Minutes of Council 7 November 2007

Minutes of the Meeting of the Council of the City of Sheffield held in the Council Chamber within the Town Hall, Sheffield, on Wednesday, 7th November, 2007, pursuant to notice duly given and Summonses duly served.

 

PRESENT

 

THE LORD MAYOR (Councillor Arthur Dunworth)

THE DEPUTY LORD MAYOR (Councillor Jane Bird)

 

 

 

1.  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Martin Davis.

                     

2. WAREHOUSE FIRE AT ATHERSTONE-ON-STOUR

 The Lord Mayor (Councillor Arthur Dunworth) referred in sympathetic terms to the warehouse fire that occurred at Atherstone-on-Stour on 2nd November, 2007 and the Council requested that a message of condolence be sent to the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service conveying the Council's sympathies for the families and friends of the four fire fighters who tragically lost their lives in the fire.  Representatives of the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service joined Members of the City Council in observing a minute's silence in their memory.

                     

3.    RECENT DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN PAKISTAN

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Arthur Dunworth) read out the following cross-party statement concerning recent developments within Pakistan:-

                     

 "This Council is deeply disturbed at recent developments within Pakistan, such as the detention of hundreds of lawyers and political opponents of the regime and the suspension of the judicial system.  We wish to express our concern for the people of Pakistan and the families in Sheffield with relatives there. 

 We urge the regime within Pakistan to allow the voice of the people to be heard through the democratic process and honour their commitment to hold free and fair elections in order to return to democratic rule.

Furthermore, we urge the international community to pressurise the regime within Pakistan to ensure democracy if restored and human rights are upheld."

                     

4.   MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

RESOLVED:  On the motion of Councillor Pat Midgley, seconded by Councillor Jean Cromar, that the minutes of the meeting of the City Council held on 3rd October, 2007, be approved as a correct record.

                     

   (NOTE: The minutes were corrected by the substitution of the words "June, 2007, Good Practice Guide for Working with Parents with a Learning Disability" for the words "the Good Practice Guide for Working with Children and Learning Disabilities" at the end of the first sentence of the 19th paragraph of item 5 (Corporate Parenting).

                     

5.      PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

5.1 Petitions

 (a)          Petition concerning Health Walks and funding of Parks and Countryside  Project Rangers

                           The Council received a petition containing 117 signatures expressing concern regarding the future of the City’s 27 health walks which will be at risk, if, due to a lack of funding, the two Parks and Countryside Project Rangers, who manage, lead and co-ordinate the City’s health walks, lose their jobs in March, 2008.  Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made by Mrs Marcia Nash who feared that, without the two paid Rangers to develop new walks, recruit, train and provide valuable support to the volunteer walk leaders, the project would collapse.  She called upon the Council to secure the future of the health walks by funding two full-time permanent posts, thereby providing the City with a cost effective way of fulfilling its commitment to improving physical well-being.

                           The Council referred the petition to (i) the Cabinet Member for Transport and Streetscene (Councillor Bryan Lodge), who stated that the posts had previously been funded by the Primary Care Trust and the Council would try to keep the posts funded when considering the budget proposals for 2008/9, and (ii) the Cabinet Member for Adults’ Services (Councillor Mick Rooney), who indicated that he was unaware of the PCT’s decision, that appeared to be at odds with the basic health principles of prevention rather than cure, and he undertook to write to the Chief Executive of the PCT asking for the decision to be reconsidered.

                     

(b)        Petition requesting a dog faeces bin near Stafford Road, Norfolk Park

The Council received a petition containing 54 signatures calling upon the Council to provide a bin, in the vicinity of Stafford Road, Norfolk Park, for the safe disposal of dog faeces and heard representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Ms Geraldine Roberts.      

The Council referred the petition to the Cabinet Member for Transport and Streetscene (Councillor Bryan Lodge) who undertook to investigate the request and respond to Ms. Roberts.

                     

(c)          Petition concerning parking and access to the Rudyard Road area of Hillsborough

The Council received petitions (i) containing 88 signatures of residents of Rudyard Road and adjoining streets calling upon the Council to find a way of allowing the residents to access their homes by car through the Hillsborough tram gates when returning from the City centre along Langsett Road and (ii) containing approximately 56 signatures of residents of Rudyard Road and Tresswell Crescent calling for a residents’ parking scheme to be established on such streets.  Representations on behalf of both sets of petitioners were made by Mr Lee Reynolds, who drew attention to the increased journey time, traffic congestion and exhaust pollution created by the half-mile alternative route that residents had to take and to the difficulties that residents of Rudyard Road and adjoining roads encountered in parking near to their homes, due to the use of the roads by shoppers, commuters and visitors to the local public house.

