Agenda item

Public Parks

19.1

It was formally moved by Councillor Gail Smith, and formally seconded by Councillor Roger Davison, that this Council:-

(a)       notes that 14^th to 23^rd July is “Love Parks” week;

(b)       believes that Sheffield has some of the best public parks in the country and our parks are something which sets Sheffield apart as the “Outdoor City”; and

(c)        calls on the Authority to get involved in Love Parks week and become an official supporter of the campaign.

19.2

Whereupon, it was formally moved by Councillor Mary Lea, and formally seconded by Councillor Talib Hussain, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of paragraph (c) and the addition of new paragraphs (c) and (d) as follows:-

(c)        notes that this Administration is committed to promoting our green spaces and is fully supporting the upcoming ‘Love Parks week’ and that Sheffield City Council will be an official supporter of the campaign; and

(d)       notes the Administration’s considerable achievements in securing the best possible parks and green spaces for the city, despite relentless government cuts, including:-

(i)         a huge £1.5m investment in our parks over the next three years;

(ii)        the biggest deal of its kind in the country for tennis in parks; with courts at nine sites being created, or otherwise brought back into use after becoming, in many cases, derelict and unplayable;

(iii)       30 signed Run Routes have been created at 14 locations across the city, providing simple to follow trails through Sheffield’s parks and woodlands;

(iv)       state of the art 3G football pitches and football hub at Thorncliffe, High Green;

(v)        improved wheelchair and disability access to our parks to make Sheffield an outdoor city for all;

(vi)       officially recognised even more areas with fields in trust status, such as Ochre Dike Playing Fields which is one of more than 800 green open spaces in Sheffield;

(vii)      creation of 14 additional woodlands and, in the last tree planting season alone, more than 8,600 extra trees in 40 locations; and

(viii)     Sheffield boasts one of the largest numbers of 'Friends Of' groups in the UK, in comparison with other major cities, and by working in this partnership, the Administration ensures that our green spaces are well used and maintained.

19.3

On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

19.4

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

(a)       notes that 14th to 23rd July is “Love Parks” week;

(b)       believes that Sheffield has some of the best public parks in the country and our parks are something which sets Sheffield apart as the “Outdoor City”;

(c)        notes that this Administration is committed to promoting our green spaces and is fully supporting the upcoming ‘Love Parks week’ and that Sheffield City Council will be an official supporter of the campaign; and

(d)       notes the Administration’s considerable achievements in securing the best possible parks and green spaces for the city, despite relentless government cuts, including:-

(i)         a huge £1.5m investment in our parks over the next three years;

(ii)        the biggest deal of its kind in the country for tennis in parks; with courts at nine sites being created, or otherwise brought back into use after becoming, in many cases, derelict and unplayable;

(iii)       30 signed Run Routes have been created at 14 locations across the city, providing simple to follow trails through Sheffield’s parks and woodlands;

(iv)       state of the art 3G football pitches and football hub at Thorncliffe, High Green;

(v)        improved wheelchair and disability access to our parks to make Sheffield an outdoor city for all;

(vi)       officially recognised even more areas with fields in trust status, such as Ochre Dike Playing Fields which is one of more than 800 green open spaces in Sheffield;

(vii)      creation of 14 additional woodlands and, in the last tree planting season alone, more than 8,600 extra trees in 40 locations; and

(viii)     Sheffield boasts one of the largest numbers of 'Friends Of' groups in the UK, in comparison with other major cities, and by working in this partnership, the Administration ensures that our green spaces are well used and maintained.

19.4.1

(NOTE: Councillors Andy Nash, Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Adam Hanrahan, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Roger Davison, Shaffaq Mohammed, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Ian Auckland, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, Gail Smith, David Baker, Penny Baker and Vickie Priestley voted for paragraphs (a) to (c) of the Substantive Motion and abstained from voting on paragraph (d) of the Substantive Motion, and asked for this to be recorded.)