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Minutes of meeting 2nd June 2004

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held 2nd June, 2004

Meeting of the Council of the City of Sheffield held in the Council Chamber within the Town Hall, Sheffield, on Wednesday, 2nd June, 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
Mike Davis	Joan Barton	Peter Rippon
Peter Moore		Doreen Newton

2 Birley Ward	12 Hallam Ward	21 Netherthorpe Ward
Angela Smith	John Knight	Sylvia Anginotti
Bryan Lodge	John Hesketh	Steve Ayris
		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	Mark Wilde
Paul Scriven	Ian Richardson	Chris Weldon
Janice Sidebottom	Terry Fox	James Hanson

5 Burngreave Ward	15 Hillsborough Ward	24 Park Ward
Ibrar Hussain	Janet Bragg	Elizabeth Taylor
Steve Jones	Robert MacDonald	John Robson
Jackie Drayton		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
	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	Ali Qadar	Martin Davis
Keith Hill		Martin Brelsford
Anne Smith

10 Ecclesall Ward		29 Walkley Ward
Sylvia Dunkley		Jonathan Harston
Kate Dawson		Veronica Hardstaff
Roger Davison

1.	ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE LORD MAYOR
	Former Councillor Mary Kirk
	The Lord Mayor (Councillor Diane Leek) referred in sympathetic terms to the recent death of former Councillor Mary Kirk and a number of members of the City Council paid tribute to Mrs. Kirk.

	D-Day Commemoration
	The Lord Mayor (Councillor Diane Leek) referred to the Normandy Landings on D-Day and for which the Nation was commemorating the 60th anniversary.
	She asked that members of the City Council spared a few moments to remember those persons who had taken part in the Landings and also its immediate aftermath which had involved the Hallamshire Battalion whose members were drawn almost exclusively from the City. The Lord Mayor went on to say that because of the sacrifices of those who took part in the D-Day Landings and particularly those who had lost their lives on that day and throughout the years of the Second World War, we were able to exercise the democratic freedoms which are enjoyed today.

	Following these announcements, members of the City Council observed a minutes silence in memory of former Councillor Mrs. Mary Kirk and in remembrance of those persons who had lost their lives whilst taking part in D-Day and its immediate aftermath.

2.	VOTE OF THANKS TO FORMER MEMBERS
	The Lord Mayor (Councillor Diane Leek) reminded members that former Councillors Barbara Belcher, Tessa Hainey, Ilyas Khan, Duncan Kime, Mike King, Peter MacLoughlin, Doreen Newton, Ian Richardson, Elizabeth Taylor and Mark Wilde would not be seeking re-election at the Municipal Elections on 10th June, 2004 and members paid tribute to their respective contributions to the work of the Council and the manner in which they had performed their duties.
	RESOLVED: On the motion of the Lord Mayor (Councillor Diane Leek), seconded by Councillor Jan Wilson that this Council places on record its appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the City Council by the undermentioned Councillors over the period of years stated.

	Name		Years in Office
	Barbara Belcher		4
	Tessa Hainey		5
	Ilyas Khan		8
	Duncan Kime		10
	Mike King		6
	Peter MacLoughlin		8
	Doreen Newton		10
	Ian Richardson		4
	Elizabeth Taylor		5
	Mark Wilde		5


3.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
	Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Barbara Belcher, Pat Fox and Andrew White.

4.	MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
	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 5th May, 2004, be approved.