The Council referred the petitions to the West and North Planning and Highways Area Board and the Cabinet Member for Transport and Streetscene (Councillor Bryan Lodge), who referred to a recent Cabinet decision to develop a city-wide strategy for dealing with requests for residents’ parking schemes in suburban areas, including the Hillsborough/Middlewood area, and undertook to forward details to officers who were looking at which roads to include.  In relation to the tram gates, he stated that exemption for authorised vehicles was governed by legislation and officers were trying to negotiate a commonsense approach to resolving the issues.  He undertook to contact Mr Reynolds in due course to inform him of any developments.

                     

(d)          Petition concerning possible resiting of Service 97 bus terminus at the   Cross Scythes Public House

The Council received a petition containing 1,303 signatures calling on the Council to ensure that the green space in front of the Totley Grange Estate off Baslow Road will not, in any circumstances, be an option if the existing Service 97 bus terminus has to be resited.  Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made by Ms Avril Critchley, who asked the Council to consult with the Totley Community and to commence a dialogue with Enterprise Inns to allow the continued use of the land in front of the Cross Scythes Public House as the bus terminus.

The Council referred the petition to the Cabinet Member for Transport and Streetscene (Councillor Bryan Lodge), who stated that the Council wished to retain the bus terminus at its present location and were in discussions with the landowner and the bus companies.  He pointed out that, because of the commercial nature of the negotiations, it was not possible to involve Community representatives, although he undertook to provide feedback on the issue to the Community Association and to attend any meeting organised by them.

                     

(e)          Petition concerning proposed development at Beighton by Network Rail

The Council received a petition containing 1,710 signatures objecting to the proposed development by Network Rail of a national fleet engineering centre at Woodhouse junction, Beighton, near to Rother Valley Country Park and the Transpennine walking trail and in an area classed as Green Belt.  Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made by Mr Michael Spurr, who, in particular, referred to comments made at a recent local public meeting expressing surprise that Network Rail was still pursuing the proposals and urged the Council to do all it could to prevent the development.

In response, the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Culture and Planning (Councillor Tim Rippon) stated that it was difficult for him to comment on the petition, as it was the subject of a current planning application that would be considered by a future meeting of the City Centre, South and East Planning and Highways Area Board, but assured him that Members would consider all the issues that will be contained in the officer’s report, including those raised by the petitioners.

The Council referred the petition to the City Centre, South and East Planning and Highways Area Board.

                     

(f)          Petition concerning footpath and highways at Sunningdale, Halfway

The Council (i) received a petition containing 40 signatures, calling upon the Council not to sign off/adopt the footpath and highways of the last phase of the David Wilson Homes Northern, at Sunningdale, Halfway and to close the newly installed footpath at the head of the no through road of Oxclose Park Close by extending the newly installed railings, in order to increase security and prevent “rat runs” and anti-social behaviour; and (ii) referred it to the Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Transport and Streetscene (Councillor Bryan Lodge) and the City Centre, South and East Planning and Highways Area Board.

                                              

(g)          Petition concerning road safety in the Abbeydale Road/London Road area

The Council (i) received a petition containing 220 signatures, drawing attention to the 62 accidents involving injuries, including five serious injuries and one fatality,  which had occurred in the area of Abbeydale Road, London Road,  Wolseley Road and Chippinghouse Road in the last five Years, and the unsuccessful efforts to get a pedestrian crossing and speed cameras installed, and calling upon the Council to implement an Accident Saving Programme on those roads as soon as possible; and (ii) referred it to the City Centre, South and East Planning and Highways Area Board and the Cabinet Member for Transport and Streetscene (Councillor Bryan Lodge), who stated that the problems had already been brought to his attention by local Councillors and would be investigated by officers.

                     

(h)          Petition requesting footpaths in the Thorpe Drive/Owlthorpe Greenway area

The Council (i) received a petition containing 129 signatures calling upon the Council to lay two footpaths; one from Thorpe Drive to Owlthorpe Greenway, which the petitioners claimed to be one of the busiest bus routes in the City and people who walk along the route were not safe due to bends in the road causing a blind spot: and one along the same side of Owlthorpe Greenway to Eckington Way to assist children walking to the newly opened Westfield School and adults walking to the Supertram stop; and (ii) referred it to the Cabinet Member for Transport and Streetscene (Councillor Bryan Lodge) and the City Centre, South and East Planning and Highways Area Board.

