Council Minutes 6th July, 2005

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

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

PRESENT

THE LORD MAYOR (Councillor Roger Davison)

THE DEPUTY LORD MAYOR (Councillor Jackie Drayton)

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
Simon Clement-Jones	Vic Bowden	Ali Qadar
Clive Skelton	Graham Oxley

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

4 Birley Ward	13 Firth Park Ward	22 Shiregreen & Brightside Ward
Bryan Lodge	Joan Barton	Jane Bird
Mike Pye	Chris Weldon	Peter Price
Denise Fox	Alan Law	Peter Rippon

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

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

7 Central Ward	16 Graves Park Ward	25 Stocksbridge & Upper Don Ward
Jean Cromar	Ian Auckland
Jillian Creasy	Barrie Jervis
Mohammad Azim

8 Crookes Ward	17 Hillsborough Ward	26 Walkley Ward
Brian Holmes	Robert MacDonald	Diane Leek
John Hesketh	Janet Bragg	Veronica Hardstaff
	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 Sylvia Anginotti, Alison Brelsford, Martin Davis, Tony Holmes, Peter Moore, Andy Sangar and Andrew White.

2.	OLYMPIC GAMES 2012
	The Council noted and welcomed information reported by the Lord Mayor (Councillor Roger Davison) that London had been successful in its bid to host the Olympic Games in 2012.

3.	PRESENTATION BY SHEFFIELD CHINESE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
	Jerry Chung, Chair of the Sheffield Chinese Community Association, referred to the number of Chinese residents and overseas students who lived in Sheffield, contributed to its economy and remained dedicated to supporting the City. He conveyed the Community's genuine, whole-hearted thanks for the support the City Council had given them over the last 25 years, for example with the Chinese New Year Celebrations, Dragon Race and in promoting community cohesion and the opportunities for partnership working that had been provided. He paid tribute to the work of Sarah Ng, the Chinese Community Centre Manager and Patrick Meleady of the City Council's Community Safety Team in respect of the latter issue.
	On behalf of the Association, he presented the Lord Mayor with a plaque commemorating the Association's appreciation of the support and assistance given to them by the City Council. In response, the Lord Mayor (Councillor Roger Davison) expressed the City Council's thanks for the tribute and plaque.

4.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

4.1	Petitions

	(a) Petition Re Vandalism and Youth Nuisance in the Totley Area
	The Council considered a petition containing 215 signatures calling upon the City Council to work with South Yorkshire Police and other relevant agencies to urgently tackle the escalating problem of vandalism, graffiti and youth nuisance, including alcohol and substance misuse, in the Totley area and heard representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mrs. Avril Critchley.
	The Council referred the petition to Councillor Jan Wilson, the Leader of the Council, who, in response, referred to discussions that she had held with the City Council's Community Safety Team on this issue and relayed details of an Action Plan that had been drawn up with the involvement of other relevant agencies as part of a long term strategy that was being developed. She expressed the hope that the residents of Totley would be reassured by the action to counter the problems and stressed that issues of anti-social behaviour were addressed, wherever it occurred.

	(b) Petition Concerning Parking Problems in the Sharrow Street and Club Garden Road Area
	The Council considered a petition containing 119 signatures of residents in the Sharrow Street and Club Garden Road area of Sharrow, situated close to the City Centre, expressing concern about the amount of "outsider" parking on their streets, fearing that this would be exacerbated as a result of the new Student Village and the planned residents' parking scheme in Sharrow Vale and urging the Council to reconsider its plans for the next phase of residents' only parking and to extend the scheme to the streets south of Cemetery Road as soon as possible.
	After hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Ms. Ann Brownhill, the Council referred the petition for consideration by the West Planning and Highways Area Board. In response, Councillor Terry Fox, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, expressed his sympathies for the residents and undertook to investigate the parking problems in the area. He welcomed input from Ms. Brownhill and promised to inform her when Officers would be visiting the area, in order that the problems might be addressed in the next round of the Local Transport Plan.

	(c) Petition Concerning Parking on London Road
	The Council considered a petition containing 363 signatures requesting the introduction of a two hour parking limit on London Road as far as Sharrow Lane and adjacent side streets to address the anticipated pressure on parking due to the accommodation complex being constructed between London Road and Bramall Lane.
	After hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. N. Hopkins, the Council referred the petition for consideration by the West Planning and Highways Area Board. In response, Councillor Terry Fox, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, expressed his sympathies for the residents and undertook to investigate the parking problems in the area. He welcomed input from Mr. Hopkins and promised to inform him when Officers would be visiting the area, in order that the problems might be addressed in the next round of the Local Transport Plan.

