Agenda item

4.1

Peter Cropper

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Talib Hussain) reported the sad death of Peter Cropper, founder and member of the Lindsay String Quartet, who were granted the Honorary Freedom of the City of Sheffield on 3^rd June 2009.

4.2

Petitions

4.2.1

Petition Requesting the Council to Review Taxi Fares

The Council received a petition containing over 500 signatures and requesting the Council to review taxi fares.

Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made by Mohammed Yasim. He stated that the petition was presented on behalf of hackney carriage drivers and requested the Council Licensing Committee and Chief Licensing Officer to consider a taxi fare increase for 2015. The last fare increase was in October 2010 and there had been a previous increase in June 2008. However, it was now considered that fares should be reviewed because of economic circumstances, including the cost of living for drivers, who were self-employed. The increasing costs associated with operating a taxi such as insurance, maintenance and other overheads also had to be taken into account. Drivers also had families to support, who had all been affected by the cost of living. Mr Yasim stated that there were also other issues upon which drivers wished to be consulted.

These issues had been the subject of another petition which he said the GMB, which he represented, also supported.

The Council referred the petition to Councillor Leigh Bramall, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Development. Councillor Bramall stated that he had spoken with one of the co-chairs of Licensing Committee in relation to the process concerning Hackney Carriage fares. The matter would have to be considered by the Licensing Committee. The Committee would hear and consider the evidence and would make a decision. Councillor Bramall stated that he would ask the Head of Licensing to contact the petitioners regarding the process required to take this matter forward.

4.3

Public Questions

4.3.1

Public Questions Concerning Trees on Rustlings Road

Patricia White stated that 12 healthy trees were due to be chopped down by the Council on Rustlings Road. She asked why this was the case, when the pavements give access to everyone, including people using prams and people with wheelchairs. 

Nigel Slack stated that at the Cabinet meeting in May, he had asked about one outsourcing company apparently failing to communicate well with the public. He stated that it seemed there was another in the shape of Amey and the Streets Ahead contract.

He referred to the proposal to remove trees on Rustlings Road because the effect on pavements and also to the removal of trees from Cemetery Avenue with no apparent intention to replace them.

Mr Slack asked the following questions: how many mature trees have been removed from the city's roadsides by Amey and how many then replaced; how does the Council reconcile mature trees replaced by saplings as 'like for like'; who is Amey required to consult before such works are carried out; and who will pocket the money from selling all that mature Lime wood 'if' the trees are removed?

Councillor Terry Fox, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, responded to the questions. He said that he took on board the issues which the questions raised and the depth of feeling on both sides of the argument concerning the proposed removal of the trees on Rustlings Road. He appreciated that there were air quality issues in Sheffield and that trees released oxygen. There were some 2 million trees in the City and some 50,000 trees had been planted since the start of the year. The Council and personnel in Amey (many of whom were formerly employed in Street Force) also loved the City’s trees and did not want to remove trees unless absolutely necessary. Trees were something which were a constant issue for the Council and more specifically were the subject of much correspondence to local Councillors. If pavements in the City were properly surfaced, people might be encouraged to use them, including people with disabilities and those using pushchairs, which would contribute to improved air quality.

Councillor Fox invited the questioners and campaigners to a meeting on Monday 8^th June, to which local Councillors would also be invited so that the issues could be discussed and the Council could listen to people’s views. There were serious hurdles to be overcome and the Council’s statutory duties and liabilities and legal requirements concerning footways had to be properly considered. He referred to the high winds in March which had caused fallen trees in Stocksbridge.     

Letters had been delivered to residents and tree walks took place. Councillor Fox commended the efforts of officers in meeting people in the community. In summary, since the Amey contract commenced in 2012, some 2,000 trees had been removed, with 2,100 replacements planted. Many trees had been planted in Victorian era and had outgrown the surrounding space. Saplings of the same species were planted and were a one to one replacement although these would take time to grow and mature. There was an opportunity to deal with the issues relating to trees and mobility. It was also important that the Council did not neglect its duty and deal with the situation at this time rather than passing the burden and potential liabilities and costs to future generations.

Councillor Fox stated that timber from trees which were removed was mainly recycled or used for biomass. Sometimes wood was made available for people undertaking art or crafts.

4.3.2

Public Question Concerning Housing Tenant

Christine Bennett referred to an individual housing tenant, who is a pensioner and although she had been in need of support, the housing service had, she said, shown disinterest. The housing service had sent a letter informing her that she owed rent. The story had been the subject of an article in the Star newspaper. 

Councillor Jayne Dunn, the Cabinet Member for Housing responded that she would look at the issues raised by the question in greater detail.

4.3.3

Public Questions Concerning Human Rights in Burma

Hafiz Ahmad asked what the Council would do in response to the killing of innocent people and human rights abuses which had taken place in Burma.

Mohammad Kamran referred to events in Burma, which he said had received little attention in the media. He said that there had been disturbing scenes in Burma, which included massacre of people and ethnic cleansing. He asked what the Council’s role was in helping to stop the genocide.

