Agenda and minutes

To receive the record of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 2nd October, 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)  Petition 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.  A qualifying petition has been received as follows:-

Petition regarding the Don Valley Stadium

To debate an e-petition containing 5,487 signatures concerning the Don Valley Stadium.  The wording of the petition (which can be viewed at www.saveourstadium.co.uk) is as follows:-

“This petition is dedicated to saving an iconic landmark of Sheffield – Don Valley Stadium – The stadium is too important to the city and the community to be knocked down. The people of Sheffield have paid for the stadium over the last twenty years and we deserve the opportunity to see it run to its full potential for the community and sporting life of the City.”

To receive a presentation by Dr. Jeremy Wight, Director of Public Health, on his annual report for 2013 on the health of the people of Sheffield.

A background report is attached.  A copy of the Summary Report of the Director of Public Health has previously been circulated to all Members of the Council.

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)

That this Council:-

(a)       believes Britain’s energy market isn’t working for ordinary families and businesses and the cost of electricity and gas is crippling their family finances;

(b)       regrets that energy bills have risen by almost £300 for families since 2010 and businesses say it’s the second biggest cost they face and is concerned that when the price of energy increases energy companies pass this on, but when it drops consumers don’t see their bills fall;

(c)        notes recent research by Which? estimating that flaws in the market have left consumers paying £3.9bn a year over the odds since 2010;

(d)       fully opposes the unfair price rises recently announced by the big energy companies including a 10.4% increase in Npower’s dual-fuel bills from December, SSE increasing prices by 8.2% from 15th November, British Gas increasing their prices by 9.2% on 23rd November and Scottish Power raising prices by 8.6% from 6th December;

(e)       notes comments from the Chief Executive of Citizens Advice speaking about the SSE increase “The price rise will be a blow for stretched budgets … Many households are facing a daily battle to try to make their frozen incomes cover mounting energy, food and travel costs. Further increases will push people into poverty.”;

(f)        believes that the increases represent a rip-off and believes that the present Government have chosen to defend the big energy companies and have failed to stand up for the consumer;

(g)       regrets that the Council’s main opposition group’s spokesperson for energy has followed the line of the Conservative Party in defending the energy companies rather than Sheffield families and is extremely concerned by the following comments he made in “Lib Dem Voice” on 30^th September, 2013 “No energy company has a duty to invest in anything” and “To say that energy prices are the fault of the energy companies is obviously on one level correct, but seems to imply that they have a duty to us rather than their shareholders when they set their prices. They have a legal duty not to operate a cartel, but beyond this they pitch their prices to maximise profits.”

(h)       believes that this demonstrates that the main opposition group is only concerned with defending the excessive profits of the big energy companies and has no concern for Sheffield’s hard pressed families who are faced with extortionate increases in their energy bills;

(i)         welcomes the commitment by The Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband MP to freeze energy bills until 2017 upon the election of a Labour Government; and

(j)         further welcomes the commitment that the next Labour Government will reset our energy market so it works for Britain’s families and businesses, with a new tough regulator to stop overcharging.

That this Council:-

(a)       calls on the Home Secretary to act on the recent report from Stonewall on homophobic hate crime showing that:

(i)         one in six lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered (LGBT) people have experienced a homophobic hate crime in the last three years;

(ii)        one in ten victims experienced a physical assault as part of the incident;

(iii)       more than three out of four victims didn’t report their experience to the police;

(iv)       almost a third didn’t report because they didn’t believe the police could or would do anything;

(v)        one in four gay or bisexual women have experienced domestic abuse in a relationship;

(vi)       half of all gay and bisexual men have experienced at least one incident of domestic abuse since the age of 16;

(vii)      a quarter expect discrimination if reporting a homophobic hate crime to the police; and

(viii)     more than a third of lesbian, gay and bisexual people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds expect discrimination from the police;

(b)       further notes that when these figures are extrapolated to Sheffield, over six thousand residents of the City have experienced homophobic hate crime in the last three years, and in recent years the total number of reports to the police was an average of 40 per year; and

(c)        recognises the work that the South Yorkshire Police, lead by Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright, are currently undertaking with the LGBT groups in the City.