	(d) Petition Objecting to the Proposed Landfill Gas Utilisation Plant at Parkwood Landfill Site
	The Council considered a petition containing 2,972 signatures of residents in the area of the Parkwood Landfill Site objecting to the proposed landfill gas utilisation plant, installation of a leachate treating system (Case Nos. 05/00956/FUL and 05/00959/FUL) and the increase in active waste dumped at the Parkwood Landfill Site, Parkwood Road.
	After hearing representations on behalf of the petitioners made by Mr. Paul Antcliffe, the Council referred the petition for consideration by the West Planning and Highways Area Board. In response, Councillor Harry Harpham, the Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Greenspaces indicated that he had previously discussed the issues with Mr. Antcliffe and agreed with many of the things that had been said. He stated that the Council was trying to step up its recycling rates to reduce the amount of landfill of waste. He acknowledged the, concerns over landfill sites and stated that the Council would continue to ensure that the site was operated in accordance with the licence. He highlighted that there were differing points of view concerning the current planning application and undertook to arrange a meeting with representatives of the Parkwood Landfill Group, the City Council's Environmental Protection Service, the Environment Agency and Viridor, the site operator.

	(e) Petition Concerning Anti-Social Behaviour on the Scowerdons Estate
	The Council considered a petition containing 12 signatures complaining of problems of anti-social behaviour on the Scowerdons Estate and heard representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. David Hopper, who elaborated on the problems experienced, involving continual harassment of residents, damage to their cars and property caused, in the main, by certain problem families on the estate. He called for action to be taken, including more patrols and warnings issued, as residents were too frightened to sign petitions, follow complaints procedures, give evidence, etc. for fear of reprisals.
	The Council referred the petition for consideration by Councillor Chris Weldon, the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Regeneration who, in thanking Mr. Hopper for addressing the Council, referred to a meeting that Officers had held on 29th June, 2005 to discuss what could be done about the situation. He stressed that no residents should be subjected to this kind of anti-social behaviour and undertook to visit the estate and work with the residents and Local Councillors to deal with the problem.

	(f) Petition Concerning Residents’ Parking Scheme at Sharrow
	The Council considered a petition containing nine signatures from residents in the Sharrow area requesting the extension of the residents' parking scheme to cover Langdon Street, Fentonville Street, Mackenzie Street and Sharrow Lane and referred the petition for consideration by the West Planning and Highways Area Board.

4.2	Public Questions

	(a) Public Question Re Parkwood Landfill Site
	Mrs. Rumbelow stated that dust from the Parkwood Landfill Site accumulated on the roof of her house on a regular basis and she asked if regular dust sampling could be carried out on her property, as the colour of the dust often varied.
	In response, Councillor Harry Harpham, the Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Greenspaces indicated that this was a matter for the Environment Agency undertook to ask that Mrs. Rumbelow's property was monitored, along with any other neighbouring properties and asked for details to be submitted to him.

	(b) Public Question Re G8 Justice and Interior Ministers’ Summit Meeting - 15th-17th June, 2005
	Alan Kenny, representing the Sheffield Stop the War Coalition, in referring to the statement issued by the Leader at the last Council meeting regarding the right of individuals to express dissent and to demonstrate, stated that the Coalition felt that demonstrators were restricted by the Police during the holding of the G8 Justice and Interior Ministers’ Summit Meeting on 15th-17th June, 2005. He asked how much the policing operation cost, where was the accountability for what had occurred and commented that the Leader of the Council had approached those protesting during the evening of 16th June. He added that he took exception to her comment to the effect of “each of us has a job to do”.
	In response, Councillor Jan Wilson stated that the Council did respect the rights of individuals to demonstrate and that demonstrators were within sight and sound of the Ministers attending the Summit. She added that matters relating to safety and security in connection with the Summit Meeting were the responsibility of the Home Office and the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, who was accountable to the Police Authority. She added that questions in relation to the costs in connection with the event should be directed to the Home Office. She did not agree that the policing was disgraceful adding that peaceful demonstrations should be respected and violent action deplored and that the Police action was quite proportionate to the event.
	Councillor Wilson went on to thank Officers of the City Council, the South Yorkshire Police and other Police Forces for their assistance in the holding of the event that had brought great credit to the City.

