Minutes of the Previous Council Meeting - 5th October 2005

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council of the City of Sheffield held in the Council Chamber within the Town Hall, Sheffield, on Wednesday, 5th October, 2005 pursuant to notice duly given and Summonses duly served.

PRESENT

THE LORD MAYOR (Councillor Roger Davison)

THE DEPUTY LORD MAYOR (Councillor Jackie Drayton)

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	Pat White
	Graham Oxley

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

4 Birley Ward	13 Firth Park Ward	22 Shiregreen & Brightside Ward
Bryan Lodge	Joan Barton	Jane Bird
Mike Pye	Chris Weldon	Peter Price
Denise Fox	Alan Law	Peter Rippon

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

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

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

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

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

		28 Woodhouse Ward
		Marjorie Barker
		Mick Rooney
		Ray Satur

1.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
	Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Martin Brelsford, Alan Hooper, Clive Skelton and Andrew White.

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 7th September 2005 be approved as a correct record.

3.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMUNCIATIONS

3.1	Petitions
	(a) Petition concerning enforced return of failed Iraqi asylum seekers
	The Council received a petition containing 68 signatures expressing their opposition to the enforced return of failed Iraqi asylum seekers and calling for the policy of deportation to be stopped and all detained Iraqi asylum seekers released immediately and for them to be granted asylum and be entitled to all the benefits, employment and accommodation, as most of them have been deprived of such benefits.
	After hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Sue Taylor who, amongst other things, asked the City Council to show its support for the Iraqi Kurdish asylum seekers in the city by publicly declaring opposition to the detention and threatened deportation of Iraqi Kurds and to make representations to local Members of Parliament and the Home Office voicing concerns at the prospect of approximately 450 Kurds in Sheffield being made homeless and destitute if they did not agree to return to war torn Iraq, the Council referred the petition for consideration by Councillor Mick Rooney, the Cabinet Member for Social Regeneration and Adult Services.
	In response, Councillor Mick Rooney stated that he understood the concerns and was aware that the termination of support under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 also affected other ethnic groups. He stated that the Refugee and Asylum Seekers Advisory Group had agreed to write to the Home Office raising their concerns and asking them to have a fresh look at the way asylum seekers were treated in Sheffield and that City Council staff would continue to deal with such people as sensitively as they could. He stressed, however, that the City Council could not be asked to go against the law of the land and it was up to individual Councillors to make representations through their respective political groupings and to local MPs and Government Ministers.

	(b) Petition concerning a bus service M22 along Wensley Street
	The Council received a petition containing 87 signatures pointing out that the M22 bus service which runs along Wensley Street only operates hourly from 9.25 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. on weekdays and calling for the service to run more frequently and to be extended to weekends and heard representations made on behalf of the petitions by Mrs J Scrafield, who stated that a South Yorkshire Housing Association supported living scheme was located, with many tenants having mobility problems and needing transport to and from the scheme, as well as many elderly people in the local community requiring transport.
	The Council referred the petition for consideration by the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority and Councillor Terry Fox, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, who echoed the concerns expressed by the petitioners at the way certain bus services failed to meet the needs of the communities. He stated that he was working with local Councillors to get this community and other communities better served by buses. He added that he would be meeting with Passenger Transport Authority representatives and the Director General, Passenger Transport Executive and undertook to pass on the concerns raised in the petition and reply to Mrs Scrafield.

	(c) Petition concerning school crossing warden on Greystones Road
	The Council received a petition containing 75 signatures drawing attention to the traffic hazards on Greystones Road and the current absence of a school crossing warden, which had continued for almost a year, and calling for the provision of a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights, together with speed restrictions at school crossing times outside Greystones Primary School at the junction of Greystones Road and Tullibardine Road.
	Representations were made on behalf of the petitioners by Annemarie Wilson, who commented that the road outside Greystones Primary School was a danger zone at both ends of the school day, but particularly in the morning when traffic was very heavy and highlighted some of the reasons that contributed towards the potential road safety dangers.
	The Council referred the petition for consideration by the City Centre, South and East Planning and Highways Area Board and Councillor Veronica Hardstaff, the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, who acknowledged the road safety dangers outside the school and difficulties in recruiting school crossing wardens and undertook to consult Councillor Terry Fox, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and officers in Development Services to see what measures could be introduced to alleviate the situation.

