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Council Minutes 2nd February 2005

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held 2nd February, 2005

Meeting of the Council of the City of Sheffield held in the Council Chamber within the Town Hall, Sheffield, on Wednesday, 2nd February, 2005 pursuant to notice duly given and Summonses duly served.

PRESENT

THE LORD MAYOR (Councillor Mike Pye)

THE DEPUTY LORD MAYOR (Councillor Roger Davison)

1 Arbourthorne Ward		10 Dore & Totley Ward					19 Mosborough Ward
Julie Dore		Anne Smith					Mike Peat
John Robson		Mike Waters					David Barker
Tim Rippon		Keith Hill					Sam Wall

2 Beauchief/Greenhill Ward		11 East Ecclesfield Ward					20 Nether Edge Ward
Anthony Holmes		Pat Fox					Ali Qadar
Simon Clement-Jones		Vic Bowden					Andrew White
Clive Skelton		Graham Oxley					Pat White

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

4 Birley Ward		13 Firth Park Ward					22 Shiregreen & Brightside Ward
Bryan Lodge		Joan Barton					Jane Bird
Angela Smith		Chris Weldon					Peter Price
		Alan Law					Peter Rippon

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

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

7 Central Ward		16 Graves Park Ward					25 Stocksbridge & Upper Don Ward
Jean Cromar		Peter Moore					Martin Davis
Jillian Creasy		Ian Auckland					Martin Brelsford
Mohammad Azim		Barrie Jervis					Alison Brelsford

8 Crookes Ward		17 Hillsborough Ward					26 Walkley Ward
Brian Holmes		Robert MacDonald					Veronica Hardstaff
John Hesketh		Janet Bragg					Jonathan Harston
Sylvia Anginotti		Alf Meade

9 Darnall Ward		18 Manor Castle Ward					27 West Ecclesfield Ward
Mary Lea		Pat Midgley					Kathleen Chadwick
Harry Harpham		Jan Fiore					Alan Hooper
Mohammad Altaf		Jan Wilson

							28 Woodhouse Ward
							Marjorie Barker
							Mick Rooney
							Ray Satur

1.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
	Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Trevor Bagshaw, Kate Dawson and Diane Leek.

2.	MINUTES OF PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING
	RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Pat Midgley, seconded by Councillor Jan Fiore, that the minutes of the meeting of the City Council held on 5th January, 2005, be approved as a correct record.

3.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

3.1	Petition re Proposed bus lane on Barnsley Road
	The Council received a petition containing approximately 350 signatures of residents and visitors to the area registering their strong objection to proposals to introduce a bus lane and double yellow lines in Barnsley Road from Kinnaird Avenue to the Pheasant Inn which, they felt, would have a detrimental impact on the area and heard representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mrs. Kath Page. A response was given by Councillor Gill Furniss (Cabinet Member for Environment, Culture, Leisure and Sport) who indicated that her remarks and the petition would be considered as part of the consultation exercise on the proposed Traffic Regulation Orders.
	It was agreed that the petition be referred for the attention of the North and West Planning and Highways Area Board.

3.2	Petition re Masterplan for the regeneration of Spital Hill
	The Council received a petition containing 836 signatures calling upon the Council to reject the wholesale demolition of Spital Hill as part of the Burngreave Masterplan and heard representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Deacon David Havard. He expressed their views that many valuable resources as well as some buildings of historical interest and much of their sense of community would be lost and pointed out that, with the help of substantial money from New Deal, many of the businesses were working on improvements and it would, therefore, be a massive waste of money and effort not to allow these to develop as planned. He stated that residents wanted the present diversity, multi-cultural and multi-racial character of the area to be maintained and the present multi-faith and not for profit enterprises expanded. He added that residents felt that proper consultation had not taken place and suggested that the Masterplan should be replaced by a genuinely participative, co-operative, locally led planning process produced by the planners, local organisations and local people.
	In response, Councillor Chris Weldon (Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods) stated that, following discussions at a recent Area Panel meeting, one-to-one meetings had been organised with traders and a series of feedback meetings would be arranged in the near future. He stated that a decision in this matter was expected to be made in late April and he was amenable to the suggestion that a project group be established and he requested the officer present at this meeting to discuss the suggestion with the residents outside of the meeting.
	It was agreed that the petition be referred for the attention of the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods.

