Agenda and minutes

Members to declare any interests they have in the business to be considered at the meeting

To receive the record of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 23^rd January, 2013 and to approve the accuracy thereof.

(a)       To receive any questions or petitions from the public, or communications submitted by the Lord Mayor or the Chief Executive and to pass such resolutions thereon as the Council Procedure Rules permit and as may be deemed expedient

(b)       Petitions Requiring Debate

            The Council’s Petitions Scheme requires that any petition containing over 5,000 signatures be the subject of debate at the Council meeting.  The following qualifying petitions have been received:-

(i)         Petition regarding proposed funding reductions in the Early Years Service

            To debate a petition containing approximately 10,000 signatures objecting to proposed funding reductions in the Early Years Service.  The wording of the petition is as follows:-

            “We the undersigned recognise that Sheffield’s Community Nurseries and Children’s Centres provide universal, culturally sensitive, high quality education and care as well as preventative services for ALL families.  They support parents on low incomes to gain access to employment.  They support parents to access further education or gain basic skills.  More importantly they give children from deprived backgrounds the important early year’s experience that gives them the right start in life.

            In 2011-12 seven nurseries in Sheffield got an “Outstanding” grade from Ofted, five of these will be placed at risk if these proposals go forward, making a mockery of the “Narrowing the Gap” and “Raising attainment” agenda as they are all in areas of deprivation.  We believe that the Council has not fully understood the impact of these cuts.  We the undersigned confirm our opposition to the Early Years Redesign and our opposition to Sheffield City Council’s decision to withdraw funding from community nurseries and remove the early education and care from Children’s Centres which will have a devastating effect in the deprived communities at a time when they need it most.  We call on the Council to take immediate action and call on them to:

·                    shelve these proposals

·                    consult with communities about the models of support they require

·                    look at alternative areas to reduce costs.

 (ii)       Petition regarding the proposed closure of Stocksbridge Leisure Centre

            To debate a petition containing approximately 7,500 signatures expressing concern over the proposals to close Stocksbridge Leisure Centre.  The wording of the petition is as follows:-

            “We the undersigned are very concerned citizens of Stocksbridge, Deepcar and surrounding areas over the proposals to close Stocksbridge Leisure Centre.  We urge Sheffield City Council to seriously consider an alternative to closure of this important and much needed community facility.”

5.1       Questions relating to urgent business – Council Procedure Rule 16.6(ii).

5.2       Supplementary questions on written questions submitted at this meeting – Council Procedure Rule 16.4.

5.3       Questions on the discharge of the functions of the South Yorkshire Joint Authorities for Fire and Rescue, Integrated Transport and Pensions - Section 41 of the Local Government Act 1985 – Council Procedure Rule 16.6(i).

            (NB. Minutes of recent meetings of the three South Yorkshire Joint Authorities have been made available to all Members of the Council via the following link https://meetings.sheffield.gov.uk/council-meetings/full-council )

To consider any changes to the memberships and arrangements for meetings of Committees etc., delegated authority, and the appointment of representatives to serve on other bodies

Report of the Chief Executive.

Report of the Executive Director, Resources, on proposals considered by the Cabinet on 12^th December, 2012.

Report of the Chief Executive on recommendations referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 16^th January, 2013.

That this Council:-

(a)       reconfirms its anger and dismay at the Council’s budget position which is now significantly worse than was previously estimated because the Government are making additional unfair cuts to Sheffield as a result of their failure to grow the economy and notes that, even without the additional cuts, the Council was already facing an unprecedented level of cuts, which will have a massive impact on Council services in Sheffield;

(b)       notes that the Council has a £50 million budget gap for 2013/14 and this is in addition to the £140 million that has been reduced from the Council’s budget over the past two years, meaning that future cuts will unavoidably have a bigger impact on Council services that are valued by local people;

(c)        is appalled that despite the Council having to set its budget on 1^st March, 2013, the Local Government Finance Settlement was not given until the week before Christmas and believes that this demonstrates a complete disregard for local government;

(d)       regrets that the Government provided inaccurate figures to the Council and the public on the Settlement which were used to create an inaccurate and grossly misleading representation of the reductions facing local authorities and believes that this demonstrates their incompetence;