	(d) Petition concerning derelict building in Myrtle Road
	The Council received a petition containing 41 signatures organised by the Hallyburton and Lower Arbourthorne Community Forum, referring to the millions of pounds spent on improving the image of Lower Arbouthorne and calling on the City Council to demolish a derelict building on Myrtle Road and referred the petition for consideration by Councillor Tim Rippon, the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Culture and Planning.

	(e) Petition concerning cattle grazing on Blacka Moor
	The Council received a petition containing 761 signatures of Friends of Blacka Moor stating that they wished to keep Blacka Moor free from cattle and barbed wire and calling upon the Charity Commission not to alter the original 1933 Graves Covenant and to keep the historical rights to open access for walks and pleasure grounds.
	Representatives were made on behalf of the petitioners by Mr. N. Fitzmaurice, who stated that previous plans to manage the area drawn up some years ago had not been pursued, claimed that Sheffield Wildlife Trust still had not presented a scheme for managing the land and had issued a misleading statement referring to objectors as a “small and unrepresentative minority” and he asked the City Council to respect the wishes of the users of Blacka Moor.
	The Council referred the petition for consideration by Councillor Harry Harpham, the Cabinet Member for Streetscene, Parks and Green Spaces, who thanked the Friends of Blacka Moor for their interest, but pointed out that Blacka Moor was being managed by Sheffield Wildlife Trust on behalf of the City Council to address issues of bracken encroachment that threatened the future of the high value nature site and the Trust had access to external funding. As the solution involved cattle grazing, some means of fencing was inevitable, although stiles would be put in place to protect access. He added that the issues had been discussed by the Development Environment and Leisure Scrutiny Board on a number of occasions with various organisations and most people agreed that the best way forward to protect Blacka Moor was to introduce cattle grazing.

	(f) Petition concerning African-Caribbean Organisations
	The Council received a petition containing 885 signatures organised by the African-Caribbean Community Committee for Change expressing concerns over the executive administration of certain African-Caribbean Organisations, as there appeared to be no recognisable leadership within the African-Caribbean Community, organisations appeared to be operating a closed shop, the younger generation felt unwanted in certain organisations and the executives were out of touch with the community, unable or unwilling to converse or listen in an appropriate manner.
	Representations were made on behalf of the petitioners by David Brown, who referred to a successful public meeting organised by the Committee for Change, where concerned members of the community gave very strong opinions on what was wrong with various community organisations, and highlighted issues where access to organisations’ annual general meetings and constitutions had been denied, yet those organisations were receiving grants from the City Council. He pointed out that there were many disenchanted black citizens of Sheffield who did not have a voice and he called on the City Council for action for change to bring the community together and help black citizens have what was rightly theirs.
	The Council referred the petition for consideration by Councillor Jan Wilson, the Leader of the Council, who responded by recognising the difficult circumstances the petitioners faced in bringing the issues before the Council and acknowledged that she would not wish to intervene if the communities could decide things for themselves. She stated that local Councillors were aware of difficulties and were trying to broker solutions. However, she was shocked to hear that the Committee for Change was not able to obtain constitutions of grant aided organisations, as they would have to be lodged with the City Council and she undertook to provide details. She added that she was keen on all organisations having a voice in the City and would want to facilitate the proper use of all facilities by all of the people.

	(g) Petition concerning re-regulation of bus services
	The Council received a petition containing 1,389 signatures expressing a number of concerns regarding bus services in South Yorkshire and heard representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Calvin Payne who pointed out that since deregulation, bus services had fallen by two thirds, whilst profit targets had increased five times over, suggested that passengers should be put before profit and called upon the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority and the City Council to start the process to reregulate local public transport and urge the Government to bring it back into public ownership.
	The Council referred the petition for consideration by the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority and Councillor Terry Fox, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, who stated that he shared the ambitions of the petitioners and favoured a return to how bus services were prior to deregulation in 1987. However, in the absence of any plans to re-nationalise public transport, the Council was doing all it could to influence the provision of bus services by commercial bus operators through, for example signing up to the South Yorkshire Bus Strategy Vision and by working with not for profit Community Transport Operators to serve inner city areas, such as the recently introduced service 10.owever, inHowever, However

