Council Agenda 5th November 2008
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, 5th November, 2008 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. Apologies For Absence
2. Minutes Of Previous Council Meetings
To receive the record of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 1st October, 2008 and to approve the accuracy thereof.
3. 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.
4. Members' Questions
4.1 Questions relating to urgent business - Standing Order No. A18(6).
4.2 Supplementary questions on written questions submitted at this meeting - Standing Order No. A18(4).
4.3 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).
4.4 Questions on the discharge of the functions of the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly – Standing Order No. A18(6).
5. Items Referred To Council
5.1 Community Cohesion Strategy
To consider a report and recommendation referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 22nd October, 2008.
5.2 Corporate Plan, 2008-2011
To consider a report and recommendation referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 22nd October, 2008.
5.3 Public Transport And Car Parking Charges
To consider a report and recommendation referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 22nd October, 2008.
6. 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.
7. Notice Of Motion Given By Councillor Paul Scriven
That this Council: -
(a) thanks communities from across Sheffield who, along with the Council, have been campaigning to save local Post Offices;
(b) is deeply disappointed that Post Office Ltd. will close 15 of the 16 threatened Post Offices in Sheffield due to Government policy and is particularly dismayed that the 20,000 people who signed petitions against the closures have not been listened to;
(c) welcomes the fact that Wadsley Bridge Post Office has been saved but notes that this will come as no consolation to the communities who will see their local Post office close;
(d) notes that, following an initial meeting with Post Office Ltd., it has been made clear that:-
(i) the Council has been blocked in any bid to keep Deepcar, Derbyshire Lane, Grimesthorpe, Loxley, Western Road and Silverhill Post Offices open;
(ii) Post Office Ltd. are willing to enter into discussions with the Council over the future of Crookes Valley Road, Hatfield House Lane, High Wincobank, Oakbrook Road, Park Grange, Parkhead, Shalesmoor, Southey and The Moor Post Offices;
(e) notes that there is much work to do and there are many issues to work through, such as Post Office Ltd. criteria, on a case by case basis if any of the remaining Post Offices in Sheffield can be saved;
(f) supports the present administration’s intention to explore options to keep local Post Offices open and resolves to write to the Prime Minister to outline this Council’s opposition to Post Office closures in Sheffield which have been brought about by Government policy; and
(g) resolves to bring together a formal cross-party working group, including community groups such as SCAPOC acting as observers, in order to bring forward options on what the Council can do to keep Post Offices open working within Post Office Ltd. criteria and financial constraints.
8. Notice Of Motion Given By Councillor Jan Wilson
That this Council:-
(a) notes that Post Office Limited (POL) have now announced that 15 of the 16 local Post Offices earmarked for closure as part of the network closure programme are to be shut;
(b) further notes that Pat McFadden MP, Minister for Employment Relations and Postal Affairs, has announced that local authorities must come to their own arrangements with POL in reopening post offices, and that Sheffield City Council have been given the go ahead to enter negotiations with POL;
(c) believes that urban and rural Post Offices are at the heart of long term sustainable local communities as they play a vital role in contributing to social cohesion, financial inclusion, promoting sustainable local economic activity and helping to cut greenhouse gas emissions through reduced travel;
(d) sends its congratulations to Essex County Council, which:-
(i) has reopened for business Station Way Post Office in Buckhurst Hill; and
(ii) has plans to reopen closed Post Office branches throughout the County using the authority’s pioneering 'Essex Model', using investment from the authority’s funds of up to £1.5 million over the next three years, alongside a business plan to reduce grant reliance over time;
(e) believes that the Essex Model demonstrates local innovation at its best;
(f) resolves that Sheffield City Council should:
(i) put plans in place to support a network of local post office outlets, based on the Essex Model, to include keeping open a number of local Sheffield post offices which are currently earmarked for closure;
(ii) allocate up to £2.4m over the next three years to support this ambitious plan, alongside a business plan to reduce grant reliance over time in order to develop a sustainable position;
(iii) note that this could be funded from the £4.4m surplus in the General Fund, as reported in ‘The City Council’s Financial Outturn Position For 2007/08’ report, which was approved by Cabinet on 11th June 2008, or in the event that this is not possible, notes that this should be funded from general reserves;
(iv) establish an all-party working group with the remit to progress with council officers the Essex Model;
(v) work closely with other Local Authorities to share implementation ideas; and
(vi) as a result of this work, bring forward further detailed proposals to achieve these objectives;