Foyad stated that he begged the Council to do something about the treatment of the people of Burma.

Fathima Mohamed asked the Council to fight as hard as possible to stop the persecution of Muslims in Burma and asked what the Council was going to do.

Councillor Julie Dore, the Leader of the Council, responded to the questions. Councillor Dore stated that she understood that Councillor Mazher Iqbal had addressed the campaign group regarding atrocities which had taken place in Burma. Whilst Sheffield City Council had no jurisdiction, it was possible for the Council to write to Members of Parliament, which was something that she and colleagues had done personally and on behalf of their constituents. Sheffield had an excellent record on campaigning as regards discrimination and persecution and supporting the victims of such events.  Burmese people were welcomed to the City as part of the Gateway programme to support refugees. In 2005, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (Leader of National League for Democracy in Burma) was granted the Freedom of the City of Sheffield.

Councillor Dore thanked the people in attendance for the information which they also provided to her concerning events in Burma and stated that she would write to the Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, on behalf of the people who had asked questions and made representations concerning the situation in Burma and requesting that he considers what possible action could be taken.

4.3.4

Public Questions Concerning the Electoral System

Nigel Slack referred to motions on the Council agenda with respect to the various election results, which either defended the First Past the Post system or called for a system that reflects the actual votes of the electorate.

He said it was still the case that the people of Sheffield are represented by Councillors voted in by, at best, 1 in 3 of the electorate and at worst 1 in 5. However, he stated that he would be interested in the fact that First Past the Post should mean that only three of the councillors present can claim real victory since the winner in all other wards were the electorate that chose not to vote, despite an almost doubling of the turnout since 2014.

Mr Slack asked what this says about the broken nature of representative democracy in the City.

Councillor Julie Dore, the Leader of the Council, responded that Council Motions were carefully considered, with several motions on the agenda for this meeting concerning the electoral system which included a number of options. Parliamentary elections used the First Post the Post system, whereas elections to the European Parliament employed a system of Proportional Representation. Councillor Dore stated that she was open-minded on the matter. The Amendment to both motions proposed by Councillor Geoff Smith accepted there were concerns about the current electoral system. She said there were different views concerning the alternative options for electoral systems.  Whilst it was recognised that there might be a need to reconsider the system, it was not appropriate to implement a knee jerk response. The impact of potential change would need to be considered by reference to past elections and likely effect on future ones. The Amendment did not state a position regarding First Past the Post. A proper debate was required on the electoral system.

4.3.5

Public Question Concerning Fair City Campaign

Nigel Slack asked, given that there are 84 councillors in the City and the 'Fair City' campaign has been running for some time, how many councillors had signed up to the campaign and pledged to make this a fairer City and, if they have not, why not - do they not support the campaign?

Councillor Julie Dore, the Leader of the Council stated that there were a number of Councillors who were Fair City Champions, including herself and Councillors Mazher Iqbal and Peter Price. She thanked Mr Slack for raising awareness of the Fair City campaign and said she would encourage other Councillors to visit the Fair City website, to sign up to become a champion and make a pledge.

4.3.6

Public Question Concerning Public Questions

Martin Brighton stated that every question raised in this chamber by this citizen has been done so for a purpose. He asked: of the issues raised during the tenure of the current Leader of the Council, how many have been resolved in such a way as to prevent a repeat.

Councillor Julie Dore, the Leader of the Council stated in response that she was sure that Mr Brighton knew the answer for himself.

4.3.7

Public Questions Concerning Housing Policy and Tenant Representation

Martin Brighton asked the following questions:

1.    In what ways will the new Cabinet Member be different in policy and practice from her predecessor?

2.  Can tenants now reasonably expect a cessation of:

(i) Council denial that the TARA (Tenants and Residents Association) Recognition Policy has been repeatedly rejected ( details have been distributed widely )

 (ii) Use of Coercive Control ( threats by a council officer, reported city-wide by TARAs ) to impose the Recognition Policy and then falsely claim support ?

He stated that it has been determined, via Statute, that the tenant management board known as HANAP is not legitimate by virtue of exclusion of the public as observers, as the basic principles for openness, transparency and accountability were trammelled. HANAP makes recommendations to the Cabinet Member, upon which basis decisions are made. As a consequence, all decisions made by the previous Cabinet Member from HANAP and its interim predecessor have not been lawful.

3.    How does the incoming Cabinet Member propose to rectify this?

The previous Cabinet Member for Housing directed that the ability for citizens to ask questions at Area Housing meetings was to be withdrawn, despite the council conceding that there was no evidence whatsoever to support the specious and fatuous excuses for withdrawing the facility from citizens.

4.    What does the current Cabinet Member propose to rectify this?

Councillor Jayne Dunn, the Cabinet Member for Housing, responded that she would provide full answers in writing and added that she was looking at every area in her portfolio.