That this Council:-
(a) notes the substantial rainfall over recent weeks which have caused widespread flooding and damage to communities throughout South Yorkshire;
(b) notes that Sheffield is continuing to work closely with those in the worst affected areas, and that as well as offering financial support to affected residents and businesses, clean-up efforts in the rivers and brooks are ongoing, with the Council working alongside the Environment Agency and other key partners;
(c) believes that whilst the 64mm of heavy rain brought travel disruption to many areas of the city, it was thanks to the Council’s hard-working contractors, partners, community volunteers and investment in new flood defences that very few properties were flooded during this spate of bad weather;
(d) notes also the involvement of South Yorkshire’s Fire and Rescue (SYFR) Service and that this again demonstrates the importance of the Service, and why this Council was right to oppose the proposed cuts to SYFR which helped lead to these plans being shelved for at least a year;
(e) notes the significant investment in flood defences under this Council with the flood defences installed along the River Don in the Lower Don Valley proving to be a major success in protecting the city and its residents;
(f) notes that although the amount of rainfall was substantial, the defences coped well, over-topping only slightly, which is even more remarkable given it was Sheffield’s wettest November day on record and the Environment Agency have confirmed that water levels reached the equivalent of the 2007 floods;
(g) recalls that, in the 2007 floods, two lives were tragically lost, more than 1,000 people were either evacuated or unable to reach their homes, and millions of pounds worth of damage was caused to the city and thankfully, the city has not had to endure such hardship or tragedy this time;
(h) expresses sympathy and solidarity with all of those affected by the recent floods and believes that support and assistance must continue to be provided to neighbouring local authorities;
(i) notes that this Council has suspended council tax for the affected properties in Sheffield for a period of three months to allow residents to get back on their feet and, in addition, the Council will provide £500 to those whose houses have been affected by flooding;
(j) notes, in addition, that for local small and medium sized businesses affected, the Council will be adopting a Government scheme which will include financial support and business rates relief for affected properties, and though it is understood funding will only go some way to restoring property and possessions damaged by flood water, it is hoped it will offer some comfort in the midst of difficult times;
(k) notes that the funds to provide £500 to each affected household was promised by the Government, however, some objectionable criteria conditions have been added to this, meaning that there is a threshold of needing twenty five residential properties to be affected before the Government will refund local authorities;
(l) notes that whilst this may not be a large financial problem for the Council, and that the commitment will be honoured, it is once again a situation whereby the Government make a promise and yet leave local authorities to fund it;
(m) contends that the focus now is on supporting those who have been affected by the flooding, and notes that a refuge centre was opened in Hillsborough by the Council, but was later closed when it became apparent that affected residents had made their own arrangements;
(n) notes that the Leader of the Labour Party called on the Government to declare a national emergency and provide greater assistance in response to the flooding in Yorkshire and Derbyshire and that the Prime Minister faced widespread criticism for perceived inaction to the crisis;
(o) believes that there needs to be a rigorous examination of how, as a country, we can do everything we can to reduce flooding and to understand the role that climate change and global heating plays, and to ensure that everything possible is being done to reduce the impact and reduce the root causes i.e. changing environmental factors;
(p) believes local communities have shown amazing resilience throughout this period and that reassurance is given that this Council will continue to work with our dedicated partners, signposting people to relevant services and available funding where we can; and
(q) believes that there is no room for complacency and notes that the Council has already developed a series of new flood protection schemes and that it is essential that we keep up the pressure on central government to give us the required funding, and believes that Sheffield has shown the Government that when they invest in Sheffield’s flood defences they clearly work in protecting homes, businesses and essential infrastructure.