3.3	Petition re Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy
	The Council received a petition containing approximately 183 signatures requesting that the City Council urgently reviews the limitation policy of Hackney Carriage Licences in Sheffield, to conduct an independent survey and to stop issuing any further licences with immediate effect and heard representations by Mohammed Arif, Chairperson of the Sheffield Taxi Trade Association on behalf of the taxi drivers. He stated that it was widely believed amongst taxi drivers that there were too many taxis and this was having a detrimental effect on their livelihoods and lifestyles, due to low levels of work. He put forward the Association’s view that the City was unable to cope with any more taxis on the road and that there was an insufficient number of rank spaces, with immense pressure on existing ranks such as King Street, Barker’s Pool, Fitzalan Square and the Station.
	In response, Councillor Jan Wilson (Leader of the Council) stated that the Council was supportive of the work done by hackney carriage drivers in the City and wanted to be fair with all taxi and private hire drivers. She pointed out that the limitations policy had been reviewed last year and felt sure that the Licensing Board would have taken into account all views expressed at the time. However, she undertook to investigate whether an independent assessment on the appropriate number of taxis in the City, along with a review of the Licensing limitations policy, was considered necessary.

3.4	Petition requesting closure of footpath through Abbey Lane Dell
	The Council received a petition containing 12 signatures of residents on Abbey Lane Dell requesting the closure of the footpath through the Dell into Millhouses Park and heard representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Mrs. Prudence Finegan, who referred to a catalogue of existing problems experienced by Abbey Lane Dell residents, including nuisance and incidents of crime and vandalism, all of which had been passed onto the City Council in previous correspondence. She requested that the public footpath be closed to discourage those persons who did not have a legitimate reason for being in the vicinity of Abbey Lane Dell so that the residents could enjoy the quality of life from a safe and trouble free environment.
	In response, Councillor Jan Wilson (Leader of the Council) highlighted the difficulty in closing the footpath, particularly when the Friends of Millhouses Park would want it to be kept open but also referred to recent legislation which enabled footpaths to be closed in the interests of crime prevention, etc. She undertook to speak to Mrs. Finegan about the issues outside of this meeting.
	It was agreed that the petition be referred for consideration by the South Planning and Highways Area Board.

3.5	Public Questions re Burngreave Masterplan
	Mr. Jeff Kirby asked who was responsible for paying the fees for the consultants who had drawn up the Burngreave Masterplan. Elenor Parsons referred to the undertaking given to establish a project group and asked if terms of reference would be set up to ensure that the comments of the Group were listened to and acted upon. Iain Stokes suggested that a supermarket was not required for the area in view of the environmental disbenefits such as pollution and waste and asked if a 24 hour feeder bus service to adjacent supermarkets could be provided.
	In response, Councillor Chris Weldon (Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods) stated that the consultants were not contracted by the City Council and carried out the Masterplan exercise under the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder Programme and would be paid by that Government agency. In relation to the proposed project group, he stated that the Council, in the past, had tried to deliver the community’s aspirations and would continue to do so wherever possible but stressed that the final decision was for the Council to take. In relation to the provision of a local supermarket, he stated that there were views for and against this and that the Council had no control over the suggested bus ferry service. He emphasised that he shared the aims of the residents in wishing to maintain the present rich and varied life of Burngreave and he looked forward to working with the proposed project group.

