Agenda item

Local Economy

18.1

It was formally moved by Councillor Martin Smith, and formally seconded by Councillor Penny Baker, that this Council:-

(a)      notes that a prolonged period of economic and political uncertainty is bad for the country and bad for Sheffield;

(b)      further notes that the competition for inward investment is likely to intensify over the next few years;

(c)      believes that this could put a number of strategically important projects at risk, including HS2, HS3 and the Sheffield Retail Quarter;

(d)      calls on the members of all political parties represented on the Council to unite to promote Sheffield as an excellent place to invest and do business; and

(e)      requests the Leader of the Council to set up a cross-party working group with local businesses to develop new initiatives to improve the city economy.

18.2

Whereupon, it was formally moved by Councillor Leigh Bramall, and formally seconded by Councillor Ian Saunders, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of paragraphs (d) and (e) and the addition of new paragraphs (d) and (e) as follows:-

(d)     therefore welcomes the actions the current Administration is taking to strengthen Sheffield’s economy, including:-

(i)      work to improve Sheffield’s skill base;

(ii)     work to support small businesses;

(iii)     the campaign to bring HS2 into the city centre;

(iv)    securing HSBC in the city centre;

(v)     creating Europe's first Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District and the Olympic Legacy Park;

(vi)    launching the city’s branding as The Outdoor City; and

(vii)    work to secure major investment in the city from Chengdu; and

(e)     calls on the opposition parties to support these initiatives and stop talking the city down to score political points.

18.3

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

18.4

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

(a)      notes that a prolonged period of economic and political uncertainty is bad for the country and bad for Sheffield;

(b)      further notes that the competition for inward investment is likely to intensify over the next few years;

(c)      believes that this could put a number of strategically important projects at risk, including HS2, HS3 and the Sheffield Retail Quarter;

(d)      therefore welcomes the actions the current Administration is taking to strengthen Sheffield’s economy, including:-

(i)       work to improve Sheffield’s skill base;

(ii)      work to support small businesses;

(iii)      the campaign to bring HS2 into the city centre;

(iv)     securing HSBC in the city centre;

(v)      creating Europe's first Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District and the Olympic Legacy Park;

(vi)     launching the city’s branding as The Outdoor City; and

(vii)     work to secure major investment in the city from Chengdu; and

(e)      calls on the opposition parties to support these initiatives and stop talking the city down to score political points.

18.5

(NOTE 1. Councillors Andy Nash, Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Adam Hanrahan, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Roger Davison, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Ian Auckland, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, David Baker, Penny Baker and Vickie Priestley voted for paragraphs (a) to (c), abstained from voting on paragraph (d) and voted against paragraph (e) of the Substantive Motion and asked for this to be recorded.)

2. Councillors Douglas Johnson, Magid Magid, Robert Murphy and Alison Teal voted for paragraphs (a) and (b) and abstained from voting on paragraphs (c) to (e) of the Substantive Motion and asked for this to be recorded.

3. Councillors Pauline Andrews, John Booker and Jack Clarkson voted for paragraphs (a), (b), (d) and (e) and abstained from voting on paragraph (c) of the Substantive Motion and asked for this to be recorded.)