(g) considers that earmarking £2.4m - which is the same amount as the Council recently received from the Primary Care Trust’s continuing care repayment - to save post offices, is fitting considering that vulnerable and older people are disproportionately affected by local post office closures;
(h) notes that at the time of writing the amount of money involved in keeping open local post offices is not known, however considers that it is likely that the £2.4m allocated by this Council would be sufficient to facilitate a comprehensive rescue package;
(i) however resolves that, if detailed work indicates that £2.4m is likely to be insufficient to fund the rescue package, officers be instructed to bring to this Council a proposal to finance any deficit;
(j) understands that POL is willing to discuss keeping 10 post offices open, including Crookes Valley Road, Hatfield House Lane, Oakbrook Road, Park Grange, Parkhead, Shalesmoor, Southey, The Moor, Western Road and High Wincobank, which is very much welcomed;
(k) notes that, while this Council is very pleased for the local communities which are served by these 10 post offices, this Council still has considerable concerns for the vulnerable communities who are currently served by the 5 remaining post offices, which are still earmarked for closure;
(l) therefore urges the Council to continue to negotiate hard with POL for those communities who under current arrangements will be deprived of their local post office service; and
(m) calls on all Councillors to support this ambitious plan to maintain local services for Sheffield’s citizens.
9. Notice Of Motion Given By Councillor Sylvia Dunkley
That this Council: -
(a) is dismayed that the level of contribution offered by the Government to fund free leisure swimming for the over 60s and under 16s falls way short of the estimated £1.1m cost to all of Sheffield’s local taxpayers and therefore supports the decision not to opt into the scheme;
(b) recognises that there would be a cost to Sheffield of nearly £1.5m in the first two years of the scheme due to the Government shortfall;
(c) further notes that because the Government has only offered to fund the scheme for two years, the long term cost to the local taxpayer could run into millions more;
(d) given the substantial shortfall for Sheffield, supports the call to Government to provide more funding and is disappointed that the Government has failed to even acknowledge the correspondence;
(e) reaffirms the commitment to look at the decision again if the Government agrees to provide Sheffield with more funding;
(f) believes that, as much as it would be desirable to stop charging the over 60s and the under 16s for leisure swimming, it is felt that the increase in Council Tax that would be required to pay for it is not justified, particularly at a time when individuals of all ages are feeling the effects of the credit crunch;
(g) confirms that the reason why other Councils can afford to opt into the scheme and Sheffield cannot is due to the comparatively high cost of swimming in Sheffield and the poor state of this Council’s finances, both of which have been brought about by the policies of previous Labour administrations;
(h) notes the major opposition party’s position on this issue and looks forward to the extra expenditure required being included in their alternative budget proposal.
10. Notice Of Motion Given By Councillor Mike Pye
That this Council:-
(a) notes that the major opposition party wishes to put on record its unreserved condemnation of the present administration’s decision to turn down grants from the Government to provide free swimming for Sheffield’s older citizens and children and young people;
(b) further notes that:
(i) the Government offered Sheffield an annual grant of £152,000 for two years (a total of £304,000), to provide free swimming for over 60s; and
(ii) it is estimated that, had Sheffield made an expression of interest to provide free swimming for under 16s, the Council would have been offered an annual grant of around £221,000 for two years (a total of £442,000) for this purpose;
(iii) had Sheffield chosen to take up these grants and participate in the free swimming initiative Sheffield could have also expected to receive a capital grant to be spent on pool modernisation of around £100,000;
(c) is therefore astonished that over three quarters of a million pounds of investment in activities for the people of Sheffield has been turned down by the present administration;
(d) deplores the way in which this decision was taken behind closed doors and in complete contradiction of the present administration's avowed position of 'openness and transparency';
(e) notes that 300 out of 354 local authorities in England (including Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley) have confirmed that they will be offering free swimming to over 60s from April 2009;
(f) further notes that 296 out of 354 local authorities in England (including Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley) have expressed their interest in providing free swimming for under 16s, also to be invested from April 2009;
(g) believes that Sheffield’s pensioners and young people should be treated fairly, and, like other people across South Yorkshire - and indeed across the country - should be able to access free swimming from April 2009; and
(h) therefore calls upon the present administration to reverse their decision immediately and ensure free swimming is provided in Sheffield for over 60s and under 16s from April 2009.
