Agenda and minutes

1.1

At the recommencement of the meeting following the lunch break, an apology for absence from Councillor Maroof Raouf was reported to the meeting.

2.1

Councillor Sioned-Mair Richards, the retiring Lord Mayor, took the Chair and the Chief Executive announced that the first business to be transacted was the appointment of a Lord Mayor for the ensuing year.

2.2

Whereupon it was:-

2.3

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:  On the motion of Councillor Martin Smith, seconded by Councillor Ben Miskell, that Councillor Colin Ross be appointed Lord Mayor of the City of Sheffield for the Municipal Year 2023-24.

2.4

The Council adjourned briefly whilst the Lord Mayor Elect was robed and, together with the Lady Mayoress (Mrs. Susan Ross), invested with their Chains of Office.

2.5

On resuming, Councillor Colin Ross, the Lord Mayor Elect, then made and subscribed to the declaration required by law to qualify him to act as Lord Mayor.

2.6

Whereupon the retiring Lord Mayor vacated the Chair, which was then taken by Councillor Colin Ross, the Lord Mayor.  The Lord Mayor addressed the Council.

2.7

Later in the meeting, after the appointment of the Deputy Lord Mayor, the Lord Mayor’s Chaplain, Mr. Mike Reeder, was invested with his Badge of Office and Mr. Reeder then addressed the Council.

3.1

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: On the motion of Councillor David Barker, seconded by Councillor Cliff Woodcraft, that the best of thanks of this Council under the Common Seal be presented to Councillor Sioned-Mair Richards and former Councillor Jackie Satur, for the able and very satisfactory manner in which they have performed their various official duties as Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of this City during the past year.

3.2

The Lord Mayor then presented an ex-Lord Mayor’s Badge to the retiring Lord Mayor, Councillor Sioned-Mair Richards, who then addressed the Council.

3.3

The Lord Mayor also presented an ex-Lady Mayoress’ Badge to the retiring Lady Mayoress, former Councillor Jackie Satur, who then addressed the Council.

4.1

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:  On the motion of Councillor Nabeela Mowlana, seconded by Councillor Roger Davison, that Councillor Jayne Dunn be appointed Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Sheffield for the Municipal Year 2023-24.

4.2

Councillor Jayne Dunn (the Deputy Lord Mayor Elect) was invested with her Badge of Office and then made and subscribed to the declaration required by law to qualify her to act as Deputy Lord Mayor.

At this point in the proceedings, the meeting was adjourned to provide a lunch break.  The meeting reconvened at approximately 2.30 p.m.

5.1

The nine new Members of the Council elected in the recent Municipal elections (Councillors Ian Horner, Robert Reiss, Mohammed Mahroof, Toby Mallinson, Laura Moynahan, Glynis Chapman, Ibby Ullah, Laura McClean and Alison Norris) were introduced to the Council.

6.1

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Colin Ross) reported with sadness, the death, on 4th April 2023, of former Councillor Mike Pye who had served as a Member of the Council from 1984 to 2001 and then again from 2002 to 2010, and who was Lord Mayor during the Municipal Year 2004-05.

6.2

The Lord Mayor also reported with sadness, the death, on 11th April 2023, of former Councillor Jan Fiore who had served as a Member of the Council from 1980 to 2007.

6.3

Members of the Council observed a minute’s silence in memory of former Councillors Pye and Fiore, and, at a later point during the meeting, several Members of the Council spoke to pay tribute to them.

7.1

There were no declarations of interest made by Members of the Council.