(e)       continues to oppose the unfairness of the cuts which see councils with the highest levels of deprivation receiving the majority of the cuts whilst some of the wealthiest areas in the country receive almost no cuts at all;

(f)         notes recent research from Newcastle City Council which indicates that Sheffield will receive a cut of nearly £200 per person between 2010/11 and 2014/15, wealthy areas are receiving significantly less cuts with Guildford receiving a cut of just £24.14 per person, Wokingham £26.53 and Epsom and Ewell just £15.18;

(g)       believes that the Deputy Prime Minister continues to betray and fail the people of Sheffield and is shocked that the main opposition group continue to support the unfair cuts that the Government are making to Sheffield; 

(h)        regrets that due to the Deputy Prime Minister’s complete inability to offer any plausible defence for the decisions his Government is making to impose unprecedented cuts to Sheffield City Council at the same time as wealthier councils receive just a fraction of the cuts, the Deputy Prime Minister and main opposition group have resorted to spouting factually inaccurate untruths about Council spending;

(i)         instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Main Opposition Group to explain recent inaccuracies and misrepresentations recently propagated by the Deputy Prime Minister and main opposition group;

(j)         expects that in the future these inaccuracies will not be included in any statement or material issued by the party of the Deputy Prime Minister and the main opposition group;

(k)        notes that unfortunately many other councils across the country are facing significant reductions in services and this is reflected in the letters written to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government  ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

That this Council:-

(a)       regrets that since this Government came to power there are more homeless people and people visiting food banks in Sheffield than ever before;

(b)       notes that the need for people to visit food banks has increased drastically over the past two years;

(c)        further notes that The Trussell Trust said its food bank network had fed almost 110,000 people since April 2012, compared with a total of 128,697 in the whole of 2011-12;

(d)       is aware that there are now seven food banks in Sheffield, which has more than doubled since the Coalition came to power;

(e)       is concerned about the disproportionate impact of homelessness on young people, who are more financially vulnerable and have less accommodation options open to them;

(f)         is doing what it can to help prevent homelessness in Sheffield but is faced with budget cuts which will mean less people will receive support when there is greater need;

(g)       believes that this need for emergency shelter and food supplies has increased due to tough economic pressures;

(h)        is aware that many families who need emergency food are working families that are struggling to pay bills as well as feed their families;

(i)         is also aware that the majority of people who need emergency food need help due to disruptions in benefit payments;

(j)         expects this situation to get worse with the introduction of universal benefits; and

(k)        is thankful that the churches and volunteer groups in Sheffield give up their time and resources to help people who need emergency support and hopes they will continue to do this.

That this Council:-

(a)       notes with regret the proposal of the current Administration to abolish Community Assemblies;

(b)       believes Community Assemblies have been a wholly positive step for the Council in encouraging local engagement, strengthening local accountability, and empowering local councillors and communities;

(c)        furthermore, confirms that, despite the claims of the current Administration, the work of Community Assemblies and the number of residents engaged extends far beyond the formal meetings;

(d)       in addition, notes that a number a public sector organisations have aligned their structures to Community Assemblies to ensure better partnership working;

(e)       believes that the end of Community Assemblies would spell a return to the Town-Hall-knows-best attitude, where local concerns are increasingly ignored by Town Hall bureaucrats;

(f)         furthermore, regrets that the demise of Community Assemblies will lead to a further entrenchment of what is believed to be a ‘favoured areas’ policy and that, as a result, thousands of Sheffielders will not get a fair deal from the Council;

(g)       notes the comments of the Labour Chair of the Northern Community Assembly in The Sheffield Star that plans to cut Community Assemblies were “regrettable”, “appalling”, “not an easy move” and “not something we wanted to do” and furthermore that the Assemblies have been “extremely valuable”;

(h)        feels that some funding should be retained to ensure Community Assemblies can continue to operate and support their communities;

(i)         however, believes that even if funding is withdrawn, the formal structures and branding of Community Assemblies should be retained; and

(j)         therefore, calls upon the Administration, regardless of the outcomes of the Budget Council meeting on 1^st March, 2013, to maintain the broad structure of Community Assemblies with some officer support from the Council.

