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Council Minutes 7th January 2004

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held on Wednesday, 7th January, 2004

Meeting of the Council of the City of Sheffield held in the Council Chamber within the Town Hall, Sheffield, on Wednesday, 7th January, 2004 pursuant to notice duly given and Summonses duly served.

PRESENT

THE LORD MAYOR (Councillor Diane Leek)

THE DEPUTY LORD MAYOR (Councillor Mike Pye)

1 Beauchief Ward	11 Firth Park Ward	20 Nether Shire Ward
Mike Davis	Alan Law	Jane Bird
Peter Moore	Joan Barton	Doreen Newton
Andrew Sangar		Peter Rippon

2 Birley Ward	12 Hallam Ward	21 Netherthorpe Ward
Angela Smith	John Knight	Sylvia Anginotti
Bryan Lodge	John Hesketh	Steve Ayris
	Duncan Kime	Brian Holmes

3 Brightside Ward	13 Handsworth Ward	22 Norton Ward
Peter Price	Mick Rooney	Chris Tutt
Alf Meade	Ray Satur	Garry Weatherall
John Webster	Marjorie Barker

4 Broomhill Ward	14 Heeley Ward	23 Owlerton Ward
Alan Whitehouse	Tessa Hainey	Chris Weldon
Janice Sidebottom	Terry Fox	James Hanson


5 Burngreave Ward	15 Hillsborough Ward	24 Park Ward
Ibrar Hussain	Janet Bragg	Elizabeth Taylor
Steve Jones	Robert MacDonald	Julie Dore
Jackie Drayton

6 Castle Ward	16 Intake Ward	25 Sharrow Ward
Jan Wilson	Martin Lawton	Jean Cromar
Mike King	John Campbell	Mohammad Nazir
Pat Midgley	Bob McCann	Basheer Khan

7 Chapel Green Ward	17 Manor Ward	26 South Wortley Ward
Kathleen Chadwick	Harry Harpham	Vic Bowden
Graham Oxley	Jan Fiore	Arthur Dunworth
Pat Fox	Gill Furniss	David Baker

8 Darnall Ward	18 Mosborough Ward	27 Southey Green Ward
Mary Lea	Barbara Belcher	Tim Rippon
Terry Barrow	Sam Wall	Tony Damms
Mohammad Altaf

9 Dore Ward	19 Nether Edge Ward	28 Stocksbridge Ward
Colin Ross	Pat White	Maureen Brelsford
Keith Hill	Ali Qadar	Martin Davis
Anne Smith

10 Ecclesall Ward		29 Walkley Ward
Roger Davison		Jonathan Harston
Sylvia Dunkley		Veronica Hardstaff
Kate Dawson

1.	DEATH OF FORMER COUNCILLOR FRANCIS BUTLER
	The Lord Mayor (Councillor Diane Leek) referred in sympathetic terms to the recent death of former Councillor Francis Butler. After tributes were paid to his past services to the City Council, members observed a minute's silence in his memory and in respect of John Karanec, a former employee in the Committee Secretariat, who died tragically in a road accident on 31st December, 2003.

2.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
	Apologies for absence were received from the Councillors Martin Brelsford, Chris Rosling-Josephs, Ian Richardson, John Robson, Paul Scriven, Andrew White, Mark Wilde, Steve Wilson and Beverley Wright.

3.	MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
	RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Pat Midgley, seconded by Councillor John Webster, that the minutes of the meeting of the City Council held on 3rd December, 2003, be approved as a correct record.

4.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
	4.1 Petitions
	No petitions were submitted.

	4.2 Public Question re: Control Structures
	Mr. Martin Brighton asked why the Council felt the need to ensure control of any local or community organisation that, if left alone could express aspirations contrary to the Council's plans; if the Council could describe its strategy and structures for either controlling, or at least neutralising, any local or community groups not already controlled; and how did it recruit, retain and reward its agents, or party members or puppets, that were placed amongst strategically important groups? He also asked what had been the extent of the direction and support from regional and national institutions to the Council's creation and maintenance of the illusion that community groups are or ever were involved with meaningful consultation or that those groups claimed representation. In referring to the claimed commitments to openness, transparency and accountability by the Council and, despite the denials of secrecy and suppression, he said that the information to which he was entitled was still outstanding and asked why the Council continued to support Council officers who defied directives to provide that information and why did the Council support those elected members who clap, jeer and laugh at the responses to requests for this information.
	Councillor Jan Wilson, the Leader of the Council, in expressing surprise that the questions had been allowed to be asked, indicated that, whilst she usually attempted to answer questions, due to their nature on this occasion, she would not answer them.