That this Council:-

(a)       wholeheartedly welcomes the latest labour bulletin, which reported an 11% drop in Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants in Sheffield;

(b)       furthermore, welcomes reports that 25,000 jobs have been created in Yorkshire in the past three months;

(c)        further welcomes news that the economy grew by 0.8% in the third quarter of 2013 and notes that the International Monetary Fund has upgraded its growth forecasts for the UK by more than any other advanced economy;

(d)       notes that a million private sector jobs have been created since May 2010 and contrasts this with the claim of the Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition that the Government’s policies would lead to the disappearance of a million jobs;

(e)       believes the Liberal Democrats in Government have been crucial in re-building Britain’s economy following the economic disaster presided over by the last Government;

(f)        specifically thanks Liberal Democrats in Government for helping to secure measures that will build a stronger economy for Sheffield, including:

(i)         millions of pounds invested in local businesses through the Regional Growth Fund and the Growing Places Fund;

(ii)        a new University Technical College to provide the next generation of Sheffielders with the skills they need;

(iii)       record investment in transport infrastructure including £1 billion to enable the Streets Ahead project to proceed, electrification of Midland Main Line and a Tram/Train pilot; and

(iv)       a Sheffield Enterprise Zone, which could deliver as many as 12,000 new jobs;

(g)       in particular, highlights the Sheffield City Deal, which the Deputy Prime Minister was crucial in securing and has already created 370 apprenticeships across the city region;

(h)       however, notes that other city regions have outpaced Sheffield with Greater Birmingham & Solihull having already established 1,351 apprenticeships and Greater Manchester having  outperformed their own target by creating 2,755  apprenticeships; and

(i)         therefore, calls upon the Council to drop its anti-business rhetoric and work with local partners to ensure the Sheffield City Region maximises the potential of the City Deal.

That this Council:-

(a)       welcomes the success of the present Administration’s RISE graduate scheme which has so far filled 28 graduate interns into 24 businesses;

(b)       notes that many students undertake internships shortly after graduating and that internships offer a great way to get a ‘foot in the door’ after graduating, get training, test out potential future employers and get experience on your CV;

(c)        welcomes that the RISE internship scheme brings together graduates, who want to work hard and do great things, with Sheffield-based businesses who appreciate an injection of energy and new ideas; 

(d)       firmly believes that the scheme will not only give opportunities to graduates but will also provide local businesses with an opportunity to attract graduates to a range of sectors crucial to the growth of the local economy, including engineering, professional and financial services, creative and digital industries, to name a selective few;

(e)       notes that over 700 applications were received for the graduate internships and thanks all applicants, recognising the extremely challenging economic climate in gaining employment following graduation, noting the high levels of graduate unemployment;

(f)        welcomes the positive comments from local businesses about the scheme including the comment from one participant, ‘‘We found the RISE experience provided us with the confidence to invest in an intern with the objective of providing permanent full-time employment. The whole process from the initial advisory meetings, the communication and collaboration throughout the screening stage and the continued support, was and is invaluable to a small business such as ours. We have been involved in other apprenticeship and work experience schemes in the past and the RISE initiative has been by far the most professional and feel it provides great value to businesses in the region.”

(g)       is therefore extremely disappointed that the main opposition group voted against welcoming the scheme at the two previous Council meetings and believes that this is the latest Liberal Democrat betrayal of students;  

(h)       is delighted to confirm a further intake has now been approved, aiming to get a total of 50 RISE internships into Sheffield’s small and medium enterprises by the end of the year which have been funded from the Keep Sheffield Working Fund, meaning a further 21 internships with 21 businesses have been secured for the second round of the programme; and

(i)         directs that a copy of this Motion be sent to Sheffield University Students Union and Sheffield Hallam University Students Union, the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Small Businesses.

That this Council:-

(a)       congratulates the League against Cruel Sports for its excellent “Manifesto to end Snaring in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”, and

(i)         notes the report details that in some instances trapped animals can take up to 16 hours to die even when a legal snare is used;

(ii)        further notes that many of these animals die a horrible painful death and that often it is domestic animals such as cats that get caught in snares; and

(iii)       further asks that this Council offers its support to the League against Cruel Sports campaign to get the use of all types of snares banned in Great Britain and Northern Ireland;

(b)       congratulates erstwhile colleagues from the 1980s who banned the use of snares and all blood sports on Council property, including fox hunting and hare coursing, and condemns the present Government’s promise to hold a free vote on repealing the Hunting Act 2004;

(c)        re-affirms its ban on blood sports and the use of all types of snares on Council land and property;

(d)       asks the Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council to ensure all Sheffield City Council land leaseholders are reminded of their duties of care to animals on Council land;

(e)       further instructs that a copy of this motion be sent to all Sheffield’s Members of Parliament asking that they raise this Council’s opposition to blood sports and the use of any type of snare with the Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs, and that they encourage the Secretary of State to ban the use of all snares, and encourages all Sheffield MPs to vote against any vote that would repeal or weaken the Hunting Act 2004; 

(f)        further asks the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs informing him of this Council’s opposition to blood sports and the ban placed on them on Sheffield City Council land; and

(g)       also asks the Chief Executive to inform the Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs of this Council’s opposition to any repeal or weakening of the Hunting Act 2004. 

