Council Minutes 3rd October 2007

1        Arbourthorne Ward

10      Dore & Totley Ward

19      Mosborough Ward

          Tim Rippon

          Mike Davis

          David Barker

          Julie Dore

          Keith Hill

          Sam Wall

 

          Anne Smith

          Mike Peat

 

 

 

2        Beauchief/Greenhill  Ward

11      East Ecclesfield Ward

20      Nether Edge Ward

          Simon Clement-Jones

          Vic Bowden

          Colin France               

          Clive Skelton

          Graham Oxley

          Pat White

          Tony Holmes

          Pat Fox

          Ali Qadar

         

         

         

3        Beighton Ward

12      Ecclesall Ward

21     Richmond Ward

          Chris Rosling-Josephs

          Mike Reynolds

          John Campbell

          Helen Mirfin-Boukouris

          Roger Davison

          Liz Naylor

          Ian Saunders

          Sylvia Dunkley

          Martin Lawton

 

 

 

 

 

 

4        Birley Ward

13      Firth Park Ward

22      Shiregreen & Brightside Ward

          Denise Fox

          Chris Weldon

          Peter Price

          Mike Pye

          Alan Law

          Peter Rippin

          Bryan Lodge

          Joan Barton

         

 

 

 

5        Broomhill Ward

14      Fulwood Ward

23      Southey Ward

          Shaffaq Mohammed

          Andrew Sangar

          Leigh Bramall

          Alan Whitehouse

          Janice Sidebottom

          Gill Furniss 

          Paul Scriven

        John Knight

          Tony Damms

 

 

 

6        Burngreave Ward

15      Gleadless Valley Ward

24      Stannington Ward

          Ibrar Hussain

          Denise Reaney

          Vickie Priestley

          Steve Jones

          Garry Weatherall

          David Baker

          Jackie Drayton

          Terry Fox

 

 

 

 

7        Central Ward

16      Graves Park Ward

25      Stocksbridge & Upper Don Ward

          Jillian Creasy

          Ian Auckland

          Martin Brelsford

          Bernard Little

          Bob McCann

          Alison Brelsford

          Jean Cromar

          Peter Moore

          Martin Davis

 

 

 

8        Crookes Ward

17      Hillsborough Ward

26      Walkley Ward

          John Hesketh

          Steve Ayris

          Penny Baker

          Sylvia Anginotti        

          Janet Bragg

          Jonathan Harston

          Brian Holmes

          Robert MacDonald

          Diane Leek

 

 

 

9        Darnall Ward

18      Manor Castle Ward

27      West Ecclesfield Ward

          Harry Harpham

          Jenny Armstrong

          Alan Hooper

          Mazher Iqbal              

          Jan Wilson

          Trevor Bagshaw

          Mary Lea

          Pat Midgley

          Kathleen Chadwick

 

 

 

 

 

28      Woodhouse Ward

 

 

          Mick Rooney

 

 

          Ray Satur

 

 

          Marjorie Barker

 

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

            Apologies for absence were received from Councillor John Robson.   

 

 

2.

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 5th September, 2007, be approved as a correct record.

 

 

3.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS

 

Petitions

 

            The Council considered (a) a petition containing approximately 1,253 signatures expressing support for a plan to create a public park at the experimental gardens on land off Taptonville Road at Broomhill and after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. Mark Pickering, referred the petition for consideration by the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Culture and Planning (Councillor Tim Rippon) who stated that the City Council as the Local Planning Authority had to assess the planning application against national and local planning policy as the City Council did not have the authority to designate the land in question as park land and suggested that the petitioners also submit the petition to the University of Sheffield who were the landowners; in the circumstances the Council also referred the petition to the Culture, Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny and Policy Development Board for consideration;

 

            (b) a petition containing 1,732 signatures of persons who recognise that urgent action is now needed if we are to avert a catastrophic climate change and calling upon the Council to put a Carbon Reduction Plan at the Heart of the City strategy, establish a baseline carbon footprint for Sheffield, set carbon reduction targets of at 60% per year in line with keeping global temperature rise below 2°C and regularly publicise the City’s progress in carbon reduction and after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Chris Broome, referred the petition for consideration by the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Environment (Councillor Mary Lea) who stated that she would submit a detailed written response to the petitioners but also indicated that the City Council placed environmental sustainability at the heart of its policies and together with the Sheffield First Partnership recognised that environmental policies were essential for the economic development and well being of the City with key challenges to be met in particular in the areas of public transport, the built environment, recycling and energy generation, which policies were also being pursued through the Sheffield Development Framework with further emphasis being placed upon placing local procurement at the heart of the Council’s strategy on the environment.

 

            A motion, moved by Councillor Sylvia Dunkley, seconded by Councillor Paul Scriven that the above petition be referred to the Culture, Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny and Policy Development Board, was put to the vote and negatived.

