Agenda and minutes

Members to declare any interests they have in the business to be considered at the meeting.

To receive the record of the proceedings of the annual meeting of the Council held on 20^th May 2015 and the ordinary meeting of the Council held on 3^rd June 2015, and to approve the accuracy thereof.

To agree that the date of the ordinary meeting of the Council in September 2015 be held on the first Wednesday in the month, rather than on the second Wednesday in the month (as agreed at the Annual Meeting of the Council on 20th May 2015), and accordingly, the meeting be held at 2.00p.m. on Wednesday, 2^nd September 2015.

(a)          To receive any questions or petitions from the public, or communications submitted by the Lord Mayor or the Chief Executive and to pass such resolutions thereon as the Council Procedure Rules permit and as may be deemed expedient.

(b)       Petition Requiring Debate

The Council’s Petitions Scheme requires that any petition containing over 5,000 signatures be the subject of debate at the Council meeting.  A qualifying petition has been received as follows:-

Petition to Save the 12 Trees on Rustlings Road

To debate a combined paper and electronic petition containing over 8,000 signatures (4,200+ electronic and 3,800+ paper) requesting that, as an alternative to felling, sensitive engineering solutions be implemented in order to enable the long-term retention of the 12 Lime trees on Rustlings Road.  The wording of the e-petition is as follows:-

“We, the undersigned, refute the assertion that the felling of Lime (Tilia sp.) trees on Rustlings Road is necessary. Instead, we demand, and believe it imperative, that sensitive engineering solutions be adopted and implemented to enable the long-term retention of these trees.

Evidence indicates that such large trees contribute significantly to local climate regulation, filtration of atmospheric pollutants, sustainable urban drainage, biodiversity, ecology: health and wellbeing and amenity; through their beauty and our pleasure of its enjoyment, which enriches our lives.

Twelve trees are marked for destruction, for 'damage to pavements'. We believe the damage is minor and does not significantly impair accessibility for disabled people, or the use of prams and pushchairs. It is our opinion that sensitive engineering solutions, such as pavement restructuring and localized remediation near trees, with kerb stones sculpted to accommodate root morphology, would represent a sustainable solution to perceived problems.

Loss of these Lime trees would represent a significant loss of a valuable foraging resource for bees (honey from Lime flowers is much prized) and particularly for bats, as the Lime Leaf Aphid (Eucallipterus tiliae) – a favored prey item - only occurs on Lime trees. Lines could be painted on the road to prevent parking under trees, thereby minimizing the risk of damage to vehicles, to a level firmly within the “broadly acceptable region” of tolerability.

Sub-veteran, mature trees, such as these Limes, represent our cultural heritage and are irreplaceable. We demand that alternative, sensitive engineering solutions be implemented as an alternative to felling.”

That this Council:-

(a)       notes the recent petition to save 12 trees on Rustlings Road, near Endcliffe Park, signed by over 8,000 people;

(b)       notes Sheffield’s reputation as one of the greenest cities in Europe and recognises the importance of the city’s trees in making this city so special and unique;

(c)        notes this Administration’s continued efforts to ruin this reputation by selling off parts of our city’s parks and threatening the green belt surrounding Sheffield;

(d)       is concerned by the comment made by tree expert Adam Winson that the Council’s current policy on trees could lead to half the city’s trees being felled in a ‘potential chainsaw massacre’;

(e)       believes that Amey have been given free rein by the Administration to decide the fate of our city’s trees without consultation of Sheffield residents; and

(f)        therefore proposes to the Administration:

(i).        that a moratorium of at least two months is called on the felling of mature trees in Sheffield; and

(ii)        that a scrutiny review of the citywide policy on the future of our trees takes place.

5.1       Questions relating to urgent business – Council Procedure Rule 16.6(ii).

5.2       Supplementary questions on written questions submitted at this meeting   – Council Procedure Rule 16.4.

5.3       Questions on the discharge of the functions of the South Yorkshire Joint Authorities for Fire and Rescue and Pensions – Section 41 of the Local Government Act 1985 – Council Procedure Rule 16.6(i).

            (NB. Minutes of recent meetings of the two South Yorkshire Joint    Authorities have been made available to all Members of the Council via the following link -

            http://sheffielddemocracy.moderngov.co.uk/ecCatDisplay.aspx?sch=doc&cat=13165&path=0)

To receive the annual report providing an overview of scrutiny activity undertaken by each of the Scrutiny and Policy Development Committees during the 2014/15 Municipal Year.

Councillor Cate McDonald, Lead Member for Scrutiny, will introduce the report.

Report of the Chief Executive.

To consider any changes to the memberships and arrangements for meetings of Committees etc., delegated authority, and the appointment of representatives to serve on other bodies.