That this Council:-

(a)       believes that northern cities are being unfairly cut by this Government;

(b)       feels it is wrong, unfair and divisive that less affluent areas and cities are facing much bigger cuts than more affluent ones;

(c)        believes that this is demonstrated by recent research from Newcastle City Council which indicates that Sheffield will receive a cut of nearly £200 per person between 2010/11 and 2014/15, wealthy areas are receiving significantly less cuts with Guildford receiving a cut of just £24.14 per person, Wokingham £26.53 and Epsom and Ewell just £15.18;

(d)       is pleased to be working with the Core Cities group to represent England’s eight largest city economies outside London to drive campaigns for a fair settlement;

(e)       supports the letter sent to Rt. Hon. Eric Pickles, MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, outlining the unfair nature of cuts that are hitting the Core Cities and notes that the letter was signed by all Core City Leaders who all articulated concerns about the impact that the level of cuts that the Government are imposing on their budgets will have on Council services in all Core Cities;

(f)         welcomes the Come Together conference hosted in Liverpool on 18^th January, 2013 attended by both political and faith leaders from cities across the country and supports the Sheffield representation at the event; and

(g)       resolves to continue to work constructively in partnership with other cities to stand up for the interests of our cities and hopes that the overwhelming objection to the Government’s unfair policy of targeting cuts at areas of higher deprivation will lead to a reconsideration of this policy.

That this Council:-

(a)       regrets that a further £6.8 million reduction to the Early Intervention Grant in the coming financial year, in addition to significant reductions to funding in previous years, indicates that Government cuts are being targeted directly at services to give children, young people and families the opportunity to fulfil their potential;

(b)       completely condemns the cuts to Early Intervention Grantand recalls warnings by sector leaders that these cuts would have a significant impact on services provided by local authorities;

(c)        supports the letter by the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Deputy Prime Minister objecting to cuts to the Early Intervention Grant;

(d)       regrets that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Deputy Prime Minister refused to listen to warnings about cuts to Early Intervention Grant and included heavy reductions in the Local Government Finance Settlement;

(e)       acknowledges that proposals in the Early Years review include measures to deliver some of the savings necessitated by the Government’s cuts to the Early Intervention Grant;

(f)         further acknowledges that due to the level of the cuts to the Early Intervention Grant and the subsequent expansion of Free Early Learning, funding can no longer be identified for childcare sustainability and the Early Years Review therefore includes proposals to end grants to 16 childcare providers which is a continuation of the policy adopted by the previous Administration and notes comments by the previous Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families and current Deputy Leader of the Main Opposition Group in The Star newspaper on 7^th January 2011 "We will have significantly less money than we previously had so we have to ensure we are putting it to the best possible use, supporting the most disadvantaged families, … Tough economic times can give new opportunities to review how services are provided and to question if they are being provided in the most efficient way. It is about getting better value for money. Our funding needs to be redirected so those most in need are benefiting directly. … Centres will have to charge market rates for their services if their parents can afford them.”

(g)       regrets the potential impact that the removal of grants from the 16 childcare providers will have on their organisations, however acknowledges that this is ultimately a consequence of the Government’s decision to cut the Early Intervention Grant so heavily, as stated by the previous Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families that “we will have significantly less money than we previously had”;

(h)        is committed to making sure childcare is available in all areas across the City and understands that whilst changes in Government policy direct a change in the Council’s role towards a market facilitator, the Early Years Review identifies that temporary arrangements need to be put in place to ensure that early years provision can continue  ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

That this Council:-

(a)       notes the Redesign of Early Years Services agreed by the Cabinet on 12^th December, 2012;

(b)       understands the anger from parents and providers at the proposals, given the pitiful consultation process and the ongoing lack of detail regarding the future model;

(c)        is dismayed that the Cabinet are still yet to publish details of how the future 17 Children’s Centre Areas will work in practice, with just weeks to go until the implementation of a new system;

(d)       highlights that thanks to Liberal Democrat policy of 15 hours Free Early Learning for disadvantaged 2-year-olds, £3.8 million of new funding will be invested in Sheffield next year;

(e)       however, regrets the lack of support that has been provided to voluntary and community sector organisations to adapt to the new funding system, leaving many facing a potential cliff-edge in funding;

(f)         believes local parents and providers are not getting a fair deal from this Council;

(g)       notes the recommendations of the Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee, agreed by all Labour members, specifically that the Cabinet:

(i)         considers what transitional arrangements are needed to be put in place to ensure that good quality early years provision is able to be sustained; and

(ii)        provides further details of provision within the 17 areas, and gives assurances that a comprehensive communications plan is developed to inform parents of the locations of support, and the type of support available, in the 17 new areas; and

(h)        calls upon the Cabinet to seriously reconsider their proposals for local children’s centres in line with the Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations.