8.1

It was moved by Councillor Julie Grocutt, seconded by Councillor Sue Alston, that, as recommended in the report of the Director of Policy and Democratic Engagementcirculated to all Members of the Council on 15^th May and published on the Council’s website on 16^th May 2023, this Council:-

(a)

agrees the final report and recommendations as attached at Appendix 1, comprising recommendations from the Full Council Working Group, as set out in section 4 of the Appendix 1 and from the 6 Month Review of Governance Arrangements, namely:-

(1)

note that action to improve how we explain and support the committee system is underway through the Governance Review Implementation Plan, and progress will be monitored by Governance Committee;

(2)

the role of the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee and senior officers in early identification of cross-cutting issues and directing them to the most appropriate Policy Committee needs to be re-emphasised – including the role of Strategy and Resources Policy Committee in maintaining an oversight of Policy Committee work programmes. This should be actioned through the Governance Review Implementation Plan;

(3)

as part of ongoing work to develop the role of LACs, consideration should be given to devolving decisions and budgets on minor local transport and highways issues to Local Area Committees. The Policy Committee should provide overall strategy within which local areas make decisions to meet local need; and remain the decision maker for strategic transport issues and major schemes;

(4)

the lead committee for Children and Young People should have the necessary oversight of the statutory functions of the Director of Children's Services to ensure there is robust political accountability via the Chair of the Education, Children and Families Policy Committee, as designated Lead Member for Children’s Services;

(5)

where Policy Committees are developing regulatory policies, they shall form a working group with members of the relevant regulatory committee to inform the process;

(6)

the Job Share Chair Protocol should be adhered to by co-chairs, and promoted amongst officers and members to help develop a greater understanding of the role;

(7)

co-chairing arrangements should not be permitted for sub-committees;

(8)

where there are co-chairs in place, only the member nominated to attend Strategy and Resources Policy Committee should attend the Strategy and Resources briefing meetings; the other Co-Chair may not attend briefing sessions for Strategy and Resources members unless appointed to that Committee in another capacity (including as a substitute member for the specific meeting);

(9)

substitutes should be permitted at the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee. Where the committee member is chair of a policy committee the substitute must have sufficient knowledge of their committee's work, and political proportionality must be maintained;

(10)

briefing practises must enable all members of a policy committee to be adequately briefed for formal decision making. This should include arrangements for substitute members. All members should also have the opportunity to develop their knowledge and engage in policy and work programme development. Committee members and officers should work together to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.1

In view of the late circulation of the report to be considered under this item of business; the size and complexity of the report; the corrections needed to be made to it as now reported by the Interim General Council; and the query now raised by Councillor Sue Alston pertaining to the remits of the Policy Committees, it was:-

9.2

RESOLVED: That approval of the recommendations in the report be deferred to the next meeting of the Council.

10.1

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Colin Ross) sought nominations for the position of Leader of the Council for the Municipal Year 2023-24.

10.2

Councillor Sioned-Mair Richards nominated Councillor Tom Hunt to serve as Leader of the Council.  That nomination was seconded by Councillor Paul Wood.  Councillor Hunt was deemed to be Candidate 1.

10.3

Councillor Joe Otten nominated Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed to serve as Leader of the Council.  That nomination was seconded by Councillor Sue Alston.  Councillor Mohammed was deemed to be Candidate 2.

10.4

Councillor Angela Argenzio nominated Councillor Douglas Johnson to serve as Leader of the Council.  That nomination was seconded by Councillor Martin Phipps.  Councillor Johnson was deemed to be Candidate 3.

10.5

The nomination of Candidate 1 (Councillor Tom Hunt) was put to the vote and was lost.  The result of the vote was FOR - 38 Members; AGAINST - 42 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 0 Members.

10.6

The nomination of Candidate 2 (Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed) was then put to the vote and was also lost.  The result of the vote was FOR - 28 Members; AGAINST - 52 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 0 Members.

10.7

The nomination of Candidate 3 (Councillor Douglas Johnson) was then put to the vote and was also lost.  The result of the vote was FOR - 13 Members; AGAINST - 67 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 0 Members.

10.8

The Lord Mayor stated that, as none of the candidates received more votes ‘for’ than they did votes ‘against’, a Leader of the Council had not been appointed during that stage of voting.  Accordingly, he would now move to the next stage of the voting process, whereby the candidate who received the lowest number of votes ‘for’ would be eliminated and one final vote would be held where Members of the Council would choose between the remaining two candidates.