Minutes:
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6.1 |
It was moved by Councillor Bryan Lodge, and seconded by Councillor Tony Damms, that this Council:- |
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(a) notes the substantial rainfall over recent weeks which have caused widespread flooding and damage to communities throughout South Yorkshire;
(b) notes that Sheffield is continuing to work closely with those in the worst affected areas, and that as well as offering financial support to affected residents and businesses, clean-up efforts in the rivers and brooks are ongoing, with the Council working alongside the Environment Agency and other key partners;
(c) believes that whilst the 64mm of heavy rain brought travel disruption to many areas of the city, it was thanks to the Council’s hard-working contractors, partners, community volunteers and investment in new flood defences that very few properties were flooded during this spate of bad weather;
(d) notes also the involvement of South Yorkshire’s Fire and Rescue (SYFR) Service and that this again demonstrates the importance of the Service, and why this Council was right to oppose the proposed cuts to SYFR which helped lead to these plans being shelved for at least a year;
(e) notes the significant investment in flood defences under this Council with the flood defences installed along the River Don in the Lower Don Valley proving to be a major success in protecting the city and its residents;
(f) notes that although the amount of rainfall was substantial, the defences coped well, over-topping only slightly, which is even more remarkable given it was Sheffield’s wettest November day on record and the Environment Agency have confirmed that water levels reached the equivalent of the 2007 floods;
(g) recalls that, in the 2007 floods, two lives were tragically lost, more than 1,000 people were either evacuated or unable to reach their homes, and millions of pounds worth of damage was caused to the city and thankfully, the city has not had to endure such hardship or tragedy this time;
(h) expresses sympathy and solidarity with all of those affected by the recent floods and believes that support and assistance must continue to be provided to neighbouring local authorities;
(i) notes that this Council has suspended council tax for the affected properties in Sheffield for a period of three months to allow residents to get back on their feet and, in addition, the Council will provide £500 to those whose houses have been affected by flooding;
(j) notes, in addition, that for local small and medium sized businesses affected, the Council will be adopting a Government scheme which will include financial support and business rates relief for affected properties, and though it is understood funding will only go some way to restoring property and possessions damaged by flood water, it is hoped it will offer some comfort in the midst of difficult times;
(k) notes that the funds to provide £500 to each affected household was promised by the Government, however, some objectionable criteria conditions have been added to this, meaning that there is a threshold of needing twenty five residential properties to be affected before the Government will refund local authorities;
(l) notes that whilst this may not be a large financial problem for the Council, and that the commitment will be honoured, it is once again a situation whereby the Government make a promise and yet leave local authorities to fund it;
(m) contends that the focus now is on supporting those who have been affected by the flooding, and notes that a refuge centre was opened in Hillsborough by the Council, but was later closed when it became apparent that affected residents had made their own arrangements;
(n) notes that the Leader of the Labour Party called on the Government to declare a national emergency and provide greater assistance in response to the flooding in Yorkshire and Derbyshire and that the Prime Minister faced widespread criticism for perceived inaction to the crisis;
(o) believes that there needs to be a rigorous examination of how, as a country, we can do everything we can to reduce flooding and to understand the role that climate change and global heating plays, and to ensure that everything possible is being done to reduce the impact and reduce the root causes i.e. changing environmental factors;
(p) believes local communities have shown amazing resilience throughout this period and that reassurance is given that this Council will continue to work with our dedicated partners, signposting people to relevant services and available funding where we can; and
(q) believes that there is no room for complacency and notes that the Council has already developed a series of new flood protection schemes and that it is essential that we keep up the pressure on central government to give us the required funding, and believes that Sheffield has shown the Government that when they invest in Sheffield’s flood defences they clearly work in protecting homes, businesses and essential infrastructure. |
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6.2 |
Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Richard Shaw, and seconded by Councillor Simon Clement-Jones, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of a new paragraph (r) as follows:- |
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(r) requests that officers submit an application to the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) which was set up to respond to major natural disasters and express European solidarity to disaster-stricken regions within Europe. |
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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 the addition of new paragraphs (p) to (u) as follows, and the re-lettering of original paragraphs (p) and (q) as new paragraphs (v) and (w):- |
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(p) notes the report on sustainable flood management by the RSPB, which, for Sheffield, would mean rewilding and reforesting the moorland to the west of the city and curtailing the grouse shooting industry and damaging activities connected with it, such as the burning back of the undergrowth;
(q) regrets the city’s lack of action on reduction in CO2 emissions since the Climate Emergency was announced in February;
(r) resolves to bring forward the creation of the Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change as soon as possible;
(s) resolves to create a cross-party Climate Change Committee tasked with urgently bringing forward actions which will bring the CO2 emissions within the City down as quickly as possible, and by at least as much as the 14% per annum advised by the Tyndall Centre Report presented to Council in July; and with overviewing all Council decisions to ensure they are consistent with the needs of the Climate Emergency;
(t) further resolves for the Council and Climate Change Committee to work to these ends with all other local authorities, fire and police services, health services, universities, residents and businesses across South Yorkshire, including formally with the Citizens’ Assembly when formed;
(u) further resolves for the Council to join the list of signatories for the European Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, and to write to urge other councils in the region and the Mayor of Sheffield City Region to join the list of signatories, using their framework and support to meet their carbon commitments and our own to be carbon neutral by 2030, noting that climate change has no borders; |
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6.4 |