5.	YORKSHIRE FORWARD
	Martin Havenhand, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Forward, gave a presentation on the work of the Regional Development Agency, which was responsible for the sustainable economic development and regeneration of the Yorkshire and Humber area and he focused on programmes being developed for the benefit of the City. He referred to the membership of Yorkshire Forward, which comprised a cross section of people, including Councillor Jan Wilson, the Leader of the Council, who shared a common agenda in making decisions. He stated that Yorkshire Forward had a statutory duty to produce a 10 year Regional Economic Strategy, reviewed every three years, that provided a practical economic framework around which to base plans at a local, sub-regional, regional and national level. The Strategy addressed critical issues for the region including business competitiveness, skills, innovation, connecting communities to economic opportunity and improving the towns and cities in the region.
	In describing the work of Yorkshire Forward, he elaborated on three themes that were common to Sheffield's agenda in relation to arresting the decline, the process of revival and addressing the City's regeneration. In relation to arresting the decline, he commented on and displayed schemes that had been inherited by Yorkshire Forward, including the Single Regeneration Budget schemes in South Sheffield, Netherthorpe and Upperthorpe, Southey Green and Owlerton and Putting the Heart back into the City, and the Quadrant, the latter of which was a social development in the Manor/Castle areas of the City that had built a national reputation, with Yorkshire Forward investing money to provide business opportunities to sustain the Manor/Castle Trust and the work they do in the City. He also highlighted work in retaining the World Snooker Championships in the City, amidst fierce competition from other Regional Development Agencies and amplified the economic value that sport and leisure brought to the City. He commented on the establishment of a cross-party Urban Regeneration Company to assist the process of revival, with the evidence of its work clear to see in the Heart of the City Development, the refurbishment of the City Hall, the Railway Station, the Sheaf Square Development and the University Expansion. He described the property investments that were being made to assist the process and commented on how well Sheffield was viewed by the business sector, its growth in the market economy and rising property rental values.
	Turning to the City's future prosperity, Martin Havenhand commented on the importance of recognising the City's heritage and developing its skills base. He referred to Boeing's decision to invest in world-class cutting edge technology at the Advanced Manufacturing Park which would raise local people's aspirations and skills level in engaging with these developments. He highlighted the work carried out by Yorkshire Forward in creating the infrastructure to allow such developments to take place, building on the excellent research facilities at the Universities and the Centre of Industrial Collaboration and facilitating opportunities for small and medium sized businesses to expand. He referred to Yorkshire Forward's contribution to the development of the East End and stated that, with the English Institute of Sport and its investments in the sporting facilities, the City was well placed to benefit from London's success in hosting the 2012 Olympic Games and would also benefit from the associated tourism economy.
	Commenting further on the process of transformation, he emphasised the need to sustain the current momentum and indicated that Yorkshire Forward was working on in the next phase of Creative Sheffield. As Chair of the Objective 1 Programme Performance Monitoring Board, he expressed his keenness to maximise the legacy of funding when the Objective 1 Programme finished. In delivering the Regional Economic Strategy, he explained how Yorkshire Forward used its money, working with the public and private sector to identify priorities for Sheffield and South Yorkshire where its investments would make a difference. He also elaborated on Yorkshire Forward's involvement in City Region Development Plans and on the Northern Way, where a pan-northern approach was being promoted through the three Regional Development Agencies. He added that transport was a major issue in the Northern Way and the task was to identify three or four big transport challenges in the shorter term and how to start to plan for the next 20 years.
	He concluded the presentation by outlining the process for the three year review of the Regional Economic Strategy, which had begun in February of this year, with a draft being published at the end of July followed by a period of consultation ending in September and then finalised and submitted to the Government in October, with publication envisaged in January, 2006. The updated Strategy would contain adjusted priorities and activities to build on the starts already made.
	A lengthy question and answer session followed, at the end of which the Lord Mayor (Councillor Roger Davison) thanked Martin Havenhand for giving an excellent presentation and answering the questions asked by Members of the Council.

6.	DEATHS OF FORMER COUNCILLOR PETER HORTON AND FORMER LADY MAYORESS MRS. MARY ARNOLD
	The Lord Mayor (Councillor Roger Davison) referred in sympathetic terms to the recent deaths of Peter Horton, former Councillor, Lord Mayor and Freeman of the City and Mrs. Mary Arnold, the wife of former Lord Mayor Kenneth Arnold and, after a number of Members of the City Council had paid tribute to the contribution that Peter Horton had made to the work of the former and present City Councils and for the benefit of the City, Members observed a minute's silence in their memory.


7.	MINUTES OF PREVIOUS 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 1st June, 2005, be approved as a correct record.

8.	REPRESENTATION
	RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Joan Barton, seconded by Councillor Pat Midgley, that approval be given to the following changes in the Membership of Boards, etc., delegated authority and the appointment of representatives to serve on other Bodies:-

	Children and Young People Scrutiny and Policy Development Board	-	Councillors Marjorie Barker and John Robson to replace Councillors Mike Pye and Pat Midgley

	Culture, Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny and Policy Development Board	-	Councillors Trevor Bagshaw, Martin Brelsford and Sylvia Dunkley to replace Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Ali Qadar and Paul Scriven, and to appoint Councillor Sylvia Dunkley as Deputy Chair of the Board in place of Councillor David Baker

	Health and Community Care Scrutiny and Policy Development Board	-	Councillor Peter Rippon to replace Councillor John Robson

	Strategic Resources and Performance Scrutiny and Policy Development Board	-	Councillors Mohammad Altaf and Mike Pye to replace Councillors Tony Damms and Chris Rosling-Josephs

	City Centre and East Planning and Highways Area Board	-	Councillor Tony Holmes to replace Councillor Martin Davis

	Licensing Board	-	To appoint Councillor Graham Oxley to fill a vacancy and Councillor Marjorie Barker to replace Councillor Mohammad Altaf

	Awards Board	-	To appoint Councillor Vic Bowden to fill a vacancy