10.9

The Lord Mayor confirmed that Candidate 3 (Councillor Douglas Johnson) had received the lowest number of votes ‘for’ and was therefore eliminated.  Members of the Council would now vote to choose between Candidate 1 (Councillor Tom Hunt) and Candidate 2 (Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed) and the candidate that receives the higher number of votes will be appointed to the position of Leader of the Council.

10.10

On being put to the vote, the result was that Candidate 1 received 38 votes; Candidate 2 received 28 votes; and 14 Members abstained from voting.

10.11

The Lord Mayor stated that Candidate 1 (Councillor Tom Hunt) had received the most votes and therefore, it was:-

RESOLVED: That Councillor Tom Hunt be appointed Leader of the Council for the Municipal Year 2023-24, serving until the date of the next Annual Meeting of the Council in 2024.

11.1

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Colin Ross) sought nominations for the position of Deputy Leader of the Council for the Municipal Year 2023-24.

11.2

Councillor Ruth Milsom nominated Councillor Fran Belbin to serve as Deputy Leader of the Council.  That nomination was seconded by Councillor Nabeela Mowlana.

11.3

Councillor Martin Phipps proposed that co-Deputy Leaders of the Council be appointed, and he nominated Councillors Douglas Johnson and Shaffaq Mohammed to serve as co-Deputy Leaders.

11.4

Following a short adjournment to allow the Lord Mayor to receive legal advice from the Monitoring Officer, the Lord Mayor reported that the Council’s Constitution was clear that a Deputy Leader was required to be appointed and there was no provision for co- or joint appointments to the position of Deputy Leader.

11.5

No further nominations for the position of Deputy Leader were received.

11.6

Accordingly, the Lord Mayor put the nomination of Councillor Fran Belbin to the vote, whereupon it was:-

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Councillor Fran Belbin be appointed Deputy Leader of the Council for the Municipal Year 2023-24, serving until the date of the next Annual Meeting of the Council in 2024.

12.1

The newly appointed Leader of the Council (Councillor Tom Hunt) addressed the Council and stated that he was honoured to be elected to lead the Council.  This was a tough time for lots of people in the city, and it was a duty for all 84 City Councillors to do all they could to make life better for people.  He was convinced that there was a shared commitment to doing this.

12.2

Councillor Hunt stated that whilst the votes cast at the Municipal Election on 4^th May 2023, gave no single party a majority, no-one voted for nothing to get done for the next year.  Since the Election, Members from all parties have held open conversations over the last few days about the way forward and, whilst Members did not always agree, and won’t always agree, it was clear that there were many things that Members have in common.  These included a shared commitment to helping people with the cost of living crisis; fixing the public transport and making it easier to get around our city; securing new investment in the City; ensuring that every pound of public money is always spent wisely; investing in the City’s neighbourhoods and devolving power to communities; doing more to tackle the climate emergency; and ensuring that politics in Sheffield is conducted in a competent, open and transparent way.

12.3

Councillor Hunt stressed that the last point above was critical, and stated that now, as Council Leader, together with his new colleagues, he would do all he could to rebuild trust, to work with fellow Members in the cross-party committees, to bring about the changes that people in Sheffield need, and to make sure Sheffield Council was 100% focused on meeting people’s priorities.

13.1

RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Sioned-Mair Richards and seconded by Councillor Joe Otten, that, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9.1, the order of business as published on the Council Summons be altered by taking items 15 (Dates of Council And Committee Meetings In The Municipal Year 2023-24), then 16 (Notices Of Motion At Council Meetings In The Municipal Year 2023-24) and then 17 (Vote Of Thanks To Former Councillors) as the next three items of business.

