Agenda and minutes

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

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.

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

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

4.3       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://democracy.sheffield.gov.uk/ecCatDisplay.aspx?sch=doc&cat=13165&path=0)

That this Council:-

(a)       recognises that the most successful societies, both economically and in the protection of human rights, are those governed by liberal/social democratic style administrations;

(b)       agrees that scrutiny and the opportunity for every citizen to debate issues, contributes to a healthy democracy, both locally and nationally;

(c)        notes that Britain has a parliamentary democracy and notes with concern the recent unlawful events in Westminster;

(d)       acknowledges the petition submitted by ‘It’s Our City’ which has triggered a referendum on changing to a committee system; and

(e)       calls for the timely planning and delivery of a committee system that is open and transparent and gives greater power to local people.

That this Council:-

(a)       recognises the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism as: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

(b)       notes that the working definition has become the standard definition used around the world;

(c)        notes that this definition has been adopted by the UK Government, European Parliament, the UK College of Policing, the US Department of State, the US Senate and the 31 countries comprising the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance; and

(d)       formally adopts the official and international recognised working definition of antisemitism for this city.

That this Council:-

(a)       believes this Government have broken their promise to protect older people and notes that not only has funding for adult social care been slashed, plunging countless older people into loneliness, but from June 2020 the over 75s will be stripped of their free TV licence;

(b)       notes the hardship that this will cause to many nationally and here in Sheffield:-

(i)         there are an estimated 43,000 people in Sheffield over 75, and over three quarters will lose their free licence;

(ii)        half of all over 75s are living with a disability, and many rely on their TV for companionship and entertainment;

(iii)       for those who don't have the internet, TV lets them stay up to date with what's happening in the world; and

(iv)       nearly a third of over 75s are living in poverty or just above the poverty line;

(c)        believes that forcing pensioners to fork out £154.50 per year is an act of cruelty, and that it is not the BBC who are to blame for this, but a government who have failed to do enough and have broken their 2017 Conservative Party Election Manifesto to maintain free TV licenses;

(d)       notes that under the new plans, only older people who receive a benefit called Pension Credit will receive a free TV licence, but two fifths of people who are entitled to this benefit – about 1.2 million pensioners – are not getting it, with some not knowing they can claim and many struggling to apply, and that often these people are some of the poorest in our society;

(e)       notes the widespread opposition to the plans, and that over 634,000 people signed Age UK’s petition against the plans;

(f)        notes that the 2011 Pensions Act, enacted under the Conservative-Liberal Coalition Government, changed the age of retirement for women, forcing many born in the 1950s to work much longer before retirement and, crucially, that this was implemented at such short notice that many women were not able to plan accordingly for this; and, in addition, notes the hard work of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) movement and the commitment to them shown by Labour;

(g)       believes that older people deserve fairer treatment than this, and notes that Labour will oppose any cuts to universal pensioner benefits, and have pledged to keep the Winter Fuel Allowance and bus passes for pensioners;

(h)       notes the hard work being undertaken within the Council to tackle social isolation, including the creation of the Sheffield Directory website to help people to get the right information and support to help them stay independent and live well in their local area, and further notes that this Administration works closely with organisations like Age UK, MIND, Mencap, Disability Sheffield, Alzheimer’s Society and the Carers Centre to run support groups and activities, including dementia cafes; and

(i)         welcomes that partners in Sheffield are working together to develop the Age Friendly Sheffield project and,  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

To receive the record of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 4^th September 2019 and to approve the accuracy thereof.

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.