Council minutes of the meeting held on 1st December 2004

1        Arbourthorne Ward

10      Dore & Totley Ward

19      Mosborough Ward

          Julie Dore

          Anne Smith

          Mike Peat

          John Robson

          Mike Waters

          David Barker

          Tim Rippon

          Keith Hill

          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

          Pat White

          Clive Skelton

          Graham Oxley

3        Beighton Ward

12      Ecclesall Ward

21     Richmond Ward

          Ian Saunders

          Kate Dawson

          Martin Lawton

          Chris Rosling-Josephs

          John Campbell

          Helen Mirfin-Boukouris

          Terry Barrow

4        Birley Ward

13      Firth Park Ward

22      Shiregreen & Brightside Ward

          Brian Lodge

          Joan Barton

          Jane Bird

          Angela Smith

          Chris Weldon

          Peter Price

          Alan Law

          Peter Rippon

5        Broomhill Ward

14      Fulwood Ward

23      Southey Ward

          Paul Scriven

          Andrew Sangar

          Tony Damms

          Alan Whitehouse

          Janice Sidebottom

          Leigh Bramall

          Shaffaq Mohammed

          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

          Jillian Creasy

          Ian Auckland

          Mohammad Azim

          Barrie Jervis

8        Crookes Ward

17      Hillsborough Ward

26      Walkley Ward

          Brian Holmes

          Robert MacDonald

          Veronica Hardstaff

          John Hesketh

          Janet Bragg

          Jonathan Harston

          Sylvia Anginotti

          Alf Meade

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 Alison Brelsford, Martin Davis, Sylvia Dunkley, John Knight, Diane Leek and Andrew White.

2.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING

RESOLVED:  On the motion of Councillor Pat Midgley, seconded by Councillor Joan Barton, that the minutes of the meeting of the City Council held on 3rd November, 2004, be approved as a correct record.

3.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

3.1

Petition Re Telecommunications Mast at Northfield Road, Crookes

            The Council received a petition containing approximately 500 signatures, protesting against the erection of a telecommunications mast at a site at Northfield Road, Crookes, and heard representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. J. Carrack.  He stated that there had been a lack of notice given to the local community prior to the installation of the mast and he requested the Council to ensure that the mast be non-operational until the issue of its planning approval has been fully investigated.

            In response, Councillor Tim Rippon (Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Planning Policy) stated that Council Officers were aware of this issue and had sought legal advice which indicated that the installation was not a permitted development.  Accordingly, the matter had been considered by the North and West Planning and Highways Area Board the previous day and the Board had given approval for enforcement action to be taken in order to secure the removal of the mast.

            It was agreed that the petition be referred to the attention of the North and West Planning and Highways Area Board.

3.2

Petition Re Gennel at Hollybank Close

            The Council received a petition containing 21 signatures calling upon the Council to close the gennel linking Hollybank Close, Hollybank Drive and Hollybank Way, due to persistent vandalism, criminal damage and youth nuisance, and heard representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. R. Jakeman.  He commented that the gennel was continually subjected to graffiti, damage to its lighting and other forms of anti-social behaviour and he requested the Council to eradicate those problems through the closure of the gennel.

            In response, Councillor Jan Wilson (Leader of the Council) stated that the issues raised by the petition would be investigated and she referred to the new powers available to the Council to take action to eradicate anti-social behaviour activities, and indicated that the possibility of the relevant Area Panel providing the necessary funding to close the gennel would also be investigated.

            It was agreed that the petition be referred for consideration by the Cabinet Member for Streetscene and by the Sheffield First for Safety Partnership.

3.3

Petition Re Provision of a Zebra Crossing at Church Street, Oughtibridge

            The Council received a petition containing 97 signatures of residents of Oughtibridge calling upon the Council to provide a zebra crossing at Church Street, and heard representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mrs. R. Lindley.  She outlined the difficulties faced by pedestrians in crossing that stretch of highway, particularly during the morning and afternoon "rush hours" and requested the Council to install a zebra crossing in order to improve safety for pedestrians.

            Councillor Jan Wilson (Leader of the Council) thanked the petitioners for bringing the issue to her attention and indicated that the request would be assessed and prioritised along with all other requests received for road safety measures.

            It was agreed that the petition be referred for consideration by the North and West Planning and Highways Area Board.

3.4

Petition Re Closure of the Regency Restaurant and Hotel, Ecclesfield

            The Council received a petition containing 248 signatures objecting to the proposed closure of the Regency Restaurant and Hotel, High Street, Ecclesfield and building of dwellings on the site which would lead to further traffic problems and increase pressure on local schools and other services, and heard representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. G. Maw.  He expressed concerns in relation to the loss of historic aspects of the premises and to the impact of the development on sewerage and drainage in the immediate vicinity of the site.