5.	SPORT ENGLAND: REGIONAL SPORT STRATEGY AND SHEFFIELD: AN "ACTIVE CITY" IS A HEALTHIER CITY
	David Gent, Regional Director, Sport England (Yorkshire) gave a presentation on a new vision for sport in England adopted by Sport England for making the country an active and successful sporting nation. He referred to the ambitious objective set by the Government of significantly increasing levels of sport and physical activity with the target of achieving, by 2020, 70% of the population as reasonably active, which was defined as participating in 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week. He commented on the evidence that had been researched to assist in developing the aspiration to a plan for delivery. He illustrated the current position whereby 32% of people play sport once a week, 30.4% of people are physically active (the five times 30 minutes target) and that, of the rest, 58% achieved the five times 30 minute target through sport and walking. In terms of leadership and delivery of the vision, he emphasised the need for everyone to work together to achieve the vision. The strategic leadership in sport would be provided through regional plans and targeted investment by nine regional sports boards, with 45 county sports partnerships encouraging people to stay in sport and/or progress and 400 school sports partnerships to encourage children and young people to start and stay in sport. He elaborated on the five mission critical priorities that would begin in March with the development of Regional Plans and Whole Sport Plans, followed by a major national campaign to inspire the nation to get active. He emphasised that Sheffield had a key role to win resources for sport and to drive up participation. Instead of 75 funding streams there would now be only two and, with no guarantee that Sheffield would get any money, it was important for Sheffield to work with all organisations to increase community participation and look at innovative ways of providing multi-sport/activity environments. In particular, it needed to work with Primary Care Trusts, with structures and partnerships working together towards the development of a Regional Plan.
	He concluded his presentation by illustrating why the Government was keen to develop a sports strategy as the cost of inactivity had been estimated as £2bn per year and that an inactive population would cost the National Health Service alone £30bn by 2022 and that increasing activity levels by 10% could save 6,000 lives and £500m per year. The impact on health would be a 50% reduction in coronary heart disease and a risk of hip fracture reduced by up to 50%. One million fewer obese people could mean 15,000 fewer people with coronary heart disease, 34,000 fewer people developing type two diabetes and 99,000 fewer people with higher blood pressure. It would also have a positive impact on mental health and well-being.
	He emphasised that the City Council had a critical role in inspiring the people of Sheffield to get active and, with the emerging Sport and Recreation Partnership, the City would be in an ideal position to go forward and win resources, with Yorkshire people making decisions about Yorkshire sport.
	Paul Billington, Assistant Head of Leisure Services, Sport and Community Recreation then gave a presentation entitled: "An Active City Is A Healthier City”. He opened by showing obesity trends amongst adults in America in 1985 and how those trends had increased dramatically through to 1990 and 2001. He then compared those with the obesity trends in England and indicated that, if such trends continued, obesity in this country would be worse than in America by 2020. He stated that, in 2001, 8.4% of six year olds and 15% of 15 year olds were obese and that obesity, which was caused by a switch to fatty foods and dramatic fall in exercise levels, killed 30,000 people every year. He added that inactivity was a major killer and accounted for 37% of all coronary heart disease deaths, 25% of all deaths from stroke and 25% of all deaths from colon cancer. He commented on the beneficial effects of physical activity on the quality of life. He stated that the minimum recommended levels of activity for adults was at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity at least five times per week and that young people must accumulate at least one hour of moderate level activity every day. He elaborated on the national picture, where there had been a dramatic fall in activity levels over the last fifty years, and he described the barriers or pressures on people being more active and demonstrated the picture in Sheffield where over 166,000 people were overweight, with 64,000 of these being obese, between 700 and 1,000 people were dying early as a result of being inactive, inactivity accounted for up to 15% of all deaths, it cost the National Health Service in Sheffield around £25m per year and that only 35% of people were active enough to avoid health risks. He then outlined the strategy in Sheffield to stimulate demand, focus on and motivate the least active so as to achieve the greatest health gain. The strategy would focus on walking as a foundation activity, and would promote greater choice of activity, which was more than sport and gymnasiums. Proposed improvements in opportunities would be supplied through schools, health care, neighbourhoods, community events, facilities and in the workplace. At present, baseline levels of activity by local area were being established and a target of 1% a year increase in those achieving the minimum required levels of physical activity was being set with the aim of reaching the national target of 70% by 2020. He concluded the presentation by illustrating the success so far in Sheffield with unrivalled community sports facilities and community programmes, extensive network of greenscapes, innovative health projects and major sports investment in schools. He highlighted other successes including the strong partnership working through "Active Sheffield" in the local strategic partnership, the promotion of Fitness Unlimited and Slice Cards, the "Moving More Often" initiative and the publication of an "Active Play" booklet about traditional games. He stated that the strategy had the potential to achieve the greatest gains in the poorest areas and stressed that the minimum recommended levels of activity were accessible by most people and a challenge to which they could rise.
	A question and answer session then followed.
	Councillor Alf Meade referred to the Elders 50+ Congress established under the Better Government for Older People project with a membership of around 3,000 in Sheffield and asked if Paul Billington could give a similar talk to them, to which he agreed.
