Agenda item

4.1

Petitions

4.1.1

Petition to Save Victoria Villas Heritage Street Lamps

The Council received a petition containing 27 signatures, requesting that the City’s heritage street lamps be saved in their current form.

Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made by Sarah Crookes who stated that the residents of Victoria Villas were requesting the Council to consider saving the heritage street lamps. There was a proposal to replace the lamps with LED lighting. The existing street lamps had been situated in their current location for decades and were part of the heritage of the Conservation Area. They were also an important part of history and should be retained for future generations and it was noted that children had signed the petition. The lamps were on a private and un-adopted road which was not a public thoroughfare. The Cabinet Member was invited to visit the site with the petitioners.

The Council referred the petition to Councillor Bryan Lodge, Cabinet Member for Environment. Councillor Lodge stated that street lighting in the City was being upgraded as part of the Streets Ahead programme. However, there were a number of heritage street lighting columns in the City and he said that he would be pleased to look at this issue. It had been found that there were some street lights in the City which were actually of 1950s and 1960s origin and may have to be replaced.

4.1.2

Petition Requesting the Gating of the Gennel Between Nos. 38 and 40, Horndean Road

The Council received a joint electronic and paper petition containing 17 signatures, requesting the gating of the gennel between Nos. 38 and 40, Horndean Road.

Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made by Marian Gipson who stated that there was anti-social behaviour occurring in the gennel caused by groups of approximately 12 to 15 young people who smoked, used drugs and left litter, glass bottles and cigarette ends. There had also been incidents of abusive behaviour and intimidation of residents. People were concerned and did not want the area to become a place where there was no respect for the environment or for others.

The Council referred the petition to Councillor Jayne Dunn, Cabinet Member for Housing who responded to the petition. She stated that if this was an adopted road then it could not necessarily be gated off. She said that she was concerned about the issues that had been raised by the petitioners and that she would work with local councillors to see what action could be taken.

4.1.3

Petition Requesting Road Safety Measures at Crosspool Shopping Precinct

The Council received an electronic petition containing 54 signatures requesting road safety measures at Crosspool Shopping Precinct.

Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made Bruce Payne. He stated that there had been a fatal accident at a crossing point in that location. He said that he lived close to the shopping precinct in Crosspool and had witnessed near misses. Councillor George Lindars Hammond had attended a meeting of Crosspool Forum and had indicated that there was a good possibility that a 20 mph zone would be implemented in the next five years.  School children used the crossing point and there was a home for people who were blind on Selbourne Road. People felt strongly about the issue of road safety and signatures had been collected through the placing of notices in two shop windows. It was requested that a 20 mph zone was implemented in Crosspool and that the existing zebra crossing was raised so as to create a hump which would slow vehicles down

The Council referred the petition to Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport who stated that local councillors had requested that someone attend a meeting of the Crosspool Forum and Councillor George Lindars Hammond had done so, with a Council Officer. It was the Council’s ambition to introduce 20 mph zones throughout the City. However, limited resources meant that there were restrictions as to the areas where these could be introduced. There were 1,300 requests asking for the implementation of road safety measures and these were all assessed and scored according to the Council’s agreed criteria. Councillor Iqbal stated that he would reply in writing to the petition and through local Councillors.

4.1.4

Petition Objecting to the Proposed Expansion of Silverdale Secondary School

The Council received a petition containing 336 signatures, objecting to the proposed expansion of Silverdale Secondary School.

Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made by Kiran Barn, who stated that the petition was opposed to the proposal to add buildings and to permanently increase the number of students of Silverdale School. The petitioners were not convinced that expansion was required or that Silverdale School was the appropriate place to make provision. There were approximately 4000 students within a 5000 metre radius of the crossroads at High Storrs and the proposed expansion of Silverdale School would add approximately 1000 more students.

The petitioners pointed out that parking and traffic problems were already in evidence, with no likely solution as the access to Silverdale School was by a single track, and they believed that the travel plans did not reflect the real life experiences at the schools.

The petitioners broadly supported the Council’s policy on expanding school places in the South West in order to ensure all those pupils in the catchment area have access to their local schools. However, the petitioners felt that to bring a large increase in students to one small area of Sheffield across arterial routes, would create significant transport issues. The absence of public transport would also lead to children being brought to school by car, leading to increased pollution.

