Agenda item

Devolution

It was moved by Councillor Leigh Bramall, seconded by Councillor Ian Saunders, that this Council:-

(a)       welcomes the recent Core Cities ‘Devolution Declaration: A Modern State for a Stronger Britain’, launched in May 2015;

(b)       notes that the Declaration calls for a ‘radical modernisation’ of the UK’s over-centralised state, allowing Britain to succeed at every level from the global to the neighbourhood;

(c)        notes comments from Professor Tony Travers from the London School of Economics and Political Science reinstating the importance that “A new Government, as well as continued devolution to the UK’s nations, makes this a key time for city devolution agenda. The Core Cities have made a convincing argument to Westminster on devolution to cities, now is the time look in more detail at policy and what the cities can actually deliver for the UK.”;

(d)       further notes that independent forecasts say that, with greater freedoms, the eight English Core Cities could alone deliver £222bn extra and put 1.16m jobs into the economy by 2030, which is the equivalent of adding the entire economy of Denmark to the UK;

(e)       notes that under the current Administration, Sheffield has played a prominent role in the Core Cities to ensure the city punches its weight, resulting in its leading City Deal and the city being only second to Manchester in securing a Devolution Deal; and

(f)        believes that as a Core City, Sheffield is well placed to play an important role in the devolution to cities and reconfirms the Council’s commitment to get the best deal for the people of Sheffield.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Colin Ross, seconded by Councillor Ian Auckland, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.         the deletion of paragraph (e) and the addition of a new paragraph (e) as follows:-

(e)       notes that the former Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Nick Clegg MP, played a crucial role in securing a devolution deal for the Sheffield City Region being only second to Manchester in securing a devolution deal;

2.         the addition of new paragraphs (g) and (h) as follows:-

(g)       notes the recent comments of the Rt. Hon. George Osborne MP makes it clear that further devolution of powers over transport, housing and healthcare to City Regions is dependent on City Regions agreeing to an elected mayor; and

(h)       notes that in previous votes in this chamber and in a referendum have been against having an elected city mayor, however, it is important that the best deal possible should be negotiated for Sheffield and Sheffield City Region and this may involve discussions on an elected metro-mayor.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was negatived.

(Note: Councillors Aodan Marken, Brian Webster, Robert Murphy and Sarah Jane Smalley voted for paragraph 2(g) and against the remainder of the above amendment and asked for this to be recorded.)

The original Motion was then put to the vote and carried, as follows:-

Resolved: that this Council:-

(a)       welcomes the recent Core Cities ‘Devolution Declaration: A Modern State for a Stronger Britain’, launched in May 2015;

(b)       notes that the Declaration calls for a ‘radical modernisation’ of the UK’s over-centralised state, allowing Britain to succeed at every level from the global to the neighbourhood;

(c)        notes comments from Professor Tony Travers from the London School of Economics and Political Science reinstating the importance that “A new Government, as well as continued devolution to the UK’s nations, makes this a key time for city devolution agenda. The Core Cities have made a convincing argument to Westminster on devolution to cities, now is the time look in more detail at policy and what the cities can actually deliver for the UK.”;

(d)       further notes that independent forecasts say that, with greater freedoms, the eight English Core Cities could alone deliver £222bn extra and put 1.16m jobs into the economy by 2030, which is the equivalent of adding the entire economy of Denmark to the UK;

(e)       notes that under the current Administration, Sheffield has played a prominent role in the Core Cities to ensure the city punches its weight, resulting in its leading City Deal and the city being only second to Manchester in securing a Devolution Deal; and

(f)        believes that as a Core City, Sheffield is well placed to play an important role in the devolution to cities and reconfirms the Council’s commitment to get the best deal for the people of Sheffield.

(Note: Councillors Richard Shaw, Rob Frost, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Roger Davison, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Ian Auckland, Steve Ayris, Denise Reaney, David Baker, Katie Condliffe and Vickie Priestley voted for paragraphs (a) to (d) and (f) and abstained on paragraph (e) of the Motion and asked for this to be recorded.)