That this Council:-

(a)       notes that since Sorby House, Forum House and Vestry Hall came under the Council’s ownership more than £1.2 million has been spent by the Council on the premises in just two years;

(b)       further notes with concern reports that another £330,000 has been allocated to the buildings within the 2013/14 budget;

(c)        believes the Burngreave New Deal for Communities was another example of a costly New Labour project, which delivered poor value for money and almost no economic benefit for the city;

(d)       regrets that at a time when the Administration claim they have been forced to withdraw funding from libraries, yet more Council funds are being wasted on another Labour ‘white elephant’; and

(e)       urges the Administration to ensure no further funds are wasted on these buildings and focus on saving treasured local libraries instead.

That this Council:-

(a)       supports the campaign for a National Children’s Day;

(b)       welcomes the launch of the campaign for a National Children’s Day on 20^th November in Sheffield by “Youth Can Achieve” which is endorsed by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC);

(c)        encourages schools to celebrate this campaign launch on 20^th November with games or activities and take this opportunity for a discussion with children about their rights to education, healthcare and economic opportunity;

(d)       acknowledges that although this is a wealthy country there are still 1.7million children who live in severe poverty;

(e)       reminds Members of their responsibilities as corporate parents to our Looked After Children;

(f)        encourages Members where possible to take time on 20^th November to engage in an activity supporting young people and spreading awareness of the Campaign for a National Children’s Day;

(g)       wishes the children and adults who will be debating the benefits of a National Children’s Day an enjoyable and productive event; and

(h)       requests that a copy of this Notice of Motion  be sent to Sheffield’s Members of Parliament and the Children’s Commissioner with a view to furthering the Campaign for a National Children’s Day.

That this Council:-

(a)       congratulates Sheffield Theatres for their success at the recent UK Theatre Awards on 20th October, 2013;

(b)       notes that Sheffield Theatres received awards in four different categories: Best New Play, Best Supporting Performance, Best Musical Production and Best Touring Production;

(c)        congratulates Sheffield Theatres’ Artistic Director Daniel Evans, whose plays ‘This is My Family’ and ‘The Full Monty’ won the Best Musical Production and Best Touring Production Awards respectively;

(d)       further congratulates Siân Phillips for winning Best Supporting Performance for her role in ‘This Is My Family’ and Mike Bartlett who wrote ‘Bull’ the winner of the Best New Play;

(e)       believes these awards highlight the contribution Sheffield Theatres makes to the City and thanks Sheffield Theatres staff and trustees for their hard work; and

(f)        directs that a copy of this Motion be sent to Sheffield Theatres and that letters of congratulations be sent to those mentioned above who have received individual awards.

That this Council:-

(a)       believes it is unacceptable to treat motorists as a cash cow for the Council;

(b)       recalls the annual parking enforcement reports introduced by the last Administration to bring transparency to parking services, which were nationally recognised as leading practice;

(c)        notes the recent report of the Transport Select Committee, which called on every local authority to publish an annual parking report outlining revenue gained from parking and how this money is spent;

(d)       regrets that under the current Administration the annual parking enforcement reports have ceased and that not a single report has been published covering the current Administration’s time in control; and

(e)       therefore, calls upon the Administration to immediately publish a record of the revenue raised by parking services and how it has been spent.

That this Council:-

(a)       notes the #WhyIAmIn campaign supporting membership of the European Union, which was launched by the Liberal Democrat MP for Sheffield Hallam, and has gained support from Sir Richard Branson, among others;

(b)       believes remaining part of the European Union is vital to the long term security of Sheffield businesses and to building a stronger local economy; and

(c)        calls upon Sheffield businesses and public sector organisations to highlight the importance of remaining within the European Union in the run-up to the 2014 European Parliament elections.