That this Council:

(a)       has previously put on record its call for a full public inquiry into the actions of the police at the Orgreave coking plant on 18th June 1984 during the miners’ strike of 1984-85;

(b)       along with ex miners, their families, campaigners from the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, and the people of Sheffield, has waited patiently for nearly two and a half years for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to complete their “scoping” exercise, investigating whether to investigate the actions of the police on that day;

(c)        is disappointed that the IPCC announced on Friday 12th June 2015 that despite there being findings that police officers did use excessive force against picketing miners, manipulated evidence and lied in court when giving evidence, they would not be conducting an investigation into what has become known as the “Battle of Orgreave”;

(d)       notes that the IPCC cited the passage of time and the fact that there had been no miscarriages of justice in the form of wrongful convictions, as reasons not to investigate;

(e)       believes that the issue of Orgreave is of national importance and particular local importance to our local community here in Sheffield, many members of which were directly affected in 1984 and beyond, and that a full investigation into the military style policing used on that day is now long overdue and only a full public inquiry can fully investigate this; and

(f)        therefore calls on the Home Secretary, the Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP, to order a full public inquiry into the deployment and actions of the police at Orgreave on 18th June 1984.

That this Council:

(a)       recalls previous resolutions it has passed outlining that the impact of the previous Coalition Government’s cuts to welfare in Sheffield are hitting hardest the poorest in the City;

(b)       notes recent reports that child poverty is on course for the biggest rise in a generation, reversing years of progress that began in the late 1990s, leading charities and independent experts claim;

(c)        further notes that calculations from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) have suggested that progress between the late 1990s and 2010 has been reversed and that the number of children living in relative poverty rose from 2.3 million in 2013 to 2.6 million in 2014, and that the Child Poverty Action Group says that with the Government committed to implementing another £12bn of cuts in a new round of austerity, the problem will grow;

(d)       notes that the Government has outlined its intentions to make £12 billion additional cuts to welfare spending, however, have refused to explain where the cuts will fall and who they will hit;

(e)       believes that the Government must come clean about its plan to cut support for working families, disabled people and carers and that its refusal to admit who’ll be hit by its cuts is adding to the insecurity felt by working families around the country;

(f)        notes that this Government has failed to rule out cuts to tax credits and support for working families under Universal Credit and has failed to rule out cuts to support for disabled people and their carers;

(g)       believes that welfare costs should be reduced by tackling the root causes of rising benefit bills, such as insecure employment, low pay and lack of affordable housing; and

(h)       directs that a copy of this motion be forwarded to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

That this Council:

(a)       acknowledges plans are being considered to shut the blood supply chain manufacturing facility on Longley Lane, along with a facility in Newcastle;

(b)       acknowledges the plans would see these two facilities in Sheffield and Newcastle relocated and merged into a single facility in Manchester;

(c)        acknowledges that the single site in Manchester would provide services to the whole of the North West, North East and Yorkshire regions of the country;

(d)       expresses concern that this could potentially put 60 jobs in Sheffield at risk;

(e)       expresses concern about a single location in Manchester being a base to cover the whole of the North West, North East and Yorkshire regions, because:

(i)         this is a physically large geography;

(ii)        travel disruption often occurs between Manchester and Sheffield, as well as in other areas, during periods of bad weather;

(iii)       the strategy fails to make it clear where blood stores would be located outside of the manufacturing centre in Manchester; and

(iv)       it is unclear how the operation of the service under these proposals would cope with a major incident;

(f)        therefore, believes that more work needs to be done before these proposals are put into place, and that scrutiny of these proposals is necessary to ensure that any changes are both workable and effective; and

(g)       directs that a copy of this motion be forwarded to all Sheffield MPs, the Secretary of State for Health, the Shadow Secretary of State for Health and the Chair of the Health Select Committee, with a request for the matter to be considered by the relevant Select Committee.

That this Council:

(a)       recognises the importance of the UK steel industry as a significant contributor to the UK economy;

(b)       understands that the UK steel industry is a provider of highly-skilled jobs and research and development, both in Sheffield City Region and across the UK;

(c)        recognises that British Steel is a quality product, manufactured to high production values in a sustainable and responsible manner;

(d)       supports the principles set out in the Charter for Sustainable British Steel; and

(e)       pledges to give effect to the principles of the Charter as fully as possible through its procurement policy.

That this Council:-

(a)       believes that it is important to Sheffield for Britain to stay in the European Union;

(b)       believes that only as a full member of a reformed European Union can we be certain Britain’s businesses will have access to markets in Europe and beyond;

(c)        believes that remaining part of the European Union is vital to the long term security of Sheffield businesses and to building a stronger local economy;

(d)       therefore calls upon Sheffield businesses and public sector organisations to highlight the importance of remaining within the European Union in the run-up to the 2016 EU referendum; and

(e)       urges all Councillors to sign up to the cross-party organisation British Influence and join the Yes to Europe campaign.