                     

(i)          Petition concerning the Moor Market

The Council received a petition containing 2,217 signatures, asking the Council to save the outdoor market currently located on The Moor. Representations on behalf of the petitioners and traders were made byMr George Glover, who referred to discussions held the previous year with the Leader of the Council (Councillor Jan Wilson) which culminated in a site on the Cathedral forecourt being earmarked for the relocated Moor market, but which never materialised, and to plans which had been drawn up earlier this year for a trial market operation in Fargate which were not progressed.  He also referred to the poor response to recent consultations with existing businesses on Fargate and commented on the current proposal to open discussions with the new owner of the Moor to retain an outdoor market presence on the Moor.  He emphasised the need for the traders to be helped and to know what is happening now and urged the Council to adopt a twin-track approach of having a trial market for a short period in Fargate, whilst pursuing discussions with the new owners of the Moor. 

In response, the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Culture and Planning (Councillor Tim Rippon) clarified that plans had been drawn up to see how a market would fit in Fargate, as opposed to a trial operation, and that it was seen fit to elicit the views of businesses on any proposal to operate a market in Fargate.  He added that other issues raised by Mr Glover would be addressed during the forthcoming debate on the Moor market.

It was agreed that the petition be taken into account as part of the consideration of the matters on the issue at this meeting.

                     

5.2       Public Questions

(a)            Public Question concerning housing problems on the Scraithwood  Estate

                              Mrs Linda Harrison highlighted problems being experienced by neighbours, particularly ill and elderly people, as a consequence of anti-social activities centred around a young family living in a flat on the Scraithwood Estate.  She stated that residents were afraid to leave their homes or answer the door and claimed that she had reported the problems to the Police and Council officers, but no help had been forthcoming.

In response, the Cabinet Member for Safer Neighbourhoods (Councilllor Chris Weldon) stated that he sympathised with the residents’ predicament and undertook to provide all the help and support needed to resolve the problem.  He asked Mrs Harrison to provide him with more details, including the names of officers contacted, so that he could take up the matter on her behalf.

                     

(b)            Public Questions concerning the Council’s Economic Masterplan and   Climate Change

Susannah Diamond asked how the Council was going to commit its Economic Masterplan to ensure that Sheffield reduces its carbon footprint, for example, by the more efficient use of resources.  

Mrs Jenny Carpenter asked how the Council’s Economic Masterplan would encourage the development of new technologies relating to renewable energy and carbon emission reduction. 

Jeff Rice asked, in the light of the recent floods and their huge economic impact, whether the Council realised that the sooner measures to combat such climate change events were implemented, the sooner the effects of climate change could be addressed and further economic disaster averted.  With reference to the findings in the Stern Report and the economic evaluation of the impact of climate change, he asked what the Council was going to do.

Jenny Patient asked what was the Council’s assessment of how it would impact on the City’s economy to implement a carbon reduction plan in line with keeping global temperature changes below 2°C.

Heather Hunt asked what quality of life indicators the Council was going to adopt in order to ensure a low carbon economy with a good quality of life.

In response, the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Environment (Councillor Mary Lea) stated that Sheffield aspired to become a leader in environmental sustainability and the development of eco-technology industries and that its environmental performance would be measured against targets included in its Environmental Excellence Strategy and the City Strategy.  She emphasised that the Strategies recognised the need to adapt to deal with climate change and to reduce its impact on the infrastructure, buildings, health and well-being of Sheffield.  She pointed out that officers were working on environmental projects such as wind energy and bio-mas sites and that the City Strategy already laid down targets for a reduction in carbon emission levels across Sheffield of 30% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 60% below 1990 levels by 2050.  She confirmed that environmental performance was also addressed in the Economic Masterplan and that the Council already had quality of life and health indicators, which would be reviewed as the Council adapted to the effects of climate change.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Culture and Planning (Councillor Tim Rippon) stressed the importance of looking at the Council’s Economic Masterplan in the broader context of the family of documents to address environmental concerns, including the Environmental Excellence Strategy, the City Strategy and the Local Development Framework, which looked at the reducing the environmental impact of new development.  He cited references in the Economic Masterplan to ensure that employment zones were located near to public transport and on opportunities to help existing manufacturers to relocate to more energy efficient buildings.

                     

(c)            Public Question concerning Councillors’ authority

With reference to the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and to amendments from 2000 and associated statutes, Martin Brighton stated that a directive of the Council to produce a report for that day had not been implemented.  He recognised that Council officers might have good reason to delay the report and pointed out that, given that the directive was for action in two months, there was ample opportunity for Council officers to seek permission of the Council Chamber to present the report at a later date, but that was not done.  He asked, if the Chamber was the ultimate authority of the Council, then why was the Chief Executive still an employee, why had the counter-mandering elected Cabinet Member not resigned and, if the directives of the Chamber were to be ignored, what was the point of the Chamber.

