Agenda item

4.1

Urgent Business

4.1.1

With the permission of the Lord Mayor (Councillor Gail Smith), Councillor Ben Curran asked the following question relating to urgent business, under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.6(ii):-

"The Government have announced the intention to relax covid-19 restrictions from 19th July, yet many experts and commentators feel that wearing masks should remain compulsory on public transport and in other enclosed spaces - including Sheffield’s Director of Public Health who has said he would continue to wear a mask.

Will Sheffield City Council explore measures that could be taken locally to require passengers on local buses and trams to wear masks, subject to the current exemptions - for example, through working with the Sheffield City Region Mayor and bus companies to include a local requirement as a condition of carriage, or other measures which could be introduced through the local bus partnership?"

4.1.2

In response, the Leader of the Council (Councillor Terry Fox) commented that the Government’s intention to place the onus for public safety back onto the individual citizen was a shift acutely recognised by the Council and it would continue to explore whatever measures were available within the city to maintain public safety.  He added that public safety remained the Council’s top priority.

4.1.3

Councillor Douglas Johnson (Executive Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport), in supporting the comments made by the Leader, referred to his portfolio responsibilities for transport and his involvement in the Covid Prevention Management Board and stated that the wearing of face coverings has been a contentious and, at times, divisive issue during the pandemic.  Although it would no longer be against the law to fail to wear a face covering, he did support the view of the Council’s Director of Public Health, and other scientists, that the wearing of face masks would continue to be beneficial in reducing the spread of Covid and other viruses.  He added, however, that there was no easy way to enforce the wearing of masks in various settings and he alluded to reports of hostility from some members of the public towards public service workers trying to enforce the legal requirements, and towards disabled members of the public who were not wearing masks due to their disability or health condition, and he concluded his comments by stating that he would urge the public to continue to wear face coverings in enclosed public spaces in the interests of community safety, whilst also understanding, and demonstrating respect and tolerance for, those who were unable to do so.

4.2

Written Questions

A schedule of questions to Executive Members, submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16, and which contained written answers, was circulated.  Supplementary questions, under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.4, were asked and were answered by the appropriate Executive Members until the expiry of the time limit for Members’ Questions (in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.7).

4.3

South Yorkshire Joint Authorities

Questions relating to the discharge of the functions of the South Yorkshire Joint Authorities for Fire and Rescue and Pensions (under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.6i), were not able to be asked before the expiry of the time limit for Members’ Questions.