11. Notice Of Motion Given By Councillor Sylvia Anginotti
That this Council: -
(a) believes that we should be doing all we can to help small businesses who are particularly vulnerable during the current financial climate;
(b) notes that the Council currently aims to settle all invoices within 30 days, believes that this process should be speeded up for small businesses in order to improve their cash flow and help them survive during the credit crunch;
(c) therefore directs that Council officers urgently bring forward proposals to reduce the current invoice payment time for small business and looks forward to Cabinet receiving a report which outlines how this can be achieved as soon as possible.
12. Notice Of Motion Given By Councillor Jan Wilson
That this Council:-
(a) endorses the following two Notices of Motion which were adopted by this Council on 3rd September 2008:-
‘That this Council:-
(a) opposes the proposal by East Midlands Trains to implement automatic ticket barriers at Sheffield Station;
(b) in opposing this move, does however fully support improvements in public transport;
(c) notes that the recent internal station improvements cost £16m, comprising £15,070,000 public funding (Strategic Rail Authority – Rail Passenger Partnership, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and Railway Heritage Trust) and £820,000 funding from the rail industry (Network Rail and Midland Mainline);
(d) further notes that the external improvements to the station forecourt were funded entirely by the public purse, at a cost of £20m;
(e) notes that the South Yorkshire Supertram stop has been relocated to the rear of the station to assist in integration of the tram with other transport modes;
(f) further notes that this tram stop is named ‘Sheffield Hallam University’ because one of its principle purposes is to serve this University, which is located directly across the passenger footbridge;
(g) notes the value placed on the footbridge by people with disabilities, because the level access enables people with impaired mobility to travel entirely independently;
(h) further notes that the route through the station provides a vital link for the local residents of Norfolk Park and Manor Castle to both job opportunities and other amenities in the City Centre;
(i) notes that this route links two of Sheffield’s major regeneration projects; the Digital Campus and Park Hill;
(j) notes also that in the national ‘Passenger Focus’ survey of stations, the customer satisfaction for feeling safe is higher at Sheffield station than the stations located in any of the other Core Cities, and believes that this is because of the open nature of Sheffield station;
(k) appreciates that it is important to reduce the incidence of ticketless travel, and fully supports East Midlands Trains seeking measures to achieve this;
(l) however, regrets that although East Midlands Trains has attended several community meetings, there does not appear to be any willingness to discuss any option for revenue protection, other than closing the station to members of the public not travelling by train;
(m) therefore resolves that this Council should work with East Midlands Trains to find a suitable alternative to gating the station, which meets East Midlands Trains’ objectives of reducing ticketless travel but allows vital pedestrian access through the station to continue; and
(n) directs that a copy of this motion is sent to Rt Hon Ruth Kelly MP, Secretary of State for Transport, Tom Harris MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister of State for Transport, Tim Shoveller, Managing Director of East Midlands Trains, David Brown, Director General of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, and all Sheffield Members of Parliament;’ and
‘That this Council:-
(a) notes that many people currently use the East Midlands Trains Sheffield Station footbridge for easy access to the City Centre;
(b) notes a substantial sum of public money was invested in Station improvements, including the footbridge and public realm;
(c) notes that local residents from communities on the hill above the Station find it the most convenient way of getting into the City Centre;
(d) furthermore notes that tram users getting off at the back of the Station use the footbridge for access to the City Centre in order to switch travel modes, and students from Castle College and Sheffield Hallam University frequently travel through the Station;
(e) notes that access through the Station makes a significant contribution to regeneration through improving access to employment, retail and leisure opportunities and believes that to prevent access would have a detrimental effect on the City Centre and connected communities;
(f) is therefore opposed to East Midlands Trains installing a gating system; and
(g) welcomes the fact that the present administration will continue to put this case to East Midlands Trains on behalf of the Council and local people and hopes that a solution can be reached which satisfies all sides.’