In response, the Leader of the Council (Councillor Jan Wilson), stated that the Chief Executive was still a Council employee because he had not submitted his resignation.  She was unaware of any reason why the Cabinet Member should resign and was unable to help Mr Brighton with his third question.

                     

(d)            Public Questions concerning development of land and the Green Belt

Chris Spurr asked if the Council upheld its policy to respect and protect the City’s Green Belt at all times.

Richard Pearson asked if it was the Council’s policy to protect and enhance the City’s green corridors and links that form the green network.

Roger Justin asked, if there was to be a large-scale development anywhere in Sheffield within the Green Belt, whether the exceptional circumstances would have to be applied during the planning application stage.

Sylvia Sellars asked if job creation, included as an aspect of, or which may arise out of, or result from any application for development, was a material consideration in the Council’s planning policy.

Claire Blant asked if the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Culture and Planning (Councillor Tim Rippon) would support a large-scale industrial development anywhere in the Green Belt, which, she felt, was the City’s greatest asset.

In response, the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Culture and Planning (Councillor Tim Rippon) confirmed that the Council did, as far as it was possible, strive to protect the Green Belt and that exceptional circumstances would have to be demonstrated.  However, there were anomalies where brownfield sites were situated within the Green Belt.  He stated that, if the question about supporting large-scale development anywhere in Sheffield within the Green Belt related to the planning application by Network Rail at Beighton, he was unable to express a view as the application would be considered by the City Centre, South and East Planning and Highways Area Board after having considered all relevant information at the meeting.

                     

6. ORDER OF BUSINESS

RESOLVED:  On the motion of Councillor Paul Scriven, seconded by Councillor Pat Midgley, that the Council does now proceed to the consideration of Notice of Motion 9 on the Summons relating to the Moor Market, followed by Notice of Motion No. 7 relating to Climate Change.

                     

7.     NOTICE OF MOTION CONCERNING THE MOOR MARKET

It was moved by Councillor David Baker, seconded by Councillor Paul Scriven, that this Council:-

                     

(a)    recognises that the relocation of the outside traders of the Moor is a difficult issue but believes that both the market traders and shop retailers are entitled to fair and genuine treatment from this Local Authority;

                     

(b)        therefore resolves that, in line with the outside traders’ wishes, and subject to any necessary consents, a short trial of relocating the traders to Fargate is held; and

                     

(c)  furthermore, resolves that after this trial has taken place, an assessment will be undertaken, including consultation with retailers on Fargate, market traders and the public, to recommend if locating traders on Fargate on a long term basis is appropriate or the policy of negotiating with developers to keep traders on the Moor should be pursued instead.

                 , ;    

Whereupon it was moved by Councillor Tim Rippon, seconded by Councillor Jan Wilson, 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) believes that all Members agree that the issue of the potential relocation of the Moor Market is a difficult issue, and hopes that all Members will endeavor to reach a position which is acceptable to all interested parties;

                     

(b) notes that the original discussions with the Moor Traders about the possible relocation of the outdoor market arose as a result of an understanding that the owners of The Moor would not allow an outdoor market to continue on The Moor after the completion of the New Retail Quarter;

                     

(c) confirms that an opportunity has arisen to open discussions with the new owners of The Moor to retain an outdoor market at this location, and further confirms that the Council is pursuing this as the option which would be most desirable for all interested parties;

                     

(d)    recognises that there has been some discussion between Council officers and the Moor Market traders about the  possibility of relocating the market onto Fargate, including the possibility of having a trial market at this location;

                     

(e)        however, notes that a consultation exercise has taken place with the businesses on Fargate to take into account their view about the possible relocation of the Moor Market onto Fargate, and further notes that although there was a low response rate, the responses that were received were unequivocally negative about the proposal;

                     

(f)  further notes that there is an annual programme of events and activities which take place on Fargate, including the Continental Markets, and the Victorian Fairground, which would have to be either moved or cancelled in order to accommodate a permanent market at this location;

                     

(g) believes that the largest opposition party have clearly not thought through their suggestion of having a trial market on Fargate, and feel that this is most aptly demonstrated by the fact that when pressed on the question of how long a trial should be held, during an interview on Radio Sheffield on 5th November, the leader of the largest opposition party suggested that the trial should be held for a week;

                     

(h) firmly believes that a trial relocation of the Moor Markets to Fargate for a week, which amounts to 3 days trading, would be highly unlikely to conclusively establish anything and considers that, even on a trial basis the relocation of the Moor Markets to this location raises more questions than it answers; and

(i)  therefore resolves to continue discussions with the owners of The Moor, with a view to either retaining an outdoor market at this location, or looking again at other available sites in the City which would provide a suitable location for an outdoor market.