4.	MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS

4.1	Urgent Business
	There were no questions relating, to urgent business under the provisions of Standing A18(4).

4.2	South Yorkshire Joint Authorities
	Councillor Robert MacDonald asked questions of Councillor Jan Wilson about the outcome of the recent bus consultation exercise. In response, Councillor Wilson expressed her pleasure at the amount of participation, with 12,000 responses to the questionnaires received. She added that 20,000 individual comments had been written down on the open question section. She briefly summarised some of the responses and emphasised that the Council encouraged choice of travel modes and would be actively pursuing bus priority measures and would welcome all party support in achieving more reliable, more frequent bus services. She indicated her intention to set up a Bus User Group and continue with the lobby for improved bus services.
	With reference to the £8.3m spent on tendered bus services, Councillor Ian Auckland asked Councillor Jan Wilson if she agreed that better value for money bus services would be achieved by ending the profit driven motives of the bus operators. In response, Councillor Jan Wilson stated that the Passenger Transport Authority’s bus strategy would address that issue.
	Councillor Harry Harpham asked Councillor Steve Jones a question in relation to the Green Paper on the future of the Local Government Pensions Scheme. In response, Councillor Steve Jones briefly explained the principles and proposed propositions for an affordable and sustainable Local Government Pensions Scheme and summarised the response of the South Yorkshire Pensions Authority to the proposed changes that were planned to be introduced in 2008.
	Councillor Paul Scriven asked Councillor Jan Fiore if the Police Authority had written to the Planning Authority about the proposals for redeveloping the Sheffield Airport and whether this would cause problems for the Police helipad. In response, Councillor Jan Fiore confirmed that the Police Authority had written about the problems that would be created by the proposed redevelopment and a response was awaited. She undertook to inform Councillor Scriven when a response had been received.
	With reference to the 2004 valuation update of the South Yorkshire Pensions Fund, Councillor Paul Scriven asked Councillor Steve Jones, in noting that since 2001, equity performance had been so poor that returns had been close to zero, what effects this would have on any deficits in the Pensions Fund and on the Council’s budget. In response, Councillor Steve Jones acknowledged that a lot of valuation issues revolved around performance, but confirmed that the Pensions Authority was in the top quartile of fund performers and was making provision for the scheme to be buoyant.
	Councillor Martin Lawton asked Councillor Jan Fiore for her response to the increased policing arrangements recently introduced in the Handsworth area. In response, Councillor Jan Fiore stated that people wanted to feel safe in their communities and she was pleased with the evidence of public confidence that had been supplied following the introduction of local policing/partnership structures in the Sheffield North District. She added that the Police Authority was looking at extending Neighbourhood policing over the county in the next two to three years and a proper evaluation of the effectiveness of the LPT structures had been commissioned.
	With reference to the proposals contained in the Railways Bill to take away the Passenger Transport Executive’s powers on rail and no mention of rail enhancement and, given that the amendments put forward by the Local Government Association had been defeated, Councillor Sylvia Dunkley asked Councillor Jan Wilson if she had discussed these issues with the Sheffield Members of Parliament and what could be done to rectify the glaring flaws in the Bill. In response, Councillor Jan Wilson acknowledged the importance of rail travel and confirmed that she did and would continue to discuss with Sheffield Members of Parliament the transport needs of the City. She stated that the Railways Bills had yet to be discussed in the House of Lords.
	Councillor Peter Moore asked Councillor Jan Wilson if she felt that, had the bus consultation questionnaire been carried out after the announcement of £11.8m profits by First Mainline and the higher than inflation increase in bus fares, the responses would have been different. In response, Councillor Jan Wilson stated that Sheffield people spoke for themselves and had said loud and clear what they felt about the bus services.
	Councillor Andrew Sangar asked Councillor Steve Jones what the level of deficit was in the South Yorkshire Pensions fund and the effect on future budgets of the Council’s contributions. In response, Councillor Steve Jones briefly explained the proposed long term strategy to get the fund back in balance and undertook to supply Councillor Sangar with detailed figures.
	Councillor Martin Brelsford asked Councillor Jan Wilson when the information on the bus consultation would be made public and whether it would be placed on the Council’s website. In response, Councillor Jan Wilson stated that the information had been made public at this meeting. As to whether all the responses could be reproduced on the Council’s website, she undertook to discuss with the Director of Legal and Administrative Services issues about the Freedom of Information Act and the efficient use of Council resources in processing such information. However she was happy to supply an analysis report to all members of the Council.

4.3	Yorkshire and Humber Assembly
	No questions were asked relating to the discharge of the functions of the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly under the provisions of Standing Order A18(4)

4.4	Written Questions
	Members asked supplementary questions on written questions submitted at the meeting under the provisions of Standing Order A18(1).

4.5	Verbal Questions to Cabinet Members and Chairs of Scrutiny Boards and Regulatory Boards
	In accordance with the provisions of Standing Order A18(5), no verbal questions were asked of Cabinet Members and Chairs of Scrutiny Boards and Regulatory Boards as the time limit of 30 minutes allocated for Members’ written and verbal questions had expired.

5.	REPRESENTATION
	RESOLVED: On the Motion of Councillor Pat Midgley, seconded by Councillor Joan Barton, that approval be given to the following changes to the memberships of Boards, etc.:-

	Education Scrutiny Board			-		Councillor Ray Satur to replace Councillor Mary Lea and Councillor Bryan Lodge to fill a vacancy

	Care, Health and Protection Scrutiny Board			-		Councillor Janet Bragg to replace Councillor Helen Mirfin-Boukouris

	Development, Environment and Leisure Scrutiny Board			-		Councillors Leigh Bramall and Alf Meade to replace Councillors Jean Cromar and John Robson

	Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board			-		Councillor Martin Lawton to replace Councillor Marjorie Barker

	City Centre and East Planning and Highways Area Board			-		Councillor Harry Harpham to replace Councillor Marjorie Barker and Councillor Shaffaq Mohammad to replace Councillor Ian Auckland

	South Planning and Highways Area Board			-		Councillor Alan Whitehouse to replace Councillor Ian Auckland

	Licensing Board			-		Councillor Mike Waters to fill a vacancy

6.	ORDER OF BUSINESS
	RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Jan Wilson, seconded by Councillor Pat Midgley, that the City Council does now proceed to the consideration of Item of Business No.8 of the Summons relating to the Notice of Motion concerning the fluoridation of the public water supply.

7.	NOTICE OF MOTION RE: FLUORIDATION OF THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY
	It was moved by Councillor Tony Damms, seconded by Councillor Peter Price, that this Council supports, in principle, the fluoridation of the public water supply.

	Whereupon it was moved by Councillor Jean Cromar, seconded by Councillor Jillian Creasy, 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:-

	“re-affirms its opposition to the fluoridation of the public water supply”.

