Agenda item

5.1

Public Question on Normanton Hill Crossing

Sandra Bradley, Chair of the Core Group for Safety on Normanton Hill, commented that everyone was disappointed that there had been a delay in commencing work on the Normanton Hill crossing. She had been informed that this was because of paperwork issues. Taking this delay into consideration, the Group were seeking reassurances that the Council would give this important issue the upmost priority so that further delays could be minimised. On behalf of the Group she therefore asked could they be given regular updates and kept informed of progress and agree today the frequency of the updates?

In response Councillor Terry Fox, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, commented that, without prejudging the decision, he hoped that the capital spend for the crossing would be agreed at today’s meeting. The Council were committed to installing the crossing and were giving it the utmost priority.

He added that everyone was frustrated with the delay and this was due to legal technicalities. These would be resolved but he couldn’t give a definitive date when this would be. He would continue to meet with the Core Group and was in constant dialogue with local Councillors. There was a meeting arranged for later this month and progress would be fed back to the Group.

5.2

Public Question in respect of School Crossing Patrol at Normanton Hill

Sandra Bradley asked what the position was in regards to the school crossing patrol person for the forthcoming new school term? She commented that due to the delay in the installation of the crossing on Normanton Hill known as ‘Jazzy’s crossing’ and the fact that the works schedule took twelve weeks, the darker evenings will be drawing in.

She further asked what hours will be covered given that the school pupils who attend Outwood Academy have extra school curriculum activities and also there will be an influx of new Year 7 pupils. Before the end of the school term, the school crossing patrol person was based on a ten hour week except for two days when a new recruitment person, who may possibly be taking over this position at the start of the new school term was on reduced weekly hours. What therefore are to be the weekly hours for the new school term?

Councillor Terry Fox replied that, as he did not have the precise details, a written response to this question would be provided to Ms. Bradley.

5.3

Public Question in respect of Normanton Hill Crossing

Marie Gratton asked commented that in the brief project outline programme variations, contained in item 13 on page 181 of the Cabinet agenda, the following were listed together: ‘Normanton Hill Crossing 370k, Barnsley Road, Elm Lane Construction’. Were these variations for the three constructions?

Councillor Terry Fox replied that the capital spend was for the three projects and Normanton Hill would get priority.

5.4

Public Question in respect of Schools’ Company

Jane Beale asked, with the Reason for Key Decision for the Schools Company report, on the agenda for today’s meeting, being savings over £500k, and considering that the Council were proposing to support the Schools Company with £800k per year for three years, what were the anticipated school savings?

Councillor Jackie Drayton, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, clarified that the report was not referring to £500k of savings, it referred to the fact that the decision involved expenditure of over £500k.   She added that this decision reflected the fact that the education landscape had changed in a way that was never expected. The Council used to have an advisory department of over 100 people working on school improvement and support for schools.  She stated that this figure was now down to just 3.5 fte.

Councillor Drayton explained the financial consequences of the Academies programme in terms of the reduction in local authority resources to support school improvement every time a school converted.

She noted that the Council had developed the City-wide Learning Body which was a partnership voluntary organisation and had worked well. The City-wide Learning Body was now changing into a statutory vehicle to help schools work together on improvement and which would also enable any surplus money to be reinvested into the city’s school improvement priorities.

She noted that another Schools Company which had been set up elsewhere in England had made a £27m income last year, the surplus of which had been reinvested in children and young people’s education and that was the ambition with the establishment of the Schools Company in Sheffield.

5.5

Public Question in respect of Walkley Library

Cath Simmonds asked, given the Scrutiny Committee meeting scheduled for next Wednesday (29 July), concerning the potential sale of the Walkley Library building to Forum Café Bars, she would like to request a report of the negotiations between the City Council and Forum Café Bars even if this needed to be a redacted version.

Councillor Isobel Bowler, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said that she had not been involved in these negotiations, had not seen any report on them and doubted such a report existed. A Freedom of Information request could be made by the questioner but would not produce results by tomorrow's Scrutiny Committee meeting. Dave Wood, Interim Property Surveying Manager, would be presenting the report at the Scrutiny Committee meeting and she would make him aware of Ms. Simmonds’ question.

5.6

Public Question in respect of Public Buildings

Catherine Butcher asked if the Council could explain to Sheffield citizens how they were doing all in their power to keep public buildings in public ownership (community or Council)? She was thinking particularly of the Walkley Carnegie Building.

Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Equality, commented that the policies in respect of libraries was that, as a result of cuts in Government funding, libraries would either be closed or community owned and the community had answered that call for action. Walkley Library was the only library where there would be a partnership with a private developer but would also work alongside the community.

All the assets that the Council owned would be looked at. There were no longer the resources available that the Council used to have to maintain buildings. Where a community organisation approached the Council with a view to extending the lease on a building, the Council would work in partnership if possible.

The Council had an Asset Realisation Programme and a lot of leases and community buildings had been given up, some of which needed to be disposed of. The Council did try and retain assets where it could and would work with partners to achieve this, but where it made strategic sense, assets were disposed of.

5.7

Public Questions in respect of Tinsley Green

Adil Mohammed stated that, at the last Planning Committee meeting held in July 2015, the planning application to build a mega school on Tinsley Green was granted by six votes for and five against. Adil had presented a petition signed by local young people from Tinsley calling upon Sheffield City Council to expand Tinsley Youth Club to compensate the local community for the loss of over 30% of their public park. Whilst his petition had been well received by the Planning Committee, they did not have any power to deal with this request, hence why he had decided to attend today’s Cabinet meeting.

Adil further stated that Tinsley Youth Club was well used by local young people, with over 40 attending each session. As a result the current building was very crowded when the youth club was open, with some young people now using the corridor to the toilets as a Playstation games area. He therefore asked:-

1) Could Councillor Jackie Drayton please commit to working with him and other local young people to expand Tinsley Youth Club by reducing the planned car parking spaces by two?

