Marjorie Barker			Welcoming the ‘City on the Move’ physical activity strategy for Sheffield and the emphasis placed on giving priority to walking (page 1114).

	Councillor Diane Leek			Commenting on the intensity of passion shown by the public in relation to the petition concerning bus service service 31 and expressing a desire to see fuller buses to relieve traffic congestion (minute 126 SYPTA minutes 3rd March, 2005); drawing attention to those children under five years of age who would not get free school milk and emphasising the need to think seriously about the Jamie Oliver campaign to provide healthy and nutritional school meals (page 1063).

	Councillor Joan Barton			Paying tribute to the work of former Councillor Angela Smith as Cabinet Member for Education and Training, particularly in relation to improving school meals and luncheon clubs and the provision of fruit and snack bars free of salt/ sugar items (page 1063); expressing regret at the recently reported problem on the Arbourthorne estate, but calling for that to be placed in context in relation to housing improvement work being carried out across the City (page 1123).

	Councillor Sylvia Dunkley			Drawing attention to the problems being faced by a local community sports association that would have to pay £100 for a licence for its small bar and a yearly £60 renewal fee, as required by the new Licensing Act, highlighting the inequalities that small clubs across the City would have to pay the same as large organisations and urging that representations should be made to the Government on this (page 1165).

	Councillor Gill Furniss			Congratulating all involved in the ‘City on the Move’ physical activity strategy and highlighting the City’s success in the Britain in Bloom competition, being the only City in the country selected to represent Britain in the Entente Florale competition in 2005 (page 1114).

	Councillor Bryan Lodge			Recognising the growing importance for people to adopt healthy lifestyles and welcoming the work done by the City Council with the Primary Care Trusts in relation to ‘City on the Move’ (page 1114).

9.	NOTICE OF MOTION RE: SHEFFIELD’S AWARD OF ‘COUNCIL OF THE YEAR’
	It was moved by Councillor Jan Wilson, seconded by Councillor Steve Jones, that this Council

	(a) congratulates all Council staff, and partners in the community, business and public sectors in working together to help achieve Sheffield’s award of ‘Council of the Year’;

	(b) notes that this accolade follows the recent Comprehensive Performance Assessment of the Council as “excellent”;

	(c) believes that the people of Sheffield can see a real improvement in the services which they receive;

	(d) acknowledges that this has been supported by unprecedented levels of Government funding, for example:-

	(i) the biggest school building programme ever;

	(ii) over £1billion investment in Council housing; and

	(iii) improved levels of Local Government Grant;

	(e) acknowledges the very significant investment of partner organisations such as the Millennium Commission, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England;

	(f) recognises that Sheffield is ‘on the up’ and that the people of Sheffield deserve the best;

	(g) therefore commits itself to a policy of continuous improvement, focusing on the needs and aspirations of Sheffield citizens; and

	(h) invites every Member of the Council to wholeheartedly support this motion.

	Whereupon it was moved by Councillor Chris Weldon, seconded by Councillor Peter Rippon, as an amendment, that the motion now submitted be amended by the addition of the following words at the end of paragraph (d)(ii):-

	“welcomes the 15 point action plan agreed by Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Homes to assist in the delivery of this investment; and”

	On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

	It was then moved by Councillor Paul Scriven, seconded by Councillor Martin Davis, as an amendment, that the motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the substitution of the following words therefor:-

	“(a) is concerned at the present administration’s desire to repeatedly waste valuable Council time with motions that demonstrate arrogance, ignorance and an alarming lack of will to discuss the real issues which concern the people of Sheffield;

	(b) condemns the present administration, and in particular the Leader of Council, for wishing to waste Council time instead of tackling the most important issues to the people of Sheffield such as the mounting transport crisis;

	(c) believes that the constant bragging from the present administration indicates they do not believe the Council and its services can be significantly improved, and furthermore believes that this attitude is misguided and detrimental to Sheffield;

	(d) notes that, unlike the present administration, the major opposition group believes that many aspects of the way the Council works can be significantly improved and primarily focused on benefiting the people of Sheffield;

