Agenda item

5.1

Public Question in respect of Amey work in High Green

Mr Barry Bellamy attended the meeting on behalf of High Green Action Team and referred to works undertaken in the High Green area by AMEY as part of the Streets Ahead Project. Mr Bellamy commented that he believed the works had caused serious safety issues in the area and that, despite his attempts to arrange a meeting with Senior Council Officers and Cabinet Members, this had not taken place. Mr Bellamy therefore asked the following questions:-

1) How do Sheffield City Council know that AMEY is doing a great job (as stated by Cabinet Members) if there is no-one checking their work?

2) Why are AMEY’s sub-contractors being allowed to make decisions about what work is to be done (i.e replacing kerbs and which material to use on footpaths?

3) Why is there no supervision of AMEY’s sub-contractors?

4) Who is checking the quality of the work AMEY are doing?

5) Who is checking the measured work AMEY is doing?

6) Who has authorised the use of the ‘slurry’ type material that is being used on the footpaths?

7) Why is no-one checking safety barriers around the area?

8) Why should it be up to us to bring these serious matters to the attention of AMEY and the highways department?

In response Councillor Jack Scott, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Streetscene, commented that he understood the problems highlighted were unique to the High Green area and were caused by power problem in the area. He had met with the Head of AMEY and Steve Robinson, Head of Highway Maintenance, to discuss a Completion Action Plan for the area and this could be shared with Mr Bellamy.

Councillor Scott commented that he was confident that, once completed, the residents of High Green would recognise that the problems they were experiencing were worth it for the works that had been undertaken. Any sub-contractors had to be approved by the Council. The use of slurry was authorised by the Council and was used throughout the country as it was felt to be more effective than using concrete and there were no plans to change that. Residents were at the locations all the time, unlike officers or AMEY and, therefore, the fastest way of getting things done was for them to report any problems and he was aware that many of the complaints had not been reported to the call centre. A second meeting would be held to ensure that things were progressing as expected and High Green Action Team could be involved in that if they wished.

5.2

Public Question in respect of Requests for Information

Mr Nigel Slack reported that he had a number of requests for information still outstanding ranging from one month to ten months. He therefore asked when such delays came to be seen as too long?

Councillor Bryan Lodge, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, reported that, in relation to Mr Slack’s request for the redacted information in respect of the Streets Ahead contract, the information would be published on the Council’s website. However, given the pressures on resources this was not a priority at the moment. Approval was needed from the external contractors and at this stage he could not provide Mr Slack with a date when this would be published.

Councillor Mary Lea, Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Independent Living, reported that the information Mr Slack had requested at the last meeting would be sent to him shortly.

5.3

Public Questions in respect of the future of Batemoor and Council Practice

Mr Martin Brighton asked the following five questions:-

1) Is it reasonable to assume that when an Elected Member makes promises, then these promises will be kept?

2) Does this Council practice the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’?

3) Does this Council think it acceptable to impose sanction and prejudice on the basis of absence of evidence?

4) Is the current Council leader aware that some of her Councillors are stalking this citizen?

5) What are the current plans for the short, medium and long term future for Batemoor?

In response the Leader of the Council, Councillor Julie Dore commented that it was reasonable to assume that when an Elected Member makes promises, then those promises will be kept. The Council did practice the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’. It was possible to impose sanctions where there was evidence. However, there may be misunderstanding between parties of what the evidence is but there would always be a need to look at allegations. If it was believed that a citizen was being stalked they should report their concerns to the Police. A written response would be provided to Mr Brighton in relation to his question about the future of Batemoor.