Agenda item

7.1

It was moved by Councillor Paul Scriven, and seconded by Councillor Adam Hanrahan, that this Council:-

(a)       notes:-

(i)         the importance of local businesses across the city to the prosperity and vibrancy of Sheffield;

(ii)        that local economies and opportunities are improved when local businesses can thrive and be encouraged by pubic bodies;

(iii)       the employment and wealth that local business contributes to Sheffield; and

(iv)       that according to the Centre for Cities, the Sheffield economic area needs to improve on key areas such as business closures (ranked 44th of 62 areas), business start-ups (50th of 62), GVA per employee (53rd of 62) and ratio of private to public sector employment (45th of 62);

(b)       also notes that Sheffield is home to many innovative and successful businesses that create employment and wealth, but, like all cities that want to improve business friendly policies, local growth and employment opportunities, knows more can always be done;

(c)        wishes to do all it can to foster a culture of making Sheffield a great place to do business, encourage local small and medium sized businesses to set up and thrive here and to complement larger businesses by being part of their supply chains;

(d)       believes that more should be explored to support and encourage local business and help the local economy to grow; and

(e)       directs the Chief Executive to bring a report back to this Council within three months to give practical examples of what more can be done to support the local economy, including such ideas as:-

(i)         a local currency called the Sheffield Pound to encourage people to spend their money with local, independent businesses;

(ii)        more pop up shops in local shopping areas and the city centre;

(iii)       a full weekend festival of busking and street art to be held across the City;

(iv)       improving the amount of goods and services the public sector buys from local small business;

(v)        encouraging large companies engaged on public sector contracts to use at least 50% of local businesses in their supply chain;

(vi)       supporting and developing local cooperative and community interest companies in the City;

(vii)      developing and supporting "pop up market days" in the city centre and local shopping areas that promote and celebrate local food and drink, arts, gifts and crafts;

(viii)     offering business rates relief on office space for tech start-ups that offer jobs to first-time employees such as school and college leavers and graduates from local universities;

(ix)       offering business rates relief to landlords who volunteer their vacant properties for pop up shops; and

(x)        training and support for ‘getting the most from online trading’ for local small and medium sized businesses, including retail business.

7.2

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Mazher Iqbal, seconded by Councillor Abtisam Mohamed, 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 has had the most successful period of inward investment ever over recent years – landing household names like McLaren and Boeing as well as numerous smaller firms choosing Sheffield as their home because of the skills of the local workforce and the positive business climate here;

(b)       believes, however, that inward investment is only ever a small part of overall business growth, which is why this Administration continues to support local residents to start or grow a business through our business support programme, ‘Business Sheffield’, that delivers:-

(i)         100 Start Up Workshops each year on all aspects of running a business, engaging over 1,100 individuals;

(ii)        delivering start up workshops for Sheffield Hallam University and 1-2-1 support for University of Sheffield students;

(iii)       hosting a large scale networking event each quarter for 100+ businesses each time;

(iv)       directly supporting 400 individuals at pre-start stage and 300 early stage and small businesses receiving 1-2-1 support from a Business Advisor; and

(v)        supporting 350 established businesses through ongoing growth support from a Growth Advisor/Tech Scale Up Advisor;

(c)        notes that, under this Administration, the Council supports local business through its ethical procurement policy that:- 

(i)         mandates that one quote must be from a local supplier as a minimum, resulting in half of our contracts being awarded to local business since implementation;

(ii)        removes administrative burdens by increasing the tender threshold to £150k, meaning less administration for small local business;

(iii)       works in partnership with the NHS, CCG, College and Universities to replicate this across the public sector in Sheffield;

(iv)       weights 15% of tender evaluation for Social Value, with 5% of this being local economic impact of contracts; this is a significant departure from most public procurements that focus on just price / quality ratios; and

(v)        measures and monitors large contractors’ local sourcing activity as part of contract terms and conditions to encourage engagement with local supply chains;

(d)       believes that this Administration actually understands the Business Rates system (seemingly unlike the proposers of the original notice of motion), as the vast majority of businesses referenced in the original motion will already receive some form of rate relief – and that, of 19,000 businesses in Sheffield, around 11,000 already receive some form of rate relief;

(e)       notes that this Administration wants every business in Sheffield to receive the rate relief they are due and will help businesses understand how to access this;

(f)        notes increasing momentum and confidence in a vibrant and busy city centre – with footfall on the Moor bucking the national trend, up 20% from last year, with further investments from the private sector and the Council through Heart of the City 2 set to sustain this clear momentum, and Future High Streets Fund bids prepared;

(g)       notes a successful Renew Sheffield programme in conjunction with the University of Sheffield and the city centre BID that already helps bring vacant shops into use; and

(h)       notes continued support for our major events programme, like DocFest, Off the Shelf, Sheffield Adventure Film Festival and many more, despite sustained budget cuts since 2010 and the formation of the coalition government.