	(e) is alarmed that the present administration are happy with the level of Government funding despite Sheffield receiving an unfair settlement and no support for the World Student Games debt which costs the Sheffield taxpayer around £25 million a year;

	(f) therefore condemns the present administration for:-

	(i) not believing the Council and its services can be significantly improved;

	(ii) not fighting for a ‘fair deal’ for Sheffield in terms of Government funding;

	(iii) continuing to ignore some of the most significant problems facing Sheffield; and

	(iv) being preoccupied with spin and self-congratulation rather than dealing with issues such as road maintenance and transport; and

	(g) being preoccupied with spin and self-congratulation rather than dealing with issues such as road maintenance and transport; and”

	On being put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

	It was then moved by Councillor Anne Smith, seconded by Councillor Mike Waters, as an amendment, that the motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words in paragraphs (c) - (h) and the substitution of the following words therefor:-

	“(c) believes that the people of Sheffield are not fooled by the present Government’s obsession with targets and ratings;

	(d) recognises that the massive increases in Council Tax, since 1997, have imposed a substantial financial burden on the Council Tax payers of this City;

	(e) notes that recent headline reports in the Sheffield Star have highlighted numerous problems faced by this City, leaving the people of Sheffield baffled by the title ‘Council of the Year’, for example: -

	(i) “Gone to Pot”….. It will take 200 years to mend the City’s potholes;

	(ii) Congestion on Sheffield Roads is a “blight on the City”;

	(iii) Sheffield children are provided with school dinners as “Cheap as Chips”;

	(iv) “Truancy at shock levels” - Sheffield third worst in Yorkshire for absenteeism;

	(v) “Tenants treated appallingly” during Council housing repairs and demolitions; and

	(vi) Crime – “Fortress Lowedges”… “Hate mobs on the Manor” and anti social behaviour; and

	(f) looks forward to action being taking on the enormous problems facing Sheffield ; and also looks forward to some time in the future when the Council can be justifiably regarded as ‘Council of the Year’, not by a small assessment panel, but by all the people of Sheffield.”

	On being put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

	The original motion, as amended, was then put as a substantive motion in the following form and carried:-

	That this Council:

	(a) congratulates all Council staff, and partners in the community, business and public sectors in working together to help achieve Sheffield’s award of ‘Council of the Year’;

	(b) notes that this accolade follows the recent Comprehensive Performance Assessment of the Council as ‘excellent’;

	(c) believes that the people of Sheffield can see a real improvement in the services which they receive;

	(d) acknowledges that this has been supported by unprecedented levels of Government funding, for example:-

	(i) the biggest school building programme ever;

	(ii) over £1billion investment in Council housing and welcomes the 15 point action plan agreed by Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Homes to assist in the delivery of this investment; and

	(iii) improved levels of Local Government Grant;

	(e) acknowledges the very significant investment of partner organisations such as the Millennium Commission, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England;

	(f) recognises that Sheffield is ‘on the up’ and that the people of Sheffield deserve the best;

	(g) therefore commits itself to a policy of continuous improvement, focusing on the needs and aspirations of Sheffield citizens; and

	(h) invites every Member of the Council to wholeheartedly support this Motion.

	(NOTE: 1. The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Roger Davison) and Councillors Tony Holmes, Simon Clement-Jones, Clive Skelton, Paul Scriven, Alan Whitehouse, Shaffaq Mohammed, Brian Holmes, John Hesketh, Sylvia Anginotti, Anne Smith, Mike Waters, Pat Fox, Vic Bowden, Graham Oxley, Sylvia Dunkley, John Knight, Andrew Sangar, Janice Sidebottom, Peter Moore, Barrie Jervis, Ali Qadar, Arthur Dunworth, David Baker, Vickie Priestley, Martin Davis, Martin Brelsford, Alison Brelsford, Diane Leek, Jonathan Harston, Kathleen Chadwick, Alan Hooper and Trevor Bagshaw voted for paragraphs (a), (e) and (g) and against paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (f) and (h) of the Motion and asked for their votes to be recorded; and
	2. Councillor Ray Satur declared an interest in the above item, as Vice Chair of Sheffield Homes, but spoke and voted thereon).