                     

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

                     

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

                     

For the Amendment (42)                -   The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Jane Bird) and Councillors John Robson, Tim Rippon, Julie Dore, Chris Rosling-Josephs, Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Ian Saunders, Denise Fox, Mike Pye, Bryan Lodge, Ibrar Hussain, Steve Jones, Jackie Drayton, Jean Cromar, Harry Harpham, Mazher Iqbal, Mary Lea, Chris Weldon, Alan Law, Joan Barton, Garry Weatherall, Terry Fox, Janet Bragg, Robert MacDonald, Jenny Armstrong, Jan Wilson, Pat Midgley, David Barker, Sam Wall, Mike Peat, John Campbell, Liz Naylor, Martin Lawton, Peter Price, Peter Rippon, Leigh Bramall, Gill Furniss, Tony Damms, Mick Rooney, Ray Satur, Marjorie Barker and  Anne Smith.

                                                                     

Against the Amendment (41)                -        The Lord Mayor (Councillor Arthur Dunworth) and Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Clive Skelton, Tony Homes, Alan Whitehouse, Shaffaq Mohammed, Paul Scriven, John Hesketh, Sylvia Anginotti, Brian Holmes, Mike Davis, Keith Hill, Vic Bowden, Graham Oxley, Pat Fox, Mike Reynolds, Roger Davison, Sylvia Dunkley, Andrew Sangar, Janice Sidebottom, John Knight, Denise Reaney, Ian Auckland, Bob McCann, Peter Moore, Steve Ayris, Colin France, Pat White, Ali Qadar, Vickie Priestley, David Baker, Martin Brelsford, Alison Brelsford, Penny Baker, Jonathan Harston, Diane Leek, Alan Hooper, Trevor Bagshaw, Kathleen Chadwick, Jillian Creasy and Bernard Little.

                                                                     

Abstentions (0)                  -                 Nil

                                                                     

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

                     

That this Council:-

                     

(a) believes that all Members agree that the issue of the potential relocation of the Moor Market is a difficult issue, and hopes that all Members will endeavour to reach a position which is acceptable to all interested parties;

                     

(b) notes that the original discussions with the Moor Traders about the possible relocation of the outdoor market arose as a result of an understanding that the owners of The Moor would not allow an outdoor market to continue on The Moor after the completion of the New Retail Quarter;

                     

(c) confirms that an opportunity has arisen to open discussions with the new owners of The Moor to retain an outdoor market at this location, and further confirms that the Council is pursuing this as the option which would be most desirable for all interested parties;

                     

(d)    recognises that there has been some discussion between Council officers and the Moor Market traders about the  possibility of relocating the market onto Fargate, including the possibility of having a trial market at this location;

                     

(e)    however, notes that a consultation exercise has taken place with the businesses on Fargate to take into account their view about the possible relocation of the Moor Market onto Fargate, and further notes that although there was a low response rate, the responses that were received were unequivocally negative about the proposal;

                     

(f)  further notes that there is an annual programme of events and activities which take place on Fargate, including the Continental Markets, and the Victorian Fairground, which would have to be either moved or cancelled in order to accommodate a permanent market at this location;

                     

(g) believes that the largest opposition party have clearly not thought through their suggestion of having a trial market on Fargate, and feel that this is most aptly demonstrated by the fact that when pressed on the question of how long a trial should be held, during an interview on Radio Sheffield on 5th November, the leader of the largest opposition party suggested that the trial should be held for a week;

                     

(h)  firmly believes that a trial relocation of the Moor Markets to Fargate for a week, which amounts to 3 days trading, would be highly unlikely to conclusively establish anything and considers that, even on a trial basis the relocation of the Moor Markets to this location raises more questions than it answers; and

                     

(i)    therefore resolves to continue discussions with the owners of The Moor, with a view to either retaining an outdoor market at this location, or looking again at other available sites in the City which would provide a suitable location for an outdoor market.

                     

(NOTE: The Lord Mayor (Councillor Arthur Dunworth) and Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Clive Skelton, Tony Homes, Alan Whitehouse, Shaffaq Mohammed, Paul Scriven, John Hesketh, Sylvia Anginotti, Brian Holmes, Mike Davis, Keith Hill, Vic Bowden, Graham Oxley, Pat Fox, Mike Reynolds, Roger Davison, Sylvia Dunkley, Andrew Sangar, Janice Sidebottom, John Knight, Denise Reaney, Ian Auckland, Bob McCann, Peter Moore, Steve Ayris, Colin France, Pat White, Ali Qadar, Vickie Priestley, David Baker, Martin Brelsford, Alison Brelsford, Penny Baker, Jonathan Harston, Diane Leek, Alan Hooper, Trevor Bagshaw and Kathleen Chadwick voted for paragraphs (a), (b) and (d) of the substantive motion and against paragraphs (c) and (e) to (i) and asked for their votes to be recorded.)