The expansion of Silverdale School would also affect the development of Bannerdale, which it was feared might not attract sufficient student numbers, with an expanded Silverdale School being perceived as a good school, and could lead to it becoming a failing school. Whilst it was understood that the increase in population needed to be accommodated, Silverdale had already accepted students from outside catchment and it was difficult to believe there was sufficient need for Silverdale School to expand. The Cabinet was asked to reconsider its decision.

The Council referred the petition to Councillor Jackie Drayton, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families. Councillor Drayton stated that there had been a lot of consultation in relation to the temporary expansion of Silverdale and it was correct that additional school places were needed. In the North East and South West of Sheffield there had been an increase in the need for school places because people were moving into the area and families were moving into an area for the schools. Some of the children in Silverdale School would be out of the immediate catchment area, although none of those were further than the three mile distance within which children could safely travel to the school.

The issues of traffic and parking were problems experienced more generally in relation to schools in the City. Many children and young people did not now walk to school, in contrast to what happened in the past.  She added it would be good for the school to encourage pupils to walk or cycle to school or use the bus rather that travel by car although she recognised that this was not always possible.  Travel plans and policies applied to all staff and pupils in schools, including teachers. Schools need to be a considerate neighbour to all those residents around their building especially so in relation to issues such as parking.

Parents were able to request a place for their children in a school of their choice. It was known that additional school places would be required in September 2016/17, all schools in the area were asked if they would be prepared to take additional children but only Silverdale School said that it would do so.

Discussions had taken place with Silverdale School regarding the period of the expansion and the Council had requested the school to postpone the permanent expansion plans until 2020 when the new Bannerdale School was open. She stated that Silverdale Multi Academy Trust had been chosen as the Academy sponsor for the new school on the Bannerdale site and she was sure that they would not wish for the new school to fail.  Councillor Drayton said that she would be pleased to discuss the issue further with the petitioners.

4.1.5

Petition Supporting Veolia Staff on Strike

The Council received a petition containing 100 signatures, supporting the Veolia staff on strike.

Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made by Alistair Tice. Mr Tice stated that he was presenting the petition on behalf of the Socialist Party and the 70 to 80 bin workers. He referred to comments made by bin workers regarding how they felt about their employment with Veolia. He said that the strike highlighted what was wrong with the privatisation of council services and commented that Veolia were bringing other people into work to try to break the industrial action. Mr Tice made reference to incidents which had previously taken place at Household Waste Recycling Centres in the City.

The petition called upon the Council to take the waste management contract back in-house. He asked about break clauses in the Council’s contract with Veolia and referred to the consultation with regard to waste management. Mr Tice said that the best way to save money was to bring the service back in-house and it was argued that despite costs to the Council of compensating Veolia for lost profits, there would still be a substantial saving.

The Council referred the petition to Councillor Bryan Lodge, the Cabinet Member for Environment. He stated that the current dispute was between Veolia and its employees. The matter went to ACAS two weeks ago and the Council was encouraging the respective parties to continue to talk. Councillor Lodge said that he and Council Officers had met with the GMB and Veolia last Tuesday to help them understand each other’s views. All sides wished to see an end to the dispute and further talks had taken place resulting in a proposal being put to the workforce and results of the ballot were expected.

Councillor Lodge stated that, with regard to Household Waste Recycling Centres, he understood that matters relating to industrial relations were the subject of an outstanding tribunal and he would not make comment at this time. 

There were break-clauses in the contract for both the Council and Veolia. The Council was undertaking a consultation with regard to waste services, looking at how the contract was delivered and whether the public would accept potential changes, which included bin collections either earlier in the morning or later in the evening. The Council would not be asking Veolia to change aspects of the contract until it had gauged public opinion on these ideas. This was part of a continuing process to allow the Council to balance the budget and be more efficient. There had been issues throughout the term of the contract with the Council in which Veolia had not delivered the required level of service. Penalties were imposed as part of the contract.

4.1.6

Petition Regarding the Current Situation in Kashmir

The Council received a petition containing 626 signatures, requesting the Council to acknowledge, and take what action possible, to help resolve the problems currently being faced in Kashmir.

Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made by Nighat Khan and Tehsim Kauser. The petitioners asked for their concerns to be raised with the Government in relation to human rights violations in Jummu and Kashmir where there had been extra judicial killings, more than 7,000 women raped and many people displaced. Over 700 young people had been blinded or injured by the use of pellet guns. It was felt that the international community and the United nations were silent with regard to what was taking place in Kashmir.

