Meeting of the Sheffield City Council to be held Wednesday 26th July 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, 26th July, 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 meeting of the Council held on 5th July, 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)
(c) Supplementary questions on questions submitted at this meeting - Standing Order No. A18(4).
(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. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR MARY LEA
That this Council:
(a) believes that climate change is one of the most important issues facing the United Kingdom, and indeed the world, today;
(b) believes that it is important to understand our environmental footprint and seek through personal and collective action to improve and reduce our impact on the environment;
(c) notes that Sheffield is well known as England’s greenest city and believes that we must ensure that future generations can enjoy the precious assets of the City;
(d) believes that it is essential for the Council to demonstrate strong and committed leadership in moving forward the environmental agenda in the City and, therefore, welcomes the establishment of a new Cabinet portfolio for Sustainable Environment which will be key in achieving this;
(e) notes that Sheffield has a long history of environmental awareness, and further notes that during the 1960s and 70s was known as the cleanest industrial City in Europe;
(f) believes that environmental excellence should be embedded into all that the Council does and, therefore, looks forward to the forthcoming Environmental Excellence strategy which will define the City’s vision for the future;
(g) notes that Sheffield is already taking a lead in many aspects of the green agenda, for example in the use of green energy to heat over one hundred buildings in the city centre including universities, health facilities, shops and offices;
(h) notes that the City Council is currently conducting a review of the potential for renewable energy across the City, which will enable us to actively support and promote the development of renewable energy schemes across the City;
(i) further notes that Sheffield is taking a lead role in the development of a Core Cities Climate Change Group, helping to exchange best practice and share knowledge with other local authorities in the United Kingdom;
(j) notes that in Sheffield there are approximately 4 trees for every person living in the city and welcomes the tree planting work that is taking place across the City to further increase the number of trees in Sheffield;
(k) notes that the City Council has recently signed the Nottingham Declaration, which acknowledges the increasing impact that climate change will have on our community during the 21st century and commits the Council to tackling the causes and effects of a changing climate on our City;
(l) also notes the commitment of the Government to the green agenda and welcomes the Government’s proposals to establish a new Office of Climate Change, which will monitor progress towards the Government’s carbon goals and ensure coherence of action across Government departments to achieve them; and
(m) further notes that the Government has recently announced that planning restriction on micro-generation is to be lifted and wholeheartedly welcomes this move, which will mean that the removal and reduction of planning restrictions on small scale micro-generation schemes, including solar panels and small turbines, will come into effect next year.
6. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR DAVID BAKER
That this Council:
(a) notes that Sheffield has been included on the shortlist to become the location for the first ‘super-casino’ in the UK;
(b) welcomes the current vigorous debate on the issue and encourages those with a view to make their voices heard;
(c) believes that the prospect of such a ‘super-casino’ presents moral, economic and social issues to the people of Sheffield when they consider if they are for or against a ‘super-casino’ in Sheffield;
(d) believes that the establishment of a ‘super-casino’ in Sheffield has the potential to have a major impact on the City in a number of ways, both positive and negative;
(e) therefore believes that the issue of a ‘super-casino’ for Sheffield should be the subject of a citywide referendum to take place no later than October this year; and
(f) directs the Chief Executive to draw up a report, brought back to Council in September, outlining the details of how the aforementioned referendum can take place.
7. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR JAN WILSON
That this Council:
(a) wholeheartedly welcomes the invitation by the Department for Transport (DfT) for the Council to submit an Expression of Interest for Government support for a Highway Maintenance Private Finance Initiative (PFI);
(b) further welcomes Sheffield’s bid for the PFI, which would transform Sheffield’s highways;
(c) notes that, if successful, Sheffield will receive approximately £300m for the PFI which would provide for the repair of the whole of the highway infrastructure in Sheffield including the entire highways network, footways, bridges, grass verges; and street signage;
(d) acknowledges that the state of the roads is a major concern for the people of Sheffield and believes that this ambitious scheme will resolve the problem; and
(e) believes that a Highways PFI is the best way forward for the City and wholeheartedly welcomes the cross-party support for the Highways PFI which will strengthen Sheffield’s bid.
8. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR SYLVIA DUNKLEY
That this Council:
(a) notes that the scheme to extend the Supertram network could provide thousands of people in Sheffield with an environmentally-friendly alternative to travelling by car, helping to reduce congestion on our roads;
(b) furthermore notes that Supertram expansion is a vital element to the economic success of Sheffield and the wider South Yorkshire region, and that it could boost job prospects by linking more people to major employers and services;
(c) is therefore dismayed that the Government has snubbed Sheffield by refusing to fund extensions to the Supertram network;
(d) notes that the Government chooses to spend billions of pounds in London and Manchester on new transport schemes and is therefore disappointed that the Government cannot provide this relatively small amount of investment for Sheffield;
(e) therefore condemns the Government for its lack of support for Sheffield and its public transport system and calls for a re-think of policy to bring about a fair deal for Sheffield people on this issue;
(f) calls on the Government to justify why the Supertram bid does not meet their value for money criteria, as when the bid was submitted to the Department for Transport it appeared to meet the necessary funding criteria;
(g) refuses to accept the Government’s decision on this issue and accordingly resolves to petition the Government on a cross-party basis, together with the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and other key stakeholders, with the aim of making the Government reconsider their position; and
(h) directs the Chief Executive to bring forward as soon as possible a report, with consultation and informal agreement from the leaders of all political parties on the Council, that outlines how the petitioning of the Government will be facilitated by the Council on a cross-party basis.
9. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR ROBERT MACDONALD
That this Council:
(a) notes that house prices in Sheffield have more than doubled since 2000 and believes that it is important to help more people get on the first step of the property ladder;
(b) believes that it is important to have housing in all parts of our city that is accessible to families and first-time buyers;
(c) welcomes the adoption of Interim Planning Guidance which will require developers to provide a greater proportion of affordable homes in Sheffield;
(d) notes that this new policy will apply to all sites of 25 dwellings or more and notes that the contribution of developers will initially be equivalent to 15% of the units being sold at an affordable price in Housing Market Renewal Areas, 20% in other parts of the urban area and 40% in rural areas; and
(e) welcomes the proposed review of this policy in November 2007, which will analyse housing market conditions, assess affordable housing needs at the time and look at the results of the Housing Needs Survey 2007, and will provide for the opportunity to increase the level of contribution of developers if needed.
10. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR SYLVIA DUNKLEY
That this Council:
(a) is mindful of the aspirations in the South Yorkshire Rail Strategy and in the Sheffield First Partnership Strategy for the improvement of internal and external rail links which are vital for the continued regeneration of Sheffield and the South Yorkshire region;
(b) deplores the recent decision of Network Rail to shelve proposals for track dualling, with a new platform and footbridge, at Dore Station despite planning permission having been secured and public expectations raised;
(c) is amazed that the cost of such a scheme is said to amount to £10.6m;
(d) notes the support, in principle, for this scheme from other organisations such as Hope Valley Users Group, Derbyshire County Council and the Peak District National Park Authority, which has been expressed through the Transpennine Rail Group;
(e) furthermore notes the overwhelming positive response from users and local people to the campaign calling for improved services and facilities at Dore Station, led by the local Member of Parliament and local Councillors;
(f) endorses the resolution of the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority at its meeting on 11th May, 2006 to request (i) Network Rail to review its decision to shelve the Dore Junction dualling proposals and (ii) South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive officers to seek additional sources of funding that could go towards the cost of the scheme; and
(g) directs that copies of this Notice of Motion be sent to the Secretary State for Transport, his opposite numbers in the main parliamentary opposition parties, Sheffield’s Members of Parliament and the Chief Executive of Network Rail.
11. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR MIKE WATERS
That this Council:
(a) notes that, bearing in mind the recent Energy Review Report 2006 by the Department of Trade and Industry, this City needs to consider its role in the context of renewable energy, planning matters and policy issues and guidance;
(b) notes that renewable or sustainable energy from wind, solar or hydro power sources is a vital part of such a review and that Councils will have to meet targets;
(c) notes that there have been increased numbers of planning applications received by this Council for wind turbines in recent months and that these have raised concerns about noise, safety, proximity to residential development, visual intrusion in the green belt, size, efficiency, costs and whether it would be cheaper simply to save electricity or install other devices such as heat pumps, the amount of electricity produced and whether people could put a wind turbine on their roof;
(d) further notes that there is considerable public confusion over the merits and drawbacks of wind turbines and that there are widespread discrepancies in the way Councils handle such applications in this country; and
(e) therefore resolves that this Council sets up a cross-party working group (possibly under the auspices of the appropriate Scrutiny and Policy Development Board) to consider this City's role in relation to wind turbines, including policy and planning guidance and to include the taking of evidence from renewable energy experts, public information and consultation.
12. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR BOB McCANN
That this Council:
(a) notes with concern proposals put forward by the Government to merge South Yorkshire Police with other forces;
(b) welcomes recent indications from Government which show forced mergers have been dropped for the time being;
(c) notes with particular concern that proposals for our area would have seen the policing in our area run from as far away as Leeds or York;
(d) believes that this would have made policing in South Yorkshire even more remote and unaccountable to local people;
(e) further notes that the Association of Police Authorities estimated huge set-up costs for a merger in Yorkshire and is, therefore, deeply concerned that a merger would have resulted in massive Council Tax increases and/or cuts to front line policing in South Yorkshire;
(f) believes that South Yorkshire is large enough to have an effective police force and that issues such as fighting organised crime and counter-terrorism can be better dealt with by collaboration with neighbouring police forces rather than by merger;
(g) resolves to write to the Government informing them of the Council’s view, as outlined in this Notice of Motion; and
(h) furthermore resolves to write to all Sheffield Members of Parliament asking for their support on this issue.
13. OBSERVATIONS
To receive observations on the minutes of the meetings of the various Council bodies for the period 17th June to 7th July, 2006.
Dated this 18th day of July, 2006
Chief Executive
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