                     

8.     NOTICE OF MOTION CONCERNING CLIMATE CHANGE

It was moved by Councillor Simon Clement-Jones, seconded by Councillor Steve Ayris, that this Council:-

                     

(a) believes that effective action to reduce our carbon footprint is required globally, nationally, locally and personally if we are to successfully mitigate the severe consequences climate change could bring;

                                             

(b) notes that the carbon emissions under the direct control of the Council amount to less than 5% of the total emissions for Sheffield;

                     

(c)  therefore recognises that this Authority must not only commit to measures that will reduce its own carbon footprint, but must also act as a key driver for reducing the carbon footprint across the City;

                     

(d)  supports the introduction of a city-wide carbon footprint reduction plan that includes agreed long-term and annual targets which take into account the sort of annual reductions required globally to ensure that the global temperature rise is kept below 2°C;

                     

(e)    directs that the Chief Executive draws up a report on this issue which:-

                     

(i)  outlines how Sheffield’s current carbon footprint can be base-lined and how we can measure progress on an annual basis in the future;

                     

 (ii)     recommends how the Authority can best use its powers and influence to act as a driver to reduce Sheffield’s total carbon footprint; and

                     

(iii) recommends challenging but achievable targets for a reduction in the carbon footprint across Sheffield on a long-term basis which contributes to the target of keeping the global temperature rise below 2°C; and

                     

(f)  furthermore, directs that this report is overseen by a cross party working group and that this group makes recommendations to full Council within two months in order for a city-wide carbon reduction plan, with long-term and annual targets, to be agreed as soon as possible.

                     

 Whereupon it was moved by Councillor Mary Lea, seconded by Councillor Gill Furniss, 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)     reconfirms the Council’s previous statements about its commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of the City;

                     

(b)      notes that Sheffield will need to adapt significantly to deal with climate change, and confirms that measures will need to be taken to reduce the risks of climate change on the infrastructure, buildings, health and well-being of Sheffield;

                     

(c) notes that the carbon emissions under the direct control of the Council actually amount to less than 1% of the total emissions for Sheffield;

                     

(d)     is pleased that the Council has set an ambitious target of a 30% reduction in its own carbon emissions over the next 6 years;

                     

(e)    agrees that the Council, in addition to committing to measures that reduce its own carbon footprint, should also use its influence to help to reduce the carbon footprint of the City as a whole;

                     

(f)    is therefore pleased to confirm that the Council’s Environmental Excellence Strategy, which was approved by Cabinet on 13 September 2006, sets out how the Council can address its own environmental performance, and use its significant influence, through policies, plans and programmes to embed this strategy across the wider City;

                     

(g) notes that the Council has already successfully base-lined Sheffield’s current carbon footprint, and further notes that the Council is already able to measure progress on an annual basis in the future;

                     

(h) notes that the revised City Strategy for Sheffield 2005-2010 was approved by Cabinet on 22 August 2007 and by the full Council on 5th September 2007 as the new Sustainable Community Strategy for the City, and further notes that the purpose of the City Strategy is to promote or improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the City;

                     

(i)    recognises that the City Strategy 2005-2010 was formulated following widespread discussion with members of the Sheffield First Partnership family and extensive public consultation;

                     

(j)     is pleased that environmental excellence is one of the key themes of the City Strategy and confirms that the City Strategy has already laid down targets for a reduction in carbon emission levels across Sheffield of 30% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 60% below 1990 levels by 2050;

                    

(k) believes that the most powerful way to deliver on these challenging carbon reduction targets for the City is through the Sheffield First Partnership, the Local Strategic Partnership for Sheffield, of which the Council is a key partner;

                     

(l)   further confirms that appropriate groups have been set up via the Sheffield First Partnership to ensure that appropriate attention and focus is given to achieving the carbon reduction targets for the City; and

                     

(m) believes that the City Council has an important role in scrutinising the work of the Sheffield First Partnership and therefore suggests that the Chair of the Culture, Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny and Policy Development Board requests that a report on the progress that has been made on reducing Sheffield’s carbon footprint is brought to an appropriate meeting of the Board.