13.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: On the motion formally moved by Councillor Joe Otten, seconded by Councillor Martin Phipps, that:-

(a)      further to item 7 on the agenda for this meeting (Six-Month Review of Governance Arrangements) and the recommendation of the Governance Committee that full Council should determine whether (in addition to the Annual and Budget meetings) to retain the current approach of 6 ordinary Council meetings in 2023-24 or reduce the number to 4 ordinary meetings, it be agreed that there will be six ordinary meetings of Full Council in the Municipal Year 2023-24 and these be held at 2.00 p.m. on the following Wednesdays:-

          5th July 2023; 6th September 2023; 4th October 2023; 1st November 2023; 6th December 2023; and 7th February 2024;

(b)      the special meeting of the Council for the purposes of approving a Revenue Budget and Capital Programme and setting the Council Tax for the Financial Year 2024-25 be held on Wednesday, 6th March 2024 at 2.00 p.m.;

(c)      the annual meeting of the Council in 2024 be held on Wednesday, 15th May 2024 at 11.30 a.m.;

(d)      ordinary meetings of the Council be held, provisionally, on either or both Wednesdays 5th June and 3rd July 2024 (to be confirmed at the annual meeting in 2024); and

(e)      approval be given to the schedule of Council and Committee meetings for the Municipal Year 2023-24, as set out in the schedule circulated at the meeting.

13.3

(NOTE: Following a proposal made at the meeting by Councillor Fran Belbin, that one of the six ordinary meetings of the Council be given over to the Youth Council to bring their own motions for debate by full Council, the Lord Mayor (Councillor Colin Ross) suggested that the Council’s Governance Committee be asked to consider how best to accommodate that proposal.)

14.1

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: On the motion formally moved by Councillor Sioned-Mair Richards, and formally seconded by Councillor Joe Otten, that:-

Further to Council Procedure Rule 10.2, the order in which Notices of Motion shall be listed on the Summons for the six ordinary meetings of the Council in the Municipal Year 2023-24 shall be as follows:-

July 2023 – Labour / LibDem / Green / Labour

September – LibDem / Labour / LibDem / Other (Cons)

October – Labour / Green / LibDem / Labour

November – Green / Labour / LibDem / Labour

December – LibDem / Labour / LibDem / Other (Ind)

February 2024 – Labour / LibDem / Green / Labour

15.1

RESOLVED: On the Motion of the Lord Mayor (Councillor Colin Ross), seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Jayne Dunn), that this Council places on record its thanks and appreciation to former Councillors Sue Auckland, Vic Bowden, Ben Curran, Peter Garbutt, George Lindars-Hammond, Bob McCann, Kevin Oxley and Jackie Satur, who had either retired or had not been re-elected at the Municipal elections held in May 2023, for their hard work and service to the City of Sheffield.

15.2

It was noted that the Lord Mayor would write to each of those former Councillors to thank them for their service.

16.1

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: On the motion formally moved by Councillor Sioned-Mair Richards, and seconded by Councillor Joe Otten, that:-

(a)      the information contained in the report be noted;

(b)      the terms of reference of the Council’s Committees for 2023-24, be as currently set out in the Council’s Constitution, but with the incorporation of the changes outlined in paragraphs 3.1.6 and 3.2.1 of the report (relating to the Policy Committees and to the Governance Committee, respectively), and the Monitoring Officer be authorised to amend the Constitution accordingly;

(c)      the sizes of individual committees to be subject to proportional balance and the proportional allocation of seats on those committees, as set out in the schedule circulated at the meeting (and set out in these minutes), be approved;

(d)      approval be given to the appointment of Members to Council Committees in the Municipal Year 2023-24 to reflect the arrangements now agreed and the wishes of the political groups, in accordance with the schedule circulated at the meeting (and including substitutes where appropriate) (and set out in these minutes), and, for the purposes of Council Procedure Rule 25.6, the consent of the Council be given in any case where a Member chooses not to be appointed to serve on any Policy or Regulatory Committee;

(e)      as respects the appointment of Members to serve on Council Committees, where vacancies exist or in cases of urgency to ensure quoracy or representation, the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the relevant political group whip, be authorised to appoint Members to serve on such Committees, as necessary, on the understanding that details of such appointments will be reported to the next or subsequent meetings of the Council;

(f)       approval be given to continue to disapply proportionality to the Senior Officer Employment Sub-Committees and the Appeals and Collective Disputes Sub-Committees for the reasons set out in paragraph 3.2.3 of the report; and

(g)      it be noted that in the event of any changes to the political composition of the Council occurring during the Municipal Year, political proportionality will be reviewed by the Council as soon as practicable thereafter.

