Agenda item

11.1

It was formally moved by Councillor Robert Murphy, and formally seconded by Councillor Douglas Johnson, that this Council:-

(a)       notes the recent application to the High Court by Sheffield City Council to commit Councillor Alison Teal, potentially to prison;

(b)       notes that the case was dismissed by the Court against Councillor Teal after the Judge agreed with Councillor Teal’s view of the facts and law;

(c)        is seriously concerned that a member of the opposition on this City Council was selected from a significantly larger group of protestors for the case;

(d)       believes that the nationwide bad publicity has brought severe reputational damage to the City Council and the City of Sheffield;

(e)       is seriously concerned that despite the Judge's findings, there has been no public apology, statement or investigation by the Administration;

(f)        calls for an independent enquiry into the conduct of members of the Administration and Council officers that led to this case being brought, the enquiry team being agreed by all groups represented on Sheffield City Council, and the findings made public; and

(g)        will ensure that the enquiry team will have access to all information requested.

11.2

Whereupon, it was formally moved by Councillor Jack Scott, and formally seconded by Councillor Mick Rooney, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the addition of the following words:-

(a)        notes that Sheffield City Council was successful in its applications to the court in issuing civil injunctions against Messrs Calvin Payne and Dave Dillner, Councillor Alison Teal and “persons unknown”;

(b)        reiterates that any decisions to pursue potential breaches of the injunction are made completely independently of Members and that the impartiality of the legal process and the courts must be respected;

(c)        notes the mover and seconder of this motion have been informed on several occasions that the legal action against Councillor Teal was not political, but an independent decision, and asks Councillors to stop making allegations which are categorically untrue, and notes that Councillors have already been informed of this by the Chief Executive and the Monitoring Officer;

(d)        further notes that no Councillor is above the law and that this Council opposes the illegal entry of safety zones to prevent work from happening;          

(e)        notes that this Administration has always respected the right to peacefully protest, but when someone enters the safety zone their action is no longer legal as it prevents work from being safely carried out, and that by entering the safety zone a trespasser is putting the potential safety of themselves, staff and other protestors and bystanders at substantial risk;

(f)         believes that public safety is of paramount importance and, as reaffirmed and agreed by the High Court, it is a breach of the injunction and therefore unlawful for protestors to enter the safety zone and prevent work from being safely carried out;

(g)        believes that the reported intimidation tactics being used by protestors to frighten people in their own homes are deplorable and notes that pre-dawn mask wearing by protestors has been described by residents as “sinister”, and condemns all threats and abuse regardless of which side one takes in this debate; and

(h)        reaffirms its commitment to the Streets-Ahead scheme which is ensuring a sustained and greener future for Sheffield streets, as well as significantly improved roads and pavements, and that any illegal activity preventing such work should be opposed.

11.3

It was then formally moved by Councillor Douglas Johnson, and formally seconded by Councillor Robert Murphy, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of a new paragraph (h) as follows:-

(h)       apologises for the alarm and distress caused to Councillor Alison Teal.

11.4

The amendment moved by Councillor Jack Scott was put to the vote and was carried.

11.5

The amendment moved by Councillor Douglas Johnson was then put to the vote and was negatived.

11.6

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

11.6.1

The votes on the Substantive Motion were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-