Meeting of the City Council 5th October 2005
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, 5th October, 2005, at 2.05 p.m., or at the conclusion of the
special meeting of the Council, whichever should be the later.
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 7th September 2005, 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
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. ITEMS REFERRED TO COUNCIL
CIVIL PARTNERSHIP ACT 2004 – IMPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION SERVICE
To consider a decision which was referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 14th September, 2005.
FAIRTRADE CITY STATUS
To consider a decision which was referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 14th September, 2005.
FOOD SERVICE PLAN 2005/06
To consider a decision which was referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 14th September, 2005.
RELOCATION LOANS FOR HOUSING MARKET RENEWAL AREAS
To consider a decision which was referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 14th September, 2005.
NEW CITY STRATEGY FOR SHEFFIELD 2005 TO 2010
To consider a decision which was referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 21st September, 2005.
6. OBSERVATIONS
To receive observations on the minutes of the meetings of the various Council bodies for the period 20th August to 16th September, 2005.
7. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR CHRIS WELDON
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
(g) looks forward to the continuing involvement of tenants, with their local Councillors and Sheffield Homes in securing the delivery of the rest of the programme.
8. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR PAUL SCRIVEN
That this Council:
(a) believes that the decision to apply to list Park Hill Flats was a mistake;
(b) condemns the present administration for committing over £10 million of public money
towards the redevelopment of Park Hill Flats and notes that this figure could rise substantially;
(c) believes that any redevelopment scheme for Park Hill Flats cannot be considered to be acceptable if it requires a large sum of public money and it is not predicated by a report which outlines the potential value of the land which Park Hill Flats occupies, if it was to be redeveloped as a brownfield site;
(d) notes that claims from the present administration that the development is for the community of Park Hill are false given that the primary school at Park Hill is closing and that many former tenants of Park Hill will not be permitted to move back once the site has been redeveloped;
(e) believes that, given that it has been proved that any scheme to redevelop Park Hill Flats would require substantial public monies, demolition of the site is the only acceptable option;
(f) wants to see the Park Hill site developed into a brownfield site for low rise mixed use with an architect competition and extensive consultation with the citizens of Sheffield; and
(g) calls on the present administration to recognise demolition and redevelopment as the only acceptable option for Park Hill and begin the process to de-list and demolish the site.
9. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR JAN WILSON
That this Council:
(a) welcomes the Government’s Sustainable Communities agenda and supports the
Government’s commitment to developing the potential of the Regions;
(b) notes the disparity in economic competitiveness between the North and London and the South-East;
(c) welcomes the opportunity to promote competitiveness which is being developed through The Northern Way Growth Strategy;
(d) looks forward to the visit of David Miliband, Minister for Communities and Local
Government, at the end of this month, which is taking place as part of the Minister’s ‘City
Summit’ visits to the 8 cities comprising the ‘Core Cities’ Group;
(e) celebrates the economic renaissance which is underway in Sheffield and welcomes the benefits which this regeneration is bringing and will continue to bring to the people of Sheffield; and
(f) fully supports the City Summit which will provide an opportunity to examine the challenges of unlocking the competitive advantages of Sheffield as a ‘Core City’ and a key economic hub within the North of England.
10. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR PAUL SCRIVEN
That this Council:
(a) supports new taxi licenses only being granted to low-emission, disabled people-friendly taxis that comply with the accessibility criteria and relevant legislation relating to emissions;
(b) is against the introduction of a fixed rate levy on all taxi journeys in Sheffield and condemns the present administration for recommending that the Licensing Board look at the possibility of introducing such a levy;
(c) notes that the present administration have attempted to justify a levy by explaining it will help drivers pay for new vehicles which meet low-emission standards for 2010, yet the vast majority of taxis in Sheffield already meet those standards;
(d) believes that any such levy would be little more than a stealth tax on the people of Sheffield who are becoming increasingly frustrated at the rising cost of getting around Sheffield; and
(e) believes that the best way to help taxi drivers run a more successful business and to improve the service for local people is to do more to improve and expand existing taxi ranks and look at developing new taxi ranks in busy out of City centre locations.
11. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR JEAN CROMAR
That this Council :-
(a) notes that smoking has been identified as a principal reason for the inequalities in health in England and that it is recognised that progress to end health inequalities and improve life expectancy in our most deprived communities depends on action to reduce the harm smoking causes to them and to others through exposure to second-hand smoke;
(b) further notes that exposure to second-hand smoke at work is not only a health and safety issue, but also an equity issue when low paid hospitality industry workers who are most at risk from passive smoking are not given the same level of protection as their white-collar counterparts; that second-hand tobacco smoke kills 30 people each day in the United Kingdom (BMJ 2005; 330;812) which equates to 100 deaths a year in Sheffield, in people who do not smoke; and that a majority of Sheffield people are concerned about the presence of tobacco smoke, with nine in ten residents agreeing that all employees have the right to work in a smoke free environment and three quarters who would support a law making all enclosed workplaces, including public places, smoke free (Attitudes to Smoking in Public Places in Sheffield MORI 2004);
(c) believes that the Government’s current proposals do not deliver freedom from the health risks associated with exposure to second-hand smoke in all workplaces, including pubs and clubs and need to be strengthened;
(d) notes that Sheffield First for Health and Well Being, through Smoke Free Sheffield, is encouraging employers to support smoke free workplaces across the City, the primary aim of which is the protection of the worker, that smoke free workplaces will also protect the public from the dangers of second-hand tobacco smoke and that over 200 employers have so far signed up, including the City Council;
(e) therefore supports the case for comprehensive national legislation to prohibit smoking in enclosed workplaces and fully supports the action to work towards a City where all workplaces are free from environmental tobacco smoke; and
(f) directs that copies of this Motion be sent to the Secretary of State for Health and the Sheffield Members of Parliament.
12. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR DIANE LEEK
That this Council:
(a) notes with concern the admission from the Sheffield Homes Chief Executive at a
Successful Neighbourhoods Scrutiny and Policy Development Board meeting, that planned
work carried out under the Decent Homes programme is being cut back across the City;
(b) welcomes the Decent Homes programme which offers the opportunity for the Council to refurbish homes to meet the Government’s decency standard, but notes that tenants have been promised much more than the basic decency standard;
(c) condemns the present administration for promising tenants improvements to their homes and neighbourhoods which they cannot deliver and calls on the Leader of the Council to make a public apology to all tenants affected; and
(d) directs that the Chief Executive, as a matter of urgency, requests a report from Sheffield Homes, to be brought back to the next meeting of this Council, which outlines all the proposed revisions to work programmes throughout the City, including the reasons behind the revisions and which also includes how exactly the recently reported £2 million overspend will be managed throughout the programme.
13. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR JILLIAN CREASY
That this Council :-
(a) recognises that micro-generation (that is, the generation of energy by householders installing micro-units in their own homes) is a valuable new approach to engaging people as consumers and citizens in the important issues of climate change and reducing carbon dioxide emissions;
(b) welcomes the introduction of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill and the Management of Energy In Buildings Bill into Parliament by a cross party group of Members of Parliament on 22nd June, 2005;
(c) notes that together these Bills will:
(i) require the Prime Minister to report annually to Parliament on the level of greenhouse gas emissions;
(ii) require the Chancellor of the Exchequer to implement a fiscal strategy to assist with micro-generation and energy efficiency;
(iii) require the Government to set national targets for micro-generation and enable local authorities to set such targets if they deem it appropriate;
(iv) extend permitted development status to the installation of micro-generation subject, to the specifying of safeguards relating to visual and noise effects;
(v) require utility companies to purchase at a reasonable rate, any surplus energy generated by householders via micro-generation;
(vi) require future revisions of Building Regulations to take into account the desirability of promoting micro-generation and of introducing an energy generating rating system in new buildings;
(vii) enable householders who generate electricity by micro-generation to have access to 'renewables obligation certificates' and
(viii) establish a 'renewable heat obligation' which requires utility companies to purchase a percentage of the heat that they then sell to their customers from renewable sources;
(d) supports the Bills and urges the Government to do the same by:
(i) requesting local Members of Parliament to be present in Parliament to support these Bills when they are debated in the House of Commons on 11th November; and
(ii) requesting local Members of Parliament to sign House of Commons Early Day Motion No 391 in support of these Bills; and
(e) directs that copies of this Motion be sent to the local Members of Parliament.
14. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR JANET BRAGG
That this Council :-
(a) recognises the tremendous amount of work that has been done over the last few months by the Licensing staff and the Committee Secretariat in Legal and Governance, together with staff in other Directorates, in connection with the Licensing Act, 2003; and
(b) thanks all these staff for their hard work.
15. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR JANICE SIDEBOTTOM
That this Council :-
(a) congratulates tenants on the Arbourthorne Estate who successfully forced Sheffield Homes to deliver on their promise regarding improvements to their kitchens;
(b) condemns the lack of leadership and project management, shown by both Sheffield Homes and the Council, which led to the failures exposed in the Arbourthorne fiasco;
(c) notes that tenants on the Westminster Estate have recently been told by Sheffield Homes that planned work on their Estate will be cut as a result of budget pressures; and
(d) therefore directs the present administration to ensure Sheffield Homes uphold all their promises made to the tenants on the Westminster Estate, and furthermore directs that the present administration ensure that all promises to tenants are upheld throughout the City.
16. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR MARTIN BRELSFORD
That this Council :-
(a) congratulates Michael Vaughan and the England Cricket Team for regaining the Ashes in the thrilling Test series against Australia this summer;
(b) notes that Michael Vaughan is an excellent sporting role model and a committed ambassador for Sheffield; and
(c) requests that arrangements are put in place through the appropriate mechanism to ensure that Michael Vaughan is granted the Freedom of the City.
Dated this 27th day of September, 2005
Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive
How useful is this page?