7.3

It was then moved by Councillor Douglas Johnson, seconded by Councillor Martin Phipps, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of new paragraphs (c) to (h) as follows, and the re-lettering of original paragraphs (c) to (e) as new paragraphs (i) to (k):-

(c)        notes the increasing reliance of the Council on business rates funding due to cuts in central government grant funding;

(d)       believes that big businesses already have very significant advantages over the small, independent and social sector businesses that do so much to enhance the character of Sheffield;

(e)       is saddened by the loss of Sheffield businesses such as Rare & Racy, and other shops on Division St, on Chapel Walk, and many others;

(f)        notes with concern, recent comments by the Administration that the proposed Castlegate conservation area should “accelerate” development, not “get in its way”, and the threat to review all of the city’s Conservation Areas;

(g)       believes that all new development must build without destroying the assets Sheffield already has; and

(h)       believes that the city’s heritage buildings offer opportunities (including through leisure and tourism) for local business which have yet to be realised and offer future potential;

7.4

After contributions from five other Members, and following a right of reply from Councillor Paul Scriven, the amendment moved by Councillor Mazher Iqbal was put to the vote and was carried.

7.5

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

7.6

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 Sheffield has had the most successful period of inward investment ever over recent years – landing household names like McLaren and Boeing as well as numerous smaller firms choosing Sheffield as their home because of the skills of the local workforce and the positive business climate here;

(b)       believes, however, that inward investment is only ever a small part of overall business growth, which is why this Administration continues to support local residents to start or grow a business through our business support programme, ‘Business Sheffield’, that delivers:-

(i)         100 Start Up Workshops each year on all aspects of running a business, engaging over 1,100 individuals;

(ii)        delivering start up workshops for Sheffield Hallam University and 1-2-1 support for University of Sheffield students;

(iii)       hosting a large scale networking event each quarter for 100+ businesses each time;

(iv)       directly supporting 400 individuals at pre-start stage and 300 early stage and small businesses receiving 1-2-1 support from a Business Advisor; and

(v)        supporting 350 established businesses through ongoing growth support from a Growth Advisor/Tech Scale Up Advisor;

(c)        notes that, under this Administration, the Council supports local business through its ethical procurement policy that:- 

(i)         mandates that one quote must be from a local supplier as a minimum, resulting in half of our contracts being awarded to local business since implementation;

(ii)        removes administrative burdens by increasing the tender threshold to £150k, meaning less administration for small local business;

(iii)       works in partnership with the NHS, CCG, College and Universities to replicate this across the public sector in Sheffield;

(iv)       weights 15% of tender evaluation for Social Value, with 5% of this being local economic impact of contracts; this is a significant departure from most public procurements that focus on just price / quality ratios; and

(v)        measures and monitors large contractors’ local sourcing activity as part of contract terms and conditions to encourage engagement with local supply chains;

(d)       believes that this Administration actually understands the Business Rates system (seemingly unlike the proposers of the original notice of motion), as the vast majority of businesses referenced in the original motion will already receive some form of rate relief – and that, of 19,000 businesses in Sheffield, around 11,000 already receive some form of rate relief;

(e)       notes that this Administration wants every business in Sheffield to receive the rate relief they are due and will help businesses understand how to access this;

(f)        notes increasing momentum and confidence in a vibrant and busy city centre – with footfall on the Moor bucking the national trend, up 20% from last year, with further investments from the private sector and the Council through Heart of the City 2 set to sustain this clear momentum, and Future High Streets Fund bids prepared;

(g)       notes a successful Renew Sheffield programme in conjunction with the University of Sheffield and the city centre BID that already helps bring vacant shops into use; and

(h)       notes continued support for our major events programme, like DocFest, Off the Shelf, Sheffield Adventure Film Festival and many more, despite sustained budget cuts since 2010 and the formation of the coalition government.

7.6.1

(NOTE: Councillors Kaltum Rivers, Douglas Johnson, Rob Murphy, Martin Phipps and Alison Teal voted for paragraphs (b), (c), (e) and (h), and abstained from voting on paragraphs (a), (d), (f) and (g) of the Substantive Motion, and asked for this to be recorded.)