 

            (c) a petition containing 95 signatures expressing support for the people of Burma, including the Karen community living in Sheffield and calling on the Council to support their call for freedom and democracy in Burma now and, after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Tooku Sarsay, Councillor Jan Wilson, Leader of the City Council, responded to the petitioners and referred to a proposed Notice of Motion which was to be placed before the City Council on this matter.

 

 

 

RESOLVED:  On the motion of Councillor Pat Midgley, seconded by Councillor Peter Moore, that the provisions of Standing Order A14 relating to “Motions which may be moved without notice at Council meetings” be suspended to enable the Notice of Motion now placed before Council and relating to recent events in Burma to be considered.

 

 

 

RESOLVED:  On the motion of Councillor Jan Wilson, seconded by Councillor Paul Scriven that this Council:

 

 

 

(a)       condemns the violence that has been used against unarmed Burmese citizens who have been exercising, with great bravery, their right to peaceful protest;

 

 

 

(b)       is disappointed that despite the calls for restraint from the international community, the Burmese regime has continued to respond to protesters with oppression and force;

 

 

 

(c)        wishes to highlight the huge anger across the World, about the violence that has been perpetrated against the Burmese people and adds Sheffield’s collective voice to the millions of voices who are united in calling for Burma's military leaders to peacefully end their crackdown on protesters demanding democracy;

 

 

 

(d)       recognises the courage and integrity of the peaceful protesters in Burma, and sends a message of solidarity from Sheffield to the Burmese people;

 

 

 

(e)       is proud of the warm welcome that Sheffielders have given to the Burmese refugees who came to our City under the United Nations High Commission for Refugees ‘Gateway’ programme, and extends our thoughts to the Burmese community in Sheffield at what must be a very distressing and worrying time;

 

 

 

(f)         reconfirms Sheffield’s link with Burma’s pursuit of democracy through the Honorary Freedom of the City of Sheffield which was conferred by the City Council on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma, in October 2005, in recognition of her personal courage and relentless pursuit of democratic justice in that country and her commitment to secure democracy and human rights by non-violent means; and

 

 

 

(g)       directs that a copy of this motion is sent to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and all the Sheffield Members of Parliament, and asks that the Government continues to work with the international community to step up pressure on Burma's rulers to restore democracy for the people of Burma.

 

 

 

 

 

            (d) a petition containing 36 signatures of tenants of St. George’s Court Sheltered Housing Scheme, Brook Hill, requesting that the window replacements under the Decent Homes Programme be done as soon as possible and after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. V. Gibson referred the petition to the Cabinet Member for Safer Neighbourhoods (Councillor Chris Weldon) who indicated that he would bring this matter to the attention of Sheffield Homes;

 

            (e) a petition containing 41 signatures wishing to object to proposed plans to develop the site of 4 Endcliffe Rise Road into nine apartments and after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. Michael Ford, the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Culture and Planning (Councillor Tim Rippon) indicated that although he was not familiar with the terms of the Planning Application he would nevertheless ask officers to examine the matter in more detail with particular reference to investigating whether or not trees which might have been removed from the site would be subject to Tree Preservation Orders but nevertheless emphasised that any decision with regard to the development would be made by the appropriate Planning and Highways Area Board; in the circumstances therefore the Council referred the terms of the petition to the City Centre, South and East Planning and Highways Area Board and also requested that the Culture, Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny and Policy Development Board give consideration to this matter;

 

            (f) a petition containing 81 signatures requesting the Council to take action with regard to car parking and reckless driving in Cromford Street, Clough Road, Duchess Road, Edmund Road, Margaret Street and Rowsley Street and after hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. Victor Wavingana the Council referred the petition to the Cabinet Member for Transport and Streetscene (Councillor Bryan Lodge) who recognised that reckless driving was unacceptable and undertook to discuss the issues raised in the petition with officers of the City Council and;

 

            (g) a petition containing 181 signatures from residents of Hollybank Close, Hollybank Drive and Hollybank Way questioning the Council’s actions in the selling of the leases of the land on which their houses are built and not giving tenants first refusal and also asking the Council to explain why, when several offers to purchase the leases were submitted prior to auction they did not withdraw these leases from the sale and after hearing representations on behalf of the petitioners by Mrs. Christine Hogg the Cabinet Member for Resources (Councillor Steve Jones) expressed the view that the situation outlined by Mrs. Hogg was unacceptable and that he would take steps to review procedures and also seek to get advice for the petitioners with regard to their rights in this matter.

 

           

 

            A motion to refer the petition for further consideration by the Cabinet Member for Resources was declared lost and, after further consideration the Council referred the matter for consideration by the Cabinet Member for Resources (Councillor Steve Jones) and the Strategic Resources and Performance Scrutiny and Policy Development Board.