That this Council :-

(a)       would like to thank the Gritters and Snow Wardens on behalf of the Council and the people of Sheffield for all their hard work keeping Sheffield’s roads safe through the bad weather;

(b)       appreciates that Community Snow Wardens are unpaid volunteers who give up their time to help their local communities;

(c)        acknowledges the unprecedented bad weather we have had and would like to reassure residents we will do our best to combat any further snow in the City;

(d)       is pleased there have been no major incidents throughout the bad weather; and

(e)       urges this Government to look seriously at climate change which has led to this unprecedented cold spell in the UK.

That this Council:

(a)       opposes the Government’s decision to cull badgers in England;

(b)       is aware of strong objections to badger culling in the UK which resulted in a petition of over 150,000 people;

(c)        notes that Parliament voted against the cull in October 2012 with a huge majority of 147 votes to 28;

(d)       regrets the u-turn taken by Government to cull between 70-95% of the country’s badgers with over 7,500 condemned in pilot studies in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset set to go ahead this summer;

(e)       acknowledges that despite contradicting statements there is strong scientific evidence that culling badgers will not make a difference to the numbers of bovine TB;

(f)         notes that leading scientists in this field agree that a cull will make little or no difference and that free shooting has not been scientifically tested anywhere and could even spread bovine TB in the short term as badgers move around more;

(g)       reminds the Government that badgers are a legally protected species and to kill them without knowing the full facts is a disgrace;

(h)        will not voluntarily allow badger culling on land in its ownership if the cull is extended after the pilot scheme; and

(i)         urges the Government to reconsider the decision as there is no scientific, economic or moral basis for culling.

That this Council:

(a)       recalls the decision of the Cabinet in October 2011 to remove £200,000 of refurbishment funding from Stocksbridge Leisure Centre;

(b)       believes this decision formed part of a long-term plan by the Administration to deny the people of Stocksbridge their leisure centre;

(c)        highlights that Stocksbridge is unique in its isolated location and its lack of public transport links to other leisure sites;

(d)       notes that while the Administration are proposing to close leisure facilities in Sheffield, the Coalition Government is investing £10million Olympic Legacy funding in leisure facilities across the City;

(e)       feels that Stocksbridge is not getting a fair deal from this Council; and

(f)         calls upon the Administration to reconsider their proposals for Stocksbridge Leisure Centre.

That this Council:

(a)       supports the Early Day Motion proposed by Alan Meale MP to Keep Mary Seacole on the national curriculum;

(b)       is aware of history which records the many heroic and compassionate acts carried out unselfishly by renowned war nursing heroine Mary Seacole for innumerable wounded soldiers injured on the Crimean War's bloody battlefields;

(c)        notes her efforts have rightly become part of the nation's schools educational curriculum with further recognition of her contribution shortly to be revealed by the unveiling of a large bronze statue in her memory to be erected in the grounds of St Thomas' Hospital facing the Houses of Parliament;

(d)       is therefore greatly alarmed by reports that the Secretary of State for Education has announced plans to overhaul the core history content taught to our nation's schoolchildren which won't include the story of her exploits on behalf of others;

(e)       further notes that the teaching of Black historical figures is widely recognised to be beneficial to the success of Black pupils and in closing the GCSE achievement gap and indeed it is to the advantage of pupils from all backgrounds in our increasingly diverse schools and society, and that Mary Seacole, as a Jamaican/Scottish figure, is a positive role model and is well-respected in NHS circles;

(f)         is also aware that Mary Seacole is the only Black figure to feature in the national curriculum not connected to civil rights or enslavement and removing someone who was voted by the public the Greatest Black Briton (100greatblackbritons.com) sends out the wrong signals, and believes we should be taught more Black history not less;

(g)       believes the children of Sheffield, and indeed the nation, are best served by being reminded of such unselfishness and hopes the Secretary of State will desist in his attempt to undermine her memory; and

(h)        calls upon our local Members of Parliament to support the campaign to lobby the Government to retain inclusion of Mary Seacole in the national curriculum.