5.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
	Petitions
	The Council considered (a) a petition containing 43 signatures protesting against the erection of a mobile telephone mast in a residential area and calling for planning permission for the mast at Slayleigh Lane to be revoked and, after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. Hume, referred the petition for consideration by the Cabinet Member for Development, Environment and Leisure;
	(b) a petition containing 880 signatures objecting to a planning application by Hutchison 3 G Mobile for the installation of a 13.7 metres high telecommunications monopole with integral antennae and equipment cabinet on land adjoining Brookhouse Hill and Brookhouse Avenue and, after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. D. Taylor referred the planning application in respect of the proposed installation, together with the petition now submitted to the South Planning and Highways Area Board;
	(c) a petition containing 349 signatures drawing attention to the amount of traffic using Hangingwater Road/Highcliffe Road as a “rat run” and calling on the Council to take action to address the problem, including the installation of “pinch points”, road bumps, speed camera signs and width and weight restrictions and after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. G. Cave, referred the petition for consideration by the South Planning and Highways Area Board;
	(d) a petition containing 64 signatures drawing attention to ongoing problems of anti-social behaviour in and around Cammell Road, Firth Park and calling on the Council to (i) seal the road junction between Cammell Road and Vicars Road and (ii) redesign the park entrance to prevent nuisance parking and illegal entry and after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mrs. M. Cox, referred the petition for consideration by Councillor Tim Rippon, the Cabinet Member for Community Safety;
	(e) a petition containing 1, 527 signatures, expressing strong opposition to the closure of the Post Office at Jaunty Way, Basegreen and calling for the Post Office to remain open as the nearest alternative is over one mile away and not easily accessible particularly for pensioners and referred the petition for consideration by Councillor Jan Wilson, the Leader of the City Council; and
	(f) containing 186 signatures drawing attention to the hazardous conditions faced by children and the elderly crossing Barnsley Road and to the fact that the current pedestrian crossing on Barnsley Road cannot cope with the number of people crossing during school times and calling for action to address the problem and referred the petition for consideration by the North and West Planning and Highways Area Board.

	Public Questions re: Road Safety at Hangingwater Road/Highcliffe Road
	Mr. U. Veitch, Mr. G. Braithwaite and Ms. V. Civil, asked questions relating to the need to install road safety measures at Hangingwater Road, Highcliffe Road and in the vicinity of High Storrs School and in response, the questioners were referred to the response given by the City Council to the petition previously considered in relation to this matter and which would be considered by the South Planning and Highways Area Board.

	Traffic Calming Measures on Norton Lane
	Mr. A. Griffiths referred to the need to review the traffic calming measures which had been introduced on Norton Lane and indicated that, as it was his view that these measures were not effective, asked if the City Council would be prepared to consider the introduction of alternative measures.
	In response, Councillor Tim Rippon, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Safety, indicated that he was unaware of such problems but that he would ask officers to investigate the matter.

	Public Questions re: Installation of Telecommunication Mast
	Ms. G. Hume, Ms. S. Dyson, Mr. J. Brennan and Ms. R. Wild asked questions with regard to the installation of telecommunication masts on Slayleigh Lane and Storth Lane and in response, Councillor Gill Furniss, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Development, Environment and Leisure, referred the questioners to the actions taken by the City Council earlier in the meeting in response to petitions which had been submitted on these matters.

6.	MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS
	Urgent Business
	There were no questions relating to urgent business under the provisions of Standing Order No.A18(2).

	South Yorkshire Joint Authorities
	Councillor John Hesketh asked questions of Councillor Mohammad Nazir with regard to the arrangements which were now in place in connection with the management of the South Yorkshire Fire Service and whether or not he was satisfied that such arrangements gave assurances with regard to community safety and in response, Councillor Nazir indicated that he was satisfied with the management arrangements for the Fire Service and that community safety was not being jeopardised under these management arrangements.
	Councillor David Baker asked the Leader of the City Council, Councillor Jan Wilson questions with regard to the withdrawal of funding for the Rural Bus Service in the North of the City and what alternative services were being considered to replace the withdrawn services.
	In response Councillor Wilson indicated that the Rural Bus Services were funded through the Challenge Funding Scheme which did not always enjoy a successful funding bid and that, in this instance, alternative sources of funding were being sought for the services in the North in the City.
	Councillor Keith Hill asked a question of Councillor Jan Fiore with regard to the continuing problems experienced by the Police Authority in connection with its communications systems and particularly when would such problems be resolved.
	In response Councillor Fiore indicated that the Police Authority was monitoring the performance of the communications system on a weekly basis and whilst many aspects of its performance were disappointing, she indicated that extensive discussions were being held between the Police Authority and the Contractors with a view to resolving the difficulties being experienced. She also added that additional staff were being appointed to deal with calls from the public and stressed that the difficulties being experienced were not affecting responses to emergency calls.