 

 

 

            (h) a petition containing 47 signatures indicating that the tramgate, Walkley Lane is now used as a “rat run” which has an impact on the amount of traffic on Limbrick Road and Close which has doubled, causing obstruction and resulting in cars parking on the pavement and referred the petition for consideration by the Cabinet Member for Transport and Streetscene (Councillor Bryan Lodge); and

 

            (i) containing 34 signatures requesting the change from 40+ to 50+ in the age band limit on Wentworth Tower Block, to overcome problems of anti-social behaviour at the Tower Block and referred the petition for consideration by the Cabinet Member for Safer Neighbourhoods (Councillor Chris Weldon).

 

 

 

Public Questions

 

            Ronn Barkshire, following the recently commissioned survey by the Stockholm Institute asked a question with regard to where outcomes of the Survey could be found on the Council’s website and in response, the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Environment (Councillor Mary Lea indicated that the information now mentioned was set out on the Council’s website under the “Council Magazine” section.

 

 

 

Public Question re:  Meadowhead Baths

 

            Mr. Martin Brighton asked a question with regard to the scheme for Meadowhead Baths, and in response the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Culture and Planning (Councillor Tim Rippon) stated that he believed Mr. Brighton was referring to proposals for the Graves Tennis Centre which would be submitted to the meeting of the Cabinet to be held on 10th October, 2007.

 

 

 

Councillors Duties

 

            Mr. Glyn Marsden asked a question with regard to the duties of Councillors in his neighbourhood whereby, in his view, such duties were not being undertaken and in response  Councillor Jan Wilson, Leader of the City Council, indicated that matters raised by Mr. Marsden should be brought to the attention of individual Councillors.

 

 

 

Public Questions re:  Carbon Footprint

 

            Ms. H. Hunt, Ms. J. Patient, Professor A. MacFadyen and Mr. Julian Briggs asked questions regarding the setting of a target for the City’s carbon reduction measures and what science would such measures be based on, what steps the City Council was taking to put in place a scheme to insulate all existing buildings to a high standard so as to reduce carbon emissions, how would the Council’s planning processes be used to offset the additional carbon footprints generated by the New Retail Quarter and how was the Council publicising Sheffield’s carbon footprint and promoting understanding of this matter and in response, the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Environment (Councillor Mary Lea) indicated that the Council would be continuing to work with the Stockholm Institute upon measures to reduce the City’s carbon footprint and approximately £50m had been spent by the City Council installing efficient insulation in Council houses in the City and also indicated that the City Council was publicising and promoting Sheffield’s carbon footprint through the Sheffield My Planet Website and the Your Council, Your Say Programme.

 

 

 

Public Question re: Efficient Public Transport

 

            Mr. Ian Wallace referred to the efficient and well funded public transport system which existed in London and asked what steps were being taken to return to such a system in South Yorkshire and in response, the Cabinet Member for Transport and Streetscene (Councillor Bryan Lodge) indicated that it was vital to work with Operators and the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive to provide a better public transport option for the area and that various highway schemes had been undertaken to improve public transport in the City, in particular works relating to the Sheaf Valley Corridor and the Hillsborough Tramgate with, in the near future, a free bus service being introduced in the City Centre;  he believed also that it was essential to help promote good choices but also accepted that some people did not wish to use public transport.

 

 

 

Public Questions re:  Situation in Burma

 

            Nayh La, Bahtoo, Eh Htee Kaw and Nant Bwa Phan asked questions with regard to the political situation in Burma and particularly the steps which the City Council would be prepared to take to continue the struggle for freedom and democracy in that country and to influence the Government to take action and in response, the Leader of the City Council, Councillor Jan Wilson referred to the Notice of Motion which had been passed earlier at the meeting and also stressed that it was essential that people should continue to recognise the continuing situation in Burma when news coverage ceased and did not forget the situation in that country.

 

 

4.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

 

            It was moved by Councillor Peter Moore, seconded by Councillor Clive Skelton that the Council now move to consideration of Item of Business number 6 relating to Items Referred to Council.

 

            On being put to the vote the motion was lost.

 

 

5.

CORPORATE PARENTING

 

            The Council considered a presentation given by Jon Banwell, Acting Senior Manager, Provider Services, Children and Young People’s Directorate, Martin Sadler – Corporate Parenting Manager, Children and Young People’s Directorate and Lesley Pollard of “Chilypep” on the Council’s role and responsibilities in relation to Corporate Parenting, together with future challenges.

 

            Jon Banwell introduced the presentation by indicating that the term “Corporate Parenting” was used to describe the responsibility of the Local Authority towards Looked After Children and Young People and that a child was “looked after” if they had a care order or were under a voluntary agreement (subject to the Children Act, 1989).  He went on to say that the Local Authority should parent the children in their care much as one would parent their own children and should meet the holistic needs of the individual child, emotionally, socially, educationally and physically with the child’s religious persuasion, racial origin, cultural origin and cultural/linguistic background being taken into account.