(b) wishes to reiterate the resolute opposition of this Council to East Midlands Trains’ proposals to install a gating system at Sheffield Station;
(c) notes that local people are vehemently opposed to East Midlands Trains’ proposals to install a gating system at Sheffield Station and further notes that over a thousand people have registered their opposition to the proposals on the Council’s website;
(d) reaffirms that it is the view of this Council that the well-used pedestrian route through the Station provides a vital link:
(i) between the City Centre to the Manor Castle and Norfolk Park areas, particularly in light of the employment opportunities available in the City Centre;
(ii) between the City Centre and the Park Hill development which is being refurbished in partnership with Urban Splash and is due to receive a significant level of public investment;
(iii) between the City Centre and the ‘Sheffield Hallam University’ Supertram stop;
(iv) from north to south for the Sheffield College;
(v) from south to north for Sheffield Hallam University;
(e) also considers the fact that this route is hugely valued by people with disabilities, to be a very significant consideration;
(f) in looking to the future development of Sheaf Valley Park, further considers that it is vital that residents in the City Centre are able to have uninhibited direct access to this new public park;
(g) calls upon East Midlands Trains to abandon their plans to install a gating system at Sheffield Station, and instead pursue other options to meet the laudable objectives of reducing the incidence of ticketless travel; and
(h) directs that a copy of this motion is sent to Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Secretary of State for Transport, Tim Shoveller, Managing Director of East Midlands Trains, David Brown, Director General of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, and all Sheffield Members of Parliament.
13. Notice Of Motion Given By Councillor Jillian Creasy
That this Council:-
(a) congratulates the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) on its “Keep trade local” campaign which has highlighted the threat posed to small shops by supermarket shopping;
(b) notes that there were forty objections to the recent application for a Tesco Express on Abbeydale Rd including from Sharrow Community Forum, councillors in the affected wards, affected traders and residents, all of whom regard their local shops as a vital resource rather than “shabby”;
(c) notes that Unitary Development Plan (UDP) Policy S4 states that: “it would be necessary to ensure that the additional development would not undermine the existing centre”;
(d) further notes that UDP Policy S5 states that development should “not undermine the vitality and viability of ... any District Shopping Centre as a whole”;
(e) hopes that Councillors will bear these policies in mind when assessing applications from large chains to open branches in existing district shopping centres;
(f) also notes the FSB’s call for local Councils to bring in emergency measures to support small businesses during the current economic crisis;
(g) further notes that Brentwood Borough Council have agreed to pay for goods and services within 20 days rather than the usual 30 days and that Government will pay within 10 days;
(h) recognises that the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector is also under grave financial pressure;
(i) supports the FSB’s call for Small Business Rate Relief to be made automatic for eligible businesses; and
(j) therefore:
(i) requests officers to investigate the feasibility and cost to the Council of paying SMEs and the VCF sector within 20 days and to report back to the January 2009 Council Meeting at the latest;
(ii) also requests officers to investigate the feasibility and cost to the Council of small businesses being encouraged to consider applying for hardship relief and to report back to the January 2009 Council Meeting at the latest; and
(iii) resolves to use its existing communications with small businesses to encourage them to consider applying for Small Business Rate Relief and rateable value review.
14. Notice Of Motion Given By Councillor Peter Moore
That this Council: -
(a) congratulates those members of the House of Lords who defeated the Government's draconian proposal to increase detention without trial from 28 days to 42 days;
(b) recognises that this Government continues to attempt to further erode the human rights and civil liberties of the citizens of Sheffield as well as the rest of the United Kingdom and is alarmed by the suggestion from the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith MP for a so called "Big Brother data base" which would give the state power to intercept and record emails and text messages;
(c) calls upon all Sheffield MPs to resist this potential Orwellian nightmare scenario by making it clear that they will not support this ill advised measure; and
(d) resolves that a copy of this motion is sent to all Sheffield MPs, the Home Secretary and the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretaries.
