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Meeting of the Council of the City of Sheffield to be held on Wednesday 6th December, 2006

CITY OF SHEFFIELD

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

COUNCIL SUMMONS

Notice is hereby given that a Meeting of the Council of the City of Sheffield

will be held in the Council Chamber within the Town Hall, Sheffield, on

Wednesday, 6th December, 2006, at 2.00 p.m.

PUBLIC INSPECTION OF DOCUMENTS AND ACCESS TO MEETINGS

Council Meetings are open to the public. Admittance to the public gallery can be gained via the First Point Reception, Old Town Hall, Pinstone Street. Details of the business to be transacted can be viewed in advance at the First Point Reception which is open between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. Monday – Thursday and between 9.00 a.m. and 4.45 p.m. on Friday, or you can ring on telephone no. 2734552. A copy of the Council Summons and any reports are also available on the Council’s website at www.sheffield.gov.uk.

THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS IS PROPOSED TO BE TRANSACTED-

1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING

To receive the record of the proceedings of the meetings of the Council held on 1st November, 2006, and to approve the accuracy thereof.

2. PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

To receive any questions or communications from the public, or communications submitted by the Lord Mayor or the Chief Executive and to pass such resolutions thereon as the Standing Orders permit and as may be deemed expedient.

3. MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

(a) Questions relating to urgent business - Standing Order No. A18(6).

(b) Questions submitted at this meeting – Standing Order A18(2)

(d) Questions on the discharge of the functions of the South Yorkshire Joint Authorities for Fire and Rescue, Passenger Transport, Pensions and Police - Section 41 of the Local Government Act, 1985 - Standing Order No. A18(6).

(e) Questions on the discharge of the functions of the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly –

Standing Order No. A18(6).

4. REPRESENTATION, DELEGATED AUTHORITY AND RELATED ISSUES

To consider any changes to the memberships and arrangements for meetings of Boards etc., delegated authority, and the appointment of representatives to serve on other bodies.

5. ITEM REFERRED TO COUNCIL

BYELAWS PURSUANT TO PART VIII OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 1982

To consider a decision which was referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 8th November, 2006.

6. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR STEVE JONES

That this Council:

(a) believes that Sheffield has a rich and diverse population and a proud history of welcoming people into the City;

(b) believes that the cornerstone of a peaceful society is respect for one's neighbour, including respect of people's faiths and beliefs as well as respect for those of no faith;

(d) believes that in acknowledging our rights we must also recognise our responsibilities;

(e) believes that for communities to live together in unity, we must promote a better understanding of all faiths, and dispel the myths that may lead to divisions between communities;

(f) believes that we must all work to create unity and cohesion within Sheffield's communities;

(g) recognises that all groups in the City have a duty to work towards a more unified Sheffield so that we can remove the barriers that stand in the way of cohesive communities;

(h) notes that recent world events have threatened to change people's views about other groups within our communities and believes that this makes it more important for us to actively find ways of understanding and accepting diversity in culture and creed;

(i) believes that the City Council, as the elected body within Sheffield, has the duty to promote the well-being of the whole City;

(j) believes therefore that it is the Council who should take the lead in bringing together communities to talk about how we can ensure that the Sheffield we leave for our children is a place where everyone is valued and respected, and is as welcoming a City as we hope and believe it has been in the past; and

(k) therefore calls on the Chief Executive to prepare a report which outlines a strategy for how we move forward on the issue of community cohesion.

7. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR PAUL SCRIVEN

That this Council:

(a) notes that the present administration have been secretly planning to close two secondary schools in the North West of the City for nearly a year;

(b) believes that the present administration have already taken the decision to close the schools behind closed doors regardless of views expressed by local people; and

(c) calls on the present administration to genuinely listen to the views and concerns of local people before coming to a decision on the issue.

8. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR MARY LEA

That this Council:

(a) believes that the environment is our key asset, and one that must be protected and enhanced for the future of our City;

(b) believes that it is vital for us as a Council to reduce our carbon footprint in order to minimise our impact on the environment;

(c) is pleased that the Local Authority Carbon Management Programme is working with the Council to develop a plan to reduce the Council’s carbon emissions and help set a carbon reduction target;

(d) notes that the Council is already working hard to reduce its environmental impact on the City in many areas such as building up a fleet of green vehicles and developing travel plans both internally and with other organisations across the City;

(e) further notes that 99% of the electricity the Council uses is on a ‘Green Tariff’, using energy sources which reduce the impact on the environment;

(f) also notes the significant progress that Sheffield has made in recent years in driving up the energy efficiency of Council owned housing, spending £50 million over the past 6 years to improve the energy efficiency of Council dwellings, which saves an estimated £11 million per year in energy bills;

(g) welcomes the Council’s two biomass boiler schemes that are providing carbon neutral heating and hot water to 296 flats in Gleadless Valley and almost 100 houses in Burngreave;

(h) notes that the Council intends to roll out further biomass boiler schemes and is currently conducting feasibility studies on several other sites across the City;

(i) believes that we can make a real difference by changing the way in which we work and by ensuring that environmental excellence is embedded into everything that the Council does; and

(j) is committed to working to achieve environmental excellence and a sustainable future for Sheffield.

9. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR BOB McCANN

That this Council:

(a) notes that the present administration plans to demolish many extra properties throughout the City, despite the fact that they previously promised to bring all Council homes up to a decent standard;

(b) furthermore notes that the plan to demolish these homes was not part of any report agreed by the Council and that many other tenants, who have previously been told that they will get their home improved, are now worried that their home will be demolished;

(c) therefore calls on the Leader of the Council to promptly give a 100% guarantee that there will be no more demolitions other than those that have already been announced in the last demolitions plan agreed by the Council;

(d) furthermore notes that many tenants have experienced unacceptable problems with the Decent Homes Programme especially with the length of time it is taking to complete work within their home and that despite this the present administration has failed to pick up the problem as a major priority for improvement;

(e) condemns the present administration for their incompetence and lack of political leadership which has led to the numerous problems relating to housing that have been raised over many months;

(f) furthermore condemns the present administration for breaking their promise to many tenants who had been told their home would be improved but who now face the prospect of their home being demolished;

(g) condemns the present Cabinet Member for Safer Neighbourhoods who has failed to show political leadership and who has caused many tenants across Sheffield anxiety and major inconvenience; and

(h) believes that recent events show that the Sheffield Homes ALMO senior management is not fit for purpose and therefore directs that the Chief Executive facilitates an independent review of the organisation with a view to making key recommendations for improvement reported back to this Council within six months.

10. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR TERRY FOX

That this Council:

(a) welcomes the new Plan for Transport which sets out how we can provide a high quality transport network for our changing City;

(b) welcomes the long term transport vision for Sheffield of ‘safe and reliable choices of transport that help the City’s economy and job opportunities to grow, without damaging the environment’;

(c) notes that Sheffield is an important economic centre at the heart of a wider City Region and believes that good transport connections are crucial to Sheffield’s success;

(d) also believes that it is vital to ensure that Sheffield’s transport system is sustainable so that the decisions we make now do not damage the environment for the future;

(e) recognises that we must provide realistic and attractive alternatives to car use and also recognises that we must promote travel choice;

(f) is pleased that the Plan for Transport has been published for public consultation and believes that it is essential to talk to members of the public about the issues which are important to them;

(g) notes the success of the recent public consultation on the Plan for Transport which took place in Sheffield City Centre on 24th and 25th November;

(h) thanks all members of the public who took the time to give their views on transport in Sheffield at these public events;

(i) notes that one of the key issues that members of the public raised is better buses and confirms that this is a major priority for the Council and the Passenger Transport Executive, who are looking at all the options available to improve bus services in Sheffield;

(j) notes that the ‘Transport in Sheffield’ newsletter is being delivered to every household in the City; and

(k) would therefore like to welcome all members of the public to get in touch so that they can have their say about how the Council can improve transport in Sheffield.

11. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR IAN AUCKLAND

That this Council:

(a) believes that a high quality publicly funded health service, free at the point of need, is one of this Country’s proudest achievements;

(b) notes that Sheffield’s local NHS strives to deliver a high quality service to the citizens of Sheffield and therefore thanks all local NHS employees for their hard work within a challenging environment;

(c) notes with concern that the present Government is forcing Sheffield’s local NHS to find an almost impossible amount of savings over the next three years; including:-

(i) £90m in acute health services;

(ii) £9m within the Children’s Hospital;

(iii) £35m within Sheffield’s PCTs; and

(iv) £2.5m in Sheffield’s Care Trust;

(d) believes, contrary to information given at the last meeting of Council, these financially led cuts are having a detrimental effect on health and social care provision in Sheffield including greater financial pressures on the Council’s adult services;

(e) is dismayed that only a few days after the last meeting of the Council £50m of frontline cuts to services were made public by the Foundation Trust, including possible redundancies for doctors and nurses;

(f) does not support the proposal to close the S2 Ward at Sheffield’s Children’s Hospital, which is financially led and driven by Central Government policy and therefore calls on Sheffield’s Children’s NHS Foundation Trust Board not to proceed with their proposal to close the S2 Ward next year;

(g) furthermore notes the current NHS Dentist crisis in Sheffield brought about by Government policy demonstrated by the fact that only a small number of practices in the City are taking on new NHS patients;