2) The current plan to relocate the playground next to the five a side football pitch and cricket nets was also likely to cause a problem. Could the Council please work with us to look at putting this at a more suitable place?

3) Many other parks in the City had Friends Groups. Could the Council please look at helping to set up a similar group for Tinsley Green, as Adil would be interested in helping to improve his park?

Councillor Jackie Drayton responded that she was aware that two local Councillors had made representations to the Planning Committee in respect of the number of parking spaces used. The youth facility was open Wednesday and Saturday evening and she was aware that other youth activity took place but she would clarify with officers exactly when.

The Council were not disposing of the pavilion. This was a good asset and well used by the community. The Council no longer had any money to provide youth clubs and money was spent on early intervention and prevention and troubled families. Councillor Drayton added that she was willing to work with Adil on the youth club issue. Planning would investigate the issues raised at that meeting and the viability of expanding the youth club building would be investigated.

Councillor Isobel Bowler added that there was one officer who supported the setting up of Friends Groups and she would ensure that she made contact with Adil in respect of this.

5.8

Public Question in respect of Planning Policy

Nigel Slack commented that, with more and more people, including some Labour Councillors, continuing to express their concern over the weakness of current Council planning policy, particularly with respect to heritage assets, what stage had the new Local Plan for the City reached and when would it be available for public scrutiny and consultation?

Mr Slack further added that, with Islington Council’s proposals to expose developer ‘dodgy dealings’ over ‘viability’ claims, something seen regularly in Sheffield’s planning debates, will the Council undertake to introduce a similar plan for the City?

Councillor Leigh Bramall, Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Development commented that he would send details of dates for publication of the Local Plan to Mr Slack. This was a huge piece of work which covered the whole City. He wished that it could me completed more quickly but there had been cuts to the number of officers involved and, as it was based on national planning law, it had to go through a number of tests. Lots of consultation had also been undertaken on the plan.

The Council had a strong record in respect of heritage assets and had brought some back into use and had been commended nationally for this. Devonshire Street shops originally had local protection but English Heritage did not feel that it met the criteria for national protection.

Councillor Bramall was not aware of any credible ‘dodgy dealings’. The Council had an independent audit but would look at what came out if Islington and respond accordingly.

5.9

Public Question in respect of Devonshire Street Legal Challenge

Nigel Slack stated that the ‘Save Devonshire Street’ campaign had raised the £15,000 needed to fund a legal challenge to the Council’s planning decision. Will the Council, before unnecessary expense was incurred by either side, talk to campaigners about the legal advice they had received and consider whether the Council’s view on defending the potential appeal was still the right one?

Councillor Jayne Dunn, Cabinet Member for Housing, reported that the Council’s position had been confirmed by an independent judge. The claimants were aware of this and the Council was in continued dialogue with them.

5.10

Public Question in respect of Devolution

Nigel Slack stated that, following amendments tabled in the House of Lords, it seemed that the new ‘Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill’ may take some time to progress through the legislative process. The Chancellor, however, was saying he was already in negotiation with the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ Cities about the new so called devolution powers and the imposition of an elected Mayor. He has again deliberately made the time scale tight in order to pressure authorities into snap decisions. Having resisted the attempt to impose a City Region Mayor last time, will the Council continue to resist this time? Will the Council consult with the Sheffield public about the new deal?

Councillor Leigh Bramall responded that, in principle, the Administration did not believe the imposition of Elected Mayors should happen. However, this was the policy of the new Government. Councillor Bramall would not rule anything out but any agreement would have to benefit the people of Sheffield unambiguously. It was important that the Council spoke to the Government to establish what was proposed.

5.11

Public Question in respect of Review of Meetings

Nigel Slack asked will the review of Council meeting procedures requested by the Opposition leader happen? And will the public be involved in any review?

In the absence of the Leader, Councillor Leigh Bramall confirmed that the Leader would look at that and any process would involve the public.

5.12

Public Question in respect of Mount Pleasant House

Nigel Slack asked if the Council could confirm whether they were about to sign a lease agreement with a commercial developer with respect to the Grade 2 listed Mount Pleasant House and the empty school behind it?

Mr Slack also asked will the relevant Cabinet Councillors agree to meet him concerning evidence of misleading information being provided to members of the public with respect to this property and its development?

Councillor Jayne Dunn confirmed that terms had been agreed on Mount Pleasant House subject to planning and building Regulations agreements. She would be happy to meet Mr Slack and requested that Mr Slack contact her secretary to arrange this.

5.13

Public Question in respect of Skyride Event

Nigel Slack commented that, although he greatly enjoyed this year’s Skyride event, he personally found it distasteful that the event was sponsored by a Rupert Murdoch media company. Mr Slack had also found out this year that the stewards for the event were from G4S. Given the Council’s stance on this Company for the Council’s own contracts could they assure us that that they will try to avoid this Company being involved in 2016?

Councillor Leigh Bramall commented that he welcomed Mr Slack’s enjoyment of the event. It was nationally organised and Sky were contracted to British Cycling, so the Council had no influence over that. Councillor Bramall was aware that Councillor Ben Curran, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, was undertaking a piece of work in respect of G4S, so he would ask Councillor Curran to respond directly to Mr Slack.

5.14

Public Questions in respect of ‘Double Dipping’, TARA Recognition Policy and Abuse of Vulnerable People

Martin Brighton asked a number of questions in respect of ‘double dipping’, the TARA Recognition Policy and abuse of vulnerable people.

Councillor Leigh Bramall stated that written responses would be provided to all Mr Brighton’s questions but if he had any evidence of abuse he should report this to the Police.