People had been confined to their homes for over 100 days and there were food shortages. People had no heating or electricity. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch were not permitted to voice opinion or openly report on issues in Kashmir and no news reports were being made in relation to the issue. There were 1.8 million Kashmiri people in the UK.

Reference was made to the Notice of Motion to be considered at this meeting of the Council about the situation in Kashmir. The Council was requested to raise the Kashmir flag in solidarity with victims on Kashmir’s national day on 24 October each year, to give people hope and acknowledge the right to self-determination of people in Kashmir.

4.1.7

Public Questions Concerning Kashmir

Zulfiqar Ali stated that Kashmir had been a disputed territory since 1947 and he asked how the Council could help with the issues there, which included killings, closure of schools and the imposition of a curfew.

Nasar Raoof asked whether the Leader of the Council would support the setting up of a Council-led Kashmir Working group, comprising senior local politicians, councillors and community members to work together at developing links and relationships with various sections of Kashmir.

Hameed Ur Rehman thanked the Council for the open support it had provided to people of the region, for example through the Sheffield Girls College Bagh when the former Lord Mayor (Councillor Jackie Drayton) visited to see the devastation caused by the earthquake and laid the foundation stone of the college. At this time of humanitarian crisis, he said that the Council was stepping in to send a solidarity message through the Notice of Motion given at this meeting. He requested that due to the public interest in this important issue, the Motion was brought up the agenda for debate.

Riaz Khan said that Sheffield had a long tradition of standing up for human and civil rights. He asked what the Council could do to support the people of Indian occupied Kashmir.

Mohammad Nazim asked whether the Leader of the Council and other senior councillors would agree to be part of video messages in support of the citizens of Kashmir.

The Council referred the petition to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Julie Dore and Councillor Dore also addressed the questions on this subject. She said that there were some occasions in which petitions and questions brought to the Chamber were very emotional and this was such an occasion. A ceremony had been held outside the Town Hall and, during the ceremony, pictures of the atrocities in the region were displayed. She said that, at the last Council meeting, the Council had been asked to do something about the serious situation in Kashmir and she personally wished she had the power to do something. Nonetheless, people were able to sympathise and empathise and support people in the Kashmir community, which was recognised as a much valued part of the City.

In a practical sense, the Council would consider what it was able to do and this included the annual raising of the Kashmir Flag. The Council did have a policy relating to the flying of flags on Council buildings and it did receive many requests to fly different flags. However, this policy was something which could be revisited.

As regards the Notice of Motion on the agenda for this meeting of the Council, it was proposed that in view of the public interest, this was brought up the agenda, as requested. As part of the Notices of Motion given on this subject, a copy of those motions would be forwarded to the Secretary of State. In addition to this, she would write a covering letter to the Secretary of State and would invite him to meet the community in Sheffield. She would also involve the Secretary of State with responsibility for international development.

The Council would do its best to support the local community in Sheffield through local councillors and they had made representations on behalf of the community. She did not see a problem with the proposal to form a working group to talk about what support might be put in place.

Councillor Dore said that she sincerely hoped that a resolution could be found for the situation in Kashmir. There was a dependence on journalists for information and it was difficult for people to report what was happening. People were therefore dependant on finding information through the Kashmiri community’s contacts and relationships with family and friends. She said that the Council would make proposals on the matters raised at this Council meeting.

4.2

Public Questions

4.2.1

Public Questions Concerning Trees in Nether Edge 

Graeme Benson asked firstly, why no decision had been found in favour of saving any of the trees from being cut down in Nether Edge and, secondly why Trade Union legislation had been used to arrest protesters relating to trees in Nether Edge.

Councillor Bryan Lodge, the Cabinet Member for Environment, responded that residents in Nether Edge were sent survey forms regarding the potential to fell a tree on their road. If no responses were returned to the Council, then the Council would continue with the proposals regarding the trees. Where less than fifty present of residents were opposed then the work would continue. However, if more than fifty percent of residents were opposed to the proposal, consultation would take place with the Tree Panel.

With regard to the protest on Marden Road in Nether Edge, 13 households were sent surveys and no responses came back from residents and so the Council decided to remove the trees in question. There was he said, another resident of Marden Road who had asked when a tree was to be removed because its roots were growing under his property. He reiterated that matters were referred to the Tree Panel as appropriate where more than fifty percent of residents were opposed to a tree being removed.

Councillor Lodge said that the incident which had occurred on Marden Road involving arrests of protesters was a police matter and the police made the decision to make the arrests. He said that he hoped there were not similar incidents which would lead to the need for people being arrested. Residents on Marden Road had not made objections to the proposals to fell the trees.