                     

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

                     

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

                     

For the Amendment (41)                -   The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Jane Bird) and Councillors John Robson, Tim Rippon, Julie Dore, Chris Rosling-Josephs, Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Ian Saunders, Denise Fox, Mike Pye, Bryan Lodge, Ibrar Hussain, Steve Jones, Jackie Drayton, Jean Cromar, Harry Harpham, Mazher Iqbal, Mary Lea, Chris Weldon, Alan Law, Joan Barton, Garry Weatherall, Terry Fox, Janet Bragg, Robert MacDonald, Jenny Armstrong, Jan Wilson, Pat Midgley, David Barker, Sam Wall, Mike Peat, John Campbell, Liz Naylor, Martin Lawton, Peter Price, Peter Rippon, Leigh Bramall, Gill Furniss, Tony Damms, Mick Rooney, Ray Satur and Marjorie Barker.

                                                                     

Against the Amendment (41)                -        The Lord Mayor (Councillor Arthur Dunworth) and Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Clive Skelton, Tony Homes, Alan Whitehouse, Shaffaq Mohammed, Paul Scriven, John Hesketh, Sylvia Anginotti, Brian Holmes, Mike Davis, Keith Hill, Vic Bowden, Graham Oxley, Pat Fox, Mike Reynolds, Roger Davison, Sylvia Dunkley, Andrew Sangar, Janice Sidebottom, John Knight, Denise Reaney, Ian Auckland, Bob McCann, Peter Moore, Steve Ayris, Colin France, Pat White, Ali Qadar, Vickie Priestley, David Baker, Martin Brelsford, Alison Brelsford, Penny Baker, Jonathan Harston, Diane Leek, Alan Hooper, Trevor Bagshaw, Kathleen Chadwick, Jillian Creasy and Bernard Little.

                                                                     

Abstentions (1)                  -      Councillor Anne Smith

                     

As there was an equality of votes, the amendment was negatived by virtue of the Lord Mayor (Councillor Arthur Dunworth) exercising his casting vote against the amendment.

                     

The original motion was then put to the vote and carried, with the exception of paragraph (f), as follows:-

                     

That this Council:

                     

(a) believes that effective action to reduce our carbon footprint is required globally, nationally, locally and personally if we are to successfully mitigate the severe consequences climate change could bring;

                                             

(b) notes that the carbon emissions under the direct control of the Council amount to less than 5% of the total emissions for Sheffield;

                     

(c) therefore recognises that this Authority must not only commit to measures that will reduce its own carbon footprint, but must also act as a key driver for reducing the carbon footprint across the City;

                     

(d)  supports the introduction of a city-wide carbon footprint reduction plan that includes agreed long-term and annual targets which take into account the sort of annual reductions required globally to ensure that the global temperature rise is kept below 2°C; and

                     

(e)    directs that the Chief Executive draws up a report on this issue which:-

                     

        (i)  outlines how Sheffield’s current carbon footprint can be base-lined and how we can measure progress on an annual basis in the future;

                     

       (ii)        recommends how the Authority can best use its powers and influence to act as a driver to reduce Sheffield’s total carbon footprint; and

                     

       (iii) recommends challenging but achievable targets for a reduction in the carbon footprint across Sheffield on a long-term basis which contributes to the target of keeping the global temperature rise below 2°C.

                     

9.  MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

9.1      Urgent Business

There were no questions relating to urgent business under the provisions of Standing Order A18(6).

                     

                     

9.2 Questions

 A schedule of questions to Cabinet Members, submitted in accordance with Standing Order A18(2) and which contained written answers were circulated and no supplementary questions under the provisions of Standing Order A18(4) were asked.

                     

9.3        South Yorkshire Joint Authorities

No questions were asked on the discharge of the functions of the South Yorkshire Joint Authorities for Fire and Rescue, Passenger Transport and Pensions under the provisions of Standing Order A18(6).  In relation to the South Yorkshire Police Authority, Councillor Diane Leek asked whether the single non-emergency number 101, which had been successfully piloted in Sheffield, would continue.  In response, Councillor Ibrar Hussain, the Section 20 spokesperson stated that he had raised his concerns about the situation and that officers were in discussions with the Home Office about its continuation.  He undertook to provide Councillor Diane Leek with a written answer.

                     

9.4 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 A18(6).