MEMBERSHIP OF COUNCIL COMMITTEES 2023-24

POLICY COMMITTEES

Title/Post

Labour

Liberal Democrat

Green

Other

Strategy & Resources Policy Committee

11 seats in 2023/24

Split 5:4:2:0

(Chairs of Policy Committees plus sufficient other Members to achieve proportionality)

Vacancy (Leader)

Vacancy (Deputy Leader)

Vacancies x 9

Finance Policy Committee

9 seats in 2023/24

Split 4:3:2:0

Cllr Mike Chaplin

Cllr Mary Lea

Cllr Zahira Naz

Cllr Ibby Ullah

Cllr Glynis Chapman

Cllr Mike Levery

Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed

Cllr Marieanne Elliot

Cllr Toby Mallinson

Named Substitutes

3 Vacancies

Cllr Joe Otten

Cllr Andrew Sangar

Cllr Martin Smith

Cllr Douglas Johnson

Cllr Martin Phipps

Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee

9 seats in 2023/24

Split 4:3:2:0

Cllr Ruth Milsom

Cllr Laura McClean

Cllr Mick Rooney

Cllr Laura Moynahan

Cllr Steve Ayris

Cllr Gail Smith

Cllr Sophie Thornton

Cllr Angela Argenzio

Cllr Martin Phipps

Named Substitutes

3 Vacancies

Cllr Glynis Chapman

Cllr Alan Woodcock

Cllr Ann  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.1

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: On the motion formally moved by Councillor Sioned-Mair Richards, and seconded by Councillor Joe Otten, that:-

(a)      each Councillor named in the schedule circulated at the meeting (and set out in these minutes) be appointed Chair or Deputy Chair of the Policy Committee, Regulatory Committee or other Council Committee indicated by that schedule, for the Municipal Year 2023-24;

(b)      the Groups’ Spokespersons on each Policy Committee, as set out in the schedule circulated at the meeting (and set out in these minutes), be noted; and

(c)      delegation be made to the appropriate Committee to appoint their own Chairs or Deputy Chairs in all cases where the Full Council has not made such an appointment before the first scheduled meeting of that Committee.

POLICY COMMITTEES

Committee

Chair

Deputy Chair

Group Spokespersons

Strategy and Resources Policy Committee

Leader of the Council

Deputy Leader of the Council

Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed

Cllr Douglas Johnson

Finance Committee

Cllr Zahira Naz

Cllr Mike Levery

Cllr Toby Mallinson

Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee

Cllr Angela Argenzio

Cllr Sophie Thornton

Cllr Laura Moynahan

Education, Children and Families Policy Committee

Cllr Dawn Dale

Cllr Maroof Raouf

Cllr Mohammed Mahroof

Housing Policy Committee

Cllr Douglas Johnson

Cllr Penny Baker

Cllr Nabeela Mowlana

Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee

Cllr Ben Miskell

Cllr Christine Gilligan Kubo

Cllr Andrew Sangar

Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee

Cllr Martin Smith

Cllr Minesh Parekh

Cllr Henry Nottage

Waste and Street Scene Policy Committee

Cllr Joe Otten

Cllr Mark Jones

Cllr Alexi Dimond

Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee

Cllr Richard Williams

Cllr Janet Ridler

Cllr Marieanne Elliot

STATUTORY/REGULATORY COMMITTEES

Committee/

Sub Committee

Joint Chair

Joint Chair

Planning and Highways Committee

Cllr Mike Chaplin

Cllr Alan Woodcock

Licensing Committee

Cllr David Barker

Cllr Abdul Khayum

OTHER COUNCIL COMMITTEES

Committee/

Sub Committee

Chair

Deputy Chair

Governance Committee

Cllr Fran Belbin

Cllr Sue Alston

Audit and Standards Committee

Cllr Mohammed Mahroof

Cllr Sioned-Mair Richards

Admissions Committee

Cllr Maleiki Haybe

Vacancy

Senior Officer Employment Committee

Cllr Ben Miskell

Cllr Tom Hunt

Appeals and Collective Disputes Committee

Vacancy

Vacancy

17.2

(NOTE: The above appointments incorporate the additions and clarifications to the schedule of appointments circulated to the meeting, which were reported to the meeting by Councillors Joe Otten and Martin Phipps.)