4.2.2

Public Questions Concerning  Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP)

Jillian Creasy asked the following questions with regard to the Transformation Plan which was being prepared by the South and Mid Yorkshire, Bassetlaw and North Derbyshire clinical commissioning cluster:

What responsibilities and powers does Sheffield City Council have to scrutinise, publicise, consult on and challenge the regional STP?

How many local authorities have publicised their STP and why has Sheffield City Council not done so?

Under what circumstances would the Health Scrutiny Committee refuse to support the STP and refer it back to the Secretary of State?

Councillor Cate McDonald, the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care responded and said that the STP was an NHS plan. The Council had the same responsibilities in the relation to STPs as it did for other NHS plans, which included the right to scrutinise them and, in certain circumstances, make a referral to the Secretary of State. The Chair of the Scrutiny Committee could be asked about the arrangements for scrutiny of the STP. As these were NHS plans, it was not the responsibility of the Council to publicise them.

4.2.3

Public Questions Concerning Road Safety on Hangingwater Road

Richard Bollington asked whether Councillor Jackie Drayton, in her capacity as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families would confirm whether she supported the call for a crossing on Hangingwater Road. He said that he had sent an email to Councillor Drayton about this matter. He also asked whether the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport, Councillor Mazher Iqbal, was able to provide an update as to progress that had been made in relation to road safety on Hangingwater Road since the last Council meeting.

Lynn Simmons asked whether the Council was prepared to take responsibility for forcing school children to take a longer and more potentially dangerous route to school because of the existing dangers at the Whitely Wood Road and Hangingwater Road junction.

Lindsey Jacobs stated only one camera had been installed at the location of Hangingwater Road, not two. The installation of the camera and implementation of a 20mph zone would not have prevented the accident or injuries that her daughter had sustained when she was involved in an accident at the location of the junction with Whitely Wood Road in December 2015. She asked how the Council was going to respond to ensure the safety of people following the petition advising the Council of the dangers at the busy and well used junction and the inevitability of a serious accident or a fatality.

Councillor Mazher Iqbal, the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport, stated in response to Mr Bollington’s question, that he would forward a letter to him which had been sent to Mr and Mrs Jacobs in which he set out what he was going to do to review the Council’s policy with regard to highways schemes. He said that he would respond to the email that Mr Bollington had sent to him and which he had not yet responded to as he had been on leave.

There was a safer route which had been made available to parents. He said that he did sympathise with the request that had been made in relation to road safety and a visit had been made to the site. Like all other requests, criteria were used to make an assessment. There were 28 requests which scored higher than the request for a scheme at Hangingwater Road. Over the next few months, the policy would be reviewed and he would make sure that the petitioners were kept informed with regard to what was being done or what was proposed.

Councillor Jackie Drayton, the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families said that she did recall the email which concerned arranging a meeting with her and she had sent a reply to the email. She stated in it her grandchildren lived in the area, and she had taken them to school and fully understood the issues of traffic in this area.  She also stated that she knew that Councillor Iqbal had been out to meet parents and carers onsite and was doing all he could regarding this issue.  Councillor Drayton said she would contact the school travel service to discuss whether they would contact the school to arrange a session with the young people to ensure they are aware of the safe route to school and the issues of road safety when walking to school.

4.2.4

Public Question Concerning Sheffield Green Commission

Jenny Patient stated that the Sheffield Green Commission reported in March 2016 after hearing expert evidence and gaining support from 19 City leaders. She asked how its recommendations could help the Council to lead a programme of investment to mitigate climate emissions, as an alternative to fossil fuel investment.

Councillor Bryan Lodge, the Cabinet Member for Environment, stated that he was sharing responsibility for the Green Commission with another Cabinet Member, Councillor Mazher Iqbal, the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport. A report concerning the Green Commission was due to be submitted to Cabinet in December. The Commission looked at how policy for the City was formulated and published a report based around 4 themes. For example, in relation to transformative energy, consideration could be given to expanding on the places which are served by the City’s energy recovery facility and EON had developed a biomass facility at Blackburn Meadows. Work was being done in partnership to provide a link to the Northern General Hospital to reduce emissions and save money. Bringing waste heat into use could give Sheffield a competitive edge. Insulation of homes was another area where measures would save money and help people avoid fuel poverty. Councillor Lodge thanked the Climate Change Alliance for their contributions to the work of the Green Commission.