            In response, Councillor Tim Rippon (Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Planning Policy) stated that he was aware of the concerns being expressed by the local community in relation to the development and indicated that Council Officers had held discussions with the developer and its architects and agreement had been reached for historic aspects of the premises to be retained within the development.  Furthermore, the issues now raised in relation to sewerage and drainage would be considered as part of the planning process.

            It was agreed that the petition be referred for consideration by the North and West Planning and Highways Area Board.

3.5

Petition Re Provision of a Pedestrian Crossing on London Road

            The Council received a petition containing 458 signatures requesting the installation of a pedestrian crossing on London Road between Abbeydale Road and Queens Road as part of the Plan4 Transport in the Sheaf Valley, and heard representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. R. Murphy who outlined the need for the provision of the crossing.

            In response, Councillor Jan Wilson (Leader of the Council) thanked the petitioners for bringing the matter to her attention and indicated that the request would be assessed and prioritised alongside all other requests for road safety measures.

            It was agreed that the petition be referred for consideration by the South Planning and Highways Area Board.

3.6

Public Questions Re Sheffield Airport

            Mr. T. Giles, Mr. A. Kirshaw, Mr. H. Turner, Mr. A. Hall, Mr. M. Moss and Mr. R. Lightning asked questions with regard to the operation of the Sheffield City Airport and in particular, querying (a) the permitted uses of the sites of the Airport and Business Park, (b) whether a public inquiry could be held into the future viability of the Airport, (c) the value of the current site, (d), whether the opening of the Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood Airport would result in the closure of Sheffield City Airport, (e) whether the present owners of the Airport had actively run down the facility and (f) how many operators had been refused permission to use the Airport by the owners over the past few years.

            In response, Councillor Jan Wilson (Leader of the Council) referred to the fact that the future of the Airport was to be the subject of discussion later at this meeting and, although she provided brief responses to the questions, indicated that many of the issues raised would be addressed as part of the debate on the issue.  She referred however, to the independent study which was proposed to be undertaken to assess the viability of the Airport and suggested that the questioners provide her with written comments in order that she may refer their concerns to the consultants undertaking the study.

3.7

Public Questions Re Longley Lane and Horninglow Road

            Mr. D. Lucas, Mr. P. Salvin, Mrs. G. Tuxford and Mrs. S. Orton asked questions with regard to highways and public health issues around the Barnsley Road/Longley Lane/Horninglow Road area, and in particular commenting that (a) the emergency services had difficulty in accessing Horninglow Road to attend a recent fire, (b) there were currently significant safety issues associated with the Barnsley Road/Longley Lane junction and in the proximity of the new highway crossing point and (c) significant amounts of litter and detritus were accumulating, resulting in a problem with vermin, in the area since the construction of the Longley College.

            In response, Councillor Jan Wilson (Leader of the Council) commented that she was aware of a petition submitted to the Council some months ago requesting a review to be undertaken of the proposed controlled pedestrian crossing and traffic management measures on Barnsley Road in the vicinity of Horninglow Road and Longley Lane, and stated that she would pursue progress on that review.  She added however that the Council was aware of concerns expressed by local residents with regard to present road safety issues and measures to improve road safety in the immediate period had now been agreed with the contractors and would be undertaken in the very near future.

            Councillor Harry Harpham (Cabinet Member for Streetscene) commented that in response to the issue of litter having been raised at a previous meeting of the Council, he had held discussions with the Street Force Service upon the issue of litter and detritus deposits in the area and it had been agreed that the local wardens would include the site in their inspection rounds.  However, in view of the further concerns now raised by the questioners, he would arrange for the area to be revisited, assessed and appropriate action taken.

3.8

Public Question Re Housing Area F

            Mr. S. Willis referred to the outcome of the work undertaken by the Neighbourhood Commission in Housing Area F which had proposed various solutions for attracting housing investment into the area.  He added that there was a need for Sheffield Homes to carry out a comprehensive communication exercise with the local tenants as various rumours as to their future landlords were circulating in the area and he requested the Council to ensure that Sheffield Homes allows the local tenants to choose their future Registered Social Landlords.

            In response, Councillor Chris Weldon (Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods) commented that he was to meet with the Tenants' Associations within Area F the next day and all the issues raised by Mr. Willis would be addressed at that meeting.  He added that the process for delivering the future investment in housing in the area would be lengthy, but he would endeavour to ensure that regular dialogue is maintained with the local tenants.

4.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Pat Midgley, seconded by Councillor Peter Moore, that the City Council do now proceed to the consideration of item of business No. 7 relating to the Sheffield Airport, followed by item of business No. 12 relating to Park Hill Flats.

5.

NOTICE OF MOTION RE SHEFFIELD AIRPORT

            It was moved by Councillor Jan Wilson, seconded by Councillor Tim Rippon:-

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.

            Whereupon it was moved by Councillor Anne Smith, seconded by Councillor Paul Scriven, 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)

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 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 to assess the future viability of Sheffield City Airport and the original deal of the selling of the lease after a ten year period and believes that the people of Sheffield are entitled to an open and transparent investigation into one of Sheffield’s most important assets.