	Yorkshire and Humber Assembly
	Councillor Roger Davison referred to the report on the fourth scrutiny enquiry review which had investigated how effectively the regions five key cities (Bradford, Hull, Leeds, Sheffield and York) had been used as drivers of economic growth in the region and asked as to when the final report would be available.
	In response to this question, Councillor Terry Barrow indicated that she would make the final report available to Councillor Davison immediately after its approval by the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly for publication.

	Written Questions
	Members asked supplementary questions on written questions submitted at the meeting under the provisions of Standing Order No.A18(1),

	Verbal Questions to Cabinet Members and Chairs of Scrutiny Boards and Regulatory Boards
	In accordance with the provisions of Standing Order A18(5) no verbal questions were asked of Cabinet members and Chairs of Scrutiny Boards as the time limit of 30 minutes allocated for Members’ written and oral questions had expired.

7.	OBSERVATIONS
	The following members observed on the under-mentioned matters:-

	Member	Matter observed on

	Councillor John Hesketh	City Council Budget 2004/2005 (Road Conditions)

	Councillor Angela Smith	Post-16 Performance Trends
	Councillor Steve Ayris	Central Riverside Strategy and Inner Relief Road
	Councillor Mick Rooney	City Council Budget 2004/2005 and “Sheffield Raising its Game”
	Councillor David Baker	Oughtibridge Lane and Child Safety Zones
	Councillor Harry Harpham	Audit Commission View on City Council Waste Services and Parks, Woodlands and Countryside
	Councillor Jan Fiore	Community Safety
	Councillor Paul Scriven	Communications Service – Management Arrangements and Heart of the City Project and Staff Accommodation
	Councillor Veronica Hardstaff	Relocation of Halifax Road Key Stage 3 Inclusion Centre and the Economic Health of the City
	Councillor Keith Hill	South Planning and Highways Area Board and officer delegations
	Councillor Terry Barrow	Oughtibridge Lane
	Councillor Martin Davis	“Sheffield Raising its Game”

8.	REPRESENTATIONS
	RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Pat Midgley, seconded by Councillor John Webster that approval be given to the appointment of Councillors Jonathan Harston and Chris Rosling-Josephs to serve on the South Planning and Highways Area Board in place of Councillors Andrew White and Martin Lawton, respectively.

9.	ITEM REFERRED TO COUNCIL – REVISION OF STANDING ORDERS
	RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Tim Rippon, seconded by Councillor Steve Jones, that the following minute of the Cabinet meeting held on 26th May, 2004 relating to the Revision of Standing Orders be approved with a correction by the addition of the word “and” immediately after the words “leave the meeting” in line 6 of Standing Order A22(2) relating to misconduct, irrelevance, etc:-
	RESOLVED: That approval be given to the revisions of the Council’s Standing Orders as set out in the report now submitted and the Council’s Constitution be amended accordingly.

10.	NOTICE OF MOTION RE: CREATING BETTER HOMES AND BETTER NEIGHBOURHOODS
	It was moved by Councillor Chris Weldon, seconded by Councillor Julie Dore That this Council:

	(a) is committed to creating better homes and better neighbourhoods, and places where people feel safe and proud to live;

	(b) notes the acceptance of Sheffield’s submission to be included in Round 4 ALMO;

	(c) believes that local people know what’s best for their area;

	(d) therefore welcomes the conclusions of the Neighbourhood Commissions;

	(e) thanks the people of Sheffield for the hard work they have put into deciding how best to bring extra investment to their area;

	(f) believes that Council housing never is and never will be a priority for the minority group;

	(g) notes that the minority group still lack any credible housing policy; and

	(h) fears that recent leaflets circulated in Hillsborough suggest that “Whole Stock Transfer” is still the minority group’s preferred policy.

