Council Minutes 28th July 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

          Vic Bowden

          Ali Qadar

          Simon Clement-Jones

          Andrew White

          Clive Skelton

          Pat White

3        Beighton Ward

12      Ecclesall Ward

21     Richmond Ward

          Ian Saunders

          Sylvia Dunkley

          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

          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

           Garry Weatherall

          David Baker

          Steve Jones

7        Central Ward

16      Graves Park Ward

25      Stocksbridge & Upper Don Ward

          Jean Cromar

          Peter Moore

          Martin Brelsford

          Jillian Creasy

          Ian Auckland

          Alison Brelsford

          Mohammad Azim

          Barrie Jervis

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

28      Woodhouse Ward

          Marjorie Barker

          Mick Rooney

         Ray Satur

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

            Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Martin Davis, Kate Dawson, Pat Fox, Graham Oxley, Vickie Priestly and Rosemary Telfer.

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 7th July, 2004, be approved as a correct record.

3.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Petitions

            The Council considered (a) a petition containing 36 signatures calling upon the Council to save the HORSA huts at Shirecliffe Junior School which have been used by the disabled and other groups since 1982 and, after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Pauline Heath and Maureen Slowe referred the petition for consideration by the Cabinet Member for Education and the Executive Director, Education;

            (b) a petition containing 36 signatures calling upon the Council to review the traffic management system at the junction of Abbeydale Road and Abbey Lane and after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. Malcolm Linley, the Leader of the City Council, Jan Wilson, indicated that she had asked Officers to investigate the traffic management system and that the petition would be referred for the attention of the South Planning and Highways Area Board;

            (c) a petition containing six signatures asking that the City Council close down the alleyway around Owler Brook Nursery and Infant School in Firvale East and, after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by a local resident and comments by the Leader of the City Council, Councillor Jan Wilson, who expressed grave concern at the situation, the petition was referred for consideration by Councillor Harry Harpham, the Cabinet Member for Street Scene, Waste Management and Recycling;

            (d) a petition containing 186 signatures requesting the City Council and Traffic Management Authorities to undertake a review, within six months, of the proposed controlled pedestrian crossing and traffic management measures on Barnsley Road in the vicinity of Horninglow Road and Longley Lane and, after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. D. Lucas, referred the petition for the attention of the North and West Planning and Highways Area Board;

            (e) a petition containing 1,200 signatures calling upon the Council to provide funding to revitalise Richmond Pond and after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Christopher Martin, referred the petition for the attention of the City Centre and East Planning and Highways Area Board; and

            (f) a petition containing 130 signatures protesting against the erection of mobile phone masts at Slayleigh Lane, Fulwood, and after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Christine Taylor, to which a response was made by Councillor Tim Rippon, the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Planning Policy with particular reference to the information supplied by Ms. Taylor, referred the petition for consideration by the South Planning and Highways Area Board.

(NOTE: Councillor Ian Saunders declared an interest in that part of the business referred to in paragraph (f) above.)

Public Questions Re Longley Lane

            Mr. G. Connolly, Ms. S. Higginbottom, Ms. V. Senior, Ms. S. Orhon, Ms. G. Tutsfold and Mr. P. Salvin asked questions with regard to the steps which the City Council might take to improve local traffic management arrangements, including residents car parking, access and safety issues and deal with issues of public health, which had arisen in the roads in the vicinity of Longley College which was presently under construction and, in response, the Leader of the City Council, Councillor Jan Wilson, Councillor Harry Harpham, the Cabinet Member for Streetscene, Waste Management and Recycling and Councillor Tim Rippon, the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Planning Policy, recognised the difficulties highlighted by the questioners and indicated that, particularly with regard to the public health issues, they would raise these difficulties as a matter of urgency with the relevant Officers of the City Council in order that appropriate action might be undertaken.

Public Questions Re Furness Avenue

            Jean Grayson and Robert Oles asked questions with regard to proposed developments on Furness Avenue, as to whether or not the views of local residents in connection with these developments will be taken into account and the demand placed upon car parking provision in Furness Avenue if such developments were to take place and the likely impact of increased car parking upon nearby schools and in response, Councillor Tim Rippon, the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Planning Policy indicated that the planning process would take into account all objections received in connection with the proposed developments on Furness Avenue and that approaches were being made to the Government in connection with the possibility of further planning guidelines being issued which would tighten existing planning controls.

