Agenda item

Notice of Motion Regarding "The Big City Conversation" - Given By Councillor Terry Fox And To Be Seconded By Councillor Bryan Lodge

That this Council:-

 

(a)       notes that as part of the recent Local Democracy Week a drop in-stall was set-up at the Moor Market for three days, with people asked for their views about the issues that affect them and how they want to have their say in the upcoming Big City Conversation;

(b)       notes that many conversations were held over these days with Sheffield shoppers and there were 433 written responses recorded, with the key issues being transport, the environment, homelessness, rough sleeping and begging in the city centre, anti-social behaviour, housing and city centre regeneration;

 

(c)        notes that on 5th November, the Big City Conversation launches across Sheffield, and that this is a chance for everyone in the city to get involved and have their say on the things that really matter;

 

(d)       believes that this is a positive opportunity to seek improvements to how the Council works and gain a wide range of views from different people, groups and partners across the city through community engagement, to not only look at different governance systems, but to hear about the how Council can better engage and serve the people of Sheffield;

 

(e)       believes that it is crucially important to hold consultation events in every ward of the city and that this should be directed to where people actually are, such as tenant and resident associations, shopping centres, sports centres, community groups, and online, to ensure that as many opinions as possible are heard;

 

(f)        notes that a series of events is under way, the first one will be on 30th October specifically looking at governance issues, which will hear from a range of national experts, local business and community groups to discuss how the Council operates, and these events will be independently chaired; and

(g)       believes that this is a fantastic opportunity to explore how decisions are made that affect everyone in Sheffield and that people’s views must be properly heard in how to best approach this.

 

 

Minutes:

6.1

It was moved by Councillor Terry Fox, and seconded by Councillor Bryan Lodge, that this Council:-

 

 

 

(a)       notes that as part of the recent Local Democracy Week a drop-in stall was set-up at the Moor Market for three days, with people asked for their views about the issues that affect them and how they want to have their say in the upcoming Big City Conversation;

 

(b)       notes that many conversations were held over these days with Sheffield shoppers and there were 433 written responses recorded, with the key issues being transport, the environment, homelessness, rough sleeping and begging in the city centre, anti-social behaviour, housing and city centre regeneration;

 

(c)        notes that on 31st October, the Big City Conversation launched across Sheffield, and that this is a chance for everyone in the city to get involved and have their say on the things that really matter;

 

(d)       believes that this is a positive opportunity to seek improvements to how the Council works and gain a wide range of views from different people, groups and partners across the city through community engagement, to not only look at different governance systems, but to hear about how the Council can better engage and serve the people of Sheffield;

 

(e)       believes that it is crucially important to hold consultation events in every ward of the city and that this should be directed to where people actually are, such as tenant and resident associations, shopping centres, sports centres, community groups, and online, to ensure that as many opinions as possible are heard;

 

(f)        notes that a series of events is under way, the first one will be on 30th October specifically looking at governance issues, which will hear from a range of national experts, local business and community groups to discuss how the Council operates, and these events will be independently chaired; and

 

(g)       believes that this is a fantastic opportunity to explore how decisions are made that affect everyone in Sheffield and that people’s views must be properly heard in how to best approach this.

 

 

6.1.1

(NOTE: With the agreement of the Council and at the request of the mover of the Motion (Councillor Terry Fox), the Motion as published on the agenda, was altered by the substitution of the date “31st October” for the date “5th November” and the word “launched” for the word “launches” in the 1st line in paragraph (c).)

 

 

6.2

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Steve Ayris, and seconded by Councillor Tim Huggan, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of new paragraphs (h) to (j) as follows:-

 

 

 

(h)       believes that the people of Sheffield must be given a choice on the type of committee system they want for Sheffield;

 

(i)         believes that a committee system that works for Sheffield, must listen to local people, react to local issues, devolve power and decision-making to Councillors in local communities and empower the people of Sheffield; and

 

(j)         additionally, requests that the Centre for Public Scrutiny is tasked to undertake groundwork interviews and to give input into the recommendations to Full Council for a decision, to prevent institutionalised views.

