Agenda item

5.1

Public Question in respect of Student Accommodation

5.1.1

Nigel Slack asked that with recent announcements of proposals for student flats above the former TJ Hughes store, on the car park behind the city centre substation, and others, how many student flats/beds are now in the development pipeline for the city centre, and how many student flats/beds currently exist in the city centre? Mr. Slack also asked that with a predicted downturn in student numbers, and most Universities having money issues, is this sustainable?

5.1.2

In response, the Leader of the Council (Councillor Julie Dore) indicated that she would supply Mr. Slack with the statistics that he has asked for.  She stated that a detailed study relating to the sustainability of student accommodation in the city was to be undertaken involving both of the city’s universities, and the results of the study would be used to inform future Council policy in this matter.  She commented that Council officers were of the opinion that the student accommodation market in the city had not yet reached saturation point, and there still remained scope for existing lower quality student accommodation to be replaced by new higher quality provision, and this was expected to be confirmed by the study.  Councillor Dore added that an updated Sheffield Housing Strategy would be submitted to a meeting of the Cabinet in the near future, and housing mix, including accommodation for students, would be included in that strategy.

5.2

Public Question in respect of Demolitions Under the Heart of the City Phase II Proposals

5.2.1

Nigel Slack commented that with the Council's record over heritage buildings & demolitions, he would suggest that the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families may wish to revisit her question at the last Cabinet meeting to the senior officer presenting the Heart of the City Phase II report.  The Cabinet Member had asked whether any 'grade 2 or other listed buildings were to be demolished' (as part of the redevelopment).  Mr. Slack queried whether the Cabinet Member had noted, as Mr. Slack had, that the officer's response was evasive?  The officer’s response was that 'no star grade buildings would be demolished'. Mr. Slack therefore wished to seek clarity on this matter, and asked will any listed buildings be liable for demolition under the Heart of the City Phase II proposals?  If so, which ones and what is the grade of listing for each?

5.2.2

In response, Councillor Jackie Drayton, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, commented that heritage and conservation in the city was highly valued by the Council and, by way of example, she referred to the work being undertaken towards securing a future use for the Old Town Hall building in the Haymarket area.  She stated that she did not agree with Mr. Slack’s view that the officer had been evasive when answering her question at the previous Cabinet meeting, and she added that, as the officer stated at the Cabinet meeting, there are no proposals to demolish any listed building as part of the Heart of the City Phase II proposals.

5.3

Public Question in respect of Call-in of Cabinet Decisions

5.3.1

Nigel Slack asked how many Cabinet decisions have been called in or reviewed by Scrutiny Committees in the last 12 months?  Of those, how many were disposed of under each of the potential courses of action, i.e.:-

(a)   refer the decision back to the decision making body or individual for reconsideration in the light of recommendations from the Committee?;

(b)   request that the decision be deferred until the Scrutiny Committee has considered relevant issues and made recommendations to the Executive?;

(c)   take no action in relation to the called-in decision but consider whether issues arising from the call-in need to be fed back to the decision maker or added to the work programme of an existing Scrutiny Committee?;

Mr. Slack also asked how many referrals for reconsideration resulted in a changed decision by the decision maker?

5.3.2

In response, the Leader of the Council (Councillor Julie Dore) indicated that she would supply Mr. Slack with the statistics that he has asked for.