10.	NOTICE OF MOTION RE: CHANGES TO THE COUNCIL’S CONSTITUTION
	It was moved by Councillor Paul Scriven, seconded by Councillor Martin Davis, that this Council:

	(a) condemns the changes to this Council’s Constitution, forced upon this Council by the present administration at the 2nd February, 2005, meeting of the full Council;

	(b) notes that these changes have not been the subject of any consultation or cross-party working;

	(c) believes that by changing the way this Council operates without, at the very least, consulting all parties on the Council, the present administration are abusing their position of power;

	(d) acknowledges that changes to the Constitution are needed to improve the way in which the Council operates, and therefore directs that a cross-party working group is set up to look at all the possibilities available, including the option of scrapping the ‘scrutiny’ Council and replacing it with a ‘working’ Council;

	(e) therefore directs that all changes to the Council’s Constitution, passed at the 2nd February 2005 Council meeting, be reversed, pending a report from the cross-party working group; and

	(f) believes that the Council’s Constitution is above party politics and that, in the interests of all of the people in Sheffield, all efforts should be made to achieve cross-party agreement on any changes to the Council’s Constitution.

	On being put to the vote, the motion was lost.

11.	NOTICE OF MOTION RE: PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
	It was moved by Councillor Gill Furniss, seconded by Councillor Bryan Lodge, that this Council:

	(a) notes the recent report from Sport England that shows that Sheffield people are getting on the move and that 60% of people in the City are involved in some form of physical activity in their leisure time, which figure is 1% more than in Yorkshire as a whole and 3% more than in South Yorkshire;

	(b) notes the report also showed that the City has more ‘highly active’ people – those exercising at least 5 times a week – than Leeds, our nearest comparable City in the survey;

	(c) understands that there is a strong correlation between deprivation and activity levels and that given Sheffield’s overall level of deprivation, we should be encouraged by the levels of activity being achieved in the City;

	(d) notes that the strong results are in a large part due to the good provision within the City of formal sports facilities along with parks and community activity programmes;

	(e) accepts the major health benefits for adults from participating in 30 minutes of active recreation or sport on at least five days a week and therefore;

	(f) commends the Council’s ‘Activity Sheffield’ team for developing the City’s Physical Activity Strategy in conjunction with the City’s four National Health Service Primary Care Trusts, voluntary and community groups;

	(g) understands that opportunities to become more active are presented to people every day in work and leisure through walking, cycling, using stairs instead of lifts, as well as through the participation in formal sports and gym sessions; and

	(h) would wish to see the continuing development of measures to further increase activity levels – especially for those who are currently least active.

	Whereupon it was moved by Councillor Martin Brelsford, seconded by Councillor Simon Clement-Jones, as an amendment, that the motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the substitution of the following words therefor:-

	“(a) welcomes the news that Sheffield is above the Yorkshire average for the percentage of people involved in physical activity in their leisure time;

	(b) notes the health benefits associated with taking part in regular exercise and congratulates the people of Sheffield for recognising this;

	(c) understands that opportunities to become more active are presented to people every day in work and leisure through walking, cycling, using stairs instead of lifts, as well as through the participation in formal sports and gym sessions;

	(d) notes that since 1991 at least £300 million has been spent on debt repayments for the World Student Games facilities, and that this money could have provided a sports facility in every Ward in the City as well as running costs with millions left for other services such as highway maintenance and street cleaning which would have made the City cleaner and a much more attractive place for people wanting to walk and/or cycle through the City;

	(e) further notes that the parks budget was decimated along with the housing budget in order to pay for the World Student Games facilities, and at the same time facilities such as High Green library were closed thereby depriving the people of Sheffield of local facilities; and

	(f) therefore believes that the attempt by the present administration to justify the sporting facilities debt is ludicrous given the problems Sheffield now faces as a result of the debt, and furthermore believes that this administration have not listened to the people of Sheffield or learned from past mistakes and are still as arrogant as ever.”