	(h) Petition concerning asphalt problems on Spotswood Close
	The Council received a petition containing nine signatures of residents in the Spotswood Close area of the City calling upon the Council to urgently address the problem of asphalt that had been commissioned by the Council and applied to the fronts of their properties and patios and had not yet set, with the result that any item placed upon it sank beneath the surface, creating a large hole.
	After hearing representations made on behalf of the petitioners by Gary Allen, who stated that the works to replace good paving slabs with asphalt were not improving the estate but making matters worse, the Council referred the petition for consideration by Councillor Chris Weldon, the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Regeneration, who stated that the Council wished to improve every neighbourhood and would want to ensure that work was done properly and money well spent. He undertook to contact Sheffield Homes and ensure that any necessary remedial work was carried out.

	(i) Petition concerning rubbish on land in Alexander Road
	The Council received a petition containing 39 signatures of residents of Alexander Road calling upon the Council to take action to clear rubbish, including discarded needles and a refrigerator, etc., from any area of land between the terraced houses in the centre of Alexander Road and referred the petition for consideration by Councillor Harry Harpham, the Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Green Spaces.

3.2	Public Questions
	(a) Public questions re: Dwellinghouse on Cliff Road, Stannington
	Pauline Plant, as one of seven tenants of prefabricated dwellings on Cliff Road, Stannington, asked if she could be told categorically if the Council was or was not going to refurbish their homes in the Decent Homes Programme. Brian Garner asked if the Council was aware of the number of senior citizens living on Cliff Road who did not necessarily want the upheaval and wished to know what the Council planned to do. He added that footpath repairs had been left half done.
	In response, Councillor Chris Weldon, the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Regeneration stated that it was his understanding that the homes would be refurbished as part of the ALMO bid. However he undertook to investigate the position and inform the tenants.

	(b) Public questions re: Westminster Housing Estate
	Tony Shaw referred to the re-roofing programme of dwellings on the Westminster Estate and stated that only a third had been completed. He asked whether the City Council and Sheffield Homes intended to complete the programme and queried the point of having Local Boards if proposals are not presented to them. Eric Swift asked, if full roof surveys carried out after the re-roofing programme had started revealed that re-roofing was not required, how was it intended to compensate for the £3,000 unnecessary work. Susan Richardson stated that, as a Westminster Estate Tenants’ and Residents’ Association (TARA) representative, she had helped to negotiate the Local Area Agreement and asked how residents could accept that the Council promoted honesty and openness in decision making when Sheffield Homes, with their actions, had destroyed the trust and confidence built up over the last 10 years. Irene Abdi, Chair of the Westminster TARA stated that tenants had no confidence in the Decent Homes Programme and the re-roofing works had divided the community. She asked how the Council planned to restore tenants’ confidence and suggested that the re-roofing programme should be reinstated. Ernest Cooper added that a number of leaseholders were worried and wanted to know if and when they would be liable for a bill of approximately £3,000.
	In response, Councillor Chris Weldon, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Regeneration stated that when the ALMO bid was set up, it was agreed that spending decisions would be taken at local level and an agreed mechanism had been drawn up through the Sheffield Homes Local Board and Tenants Area Investment Group and he was satisfied that proper decisions had been taken. In relation to the re-roofing programme, he acknowledged the need to gain certainty that roofs were sound and secure and he understood that Sheffield Homes had agreed to this in conjunction with the TARA and, if this had not taken place, he undertook to ensure that it did. He emphasised that under the Decent Homes Programme people would still be getting new baths, kitchens and windows and any roofs that needed fixing would also be done.

	(c) Public Questions re: Park Hill Flats
	Michael Marsh referred to the £30m public money, along with the £150m private capital, that was being invested in the refurbishment of Park Hill Flats which represented more than half as much again as the Council’s housing stock. He also stated that the West One Development had a 26% student occupancy and Royal Plaza had a 29% student occupancy and asked if it was appropriate to use public money to provide subsidised accommodation for students. Peter MacLoughlin asked if the Council still agreed with the statement of the Chair of the former Housing Committee in 1996 when Park Hill was designated as a listed building and she promised that people living there would gain from the regeneration of Park Hill. He also asked if the Council agreed with the statement of the previous Chair of that Housing Committee who admitted that they got it wrong on SRB1 and 2 and hoped they would get it right on SRB3. With reference to research carried out in relation to Kelvin Flats and other regeneration programmes, he also asked if research had been commissioned to find out how people are treated when decanted and how they would gain from the regeneration of Park Hill.
	In response, Councillor Chris Weldon, the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Regeneration, stated that the residents of Park Hill would have the opportunity to move out or move back if they so wished and he had spoken to some who had stated how much they were looking forward to the regeneration of Park Hill. He pointed out that, at the previous day’s press conference, the developers had stated how much the proposals would benefit not only the area, but the City as a whole. He felt that the people at Park Hill would benefit from the investment of public funds.