                     

10.  REPRESENTATION, DELEGATED AUTHORITY AND ASSOCIATED MATTERS

RESOLVED: On the Motion of Councillor Pat Midgley, seconded by Councillor Jean Cromar, that approval be given to the following changes to the memberships of Boards, etc. and the appointment of representatives to serve on other bodies:-

                     

Culture, Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny and Policy Development Board            -      Councillor Julie Dore to replace Councillor Terry Fox

                                                                     

Health and Community Care Scrutiny and Policy Development Board            -      Councillor Helen Mirfin-Boukouris to replace Councillor Jean Cromar

                                                                     

Strategic Resources and Performance Scrutiny and Policy Development Board            - Councillor Ian Saunders to replace Councillor Ibrar Hussain and Councillor Mike Davis to replace Councillor Ali Qadar

                                                                     

Successful Neighbourhoods Scrutiny and Policy Development Board            - Councillor Ali Qadar to replace Councillor Mike Davis

                                                                     

Licensing Board            -      Councillor Denise Reaney to fill a vacancy

                                                                     

Netherthorpe, Hillsborough, Walkley Area Panel             -      Councillor David Baker to fill a vacancy

                                                                     

North Area Regeneration Partnership   -      Councillor Alan Hooper to replace Councillor Trevor Bagshaw

                                                                     

(b) as recommended by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 24th October, 2007, delegated authority be granted to the Director of Development Services to implement an approved traffic management permit scheme in Sheffield and to authorise appropriate officers to carry out the management actions arising therefrom, including the issuing of fixed penalty notices, in accordance with the provisions of the Traffic Management Act 2004.

                     

11.         ITEM REFERRED TO COUNCIL: SHEFFIELD ECONOMIC MASTERPLAN

                        It was moved by Councillor Jan Wilson, seconded by Councillor Tim Rippon, that the following decision taken by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 24th October, 2007, on a recommendation of the Strategic Resources and Performance Scrutiny and Policy Development Board, concerning the Sheffield Economic Masterplan, be approved:-

                     

“RESOLVED: That (a) the early conclusions of the Sheffield Economic Masterplan, as set out in the report now submitted, be noted;          

                        (b) delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Culture and Planning, to finalise the Sheffield Economic Masterplan in accordance with the arrangements now reported; and

                         (c) this Council recognises that existing small and medium sized businesses in Sheffield have an important role to play in delivering future economic success in the City and tasks the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Culture and Planning with amending the draft Masterplan to (i) reflect the importance of small and medium sized companies to the economy of Sheffield and (ii) set out the business support requirements and delivery arrangements required to assist this sector to play a full and productive role in the economy.”

                     

                        Whereupon it was moved by Councillor David Baker, seconded by Councillor Paul Scriven, as an amendment, that so much of the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet of 24th October, 2007, as relates to the Sheffield Economic Masterplan, be amended by:-

                     

                     1.   the deletion of all the words in paragraph (b) of the resolution;

                     

                     2. the relettering of existing paragraph (c) as paragraph (b) of the resolution; and

                     

                     3.   the addition of the following words as new paragraphs at the end of the resolution:-

                     

                    (c)   this Council endorses the analysis and broad strategy contained within The Sheffield Economic Masterplan as the most likely approach to deliver the economic transformation of the City and its surrounding area; but acknowledges that the very challenging goals set out in the masterplan will only be reached if there is widespread support  and enabling actions from a large number of partners; including:-

                     

                     (i)  an acknowledgement from the UK Government that all comparable European City transformations have occurred in a context of significantly more devolution to local government than is presently the case in England;

                     

                    (ii)  enhanced partnership working between the local authorities in the Sheffield economic area;

                     

                   (iii)  a dramatic increase in investment in the transport network both within the Sheffield economic area and between London, Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester; and

                     

                   (iv) support for a sustained culture change across the Sheffield economic area to give greater value to both education and skills attainment and entrepreneurship  in the economy envisaged by this Masterplan;

                     

                   (d)   this Council acknowledges that there is a clear role for the Elected Members of the City Council providing leadership and championing of the transformation required by the Economic Masterplan and as such, directs that every year, an update on progress comes back to a meeting of the full Council for debate;  and

                     

                   (e)   this Council directs that the final version of the ‘Sheffield Economic Masterplan’ comes back to full Council for final approval.

                     

                        On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried, with the exception of Parts 1, 2 and 3(e).

                     

                             It was then moved by Councillor Jillian Creasy, seconded by Councillor Bernard Little, as an amendment, that so much of the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet of 24th October, 2007, as relates to the Sheffield Economic Masterplan, be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “RESOLVED:That” and the substitution of the following words therefor:-

                     

This Council:

                     

                   (a)            will not approve the Sheffield Economic Masterplan until it:-

                     

                     (i)  places at its core the principles of the UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy and the resulting Sustainable Communities Strategy, in particular, achieving a sustainable economy which "provides prosperity and opportunities for all, and in which the environmental and social costs fall on those who impose them (polluter pays), and efficient resource use is incentivised";

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