	Whereupon it was moved by Councillor Bob McCann, seconded by Councillor Sylvia Anginotti, as an amendment

	That the motion now submitted be amended by:-

	1. the addition of the following words as a new paragraph (a):-

	(a) is deeply appalled that the majority group still wish to use housing as a party political football, rather than dealing with the real issues to get a costed, funded City-wide plan to improve all the City’s housing stock and communities;

	2. the relettering of the existing paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) as paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) respectively;

	3. the deletion of all the words in existing paragraphs (d) to (h) and the substitution of the following therefor:-

	(e) believes that more work needs to be done to ensure that those areas included in future ALMO rounds receive a relative amount of investment compared to those in previous rounds;

	(f) believes tenants should truly be at the heart of Sheffield’s housing policy and supports an area by area ballot and decision on the way forward for each area’s housing stock and a ballot to find which Tenant Organisation(s) tenants would like to represent them; and

	(g) notes the lack of a housing strategy that is costed and funded City-wide and also notes the setting up of Sheffield Homes as an umbrella ALMO which negates a “local people know what’s best for their area” approach to tenant participation.

	On being put to the vote the amendment was negatived.

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

	(NOTE: Councillors Andrew Sangar, Mike Davis, Peter Moore, Alan Whitehouse, Paul Scriven, Janice Sidebottom, Kathleen Chadwick, Graham Oxley, Colin Ross, Keith Hill, Sylvia Dunkley, Kate Dawson, Roger Davison, John Knight, John Hesketh, Tessa Hainey, Ian Richardson, Bob McCann, Ali Qadar, Sylvia Anginotti , Steve Ayris, Brian Holmes, Elizabeth Taylor, Vic Bowden, Arthur Dunworth, David Baker, Martin Davis and Martin Brelsford requested that their votes for paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (e) against paragraphs (d), (f), (g) and (h) of the Motion be recorded).

11.	ORDER OF BUSINESS
	RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Pat Midgley, seconded by Councillor John Webster, that the Council do now proceed to the consideration of Item 10, “Notice of Motion to be given by Councillor Paul Scriven” to be followed by Notices of Motion Nod. 8, 11, 9, 12, 16, 13, 14 and 15.

12.	NOTICE OF MOTION RE: “CLOSING THE GAP”
	It was moved by Councillor Paul Scriven, seconded by Councillor Martin Davis That this Council

	(a) supports a policy of social justice which raises the expectations, aspirations and life chances of the whole City, but notes that this must be based on dealing with all aspects of deprivation and exclusion, at ward level and below, and with both geographical areas and groups of people, and furthermore believes that for a policy of social justice to be truly successful it must be linked to the economy; and therefore;

	(b) regrets this administrations flagship policy of “closing the gap” as it is fundamentally flawed and it fails to take into account all aspects of deprivation and exclusion throughout the whole of the City and is not connected to the economic agenda;

	(c) believes that to use the single indicator of income support take-up to measure deprivation and exclusion is inappropriate, crude and fails to address the wider problem of deprivation and exclusion;

	(d) believes that this administration’s flawed flagship policy of “closing the gap” is detrimental to the level of social cohesion within Sheffield;

	(e) believes that continued support of the “closing the gap” policy will damage Sheffield and encourage the perception of Sheffield being a divided City;

	(f) notes comments from the ODPM report “The English Indices of Deprivation 2004” and the ODPM: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee report “Social Cohesion”:-

	(i) “Neighbourhood initiatives can be effective and avoid rivalries between communities if they are part of a wider strategy which is widely understood and subject to widespread consultation. However, they must be part of a wider strategy”;

	(ii) “Guidance underlines the importance of full and meaningful involvement of neighbouring communities in the development of area based initiatives, flexibility in the application of scheme boundaries, and meaningful consultation with recipient communities, and that the funding rules should not become a barrier to interaction between communities”;

	(iii) “Despite recognising income deprivation in its own right, it should not be the only measure of area deprivation. Other dimensions of deprivation contribute crucial further information about an area”;

	(iv) “England is being described in much finer detail. This means that areas that were presented as large wards in the ID 2000 have now been broken down into small components for the ID 2004. Where such large wards contain pockets of deprivation, this is now better captured”;

	(g) in light of the recent ODPM report “The English Indices of Deprivation 2004” and the ODPM: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee report “Social Cohesion”, determines that this administration’s flawed flagship policy of “closing the gap” be abolished and instructs the Chief Executive to report back to Council in two months with the main findings from the reports so that a new policy of social justice for the whole of Sheffield, that takes these reports into account, can be formulated.

	Whereupon it was moved by Councillor Jan Wilson, seconded by Councillor Steve 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:-