	(d) Public questions re: Regeneration of Ethnic Minority Communities
	Lisa Clark, as a former member of the Burngreave New Deal for Communities Board, claimed she had been doing more for the black and minority ethnic communities in the last two years as Chief Executive of the Voice of People and Regeneration Programme. She stated that, in spite of the vast amount spent, black and minority ethnic people did not feel that they were benefiting from regeneration as a whole and she had written to the Audit Commission in 2003 concerning allegations about the fraudulent way money appeared to have been spent. She asked how the Council could ensure that young and old members of the black and ethnic minority communities benefited from regeneration programmes in the City. Owen Wright, representing the African Caribbean Community Committee for Change, elaborated on the petition that had been submitted earlier in the meeting and stated that there was a crisis in Sheffield in relation to the African Caribbean Community and asked the Council to intervene to address the problems and support the black community in its quest to get free and fair elections to the community organisations representing the black community. Ruggie Johnson added that he had spoken to local Councillors and had written to SADACCA requesting a meeting in the Town Hall to resolve the issues. He referred to the arrogant way in which certain African Caribbean Organisations operated and to the alleged disappearance of funds. He made a call for black people to be able to make a difference in the City and, as they had equal votes, they must not be treated differently and asked the Council to take a greater interest in them at all times and not just at election time.
	In response, Councillor Jan Wilson, the Leader of the Council, stated that the Council did take the concerns of the black and minority ethnic communities extremely seriously and had always done so and Members had worked hard to protect their free and democratic rights. She was aware that white organisations were intervening too much in the affairs of black and minority ethnic communities and was also aware of the under-achievement of young people in those communities and it was not the case that the Council did not want to do anything about these things. She emphasised that a major part of the Closing the Gap policy was to address such under-achievements and other issues faced by disadvantaged communities. She reiterated her earlier undertaking to look into the constitution and grant aid issues of the various organisations and stated that the local Councillors for the Burngreave Ward were already involved in the issues raised and would assist in taking matters forward.


	(e) Public questions re: Deportation of Iraqi Kurds
	Maxine Bowler asked if the City Council would show its humanity and make a statement opposing the detention and threatened deportation of Iraqi Kurds. Alan Kenney asked why he had not received any response from local Councillors requesting a meeting to discuss the situation. Deacon Dave Havard drew attention to the plight of hundreds of asylum seekers in Sheffield with no housing and no income and to the plight of 450 Iraqi Kurdish asylum seekers about to be deported to a war zone. He suggested that the Government legislation was immoral and asked the Council to make a statement saying that the present situation was wrong and must stop.
	In response, Councillor Mick Rooney, the Cabinet Member for Social Regeneration and Adult Services stated that he was not in a position to commit the Council to anything and that the correct process involved the submission of a Notice of Motion. He reiterated that the Council could not encourage people to break the law and that Members of the Council who had major difficulties in relation to the laws on asylum seekers were making representations through their party structures and lobbying Members of Parliament and Government Ministers.