	On being put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

	The original motion was then put to the vote and carried.

	(NOTE: The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Roger Davison) and Councillors Tony Holmes, Simon Clement-Jones, Clive Skelton, Paul Scriven, Alan Whitehouse, Shaffaq Mohammed, Brian Holmes, John Hesketh, Sylvia Anginotti, Pat Fox, Vic Bowden, Graham Oxley, Sylvia Dunkley, John Knight, Andrew Sangar, Janice Sidebottom, Peter Moore, Barrie Jervis, Ali Qadar, Arthur Dunworth, David Baker, Vickie Priestley, Martin Davis, Martin Brelsford, Alison Brelsford, Diane Leek, Jonathan Harston, Kathleen Chadwick, Alan Hooper and Trevor Bagshaw voted for paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (g) and (h), against paragraphs (d) and (e) and abstained on paragraph (f) of the motion and asked for their votes to be recorded).

12.	NOTICE OF MOTION RE: PLANNING ISSUES
	It was moved by Councillor David Baker, seconded by Councillor Sylvia Dunkley, that this Council:

	(a) is concerned that local communities through their experience of the planning process are often of the view that the process is flawed and undemocratic, with inadequate consultation and with the perception that decisions are frequently taken behind closed doors;

	(b) notes the Government's aspiration for the development of an accessible and transparent planning system which provides continuing opportunities for local people to participate;

	(c) further notes that in preparing and revising local development documents and for consulting on planning applications local authorities are obliged to produce a Statement of Community Involvement;

	(d) recognises the importance of pre-application discussions whose objective should be to confirm whether the principle of development is acceptable and to clarify the format, type and level of detail required to enable an authority to determine an application and that it is at this early stage in discussing applications that the Government encourages developers to engage with local communities;

	(e) acknowledges that many authorities such as Surrey County Council have already recognised that more time spent in consulting at the pre-application stage is not only worthwhile and enables communities to feel part of the process but also improves the quality of submissions and reduces the amount of staff time spent in determining the application post submission;

	(f) recalls the success of the pre-application consultation with local residents on the proposals for the new Ecclesall library which had a beneficial outcome not only for the local community but also for the developer; and

	(g) resolves therefore that the menu of community involvement activities to be adopted in Sheffield's Statement of Community Involvement includes a requirement for pre-application consultation with the appropriate Area Panels and Parish Councils on all developments of significant community interest.

	Whereupon it was moved by Councillor Tim Rippon, seconded by Councillor Harry Harpham, as an amendment, that the motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the substitution of the following words therefor:-

	“(a) welcomes the Government’s commitment to modernising the planning process to develop an accessible and transparent planning system which provides opportunities for public participation in identifying issues and debating options at the earliest stages;

	(b) notes that Cabinet has already agreed to the early preparation of a Sheffield Statement of Community Involvement, with work to commence within the next three months, as an early priority within Sheffield’s Local Development Framework; and that the Council is fully committed to engaging all parties in its preparation though early discussion at the Council’s Planning Policy Advisory Group, by consulting Area Panels prior to a report to Cabinet in the Autumn, and by undertaking full public consultation on the resulting draft proposals;

	(c) agrees that pre-application discussions are a vital part of the planning process and notes that these will be expected via the Statement of Community Involvement, and regrets that some Local Planning Authorities are intending to charge for pre-application discussions which could well be to the detriment of the take up of this opportunity;

	(d) welcomes the Government’s proposals that the onus for additional public consultation pre-application should rest with developers; and

	(e) considers that the final form of Sheffield’s Statement of Community Involvement should not be pre-judged at this stage prior to discussion at Planning Policy Advisory Group and the Area Panels, and formal consultation with the public to take place later this year.”