Councillor Ben Curran, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, stated that with regard to divestment from fossil fuels, the Council had not invested in fossil fuels for a number of years. The City’s Universities and South Yorkshire Pension Fund had also taken steps to divest from investment in fossil fuels. Some potential infrastructure investments had been presented to the South Yorkshire Pensions Authority and a response had not yet been received in that regard.

4.2.5

Public Question Concerning Fracking

Hannah Dodd stated that fracking had a massive impact on counties such as Lancashire and asked, whilst a ‘frack-free’ city was the goal, can Sheffield say it will fight fracking, even with pressure and financial incentives building?

Councillor Mazher Iqbal, the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport, stated that the Council would commit not to allow fracking on land which it owned. The position that had been taken by the Government was that exploratory licenses for fracking could be issued without consultation with residents or with the Council.

4.2.6

Public Questions Concerning Silverdale School

Margaret Morleystated that a traffic survey took place on 7th June this year, which was the quietest time of the school year.  She asked whether any other surveys were going to be carried out that would give a true reflection of the actual traffic congestion in Bents Drive, particularly as there were now 60 more students attending the school.

Margaret Morley asked questions on behalf of Paul Adam, as follows:-

If the proposed extension was to provide extra school places on this side of the City, why had High Storrs School not been considered? It was felt that High Storrs was on a much bigger site than Silverdale and with much better access for pupils and vehicles. It was also flatter and better drained and so would be cheaper to build on.

Why can’t the new School at Bannerdale take the extra children instead of selling off some of the land at Bannerdale for housing? The Council needed to resolve the educational needs in the area before disposing of education land for housing.

Why won’t the Council reveal the proposed Catchment area for the School at Bannerdale?

Was Silverdale being proposed because the management company stood to make substantial profits from an extension and the academy would gain revenue from having extra pupils?  

Alan Robson asked a question on behalf of Martin Fox, as follows:

Where was it expected that the extra 40-50 cars for additional staff and students would park? Parking spaces in the streets surrounding the School were already taken, and the Hammer & Pincers pub car park did not have the capacity. This would have an impact on emergency vehicles if they ever needed to get to a property in the area and lorries delivering to school also had major problems trying to squeeze between parked vehicles.

Allen Robson stated that the present Silverdale School building was on land which was the old school’s artificially leveled playing field and was land designated Green Belt. The drawings for the extension showed that its position would extend well beyond the school boundary, into an area of natural undisturbed land - known locally as “The Roughs” which was also part of the Green Belt. This area provided a haven for wildlife, fauna and insects, nesting birds, foxes dens, rabbit warrens etc.

It was assessed that should this proposal go ahead, it would involve the destruction of some 20 mature hardwood trees which currently occupied the site, and create activity which will be very close to established, occupied Badger Setts.

He asked whether the Council would give an assurance, that should this proposal become an application, environmental impact and ecological surveys will be carried out, at an appropriate time of year, to establish whether protected species would be disturbed and that proper notification of the commencement of these surveys would be made public?

Allen Robson asked a question on behalf of Marilyn Small, as follows:

The present Silverdale School was built on the designated Green Belt. Were people to assume that a permanent extension taking up more Green Belt would not go against Council guidelines?

Andy Bolland asked the following questions:

Earlier this year, a report submitted to Cabinet gave clear guidance as to the schooling requirements for the City and the need for a Bannerdale School. He asked why Silverdale, which was the closest school to the new Bannerdale school, was being considered for a large permanent expansion, especially given it could more than accommodate its catchment area for the considerable future and the Cabinet report clearly stated that King Ecgberts and High Storrs were the schools most likely to be oversubscribed. In the report it stated that expansion of any existing schools would undermine the new places at the new Bannerdale school.

Silverdale was built on Green Belt land which was classed as having a long term high risk of surface water flooding on the Environmental Flood map. What assurance could be given that future development would not compound the existing flooding problem?

Sue Midwoodasked whether a properly audited and transparent school parents’ survey had been carried out; and if provision for parking included other users, including visitors and student teachers?

Sue Midwood asked the following questions on behalf of St John Livesey:

After consultation and review of the evidence, the Cabinet report of 17 February 2016 recommended a temporary expansion of Silverdale School, to provide an extra 60 places in 2016/17 and 2017/18. A subsequent report to Cabinet of 20 July accepted the recommendations of the report, including supporting the temporary expansion of Silverdale. What has changed since July to overturn this recommendation so that this is now considered a permanent expansion and what process was undertaken to determine this change?