	Councillor Marjorie Barker asked if any relevant information could be sent to her in her capacity as President of the Sheffield Pensioners’ Action Group and the Widows' Association to ascertain what assistance could be given through those groups. Paul Billington agreed to follow this up.
	Councillor Maureen Brelsford, whilst acknowledging that low income did not necessarily equate with poor diet, felt that people on low incomes would be less active and asked how the City Council could improve the information available to them. David Gent indicated that it was for the City Council to influence how the funding being made available would be spent through initiatives such as sport working in partnership with health.
	Councillor Jean Cromar asked if Sport England (SE) was relying on the City Council to promote walking, and asked what SE was doing about it and what other organisations should be involved. David Gent responded that the European definition of sport included walking and that SE was working with organisations such as the Countryside Agency in promoting healthy walks etc. and was working very closely with the Director of Public Health at a regional level. Whilst walking was being promoted as the way into physical activity, SE was not being too prescriptive and urged the City Council to come up with plans that best fitted people’s needs. Paul Billington emphasised the need to impress on people, particularly the hardest to reach groups, that walking is good physical activity. The City Council could also extend the range of walks in the City and provide attractive safe walks in neighbourhoods.
	Councillor Pat White stated that it was not easy for middle aged people to go ballroom dancing at city centre venues and asked if Saturday night ballroom dancing could be reintroduced at the City Hall following its refurbishment. Paul Billington, in commenting on the health and social communication benefits of dancing, undertook to pursue this with the City Trust and Sheffield International Venues Limited.
	Councillor Angela Smith in referring to recent "Invest in Schools" initiatives, commented on the need for children to develop lifelong sporting habits and the need to encourage sports coaches and clubs into schools along with other groups such as the Woodcraft Folk and Ramblers’ Association representatives. Paul Billington commented that the dual use of schools and leisure facilities was not always the best solution as some schools were not in convenient locations. However, it was important to develop better links between schools and community activities and to develop a community infrastructure.
	Councillor Pat Midgley referred to the number of expensive gymnasiums and the high cost of purchasing sports equipment and gear and felt that the gap was getting bigger between the affluent and the less affluent and asked if SE had any thoughts on how that gap could be closed so that the less affluent could aspire to greater sporting activity. David Gent indicated that a paper entitled "What's Good For Yorkshire" was shortly to be submitted to the Sports Board on how to share good practice in communities. He added that SE was keen to see the development of a multi-sport model, bringing separate sporting factions together into a multi-activity environment where all members of the family could perform different activities. Councillor Alan Whitehouse commented that it was easier to encourage people to walk in the flatter parts of the country than in Sheffield and suggested that reducing the number of working hours and Sunday opening would give more people time to perform leisure activity. David Gent responded that a lot of physical activity had been taken out of the working environment but SE were investigating what works well around the world and mentioned that, in Canada, people had been given a pedometer to encourage walking activity.
	Councillor Jan Fiore felt that there was a change of culture and outlook needed and that people should not be saying that they don't have the time to do physical activity. She urged the city to build up on the good work already started and emphasised the need for linking up with schools and health practices to encourage people to adopt a better way of living to achieve a longer healthier life. Councillor Jackie Drayton felt that everything should be done to encourage children and their parents to walk to school by giving each child a pedometer to gauge how many miles a week they could walk. She suggested that high profile sports stars should talk to schools about other physical activity they perform. She also referred to the amount of green space in the city and in particular the Burngreave Round Walk. She also suggested partnership working between the Sport and Recreation and Highways Services to designate safe routes from park to park. Referring to the statistics that had been given on activity by gender and class she asked if there was any ethnic divide and what could be done to address this. David Gent elaborated on the participation rates and referred to a successful physical activity campaign in Scotland involving Gavin Hastings, adding that there were lots of different solutions everywhere but it was for the City to develop its own develop initiatives.
	Councillor Garry Weatherall commented on the health benefits of gardening activities and the need to talk with general practitioners to promote healthy activity. Councillor Janet Bragg felt that the city was losing its open space to residential developments and asked how SE could help local communities to protect informal open spaces. David Gent felt that the City Council should develop a proper play pitch/open space strategy. Whilst SE had a statutory duty to protect school playing fields, it considered that this should include open space and had done a lot of campaigning on this issue.
	Councillor Jan Wilson felt that innovative approaches could make a difference and, in expressing concern at the number of children being ferried to school in cars, questioned David Gent on the what the pitfalls might be to a hypothetical situation involving the introduction of residents’ only parking schemes within a three quarters of a mile radius of schools at school opening and closing times. David Gent indicated that innovative approaches could sometimes have a negative side. For example, the subsidy could be taken away from a particular sports centre and vouchers be given to children to learn to swim. However, this might lead to the closure of the sports centre. He emphasised that SE were not being prescriptive but were encouraging Councils adopt a different way of thinking.
