Agenda item

3.1

Petitions

3.1.1

Petition Requesting Pedestrian Crossings Outside Sheffield Schools

The Council received an electronic petition containing 20 signatures, requesting the Council to install pedestrian crossings outside Sheffield schools.

There was no speaker to the petition.

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

3.2

Public Questions

3.2.1

Public Question Concerning Section 106 Funds for High Green Parks

David Ogle stated that £16,000 of Section 106 funds had been allocated to High Green Parks in 2016. He asked where the funding was now, why it had been held on to for two years, why there had been no consultation with the High Green community, and why had local Councillors for the Ward ignored requests for information.

Councillor Mary Lea, Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Leisure, said in response that if Section 106 funds had been allocated and not used they would still be available for a suitable project. Councillor Lea confirmed that when a project idea was found officers would consult with the community and the money would be used. She advised that, with relatively small sums of Section 106 monies, match funding was sought or it was used on an existing project, and undertook to find out the details and contact the questioner.

3.2.2

Public Question Concerning Boilers at Angram Bank Pavilion

J. Brownrigg, Ecclesfield Parish Councillor, stated that one of two gas boilers at Angram Bank Pavilion at High Green had been condemned and asked who would enforce the Council as Landlords on this matter.

Councillor Mary Lea, Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Leisure, said in response that she was not aware of the details for these boilers but advised that if the boiler was being replaced it would be included in a wider scheme of works. The Cabinet Member undertook to find out the details for this Pavilion and contact the Parish Councillor.

3.2.3

Public Question Concerning Awareness of Sickle Cell Anaemia

Gerald Edwards outlined the severity of symptoms of sickle cell anaemia and some of the difficulties experienced by those with the disease, and asked whether it would be beneficial to raise awareness within schools, with parents, and with the general public alike.

Councillor Cate McDonald, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, agreed it was a major issue and advised that it was included in the longstanding Public Health programme. The Cabinet Member undertook to get an update as to what was being done and contact the questioner.

Councillor Jackie Drayton, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families, responded that Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education was being included in schools’ curriculums which would undoubtedly cover issues relating to diseases such as sickle cell anaemia. The Cabinet Member advised that she would speak with the Director of Public Health to see if more could be done in schools and would contact the questioner if further support was needed.

3.2.4

Public Question Concerning Automaton and Digitalisation in the Workplace and its Impact on Public Health

Nigel Slack, with reference to job loss from automaton and digitalisation in the workplace and its impact on public health, asked if the Council would look at developing a joined up policy across all the relevant communities and institutions.

Councillor Cate McDonald, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said in response that the estimated rise in automated services and its subsequent impact on the population was debateable, with evidence not supporting the theorised rise in automated services. She agreed that it was something to be monitored, but was not at a critical point. 

3.2.5

Public Question Concerning the Streets Ahead Contract

Nigel Slack asked when and where the Council will publish the full list of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the Streets Ahead contract and details of the contractor’s performance against those KPIs.

Councillor Bryan Lodge, Cabinet Member for Environment and Streetscene, responded that the contract was measured in milestones rather than KPIs and information was published every month on the Council’s website. Councillor Lodge advised that the core investment period had ended at the end of December 2017, a milestone which was currently being independently assessed, although there would be further investment during the 25-year lifecycle period.

3.2.6

Public Question Concerning the Council’s Performance

Russell Johnson asked how close the Council was to renegotiating the contract with Amey considering their disastrous performance, and asked Julie Dore to review her position and resign as Leader of the Council in light of the catalogue of failures in recent years.

Councillor Julie Dore, Leader of the Council, replied that the only failures in this City were due to austerity measures imposed by the last coalition Government and continued by this Government.

3.2.7

Public Questions Concerning Trees and the Streets Ahead Contract

Sheldon Hall asked whether Labour amended the Streets Ahead contract to allow Amey to cut down trees over 70 years old and, if so, what was the purpose behind this amendment and what were the implications for the remaining twenty years of the contract.

J. Buxton asked whether Sheffield City Council had or has a contract with Amey LG Ltd and what was the payment of £600,000 for when no contract with Amey LG Ltd is available or visible to the public.

Secondly, Mr Buxton asked why Schedules 2 and 3 of the Streets Ahead contract (Output Specification and Method Statement) were redacted in full.

J. Buxton asked why numerous streets and pavements without trees still required resurfacing and whether extra resurfacing crews or extra felling crews would be taken on.

J. Buxton also asked whether the Leader of the Council, Julie Dore, had complete confidence in John Mothersole as the sponsor of the Streets Ahead contract and in his oversight of Council officers.

Councillor Bryan Lodge, Cabinet Member for Environment and Streetscene, responded to the questions. He stated that Labour had not amended the Streets Ahead contract. He confirmed that no Councillors had been involved in the drafting of the contract, which was instead done by professional officers.

Councillor Lodge confirmed he did not have the details to hand regarding the payment of £600,000 but undertook to contact the questioner outside the meeting with a response. He confirmed this response would be copied to all Council Members.

With regards to the redacted passages in the Streets Ahead contract, Councillor Lodge advised that part of the document included commercially sensitive information and had therefore been redacted. He stated that officers were currently going through the document in full and releasing as much information as possible but that this was a long process owing to the complexity of the contract.

Councillor Lodge advised that only a set percentage of roads were intended to be resurfaced in the first five years, with the rest of the road network being resurfaced on a rolling cycle based on condition surveys carried out zonally. If additional crews were needed to bring all roads up to an acceptable standard, this was a matter for Amey and would be at their cost.

In response to the final question, Councillor Julie Dore, Leader of the Council, replied that she had complete confidence in John Mothersole.

3.2.8

Public Questions Concerning Trees

Mr Dilner stated that Sheffield City Council stated in their Five Year Tree Management Strategy 2012-2017 that their strategic goals included the aims to “Improve public relationship with highway trees through positive engagement and good management” and “Improve understanding of benefits of urban trees through communications and events”, and asked whether the Council felt they had succeeded.

Secondly, Mr Dilner stated that a Forestry Commission report advised that 40-60 saplings equalled the ecosystem benefits of one mature tree, and asked why the Council had undertaken a one-for-one replacement.

Councillor Bryan Lodge, Cabinet Member for Environment and Streetscene, responded to both questions. He advised that tree management had not all gone smoothly, with a small number of people across the City remaining unhappy.

Councillor Lodge confirmed that the work undertaken had been assessed and deemed as necessary for reasons including inclusive mobility, and that engineering solutions had been completed throughout the City. He advised that concerns had been raised by residents over protestors preventing work from taking place, and highlighted that the majority of people wanted the work to continue.