	On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

	The original motion, as amended, was then put as a substantive motion in the following form and carried:-

	That this Council:-

	(a) welcomes the Government’s commitment to modernising the planning process to develop an accessible and transparent planning system which provides opportunities for public participation in identifying issues and debating options at the earliest stages;

	(b) notes that Cabinet has already agreed to the early preparation of a Sheffield Statement of Community Involvement, with work to commence within the next three months, as an early priority within Sheffield’s Local Development Framework; and that the Council is fully committed to engaging all parties in its preparation though early discussion at the Council’s Planning Policy Advisory Group, by consulting Area Panels prior to a report to Cabinet in the Autumn, and by undertaking full public consultation on the resulting draft proposals;

	(c) agrees that pre-application discussions are a vital part of the planning process and notes that these will be expected via the Statement of Community Involvement, and regrets that some Local Planning Authorities are intending to charge for pre-application discussions which could well be to the detriment of the take up of this opportunity;

	(d) welcomes the Government’s proposals that the onus for additional public consultation pre-application should rest with developers; and

	(e) considers that the final form of Sheffield’s Statement of Community Involvement should not be pre-judged at this stage prior to discussion at Planning Policy Advisory Group and the Area Panels, and formal consultation with the public to take place later this year.

13.	NOTICE OF MOTION RE: COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTH OF SHEFFIELD
	It was moved by Councillor Brelsford, seconded by Councillor Graham Oxley, that this Council:

	(a) believes that communities in the North of Sheffield such as Ecclesfield, High Green, Chapeltown, Grenoside, Oughtibridge, Stocksbridge, Stannington, Walkley and Hillsborough are being neglected by both Government and the present administration and that the people of these communities deserve a fair deal; and

	(b) notes that this is demonstrated by the ‘North’ Sheffield Better Buses Scheme which redistributes bus services away from the North of Sheffield and into the present administration’s favoured areas.

	On being put to the vote, the motion was lost.

14.	NOTICE OF MOTION RE: THE WAR WITH IRAQ
	It was moved by Councillor Peter Moore, seconded by Councillor Ali Qadar, that this Council:

	(a) notes the recent two year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq by predominantly US and UK forces;

	(b) notes recent reports which suggest that the Attorney-General originally advised Government that an invasion of Iraq would be illegal, only to change his advice just prior to the actual invasion;

	(c) concurs with the view of the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, that the invasion of Iraq was illegal;

	(d) recalls the original stated reason for going to war with Iraq was said to be that the Government of Iraq had weapons of mass destruction capable of being deployed against British interests within 45 minutes;
	(e) notes that after the invasion no weapons of mass destruction have ever been discovered in Iraq;

	(f) recalls that the Prime Minister told Parliament on September 24th 2002 that intelligence on the issue of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq was “extensive, detailed and authoritative”, and believes that subsequent events have shown this statement to be false;

	(g) therefore believes that Parliament and the British people were misled over the issue of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; and

	(h) calls on the people of Sheffield to consider carefully the information regarding the Iraq war and its justification.

	Whereupon it was moved by Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, seconded by Councillor Sylvia Anginotti, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:

	1. the addition of the following words as new paragraphs (c) and (d) :-

	(c) agrees with the views expressed by Robin Cook, the former Foreign Secretary, in ‘The Guardian’ newspaper of 15th October, 2004 as follows:-

	“ Does the legality of the war still matter over a year after the event? The only responsible answer must be yes.
	In the first place we are still struggling with the legacy of our decision to conquer Iraq and the incompetence of an occupation that has compounded the original misjudgement. Iraq may have been no threat to us at the time of the war, but we have certainly turned it into one as a base for international terrorism. Instead of delivering a modern Iraq as a model for the region, we have made Iraq a source of instability in a Middle East that looks much more precarious than two years ago.
	But it also matters because the fabric of orderly relations between nations, the strength of human rights law and cooperation against terrorism are built on respect for international law. We cannot demand that respect from other nations if we ourselves do not give it a higher priority than we appear to have done in reaching our decision to go to war in Iraq.”;

	(d) further agrees with the views expressed by Robin Cook, the former Foreign Secretary, some five months later in ‘The Guardian’ newspaper of 25th March, 2005 as follows:-

