Agenda item

5.1

Petitions

5.1.1

Petition Requesting Pedestrian Crossings Outside Schools in High Green

The Council received a petition containing 710 signatures, requesting pedestrian crossings outside schools in High Green.

Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made by David Ogle who stated that there were some 2,000 young people under 18 years old in High Green, which represented a significant proportion of the population. At this time, there was no zebra crossing in the area. He said that almost every parent that he had spoken with had told him of a near miss incident. He commented that he believed that the Council should stop ignoring High Green.

The Council referred the petition to Councillor Jack Scott, Cabinet Member for Transport and Sustainability. Councillor Scott stated that there were issues and challenges around the City regarding schools and road safety. High Green had not been left out or forgotten and local councillors did everything they could to stand up for the area that they represented. At this time, a view had not been formed regarding the location and nature of road safety measures in High Green and the Council would need to work with local people, the Parish Council and City Councillors to address this issue. He was not in a position at this meeting to give a definite and detailed response and the Council also had to be mindful of budget restrictions. However, the Council was committed to look at options and to work towards the right solution over the coming months.

5.1.2

Petition Objecting to the Felling of Trees in Fitzalan Square

The Council received an electronic petition containing 3,059 signatures, objecting to the felling of trees in Fitzalan Square

Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made by Graham Wroe who stated that there were plans to develop Fitzalan Square, which included the removal of mature trees. The petitioners believed that the trees should be retained because they were effective at reducing pollutants and they provided biodiversity and were a beautiful part of the environment of the Square. As an alternative, it was proposed that the newly developed Square could be designed around the trees.

He asked why a condition survey had been ignored which had stated that the removal of the four trees concerned would impact upon on the area. The trees provided shade and the canopies served to break up the wind movement between buildings. The trees were well established and considered to be in their prime. These were also some of the few mature trees in the City Centre. The trees could not be replaced and Plane trees would take approximately ten years to develop. He asked that the matter was referred to a Scrutiny Committee for further consideration and as the petition had more than 2,500 signatures.

The Council referred the petition to Councillor Mazher Iqbal, the Cabinet Member for Business and Investment. Councillor Iqbal stated that removal of the trees was an essential part of the improvement scheme for Fitzalan Square and development of a Knowledge Gateway. Permission was not required for the removal of the four trees as part of the application.

Representations had been made on this matter which was considered at the meeting of the Planning and Highways Committee in December 2017.  The Planning Committee had supported the approval of the application for Fitzalan Square. The priority at this time was to prevent birds from nesting in the trees. It was proposed that the four existing Plane trees were replaced with 12 new trees. He said that he would not recommend that this issue be submitted to a Scrutiny Committee.

5.1.3

Petition Requesting the Rescission of the Streets Ahead PFI Highways Contract with Amey

The Council received an electronic petition containing 9,312 signatures, requesting the rescission of the Streets Ahead PFI Highways Contract with Amey.

Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made by Justin Buxton who confirmed that, whilst the petition had received over 5,000 signatures, he wished the petition to be considered at this meeting of the Council and as an ordinary petition and one which would not be subject to debate by the Council. Mr Buxton stated that the petition was requesting the Council to rescind the Streets Ahead PFI (Private Finance Initiative) Highways Contract with Amey.

He said that previous petitions or requests for similar action had been declined by the Council. However, none of the previous requests had called for the rescission of the contract in accordance with the Misrepresentation Act 1967. He said that the grounds for this action were that Amey had not declared an act of grave misconduct in relation to a workplace fatality which had occurred on a materially identical highways contract; it had not declared that legal proceedings by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were pending in connection with the fatality; and it did not declare during the procurement process that it had been successfully prosecuted by the HSE and that a criminal conviction had been handed down by the Courts.

He said that Amey was required by law to declare these matters both in accordance with public contracts regulations and by the Council’s pre-qualification questionnaire and although the bid was submitted by Amey UK plc, it was a also a requirement to declare information relating to Amey LG.

Mr Buxton said that providing false or misleading information was grounds for disqualification in the terms of the bid process agreement between the Council and Amey. He explained that rescinding the contract would nullify the argument that it would cost millions of pounds for the Council to remove itself from the contract. It would mean that the contract would be legally recognised as never having existed and the Misrepresentation Act would allow the Council to sue Amey for costs and damages with no financial penalties to the Council.

The petition called for a clear decision by the Council to rescind the PFI contract immediately and before a serious injury or death occurred.

The Council referred the petition to Councillor Bryan Lodge, Cabinet Member for Environment and Streetscene. Councillor Lodge stated that similar issues had been put to the Council previously and the Council’s Director of Legal and Governance had responded to the matters raised.  He said that he would arrange for a written response to be made to the petition.

5.1.4

Petition Requesting the Establishment of a Bus Route from Chapeltown to Meadowhall, via Ecclesfield

The Council received a petition requesting the establishment of a bus route from Chapeltown to Meadowhall, via Ecclesfield.

There was no speaker to the petition.

The Council referred the petition to Councillor Jack Scott, Cabinet Member for Transport and Sustainability.

5.1.5

Petition Requesting Traffic Lights at the Junction of Burncross Road, Hollow Gate, Bracken Hill and Hallwood Road

The Council received an electronic petition containing 16 signatures, requesting traffic lights at the junction of Burncross Road, Hollow Gate, Bracken Hill and Hallwood Road.