	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 (57)		-		The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Roger Davison) and Councillors Julie Dore, Tim Rippon, Tony Holmes, Simon Clement-Jones, Clive Skelton, Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Paul Scriven, Alan Whitehouse, Shaffaq Mohammed, Jackie Drayton, Ibrar Hussain, Steve Jones, Jean Cromar, Jillian Creasy, Mohammed Azim, Brian Holmes, Sylvia Anginotti, Mohammad Altaf, Anne Smith, Mike Waters, Keith Hill, Pat Fox, Vic Bowden, Graham Oxley, Sylvia Dunkley, Joan Barton, Chris Weldon, John Knight, Andrew Sangar, Janice Sidebottom, Rosemary Telfer, Peter Moore, Ian Auckland, Barrie Jervis, Alf Meade, Jan Fiore, Jan Wilson, Mike Peat, Ali Qadar, Andrew White, Pat White, John Campbell, Terry Barrow, Jane Bird, Peter Rippon, Leigh Bramall, Gill Furniss, Arthur Dunworth, David Baker, Vickie Priestley, Martin Davis, Veronica Hardstaff, Kathleen Chadwick, Alan Hooper, Marjorie Barker and Ray Satur.

	Against the amendment (14)		-		The Lord Mayor (Councillor Mike Pye) and Councillors Ian Saunders, Bryan Lodge, Angela Smith, Mary Lea, Harry Harpham, Alan Law, Robert MacDonald, Janet Bragg, Pat Midgley, Sam Wall, Peter Price, Tony Damms and Mick Rooney.

	Abstained (3)		-		Councillors John Hesketh, Martin Lawton and Jonathan Harston.

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

	RESOLVED: That this Council reaffirms its opposition to the fluoridation the public water supply.

8.	ORDER OF BUSINESS
	RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Paul Scriven, seconded by Councillor Andrew Sangar, that the Council does now proceed to the consideration of Item of Business No.5 on the Summons relating to the item of business referred to Council concerning Members’ Allowances 2005/06 and Other Issues.

9.	ITEM REFERRED TO COUNCIL - MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES 2005/06 AND OTHER ISSUES
	It was moved by Councillor Mick Rooney, seconded by Councillor Chris Weldon, that the following decision taken by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 26th January, 2005 relating to Members’ Allowances 2005/06 and Other Issues, be approved:-

	“RESOLVED: That matters relating to the recommendations put forward by an Independent Panel on Members’ Allowances be noted and referred to the City Council for consideration and decision.”

	Whereupon it was moved by Councillor Jan Wilson, seconded by Councillor Steve Jones, as an amendment, that so much of the minutes of the Cabinet meeting of 26th January, 2005, as relates to Members’ Allowances 2005/06 and Other Issues, be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “RESOLVED: That” and the substitution of the following words therefor:-

	“(a) the Members of the Independent Panel on Members’ Allowances be thanked for their report;

	(b) having regard to the recommendations contained in a Report of the Independent Panel on Members’ Allowances, together with the information contained in the Joint Report of the Chief Executive and the Director of Legal and Administrative Services now circulated, a Scheme comprising the arrangements approved and adopted by the City Council, at its meeting of 1st October, 2003 in respect of the Schedule of Members’ Allowances, be approved and adopted for 2005/06 and onwards with the following variations:-

	(i) in relation to Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances, the annual index shall be as previously agreed together with an increase of 5% per annum for three years, commencing in April, 2005; and

	(ii) in relation to the Bands of responsibilities or duties in respect of which Special Responsibility Allowances are payable, (A) the Chairs of Planning and Highways Area Boards and Chair of Licensing Board be included in Band B2 and (B) a post of Deputy Chair of the Licensing Board be established with a Special Responsibility Allowance to be included in Band C;

	(c) the adjustments of the Bands of responsibilities or duties in respect of which Special Responsibility Allowances are payable, in so far as they relate to the Chairs of Planning and Highway Area Boards and Chair of Licensing Board, be backdated to 1st April, 2004;

	(d) it be confirmed that Dependent Carer’s Allowance be payable to Members of the Council where appropriate, for the same “approved duties” as for travelling and subsistence, at a rate (net of income tax and National Insurance contributions) for ½ day sessions up to 4 hours, which reimburses the full child care cost to Members up to a maximum of £20.70 per session, plus the annual index increase as previously agreed on 1st October, 2003;

	(e) it be noted that if the Independent Panel’s recommendations were adopted in full and with immediate effect, it would mean an approximate 100% increase for the Leader and Cabinet Members;

	(f) it be further noted that the proposed 5% increase, although regrettably above salary inflation, will still leave allowances well below the Independent Panel’s recommendations and other local authorities in big cities and South Yorkshire; and