	Councillor Mohammad Altaf expressed the concerns of the ethnic communities and mentioned that the cricket pitch at Tinsley Park had disappeared, there were no changing rooms for the football pitches at Darnall and Greenland School had green space adjacent to it but people were unable to use it. In general, the community felt discriminated against, with no non-white people having a voice in the decision making process. David Gent commented that SE had been pioneering race equality standards for all sports clubs and organisations, run by Sporting Equals and if they wished to receive funding, organisations had to sign up to such standards and that this would be rolled out to Local Authorities. He referred to good work carried out through Sport Action Zone in Bradford. However, SE's challenge was to find out where groups existed so that they could be consulted. He added that, in Sweden, after 4.00 p.m. schools were handed over for community use. In commenting on the local perspective, Paul Billington said that groups had to rethink their approach to be more inclusive and review the way they worked. He recognised that the black and minority ethnic communities were disproportionately poorer but referred to good work carried out by the City Council, for example, helping clubs in Burngreave. As regards the main facilities, Sheffield International Venues set annual access targets and measured their use by black and minority ethnic communities.
	Councillor Sylvia Anginotti stated that she was involved in helping local weight lifting and boxing clubs involving black and minority ethnic people and asked if SE could send her information as to how they could expand and improve their facilities. She added that problems with insurance prevented schools being used more for community use. Councillor Peter Moore asked whether a recommendation should be made to Midland Mainline to ban the full English breakfast on their train services. On a more serious note, he asked if the City Council would be realising any European funding through the 2004 European Year of Education through Sport, on which the deadline for final bids was March. David Gent indicated that a full English breakfast might be acceptable once a week but emphasised it was a question of achieving a balanced diet and avoiding eating too much fast food and fizzy drinks. He added that SE was experiencing unbelievable difficulties in obtaining money from the 2004 European Year of Education through Sport and was working with Sheffield Hallam University, but with no success to date, and had to find European Partners to pursue such bids.
	Councillor Martin Lawton commented that many children were not attracted to sport at school and asked what encouragement could be given to those people who could not be bothered with physical activity or thought they were physically fit but were not. Councillor Jane Bird suggested that it was not just about sport but lifestyle and that, as a grandparent, there was more time for activity such as pushing prams and playing with children in parks. However facilities were needed in parks as a focal point for meeting to enable people to socialise as well. Councillor Doreen Newton, in commenting on the statistics relating to child obesity, asked if any comparable statistics were available for the amount of time spent by children watching television and playing on computers. She advocated initiatives in schools for raising self-esteem where it had been proved that children who achieved well in sport achieved improvements in their work in the classroom. Councillor Keith Hill, as an ex-schoolmaster, felt that there was a grave misunderstanding of the value of school playing fields, suggesting that more schoolchildren were turned off by sport than turned on at school. He suggested a better way would be to encourage better health education in school. He also suggested that smoking should be banned in all parts of the Town Hall and that a gymnasium should be installed so that officers and members could take the necessary exercise.
	In response to the set of questions, David Gent stated that the Government intended to reform the way the teaching of physical education was done in schools. He acknowledged that 25% of the population might not be interested in increasing their levels of physical activity but it was necessary to emphasise that people only just had to do more walking to improve their quality of life. In relation to exercise for grandparents, he reiterated the need for all facilities to be provided together in the right place. Paul Billington added that people needed to be made more aware that there were significant advantages of keeping active, that it was achievable and that the "no pain; no gain" maxim was a myth. He suggeste, d that it was better for a person to be overweight and active than normal weight and inactive. As regards gymnasium facilities for Council officers and members, he referred to the corporate fitness schemes involving the use of facilities at Ponds Forge.
	Councillor Peter Price reminded the Council that he had spent the last 30 years arguing the case for sport and leisure activities and was pleased to see the City Council responding positively to the new initiative. Councillor Jonathan Harston referred to the lack of canteen facilities in the Town Hall and asked how healthy eating could be encouraged for Council officers and members when there was an endemic culture of snatch eating and eating sandwiches at one’s desk. Councillor Terry Barrow highlighted and praised the work of voluntary and community sector organisations in promoting sport and leisure activity and questioned why those parents who visit fitness weeks don't choose to walk their children to school. She suggested that everyone should have access to "taster" activities and that exercise should be regarded as fun and not a chore. Councillor Ibrar Hussain highlighted problems of affordability in accessing facilities, indicating that people who used to be able to use the Earl Marshal School facilities could not now afford them under the new PFI school arrangements. He suggested that Area Panels should develop strategies for encouraging greater involvement in physical activity to fulfil the targets.
	In response to the set of questions David Gent indicated that, on the issue of healthy eating, SE had started serving apples, oranges and grapes instead of tea and biscuits at their meetings. He acknowledged the increased importance of the voluntary sector in the promotion of sport and indicated that, whilst SE used to contact sports clubs on funding issues, they would now contact community groups and the voluntary sector. As regards the use of PFI schools facilities, Paul Billington stated that Community Recreation and Education were working together on after-school use of facilities and were addressing the issue in later PFI projects.
	The Lord Mayor (Councillor Diane Leek) and the Leader of the Council (Councillor Jan Wilson) thanked David Gent and Paul Billington for their presentations and their contributions to the question and answer session.