There was no speaker to the petition.

The Council referred the petition to Councillor Jack Scott, Cabinet Member for Transport and Sustainability.

5.2

Public Questions

5.2.1

Public Question Concerning the Committee System

Celia Pinnington stated that she believed the committee system in local government was more democratic and would mean more involvement by councillors in decision making as well as allowing people’s views to be heard when compared to the Cabinet model of governance.

Councillor Julie Dore, the Leader of the Council responded that the committee system model of governance was also an issue which was included as a proposal in one of the amendments for this meeting of Council. She said that she would not immediately dismiss the idea or wish to pre-empt the debate which Council might have on this issue.

5.2.2

Public Questions Concerning Streets Ahead Programme

Celia Pinnington asked a question on behalf of Russell Johnson which asked for an assessment of the reputational damage relating to incidents during protests concerning highway trees. Secondly, she asked a question regarding comments by Louise Haigh MP concerning an attempt to renegotiate the Streets Ahead contract.

Councillor Julie Dore responded that the Council had looked at various issues relating to the Streets Ahead contract, including varying the contract, renegotiating and terminating the contract. This was mainly in the context of austerity and budget cuts affecting the Council and the highways contract had been examined to see whether savings could be found. She said that there would be consequences if a contract was terminated and there would also be substantial costs. Councillor Dore also stated that the Council would not move funding from other critical services which it provided to fund the highways contract.

Councillor Bryan Lodge responded in relation the question concerning reputation. He said that where there was peaceful protest and there were not breaches of safety zones relating to the Streets Ahead work, then there was no reason for people to be removed. He said that he supported peoples’ right to peaceful protest. 

5.2.3

Public Question Concerning Selective Licensing

Ibrahim Ullah made reference to consultation relating to Selective Licensing for the Abbeydale Road corridor and he asked why the Council was not using other measures to deal with landlords who were not considered to be good. He said that the introduction of a Selective Licensing scheme might punish good landlords, who were in the majority.

Councillor Jayne Dunn, the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, responded that it was not the intention of the Council to punish good landlords. The Selective Licensing consultation was being undertaken widely to give an opportunity for the local community to contribute.

She said that many properties in the area had evidence of serious hazards which could affect tenants and the problems in the area were of a larger scale than only one or two landlords. Depending on the evidence, it might be that a smaller corridor that would be subject to a licensing scheme. For example, the Selective Licensing scheme introduced in Page Hall had been successful and it had been found that there was not sufficient evidence to extend that scheme further.

Councillor Dunn stated that she understood the concerns which might be raised by good landlords. The Council would endeavour to keep the costs of a Selective Licensing scheme as low as possible. She said that she hoped that the questioner would be assured by her response and said that the Council would work with landlords in the Abbeydale Road area.

5.2.4

Public Questions Concerning the Trees and Woodlands Strategy

Dave Dillner asked a question concerning the progress of the Council’s Tree Strategy.

Councillor Mary Lea, the Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Leisure responded that the Trees and Woodlands Strategy included areas across all parts of Sheffield. She said there were approximately 4.5 million trees in Sheffield. Consultation had taken place in relation to the strategy and whilst there was not a firm date for the publication of the Strategy, it would be at some point this year.

5.2.5

Public Question Concerning Online Abuse

Adam Butcher asked what the Council was doing to make sure the online abuse of all Councillors is stopped.

Councillor Julie Dore, the Leader of the Council stated that whilst she did not engage with social media, there were also instances of abuse using emails and in telephone messages. Councillor Dore gave an account of her own circumstances which included her having to go to a safe house for four days and having Police officers outside of her home and an injunction put in place following a very distressing incident on her property.

She felt that this was a very difficult problem and acknowledged that others were also subject to such issues of abuse. Action was needed both by the Government of the UK and other nations to help address the issue. There were also measures which were taken by the Council with regard to email, such as the use of firewalls. Councillor Dore said that other Cabinet Members had also had similar experiences of threats or abuse and invited others to comment.

Councillor Jack Scott referred to online threats which he had experienced. He said that people would not back down in face of bullying or abuse and he recognised that the Sheffield Tree Action Groups had said that abuse was not acceptable. He said that he had been offended by a particular post on social media which had pictured a noose around his neck. He had also heard similar concerns of other councillors and stated that the City Council did not tolerate behaviour which included bullying, intimidation and threats.

Councillor Bryan Lodge said that he had been subject to various incidents and behaviours. He said that all City Councillors had chosen to serve the public and whilst there may political ‘knock-about’ in the Council Chamber, there was respect towards other members of the Council. He remarked on the ability of people to make comments on social media.

Councillor Jayne Dunn referred to her experiences, including a break-in at her home and to her address having been published on a website. She had also been targeted in relation to issues including grit bins and refugees. She said that she did not believe she deserved to be treated in that manner and to be frightened. These incidents had affected her, her staff and customers.

5.2.6

Public Question Concerning Grit Bins

Adam Butcher submitted a question concerning what the Council was doing to ensure that there were sufficient grit bins to help make sure that carers who worked with elderly and disabled people could do their jobs. He requested a written answer to the question.