15. Notice Of Motion Given By Councillor Tim Rippon
That this Council:
(a) notes that It was moved by Councillor David Baker, seconded by Councillor Paul Scriven, on 7th November 2007:-
‘That this Council:-
(i) 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;
(ii) 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
(iii) 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.’
(b) further notes that, on 6th May 2008, in relation to the Moor Markets, Councillor David Baker was quoted in the Sheffield Star as saying:-
"Resolving this issue has to be a high priority. Immediately after we formally take control after the Annual General Meeting of the Council on May 21st, I'd want to set up a meeting with Mr Glover. I've promised him that we will listen to what the traders have to say. We'll look at what they want and see how we can take the matter forward. I'll [sic] hopeful they will be pleased with the outcome."
(c) is somewhat concerned that the present administration appear to be making some significant policy u-turns, now that they are faced with the harsh reality of being in charge of this Council;
(d) is furthermore concerned about the perceived credibility of elected representatives in the public eye, if once in power they do not pursue policies that are consistent with the policy statements that they make when they are in opposition;
(e) notwithstanding the fact that the present major opposition group do not consider Fargate to be an appropriate location to pursue in relation to the relocation of the Moor Markets to, and the fact that they did not support this option in the past, considers that now that the present administration are in control of this Council they should honour the commitment that they made to the Moor Market traders.
16. Notice Of Motion Given By Councillor Tim Rippon
That this Council:
(a) notes the outstanding work of the organisers of Sheffield Fayre in creating a fantastic, unique event year after year which is enjoyed by local Sheffielders and visitors alike;
(b) notes that this year the Fayre attracted around 30,000, which is an incredible achievement for an event which is run primarily by volunteers;
(c) believes that the annual Sheffield Fayre is a tremendous asset to the city and considers that it is important that this event continues to offer free admission, so that the Fayre’s activities can be enjoyed by all; and
(d) gives an assurance that this Council wishes to continue to provide financial support for this event and resolves that the funding for this event should be prioritised within the budget planning process for the financial year 2009/10.
17. Notice Of Motion Given By Councillor Robert Murphy
That this Council:-
(a) notes the new administration's opposition to a feasibility study into wind power at Westwood Country Park;
(b) notes the Member of Parliament for Hallam's recent call for a massive expansion in renewable energy projects and his statement that renewable energy “is realistic and achievable. All it requires is the leadership and vision that have been lacking under years of tired Labour thinking”;
(c) notes the South Yorkshire renewable energy generation target of 160mw by 2021, which is part of the Regional Spatial Strategy;
(d) notes plans for a 5 turbine wind farm at Sheephouse Heights, between Stocksbridge and Penistone;
(e) notes the decision of the West and North Planning and Highways Board, as Local Planning Authority, to formally object on planning policy grounds to the application to build a wind farm at Sheephouse Heights, against the advice of the Director of Development Services;
(f) notes the closeness of the site to the National Grid would reduce transmission losses and increase energy efficiency;
(g) therefore resolves as a Local Authority on general policy grounds to support the proposed development of a wind farm at Sheephouse Heights; and
(h) resolves to send a copy of this motion to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, the Peak Park Planning Authority and the Members of Parliament for Hillsborough and Barnsley West and Penistone.
18. Observations
To receive observations on the minutes of the meetings of the various Council bodies for the period 15th September to 17th October, 2008.
Chief Executive
Dated this 28th day of October, 2008
Downloads
Council Agenda for the meeting to be held on the 5th November 2008 (340 KB)
Council Minutes of the meeting held 1st October 2008 (218 KB)
To consider a report and recommendation referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 22nd October 2008 (43.5 KB)
To consider a report and recommendation referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 22nd October 2008 (43.5 KB)
To consider a report and recommendation referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 22nd October 2008 (43 KB)