18.1

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: On the motion moved by Councillor Sioned-Mair Richards, and seconded by Councillor Joe Otten, that:-

(a)      approval be given to the establishment, with the suggested memberships shown, of the Council panels, working groups etc for the Municipal Year 2023-24, set out in the schedule circulated at the meeting (and set out in these minutes);

(b)      approval be given to the appointment of Members to serve on external bodies in the Municipal Year 2023-24, also as set out in the schedule now circulated (and set out in these minutes);

(c)      as respects the appointment of Members to its various bodies, where vacancies exist or in cases of urgency to ensure representation, the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the relevant political group whip, be authorised to appoint Members to serve on such bodies, as necessary, on the understanding that details of such appointments will be reported to the next or subsequent meetings of the Council; and

(d)      as respects the appointment of representatives to serve on outside bodies, where vacancies exist or in cases of urgency to ensure representation, the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the relevant political group whip, be authorised to nominate representatives to serve on such bodies, as necessary, on the understanding that details of such nominations will be reported to the next or subsequent meetings of the Council.

APPOINTMENTS TO OTHER COUNCIL BODIES
AND EXTERNAL BODIES 2023/24

OTHER COUNCIL PANELS

Title/Post

Labour

Liberal Democrat

Green

Other

Access Liaison Group (x5)

Vacancy

Vacancy

Cllr Gail Smith

Cllr Cliff Woodcraft

Cllr Douglas Johnson

Allotments and Leisure Gardens Advisory Group (x5)

Cllr Talib Hussain

Cllr Barbara Masters

Cllr Cliff Woodcraft

Cllr Brian Holmshaw

Cllr Marieanne Elliot

Community Covenant Partnership Board (x3)

Cllr Tony Damms

Cllr Penny Baker

Mr Clive Skelton

Complaints Review Panel

1 independent Chair and 2 further independent members

Corporate Joint Committee with Trade Unions

(Policy Committee Chairs)

Vacancy (Leader)

Vacancy (Deputy Leader)

Vacancies x 9 (Policy Committee Chairs)

Corporate Members Group

(Leader, Deputy Leader & Whip of each Group)

Cllr Tom Hunt

Cllr Fran Belbin

Cllr Sioned-Mair Richards

Cllr Penny Baker

Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed

Cllr Joe Otten

Cllr Douglas Johnson

Cllr Angela Argenzio

Cllr Martin Phipps

Corporate Parenting Board (x10)

Cllr Dawn Dale

Cllr Denise Fox

Cllr Craig Gamble Pugh

Cllr Peter Price

Cllr Mick Rooney

Cllr Sue Alston

Cllr Ian Horner

Cllr Ann Whitaker

Cllr Ruth Mersereau

Cllr Toby Mallinson

Cycle Forum (x3)

Cllr Peter Price

Cllr Richard Shaw

Cllr Ruth Mersereau

Heritage Champion (x1)

(on behalf of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee)

Cllr Janet Ridler

Housing and Neighbourhoods Advisory Panel (x2)

(Housing Policy Committee Chair & Deputy)

Vacancy (Housing Policy Committee Chair)

Vacancy (Housing Policy Committee Deputy Chair)

Local Area Committee Chairs Group (x8)

(7 LAC Chairs, plus Lead Member)

3 Vacancies

3 Vacancies

Vacancy

Vacancy (Lead Member)

Monitoring and Advisory Board (Adult Services) (x4)

Vacancy

Vacancy

Cllr Sophie Thornton

Vacancy

Policy Working Group (Labour)

All Members of the Group

Policy Working Group (Liberal Democrat)

All Members of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.