6.	REPRESENTATION
	RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor John Webster, seconded by Councillor Pat Midgley that (a) approval be given to the following changes to the memberships of Boards, etc. and the appointment of representatives to serve on other bodies:-

	City Centre and East Planning and Highways Area Board	-		Councillor Mary Lea to replace Councillor Peter Price

	North and West Planning and Highways Area Board	-		Councillor Kathleen Chadwick to replace Councillor Jonathan Harston

	Schools PFI Steering Group (Contract 2)	-		Councillor Keith Hill to replace Councillor Ali Qadar

	Sheffield First for Inclusion Board	-		Councillor John Campbell to replace Councillor Ibrar Hussain

	Sheffield Media and Exhibition Centre Ltd – Directors and Members	-		Councillor Tim Rippon to replace Councillor Ilyas Khan

	Groundwork Sheffield Trust	-		Councillor Arthur Dunworth to replace Councillor Sylvia Anginotti

	(b) delegated powers be granted to the Director of Legal and Administrative Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Development, Environment and Leisure, to appoint an Elected Member to serve on the National Parking Adjudication Service Joint Committee to deal with appeals arising from Decriminalised Parking Enforcement arrangements; and
	(c) the abolition of the Schools PFI Steering Group (Contract 1) be noted.

7.	QUESTIONS RELATING TO URGENT BUSINESS
	There were no questions relating to urgent business.

8.	ITEMS REFERRED TO COUNCIL
	8.1 Council Tax Base and Borrowing Limits
	RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Steve Jones, seconded by Councillor Jan Wilson that the following minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 10th December, 2003 relating to the Council Tax Base and borrowing limits be confirmed:-

	“RESOLVED: That (a) in the circumstances now reported, delegated authority be granted to the Director of Finance and Facilities to approve the calculation of the City Council’s Council Tax Base each year, with effect from the calculation of the Tax Base for the financial year 2004/05 and the City Council’s Constitution be amended accordingly; and
	(b) the arrangements under which the Council is required to approve the setting of its own Borrowing Limits, under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, which will cease with effect from 2004/05, be noted and authority be given for the City Council’s Constitution to be further amended to reflect the termination of such requirement. “

	8.2 Co-ordinated Admission Arrangements for 2005/06
	RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Angela Smith, seconded by Councillor Mick Rooney that the motion to confirm the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 10th December, 2003 relating to the Co-ordinated Admission Arrangements for 2005/06 Academic Year be approved:-

	“RESOLVED: That the co-ordinated Admission Schemes for Primary and Secondary Schools for 2005/06 be approved and adopted in accordance with the details contained in the report now submitted and the Executive Director, Education, be authorised to take steps to secure their adoption by the other Admission Authorities in Sheffield and to take any necessary further action to implement such Schemes.”