 

 

6.3

It was then moved by Councillor Peter Garbutt, and seconded by Councillor Alison Teal, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

 

 

 

1.         the addition of a new paragraph (c) as follows:-

 

(c)        looks forward to these 433 and all further responses being made available to all Members and the public;

 

2.         the re-lettering of original paragraphs (c) to (g) as new paragraphs (d) to (h); and

 

3.         the addition of new paragraphs (i) to (m) as follows:-

 

(i)         notes with surprise the suggestion that councillors talk to their constituents, as this gives the impression they don't already, which in the case of Green councillors isn't true;

 

(j)         asserts that, without the petition from It's Our City, this exercise would not be taking place;

 

(k)        regrets the Administration’s insufficient early engagement with It's Our City in a timely and positive way which could have avoided the need for a costly referendum;

 

(l)         further notes that the carrying out of this consultation should not interfere with the drawing up of a proposal for a committee system; and

 

(m)      believes all formal consultation events should be politically neutral and that any attempt to unduly influence them in party political ways would be highly reprehensible.

 

 

6.4

After contributions from six other Members, and following a right of reply from Councillor Terry Fox, the amendment moved by Councillor Steve Ayris was put to the vote and was carried, except for paragraph (j) which was negatived.

 

 

6.4.1

The votes on the amendment moved by Councillor Steve Ayris were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-

 

 

 

For paragraphs (h) and (i) of the amendment (78)

-

The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Gail Smith) and Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Bob McCann, Chris Rosling-Josephs, Sophie Wilson, Denise Fox, Bryan Lodge, Karen McGowan, Angela Argenzio, Michelle Cook, Kaltum Rivers, Jackie Drayton, Talib Hussain, Mark Jones, Douglas Johnson, Ruth Mersereau, Martin Phipps, Tim Huggan, Mohammed Mahroof, Anne Murphy, Mazher Iqbal, Mary Lea, Zahira Naz, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Andy Bainbridge, Vic Bowden, Moya O’Rourke, Roger Davison, Barbara Masters, Shaffaq Mohammed, Abdul Khayum, Abtisam Mohamed, Sue Alston, Cliff Woodcraft, Lewis Dagnall, Cate McDonald, Paul Turpin, Ian Auckland, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, Bob Johnson, George Lindars-Hammond, Josie Paszek, Terry Fox, Pat Midgley, Sioned-Mair Richards, Kevin Oxley, Peter Garbutt, Jim Steinke, Alison Teal, Julie Dore, Ben Miskell, Mike Drabble, Dianne Hurst, Peter Rippon, Dawn Dale, Peter Price, Garry Weatherall, Mike Chaplin, Tony Damms, Jayne Dunn, David Baker, Penny Baker, Vickie Priestley, Julie Grocutt, Francyne Johnson, Olivia Blake, Neale Gibson, Alan Hooper, Adam Hurst, Mike Levery, Mick Rooney, Jackie Satur and Paul Wood.

 

 

 

 

 

Against paragraphs (h) and (i) of the amendment (0)

-

NIL.

 

 

 

 

 

Abstained from voting on paragraphs (h) and (i) of the amendment (1)

-

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Tony Downing).

 

 

 

 

 

For paragraph (j) of the amendment (33)

-

The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Gail Smith) and Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Bob McCann, Angela Argenzio, Kaltum Rivers, Douglas Johnson, Ruth Mersereau, Martin Phipps, Tim Huggan, Mohammed Mahroof, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Vic Bowden, Roger Davison, Barbara Masters, Shaffaq Mohammed, Sue Alston, Cliff Woodcraft, Paul Turpin, Ian Auckland, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, Kevin Oxley, Peter Garbutt, Alison Teal, David Baker, Penny Baker, Vickie Priestley, Alan Hooper and Mike Levery.

