Agenda item

8.1

It was moved by Councillor Julie Dore, seconded by Councillor Lisa Banes, that this Council:-

(a)       places on record its thanks to everyone involved in conducting the recent local elections;

(b)       notes that preparing for and running an election is a very complex process requiring commitment, teamwork and professionalism;

(c)        further notes that, during polling day, teams in 214 polling stations across the city provided fantastic support to voters, and the votes were verified, counted and adjudicated professionally at the count;

(d)       also places on record its thanks to the people of Sheffield who exercised their democratic right to vote and to signal their confidence in the current Administration by providing it with a substantial majority;

(e)       believes that, despite having to contend with unprecedented levels of cuts handed down by the current Government and previous Coalition Government, the current Administration has a proud record of achievement over the last five years; and

(f)        notes the current Administration’s determination to continue standing up for Sheffield and retain its ambition for the city following its recent election victory.

8.2

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, seconded by Councillor Andy Nash, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of paragraphs (d) to (f) and the addition of new paragraphs (d) to (k) as follows:-

(d)        however, believes that the 'First Past The Post' electoral system, which discriminates against voters for most political parties and promotes a political culture which ignores voters in safe seats, is unfit for purpose;

(e)        believes that the Administration’s choice of the first council motion on the agenda for this meeting has typified this complacency and shown how out of touch with the electorate they really are, at a time when Sheffield is facing job losses and crucial decisions on the future of this city, their priority is to congratulate themselves on their re-election, despite only receiving 38.2% of the vote and were the only party to lose seats;

(f)         recognises the need to reform British politics to make it more representative and more empowering of our citizens so it commands greater public confidence and engagement;

(g)        notes the need for change has been recognised, with the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly using the hybrid Additional Member System, to produce more proportional results, and with the British elections to the European Parliament using Closed List Proportional Representation;

(h)        notes that the Single Transferrable Vote system is used for local elections in Scotland and in both Northern Irish local elections and the Northern Ireland Assembly;

(i)        notes both Shadow Chancellor, John MacDonnell MP, and Sheffield Central MP, Paul Blomfield’s call for the Labour Party to adopt support for Proportional Representation as official party policy, in a letter to Party Leader, the Rt. Hon. Jeremy Corbyn MP, earlier this year;

(j)          therefore, calls for the introduction of the Single Transferrable Vote system:-

(i)      for local elections in England and Wales;

(ii)     for Westminster elections; and

(iii)    for European Parliament elections; and

(k)         directs that a copy of this motion be forwarded to the leaders of all political parties represented in the UK Parliament.

8.3

Following a right of reply from Councillor Julie Dore, the amendment was put to the vote and negatived.

(NOTE: Councillors Douglas Johnson, Magid Magid, Robert Murphy and Alison Teal voted for paragraphs (d), (f), (g), (h), (i) and (k), against paragraph (j) and abstained on paragraph (e) of the amendment and asked for this to be recorded.)

8.4

(NOTE: 1. Councillors Andy Nash, Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Adam Hanrahan, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Roger Davison, Shaffaq Mohammed, Paul Scriven, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Ian Auckland, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, David Baker, Penny Baker and Vickie Priestley voted for paragraphs (a) to (c) and against paragraphs (d) to (f) of the motion and asked for this to be recorded; and

2. Councillors Douglas Johnson, Magid Magid, Robert Murphy and Alison Teal voted for paragraphs (a) to (c) and abstained on paragraphs (d) to (f) of the motion and asked for this to be recorded.)