9.	OBSERVATIONS
	The following members made observations on the under-mentioned matters referred to in the minutes of the various Council bodies held from 17th November to 12th December, 2003 as follows:-


	Member		Item

	Councillor Jonathan Harston		Referring to the Hillsborough Traffic Management Review and expressing disappointment that it had taken 18 months for the present administration to put through measures agreed under the previous administration (page 765)

	Councillor Anne Smith		Expressing concern that she had been informed by officers that amended plans to those that had been approved by the South Planning and Highways Area Board for the redevelopment of the former Blenheim Nursing Home had been approved under delegated powers and without consultation (page 860).

	Councillor Sylvia Dunkley		Echoing the concerns of Councillor Anne Smith and stating that local people felt let down by the Council and perceived that the planning process in Sheffield works for the benefit of developers (page 826)

	Councillor Keith Hill		Referring to (a) the economic prosperity key corporate project and expressing surprise that the marketing and communications aspect of this had not been stressed and (b) the cleaner, greener, safer key corporate project and expressing the surprise that only 20 Anti-Social Behaviour Orders per annum were being targeted, suggesting that this was nowhere near the kind of measure needed (pages 782/3). Also referring to the Fireworks Enforcement Initiative, welcoming the new legislation and expressing surprise that no mention had been made about the needs for partially sighted people and the effect of fireworks on guide dogs for the blind (pages 799/803)

	Councillor Gill Furniss		Reassuring Councillors Anne Smith and Sylvia Dunkley that the developer of the former Blenheim Nursing Home had asked whether amended plans needed planning permission and she had satisfied herself that no delegated decision had been taken as it had been decided that planning permission would be needed for the amended plans, and if an application for such permission was submitted, this would be put to the Planning Board for decision. (page 860)

	Councillor Steve Jones		Commending the work of the Parkwood Landfill Liaison Group as an excellent example of local people working in partnership and supporting the decision taken to ensure that the dumping of toxic waste on the site ceases with immediate effect (page 847)

	Councillor Angela Smith		Commenting on the Education Maintenance Allowances and expressing her pleasure at the Government responding positively to practical problems of young people wishing to stay in education after their compulsory school years and the support for the parents (page 789)

	Councillor David Baker		Expressing concern at the proposed changes in the North Area Panel boundaries which would make the work of the Partnership Development Officer increasingly difficult as she would be responsible to two managers within the cross boundary areas and expressing disappointment at the lack of a response to requests for full consultation. (page 817)

	Councillor Harry Harpham		Expressing satisfaction at the improvements being made under the Street Cleaning Strategy (page 844) and echoing the views expressed by Councillor Steve Jones in relation to the work of the Parkwood Landfill Site and the Health Impact Study and, as Chair of the Group, conveying the thanks of residents to members of both political parties who served on the Group. (page 847)

	Councillor Peter Price		Welcoming the major investment in the refurbishment of the City Hall and the contribution this would make towards the regeneration of the City Centre (page 782)

	Councillor Veronica Hardstaff		Welcoming the revised proposals for the Hillsborough Traffic Management Scheme which she viewed as a much improved scheme to the original one and contained good proposals to minimise accidents and engender respect for the bus gates, also recording her congratulations to officers (page 765)

	Councillor Jan Wilson		Welcoming the good progress made towards implementing the Better Buses in Sheffield Initiative and the promotion of better quality bus services (page 764)

	Councillor Peter Moore		Commenting on the high ratio of officers to members of the public attending various Area Panel meetings and questioning whether that represented value for money (pages 809, 813, 819, 826, 830, 835, 839, and 847)

	Councillor Pat Midgley		Commending the good practice adopted in the development of the Gleadless Valley Children's Green Spaces Recreation Project (page 824) and recognising difficulties in the synergy of the North Area Panel and the Local Councils and confirming that no decision had been taken to change the boundary of the North Area Panel, that it was always intended to listen to the people and decide what was best for the residents (page 817)

	Councillor Arthur Dunworth		Commenting on the Better Buses in Sheffield Initiative and expressing a view that a degree of re-regulation and the drawing up of better contracts was needed (page 764) and commenting on the decisions of the previous administration in relation to the Hillsborough Traffic Management Scheme (page 765).