	“But the major reason why Iraq has remained such a source of constant controversy is the slow seepage of the information that was kept from us when we were being sold the case for war. We were told that the threat was current and serious, but we now know the intelligence was limited and the sources unproven. We were told that occupying Iraq would be a defeat for terrorism but we now know the joint intelligence committee warned, correctly, that it would give a boost to terrorism. And we now learn that the legal case for war was cobbled together at the eleventh hour after months of equivocation.”;

	2. the re-lettering of existing paragraphs (c) – (h) as paragraphs (e) – (j) respectively; and

	3. the addition of the following words as new paragraphs (k) and (l) at the end of the Motion:-

	(k) considers that the Prime Minister has shown himself to be the chief ‘toady’ of the President of the USA, George W. Bush; and

	(l) calls upon the members of the current administration, to remind Robin Cook, the former Foreign Secretary, of his views on the illegal war in Iraq, when he next visits Sheffield.

	On being put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

	The votes on the amendment were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-

	For the amendment (22)			-		The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Roger Davison) and Councillors Tony Holmes, Simon Clement-Jones, Paul Scriven, Alan Whitehouse, Shaffaq Mohammed, Brian Holmes, Sylvia Anginotti, Pat Fox, Vic Bowden, Graham Oxley, Sylvia Dunkley, Andrew Sangar, Janice Sidebottom, Peter Moore, Barrie Jervis, Ali Qadar, Vickie Priestley, Martin Davis, Martin Brelsford, Diane Leek and Alan Hooper.

	Against the amendment (46)			-		The Lord Mayor (Councillor Mike Pye) and Councillors Julie Dore, John Robson, Tim Rippon, Clive Skelton, Chris Rosling-Josephs, Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Bryan Lodge, Jackie Drayton, Ibrar Hussain, Steve Jones, Jean Cromar, John Hesketh, Mary Lea, Harry Harpham, Mohammad Altaf, Anne Smith, Mike Waters, Joan Barton, Chris Weldon, Terry Fox, Rosemary Telfer, Garry Weatherall, Robert MacDonald, Janet Bragg, Alf Meade, Pat Midgley, Jan Fiore, Jan Wilson, Mike Peat, David Barker, Sam Wall, Martin Lawton, John Campbell, Terry Barrow, Jane Bird, Peter Price, Peter Rippon, Tony Damms, Leigh Bramall, Gill Furniss, David Baker, Veronica Hardstaff, Marjorie Barker, Mick Rooney and Ray Satur.

	Abstained (4)			-		Councillors John Knight, Jonathan Harston, Kathleen Chadwick and Trevor Bagshaw.

	It was then moved by Councillor Steve Jones, seconded by Councillor Jackie Drayton, as an amendment, that the motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the substitution of the following words therefor:-

	“(a) recollects that the Council registered cross-party majority votes against the war in Iraq around the time of the event;

	(b) believes that now it is important for the people of Iraq to be supported by the international community to move on from the war into a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future;

	(c) believes it is therefore crucial for troops to pull out of Iraq at the earliest viable opportunity; and

	(d) now believes that all international efforts should be concentrated on aiding stability in the Middle East through the creation of a viable and independent Palestinian state.”

	On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

	The original motion, as amended, was then put as a substantive motion in the following form and carried:-

	That this Council:

	(a) recollects that the Council registered cross-party majority votes against the war in Iraq around the time of the event;
	(b) believes that now it is important for the people of Iraq to be supported by the international community to move on from the war into a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future;

	(c) believes it is therefore crucial for troops to pull out of Iraq at the earliest viable opportunity; and

	(d) now believes that all international efforts should be concentrated on aiding stability in the Middle East through the creation of a viable and independent Palestinian state.

	(NOTE: With the consent of their seconders and of the City Council, Councillor Arthur Dunworth withdrew Notice of Motion number 9 on the agenda relating to bus services; Councillor Anne Smith withdrew Notice of Motion number 11 on the agenda relating to changes to the Council’s Constitution and Councillor Diane Leek withdrew Notice of Motion number 12 on the agenda relating to the renovation of homes on the Arbourthorne estate).

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