	(f) Public questions concerning Blacka Moor
	Peter Hughes asked why the Council was permitting cattle grazing on Blacka Moor when a letter from the Graves Trust in 2002 stated that grazing would achieve nothing to improve the area and would provide an irritant to visitors. With reference to a report produced by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), he asked if the Council was aware that 700 injuries to walkers were caused through attacks by cattle. He also asked if the Council was aware that proposals to introduce cattle grazing to manage the Stanage area had been rejected by the Peak District National Peak in 2001 in recognition that cattle grazing and recreation did not go together. He contended that cows were not effective in controlling bracken and asked the Council not to go ahead with the proposals. Jane Antcliff asked why did the Council enter into a contract with DEFRA in 2002 to allow cattle grazing as a means of justifying financial support, thereby turning public open space into agricultural land. Mark Antcliff asked why the Council had decided to lease a much valued amenity without trying to seek financial support itself, when it could have received funding in the same way that it did for the Botanical Gardens and Norfolk Heritage Park. Gordon Bartley asked why the Licensing Solicitor had not replied to a query from the Charity Commission in May 2005 concerning the appropriateness of the Council not objecting to certain areas of Blacka Moor being designated as a site of special scientific interest.
	In response, Councillor Harry Harpham, the Cabinet Member for Streetscene, Parks and Green Spaces, stated that he had answered most of the points in his response to the petition submitted earlier in the meeting. In relation to the RoSPA accident report, he stated that the fences would be erected so as to address the issue of accidents with cattle. He emphasised that there had already been extensive consultations on the future of Blacka Moor and had been discussed by the Development, Environment and Leisure Scrutiny Board and the general conclusion was if something was not done now it would change the character of Blacka Moor forever.

4.	ORDER OF BUSINESS
	It was moved by Councillor Paul Scriven, seconded by Councillor David Baker, that the Council does now proceed to the consideration of Notice of Motion No.15 on the agenda relating to Housing Improvements on the Arbourthorne and Westminster estates.

	On being put to the vote, the motion was negatived.

	The votes on the motion were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-

	For the motion (35)	-	Councillors Tony Holmes, Simon Clement-Jones, Paul Scriven, Alan Whitehouse, Shaffaq Mohammed, Jillian Creasy, Mohammed Azim, Brian Holmes, John Hesketh, Sylvia Anginotti, Anne Smith, Mike Waters, Keith Hill, Pat Fox, Vic Bowden, Graham Oxley, Sylvia Dunkley, Kate Dawson, John Knight, Andrew Sangar, Janice Sidebottom, Peter Moore, Ian Auckland, Barrie Jervis, Ali Qadar, Pat White, Arthur Dunworth, David Baker, Vickie Priestley, Martin Davis, Alison Brelsford, Diane Leek, Jonathan Harston, Kathleen Chadwick and Trevor Bagshaw.

	Against the motion (44)	-	The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Jackie Drayton), Councillors Julie Dore, John Robson, Tim Rippon, Ian Saunders, Chris Rosling-Josephs, Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Bryan Lodge, Mike Pye, Denise Fox, Ibrar Hussain, Steve Jones, Jean Cromar, Mary Lea, Harry Harpham, Mohammad Altaf, Joan Barton, Chris Weldon, Alan Law, Terry Fox, Rosemary Telfer, Garry Weatherall, Robert MacDonald, Janet Bragg, Alf Meade, Pat Midgley, Jan Fiore, Jan Wilson, Mike Peat, David Barker, Sam Wall, Martin Lawton, John Campbell, Terry Barrow, Jane Bird, Peter Price, Peter Rippon, Tony Damms, Leigh Bramall, Gill Furniss, Veronica Hardstaff, Marjorie Barker, Mick Rooney and Ray Satur.

	Abstention (1)	-	The Lord Mayor (Councillor Roger Davison).

	Whereupon it was:-

	RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Jan Wilson, seconded by Councillor Mick Rooney, that the Council does now proceed to consideration of Notice of Motion No.7 on the agenda relating to Sheffield’s Decent Homes Programme.

5.	NOTICE OF MOTION RE: SHEFFIELD’S DECENT HOMES PROGRAMME
	It was moved by Councillor Chris Weldon, seconded by Councillor Peter Rippon, that this Council:-

	(a) endorses its previous statements welcoming the massive investment which is currently available for Sheffield’s neighbourhoods;

	(b) notes that over 2,000 properties have been successfully completed under Sheffield’s Decent Homes programme;

	(c) understands the disruption experienced by tenants during the time that work is carried out on their homes, and is committed to ensuring that these homes will be homes which tenants are proud of;

	(d) notes that while most of the programme is going well, there have been some problems with certain aspects of the programme in certain areas and regrets the distress which this has caused to the tenants who have been affected;

	(e) notes that both the Council and Sheffield Homes are committed to devoting their utmost attention to this essential programme to ensure that the whole programme is delivered to the highest standard, giving all tenants the decent homes which they deserve;

	(f) thanks our tenants’ representatives for all the hard work which they have already undertaken in working with the Council and Sheffield Homes to help deliver the Decent Homes programme; and