David Midwood asked what the impact was of this expansion on air quality and whether a noise impact assessment been carried out?

Vic Briers stated that local authorities had a statutory duty to ensure that pupils were able to travel to school in reasonable safety and comfort.  He referred to some of the problems relating to access and road safety concerns at Silverdale School. He said that schools were required to have a named competent person responsible for Health and Safety and he asked who that person was and whether they were the person responsible for the safety of children travelling to school.

Councillor Jackie Drayton, the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, thanked the questioners for waiting to put their questions and for sending them through in advance of the meeting. She stated that she would answer the questions in writing and would ask other Cabinet Members to do the same where a question related to their portfolio.

She assured the petitioners that the application for the permanent expansion of Silverdale School would have to go through the formal planning process which included consultation.  The Council had requested the School to consider postponing the proposed permanent expansion until the new Bannerdale School was open. 60 temporary places were made available this September.

There was a real long term demand for school places in the South West of Sheffield and therefore a need to expand provision. Last year, some children from the South West did not get a place in a local school and that was why, had these additional places not been provided in September this year, there would have been more children placed in schools outside of the South West of the City. She also stated that local Councillors had contacted her regarding the proposals at Silverdale School.

Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport, stated that an application in respect of Silverdale School had not been submitted at this point in time. Issues including noise and ecology would be considered during the planning process and local people affected by the application would be notified. He said that he would provide the questioners with background information as to how the planning process worked and how people can get involved. Whilst the Council was operating in the context of budget cuts, it did endeavour to use various ways to inform and contact people.

4.2.7

Public Question Concerning Fracking

Nigel Slack stated that he welcomed the Council's motion at item 10 with respect to fracking within the City limits.

He asked firstly, whether, with the recent discovery of World War Two bombs on recent development sites, which was not an unusual occurrence in the City, would the Council require (as part of any planning application) a substantial indemnity from any company undertaking exploration, either by seismic or other means that may cause 'complications' with vintage ordnance?

Secondly, Mr Slack asked if the Council would circulate this motion to other major landholders within and about the City boundaries, along with a letter encouraging similar commitments from them.

Thirdly, he asked what approach Council would be taking to the potential for bordering authorities to accede to fracking exploration and the potential for this to cause harm within the City boundary?

Councillor Mazher Iqbal, the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport, responded that the Council Motion would be circulated as Mr Slack suggested.

4.2.8

Public Question Concerning Arms Exports

Nigel Slack referred to the Notice of Motion at item 13 with respect to Kashmir and asked if Council would be taking time to have a conversation with those Sheffield Labour MPs that abstained from the vote in Parliament to halt arms exports to Saudi Arabia, enabling the continued misery in that country?

Councillor Julie Dore, the Leader of the Council, stated that she agreed with Jeremy Corbyn MP with regard to the issue of arms exports.

Regarding the vote in Parliament, Councillor Dore stated that she understood that the reason Gill Furniss MP had abstained was that she had been granted authorised absence by the Whip and paired with an MP from another party. She could not comment with regard to other MPs who may have abstained.

4.2.9

Public Questions Concerning Contracts

Nigel Slack stated that in 2012, he began an ongoing effort to bring greater transparency to the private profit being made from public money in the City's major contracts. At that time he said that The Star newspaper had reported this as ‘a £9 million gravy train’.

He said that the current website details for major contracts were out of date, still showing the now defunct Kier contracts and said that he believed it was time for an update. Mr Slack asked whether the Council could provide the details of the current major contractors, their current contract value per annum, the change in contract value since the Government’s Austerity programme began in 2010 and finally, the total overall profit figure for these major Contracts.

In response, Councillor Ben Curran, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources agreed that the information on the Council’s website was out of date. He had raised this with Council officers and had been told that this would be updated by the end of November. Councillor Curran stated that he would write to Mr Slack with details in answer to his question concerning contract values etc.

4.2.10

Public Questions Concerning Protests

Nigel Slack asked whether the Council agreed with Trade Union Law being used by the Police to prevent protest by members of the public.

Councillor Julie Dore, the Leader of the Council, referred to the answers given by Councillor Bryan Lodge in relation to previous questions on this subject. She stated that she did not agree with the Trade Union Law so the answer was ‘no’.

Councillor Bryan Lodge, Cabinet Member for Environment said that with regard to the police using action to move protesters on, he had asked about the incident and had been informed that it was the police that took the decision and used the legislation in relation to the protest.