 

 

 

 

 

Against paragraph (j) of the amendment (45)

-

Councillors Chris Rosling-Josephs, Sophie Wilson, Denise Fox, Bryan Lodge, Karen McGowan, Michelle Cook, Jackie Drayton, Talib Hussain, Mark Jones, Anne Murphy, Mazher Iqbal, Mary Lea, Zahira Naz, Andy Bainbridge, Moya O’Rourke, Abdul Khayum, Abtisam Mohamed, Lewis Dagnall, Cate McDonald, Bob Johnson, George Lindars-Hammond, Josie Paszek, Terry Fox, Pat Midgley, Sioned-Mair Richards, Jim Steinke, Julie Dore, Ben Miskell, Mike Drabble, Dianne Hurst, Peter Rippon, Dawn Dale, Peter Price, Garry Weatherall, Mike Chaplin, Tony Damms, Jayne Dunn, Julie Grocutt, Francyne Johnson, Olivia Blake, Neale Gibson, Adam Hurst, Mick Rooney, Jackie Satur and Paul Wood.

 

 

 

 

 

Abstained from voting on paragraph (j) of the amendment (1)

-

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Tony Downing).

 

 

6.5

The amendment moved by Councillor Peter Garbutt was then put to the vote and was carried, except for paragraphs (i) to (k) of part 3 of the amendment, which were negatived.

 

 

6.5.1

(NOTE: The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Gail Smith) and Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Bob McCann, Tim Huggan, Mohammed Mahroof, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Vic Bowden, Roger Davison, Barbara Masters, Shaffaq Mohammed, Sue Alston, Cliff Woodcraft, Ian Auckland, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, Kevin Oxley, David Baker, Penny Baker, Vickie Priestley, Alan Hooper and Mike Levery voted for parts 1, 2 and paragraphs (j) to (m) of part 3 of the amendment, and abstained from voting on paragraph (i) of the amendment, and asked for this to be recorded.)

 

 

6.6

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 as part of the recent Local Democracy Week a drop-in stall was set-up at the Moor Market for three days, with people asked for their views about the issues that affect them and how they want to have their say in the upcoming Big City Conversation;

           

(b)       notes that many conversations were held over these days with Sheffield shoppers and there were 433 written responses recorded, with the key issues being transport, the environment, homelessness, rough sleeping and begging in the city centre, anti-social behaviour, housing and city centre regeneration;

 

(c)        looks forward to these 433 and all further responses being made available to all Members and the public;

 

(d)       notes that on 31st October, the Big City Conversation launched across Sheffield, and that this is a chance for everyone in the city to get involved and have their say on the things that really matter;

 

(e)       believes that this is a positive opportunity to seek improvements to how the Council works and gain a wide range of views from different people, groups and partners across the city through community engagement, to not only look at different governance systems, but to hear about how the Council can better engage and serve the people of Sheffield;

 

(f)        believes that it is crucially important to hold consultation events in every ward of the city and that this should be directed to where people actually are, such as tenant and resident associations, shopping centres, sports centres, community groups, and online, to ensure that as many opinions as possible are heard;

 

(g)       notes that a series of events is under way, the first one will be on 30th October specifically looking at governance issues, which will hear from a range of national experts, local business and community groups to discuss how the Council operates, and these events will be independently chaired;

 

(h)       believes that this is a fantastic opportunity to explore how decisions are made that affect everyone in Sheffield and that people’s views must be properly heard in how to best approach this;

 

(i)         believes that the people of Sheffield must be given a choice on the type of committee system they want for Sheffield;

 

(j)         believes that a committee system that works for Sheffield, must listen to local people, react to local issues, devolve power and decision-making to Councillors in local communities and empower the people of Sheffield;

 

(k)        further notes that the carrying out of this consultation should not interfere with the drawing up of a proposal for a committee system; and

 

(l)         believes all formal consultation events should be politically neutral and that any attempt to unduly influence them in party political ways would be highly reprehensible.