That this Council:-

(a)       welcomes reports from the People’s Assembly Against Austerity that up to 250,000 people took part in the ‘End Austerity Now’ demonstration in London on 20^th June 2015, as well as other demonstrations in cities across the UK;

(b)       thanks all those who attended and helped to organise these demonstrations for their continuing commitment to fighting what this Council believes to be the Government’s divisive, destructive and ideologically driven austerity agenda;

(c)        notes that speakers at the London demonstration included representatives of many different organisations, including the Green Party and the Labour Party, and believes that this indicates the strength of opposition to austerity policies across much of the political spectrum in this country;

(d)       recalls that in Sheffield, public sector spending cuts have already resulted in a 50% cut to Sheffield City Council’s Revenue Support Grant between 2010 and 2015, and is deeply concerned at reports that further cuts to local government funding may be announced as part of the ‘Summer Budget’ on 8^th July 2015;

(e)       notes that austerity measures in Sheffield and across the country continue to hit the poorest and most vulnerable the hardest, and believes that this is deeply wrong;

(f)        therefore calls upon all political parties to support alternatives to the economics of austerity and spending cuts, including raising taxes on the wealthiest in society, cracking down on tax avoidance, and investing in infrastructure, home insulation, and renewable energy; and

(g)       directs that a copy of this motion be forwarded to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and to the leaders of all Parliamentary parties.

That this Council:-

(a)       believes the area of Page Hall, Fir Vale, would benefit from having two floodlit football pitches built on spare ground at the side of Wensley Street, with shelters or possible cafe type area adjacent, so all communities would have a meeting place where they could socialise and get to know each other better;

(b)       also believes, after speaking with local residents, that this planned development would go some way to reducing social tensions, and focus actions positively on an inclusive project;

(c)        hopes areas like S4, where the mover of this Motion lived and worked in his youth, can one day make the headlines for the right reasons, i.e. social inclusion and prosperity for all;

(d)       further wishes for cross party support on this action plan, and hopes funds can be found for smaller projects as easily as they seem to be acquired for larger ones;

(e)       notes that Britain is a compassionate, caring nation, and that in the course of our island's history we have welcomed millions of people to these shores and we are proud of that fact;

(f)        further notes that UKIP believes, and will comply fully with, the 1951 UN Convention relating to the status of refugees, and will continue to honour the country’s obligations to bona fide asylum seekers; and

(g)       notes that a petition, with over a hundred signatures and three photographs of the proposed site, has been submitted to the Council in support of the planned development.

That this Council:-

(a)       notes that July 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Bosnian town of Srebrenica;

(b)       notes that in the days following, more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were systematically massacred and buried in mass graves, and that thousands of women, children and elderly people were forcibly deported and a large number of women were raped;

(c)        recognises the importance of campaigns such as Remember Srebrenica in reminding us all to never be complacent and that the international community must strive, constantly, for peace and the defence of human rights;

(d)       recognises the importance of human rights, and the European Union and European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in promoting peace and internationalism;

(e)       regrets that, in 2015, the Government wishes to scrap the Human Rights Act and withdraw the UK from the ECHR; and

(f)        encourages all Councillors to sign the Remembering Srebrenica pledge to ensure that lessons learned from Srebrenica with regards to the importance of tackling intolerance, prejudice and hatred, are implemented in British society.

That this Council:–

(a)       notes that one in four people will suffer with mental health problems at some point during their lives;

(b)       notes that despite their prevalence, mental health problems are still stigmatised in today’s society;

(c)        praises the previous Government’s work to improve the status of mental health, including measures such as:

(i)         introducing the first waiting time targets for mental health treatment;

(ii)        putting an extra £1.25bn into children and adolescent mental health services;

(iii)       improving access to talking therapies and early intervention; and

(iv)       improving diversion of people with mental health problems from the criminal justice system;

(d)       believes there is much more work needed to be done to achieve a parity of esteem for mental and physical health problems;

(e)       recognises the increasing pressure health and social care budgets are facing in the next 5 years;

(f)        fears that unless more than the £8 billion to cover the initial shortfall in the health and social care budget is granted to the NHS, this historic opportunity to build on the previous Government’s good work on mental health will be lost;

(g)       notes the concern of the Mental Health Policy Group that the £1.25 billion, earmarked in the previous Government’s March 2015 budget for children’s mental health services, may not be found; and

(h)       therefore:

(i)         urges the Chancellor of the Exchequer to recommit to providing the £1.25 billion in the emergency budget on 8^th July; and

(ii)        calls for a copy of this motion to be sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Health.

That this Council:-

(a)       believes that vermin (Rat) infestation is primarily caused by poor personal domestic housekeeping and incorrect disposal of waste and discarded foodstuffs;

(b)       understands that certain areas of Sheffield, namely Page Hall, are receiving a mass treatment for Rat infestation because the problem is so great, at no charge to any household or individual;

(c)        further understands that, throughout this treatment, just 5 charges have been brought for litter/tipping offences, one of which remains unpaid;

(d)       further understands that, because of austerity cuts, not all households should be in receipt of free vermin treatment, however suggests that people in receipt of a state pension should not be charged for any treatment, in line with others who receive the treatments free of charge; and

(e)       believes that where the cause of infestation that requires treatment is attributed directly to the household in question because of bad practice regarding waste/food disposal, then charges should apply irrespective of the status of the said householder.