(h) believes that the NHS should be protected against the constant unnecessary and unhelpful reform and the front-line service cuts brought about by the present Government’s policy, both on a local and national level;

(i) agrees with the Unison branch secretary at the Northern General Hospital who said cuts “have been created by reforms put forward by Tony Blair”;

(j) therefore calls on the present Government to adopt a new health policy which embraces the principles of decentralisation, democratic accountability and closer working between primary care and social services whilst putting doctors and nurses at the heart of healthcare decision making rather than accountants ordered in by Whitehall; and

(k) directs that copies of this Motion be sent to Secretary of State for Health, all the Sheffield Members of Parliament, local Health Trade Union representatives and the Chief Executives of all Sheffield’s NHS bodies.

12. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR ANNE SMITH

That this Council:

(a) welcomes the improvements made to Sheffield Council housing as a result of investment made available through arms length management and by transferring homes to registered social landlords;

(b) notes however that the political direction and management of the process of improving these homes and dealing with problems has caused immense distress and disruption to the lives of many vulnerable people, which should and must be avoided;

(c) notes with increasing concern the increasing number of complaints, highlighted in the newspapers and ranging from delays in fixing repairs, anti social behaviour and vandalism, changes in policy, which in some cases has resulted in completely incompatible groups of people being put together on estates and proposed demolition of Council houses and right to buy homes;

(d) further notes a complete absence of proper consultation with affected tenants and daily complaints about the lack of openness and transparency;

(e) is appalled that residents who bought their homes in good faith from the Council as recently as three years ago, now face the prospect of seeing them demolished;

(f) believes that there has been a complete breakdown in trust between tenants and the Council as a result of the lack of effective political leadership and a failure to communicate with tenants and residents on key issues in advance;

(g) notes that nothing upsets people more than worries about how and where they live and the way the Council responds to their concerns;

(h) therefore resolves that the current administration stop dealing with this issue in a piecemeal way and display the political determination and leadership to get a grip of the situation and sort these problems out in a comprehensive and coordinated way as a matter of urgency; and

(i) further resolves that copies of this Motion be sent to all Tenants and Residents’ Associations in Sheffield.

13. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR BERNARD LITTLE

That this Council:

(a) welcomes the Stern Report, commissioned by H.M. Treasury, which says that:

(i) the worst impact of climate change can still be avoided but we need to invest now in order to save massive expenditure ameliorating its effects in the future;

(ii) rich nations have caused global warming but the first to suffer will be poorer nations, creating up to 200 million refugees by 2050, hence the key recommendation for a binding international treaty to reduce green house gas emissions in an equitable manner; and

(iii) in the longer term, if global average temperatures rise by 2°C, the world risks major ecological as well as economic collapse;

(b) welcomes the fact that Sheffield City Council has signed up to the Nottingham Declaration, adopted an Environmental Excellence Strategy and a plan for Climate Change Action by City Council Services, and is implementing sustainable policies relating to planning, procurement and development;

(c) believes that these will put climate change at the core of many Council policies and help the City Council’s own services reach the Government’s goal of a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050;

(d) notes that the Stockholm Environmental Institute has constructed a tool for assessing the ecological footprint of local authority areas and has worked with several councils, including Leeds and Nottingham, to help them lead their cities on climate change;

(e) recognises that, according to the Stockholm Environmental Institute, Sheffield City Council’s own services account for less than 5% of Sheffield’s total carbon emissions;

(f) further notes that at the recent Regional Conference on climate change, organised by the Yorkshire and Humberside Assembly, Sir John Harman, Chair of the Environment Agency, advocated local government taking an active leadership role;

(g) therefore resolves to form an all-party group of Councillors and Council officers to lead on action planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation for the City of Sheffield as a whole; and

(h) directs this group to investigate the feasibility of:

(i) setting a baseline of current greenhouse gas emissions for Sheffield, which would provide an ecological footprint for the City as a whole, based on measures of consumption;

(ii) setting targets for the City to achieve carbon emission reductions in line with avoiding a global average temperature rise of more than 2°C;

(iii) using an assessment tool to measure the potential impact on greenhouse gas reduction of all new policies, projects, and developments;

(iv) working with and influencing partners in the City, for example through the Sheffield First Partnership, to ensure that action plans are drawn up for reducing emissions against the baseline;

(v) communicating the need for and implementation of the action plans to the public of Sheffield; and

(vi) engaging an expert partner organisation such as the Stockholm Environmental Institute to assist with tasks (i) to (v) above.

14. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR TERRY FOX

(a) congratulates Sheffield Eagles on their recent promotion to LHF National League One;

(b) wishes the club every success for 2007 in the First Division; and

15. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR PAUL SCRIVEN

That this Council:

(a) affirms that the issue of asylum is first and foremost a human rights issue;

(b) is committed to protecting those fleeing from persecution and believes that for centuries the UK has had a proud record of granting safe refuge to those fleeing persecution, and in turn, refugees have enriched our culture and wealth immeasurably;

(c) therefore expresses concern at the growing number of destitute asylum seekers in the UK and Sheffield due to the present Government’s policy of refusing to allow asylum seekers to work and support themselves;

(d) believes that the present Government’s policy not only unfairly penalises asylum seekers but also causes dependence on benefits and fails to aid integration;

(e) therefore calls on the Government to introduce legislation to allow asylum seekers to seek work; and

(f) directs that copies of this Motion is sent to all the Sheffield Members of Parliament, all relevant Government Ministers and appropriate local and national asylum seeker organisations.

16. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR SYLVIA DUNKLEY

That this Council:

(a) believes that the Tinsley cooling towers are a popular and distinctive feature of the Sheffield cityscape;

(b) shares the view of many local people that they are a Sheffield 'landmark' and recognises their appeal as a 'Welcome Home' symbol, and therefore supports local groups campaigning to keep the towers;

(c) agrees with Anthony Gormley who conceived the 'Angel of the North' that it would be a tragedy to lose them as they are of great beauty in their own right;

(d) notes that a UK leading expert has said they are of considerable historic interest, built to a high standard, and that their working life could be extended;

(e) believes they could become a significant piece of public art that would put Sheffield 'on the map' and notes the many inspirational suggestions that have already been put forward; and

(f) resolves therefore to express its support for the cooling towers through Channel 4's Big Art Project, and Clive Betts MP who expresses the view that the owners should help keep the towers, and therefore instructs the Chief Executive to work with the owners of the site to secure their retention.

17. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR JILLIAN CREASY

That this Council:

(a) welcomes the news that the Sustainable Communities Bill has been adopted as a Private Members’ Bill by a member of the main Parliamentary Opposition Party;

(b) notes that the relevant Early Day Motion was signed by 363 Members of Parliament including members of the leading and main opposition parties in this Council; and

(c) therefore resolves to write to all the Sheffield Members of Parliament congratulating those who have already offered their support for the Bill and urging the others to do so.

18. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR JONATHAN HARSTON

That this Council:

(a) notes that 2007 is the Tercentenary Year of the United Kingdom, the Treaty of Union having come into force on 1st May 1707; and

(b) requests that the Lord Mayors and Deputy Lord Mayors in office during Tercentenary Year ensure that they do what they can to attend any commemoration events during Tercentenary Year.

19. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR PETER MOORE

That this Council:

(a) notes with alarm the recent figure cited in the respected medical journal 'The Lancet' (October 2006), that 655,000 Iraqi people have died in Iraq because of the 2003 invasion;

(b) notes the resignation in the US of Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary for Defense, due to the failings of US Iraq policy, this followed the recent elections which reflected the anti-war mood in the US;

(c) notes the US Iraq inquiry and regrets that the present Government refused to accept the need for any such inquiry in the UK;

(d) notes that since the Summer 2006, the US military has recorded an average of 105 attacks a day on its personnel in Iraq;

(e) notes the Guardian/ICM poll of October 2006, in which 61% of those polled say that British troops should be withdrawn this year, even if they have not completed their mission and Washington wants them to stay;

(f) notes for example the poll by USATODAY/ CNN / Gallup, as long ago as April 2004, that 71% of Iraqis see the US led coalition as 'occupiers' not 'liberators', this opinion is also reflected in more recent polls;

(g) notes the interview with the Head of the British Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, in which he states Britain should

'get ourselves out sometime soon because our presence exacerbates the security problems'.

'We are in a Muslim country and Muslims' views of foreigners in their country are quite clear. As a foreigner, you can be welcomed by being invited into a country, but we weren't invited, certainly by those in Iraq at the time. Let's face it, the military campaign we fought in 2003 effectively kicked the door in.

'That is a fact. I don't say that the difficulties we are experiencing around the world are caused by our presence in Iraq, but undoubtedly our presence in Iraq exacerbates them.’;

(h) notes the deaths at the time of writing of 121 British soldiers and 2836 US troops;

(i) notes that in February 2003, a motion to Sheffield City Council, received majority cross- party support against the Iraq war;

(j) believes that it is time that Sheffield City Council adds its voice in the call for an early withdrawal of troops from Iraq; and

(k) therefore calls for an early withdrawal of UK troops from Iraq in cooperation with the United Nations.

20. OBSERVATIONS

To receive observations on the minutes of the meetings of the various Council bodies for the period 14th October to 17th November , 2006.

Bob Kerslake

Dated this 28th day of November, 2006

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