Public Question Re Sheffield Airport

            Mr. Harry Peck asked a question with regard to the City Council's policy in connection with the future of the Sheffield City Airport and particularly why it would appear that there was no support for the continued operation of the Airport and in response, Councillor Jan Wilson, the Leader of the City Council emphasised that the Airport was not under the control of the City Council but that a private Company owned and operated the facility and that it would be their decision as to the future uses of the airport site and that the advent of the proposed Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood Airport would bring commercial considerations to bear upon the future of the Sheffield City Airport.

Public Question Re Naseh Ghafor

            Sue Taylor asked if the City Council would support Naseh Ghafor who was on hunger strike as part of his campaign to remain in this Country as a refugee from Iraq and in response the Leader of the City Council, Councillor Jan Wilson, indicated that although the City Council was legally precluded from offering such support, the situation was nevertheless of great concern although she had understood that all due processes were still available to Naseh Ghafor in his attempts to remain in this Country.  She went on to indicate that Officers of the City Council had expressed their concerns to her at this situation and that through them, she would urge him to reconsider his own position.  She also undertook to request the Officers to examine all possible avenues to resolve this situation.

Public Question Re 25 Arran Road

            Carolyn Warrington and Roy Watton asked a question with regard to a proposed development at 25 Arran Road and why this development was seen to be going ahead when all interested parties objected to the proposals and in response, Councillor Tim Rippon, the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Planning Policy indicated that it was his understanding that a planning application in respect of the property had been submitted for a proposed extension and that this had been given through the delegated authority to Officers but that the property might now be used as a house in multiple occupation and that if this was the case, the matter would have to be referred to the appropriate Planning and Highways Area Board.

4.

MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

Urgent Business

            There were no questions relating to urgent business under the provisions of Standing Order A18(2).

South Yorkshire Joint Authorities

            Councillor Anne Smith and Councillor Michael Waters asked questions of Councillor Jane Bird with regard to the agreement which had been reached between the South Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority and its former Chief Officer in connection with his leaving the Service and in response Councillor Bird indicated that it was not the policy of the Fire and Civil Defence Authority to discuss such personal terms in public.

            Councillor Ian Auckland asked a question of the Leader of the City Council, Councillor Jan Wilson, as to why the City Council entered into the Partnership Agreement "Better Buses for Sheffield" without full knowledge of the service implications of this Agreement for the whole of the City and was the Leader aware that the Passenger Transport Executive had made no representations to the PTA on this matter and in response, Councillor Wilson indicated that the Agreement was an indication of aspirations for bus services throughout the City and that major consultations on public transport in the City would be held later in the year.

            Councillor Paul Scriven asked a question of Councillor Jan Fiore with regard to (a) the withdrawal of Home Office funding for the National Body of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme and how such withdrawal would affect the City and (b) recently published crime statistics which had shown an overall decrease but an increase in violent crime and crimes against the person and in response, Councillor Fiore indicated that Neighbourhood Watch Schemes in the City were fully supported and that every effort was being made to reduce incidences of all crimes.

Yorkshire and Humber Assembly

            There were no questions relating to the discharge of the functions of the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly under the provisions of Standing Order No. A18(4).

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.

5.

REPRESENTATIONS

RESOLVED: That (a) on the motion of Councillor Pat Midgley, seconded by Councillor Joan Barton that 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 Kathleen Chadwick to replace Councillor Vickie Priestley

Development, Environment and Leisure Scrutiny Board

-

Councillor Vickie Priestley to replace Councillor Kathleen Chadwick

City Centre and East Planning and Highways Area Board

-

Councillor Alan Law to replace Councillor Peter Price and to be appointed as Chair; Councillors Mohammad Altaf, Joan Barton and Sam Wall to replace Councillors Terry Barrow, Bryan Lodge and Alf Meade; Councillor Arthur Dunworth to replace Councillor Trevor Bagshaw

North and West Planning and Highways Area Board

-

Councillor Rosemary Telfer to replace Councillor Alf Meade

South Planning and Highways Area Board

-

Councillor Peter Price to replace Councillor Alan Law and to be appointed as Chair; Councillors Harry Harpham and Pat Midgley to replace Councillors Mike Peat and Ian Saunders; Councillor Paul Scriven to replace Councillor Janice Sidebottom

Adoptions Panel

-

Councillor Robert MacDonald to replace Councillor Jackie Drayton

Corporate Parenting Panel

-

Councillor Ian Auckland to fill a vacancy

Councillor Ibrar Hussain to replace Councillor Terry Fox

Disability Consultative Committee

-

Councillor Ian Auckland to fill a vacancy

Education Directorate Joint Consultative Committee

-

Councillor Sam Wall to replace Councillor Robert MacDonald

Education/Police Liaison Group

-

Councillor Sam Wall to replace Councillor Robert MacDonald