After contributions from four other Members, and following a right of reply from Councillor Bryan Lodge, the amendment moved by Councillor Richard Shaw was put to the vote and was carried. |
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6.5 |
The amendment moved by Councillor Peter Garbutt was then put to the vote and paragraphs (q), (s) and (t) were negatived and paragraphs (p), (r) and (u) were carried on the basis that they were to be additional paragraphs to the Substantive Motion. |
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6.6 |
The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:- |
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RESOLVED: That this Council:- |
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(a) |
notes the substantial rainfall over recent weeks which have caused widespread flooding and damage to communities throughout South Yorkshire; |
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(b) |
notes that Sheffield is continuing to work closely with those in the worst affected areas, and that as well as offering financial support to affected residents and businesses, clean-up efforts in the rivers and brooks are ongoing, with the Council working alongside the Environment Agency and other key partners; |
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(c) |
believes that whilst the 64mm of heavy rain brought travel disruption to many areas of the city, it was thanks to the Council’s hard-working contractors, partners, community volunteers and investment in new flood defences that very few properties were flooded during this spate of bad weather; |
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(d) |
notes also the involvement of South Yorkshire’s Fire and Rescue (SYFR) Service and that this again demonstrates the importance of the Service, and why this Council was right to oppose the proposed cuts to SYFR which helped lead to these plans being shelved for at least a year; |
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(e) |
notes the significant investment in flood defences under this Council with the flood defences installed along the River Don in the Lower Don Valley proving to be a major success in protecting the city and its residents; |
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(f) |
notes that although the amount of rainfall was substantial, the defences coped well, over-topping only slightly, which is even more remarkable given it was Sheffield’s wettest November day on record and the Environment Agency have confirmed that water levels reached the equivalent of the 2007 floods; |
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(g) |
recalls that, in the 2007 floods, two lives were tragically lost, more than 1,000 people were either evacuated or unable to reach their homes, and millions of pounds worth of damage was caused to the city and thankfully, the city has not had to endure such hardship or tragedy this time; |
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(h) |
expresses sympathy and solidarity with all of those affected by the recent floods and believes that support and assistance must continue to be provided to neighbouring local authorities; |
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(i) |
notes that this Council has suspended council tax for the affected properties in Sheffield for a period of three months to allow residents to get back on their feet and, in addition, the Council will provide £500 to those whose houses have been affected by flooding; |
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(j) |
notes, in addition, that for local small and medium sized businesses affected, the Council will be adopting a Government scheme which will include financial support and business rates relief for affected properties, and though it is understood funding will only go some way to restoring property and possessions damaged by flood water, it is hoped it will offer some comfort in the midst of difficult times; |
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(k) |
notes that the funds to provide £500 to each affected household was promised by the Government, however, some objectionable criteria conditions have been added to this, meaning that there is a threshold of needing twenty five residential properties to be affected before the Government will refund local authorities; |
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(l) |
notes that whilst this may not be a large financial problem for the Council, and that the commitment will be honoured, it is once again a situation whereby the Government make a promise and yet leave local authorities to fund it; |
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(m) |
contends that the focus now is on supporting those who have been affected by the flooding, and notes that a refuge centre was opened in Hillsborough by the Council, but was later closed when it became apparent that affected residents had made their own arrangements; |
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(n) |
notes that the Leader of the Labour Party called on the Government to declare a national emergency and provide greater assistance in response to the flooding in Yorkshire and Derbyshire and that the Prime Minister faced widespread criticism for perceived inaction to the crisis; |
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(o) |
believes that there needs to be a rigorous examination of how, as a country, we can do everything we can to reduce flooding and to understand the role that climate change and global heating plays, and to ensure that everything possible is being done to reduce the impact and reduce the root causes i.e. changing environmental factors; |
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(p) |
believes local communities have shown amazing resilience throughout this period and that reassurance is given that this Council will continue to work with our dedicated partners, signposting people to relevant services and available funding where we can; |
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(q) |
believes that there is no room for complacency and notes that the Council has already developed a series of new flood protection schemes and that it is essential that we keep up the pressure on central government to give us the required funding, and believes that Sheffield has shown the Government that when they invest in Sheffield’s flood defences they clearly work in protecting homes, businesses and essential infrastructure; |
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(r) |
requests that officers submit an application to the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) which was set up to respond to major natural disasters and express European solidarity to disaster-stricken regions within Europe; |
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(s) |
notes the report on sustainable flood management by the RSPB, which, for Sheffield, would mean rewilding and reforesting the moorland to the west of the city and curtailing the grouse shooting industry and damaging activities connected with it, such as the burning back of the undergrowth; |
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(t) |
resolves to bring forward the creation of the Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change as soon as possible; and |
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(u) |
further resolves for the Council to join the list of signatories for the European Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, and to write to urge other councils in the region and the Mayor of Sheffield City Region to join the list of signatories, using their framework and support to meet their carbon commitments and our own to be carbon neutral by 2030, noting that climate change has no borders. |