Agenda item

5.1

Question from Dr. Simon Duffy

Would the LAC agree to set up a working group - which would include interested citizens - to explore how we might empower the many different neighbourhoods within the area and to follow the path taken by Frome and other places - radically reducing loneliness and increasing wellbeing?

In response, Councillor Steve Ayris thanked Dr. Duffy for his question and said that he had held discussions on this matter with the Co-Chair of the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee and that whilst it was felt that the South LAC should consider this, he was not sure of the best way forward with it.  Councillor Ayris said that contact should be made with Council Officers and felt that the issue could be included within the community plan.

Diane Owens, South LAC Manager, said that she thought this might link with some existing work in the city around cohesion and collaboration and that she had shared the question with some colleagues from the council and VAS (Voluntary Action Sheffield) who are doing work in this area. Diane said a member of the Team would speak to Mr Duffy after the meeting and that she would obviously take a steer from the committee in terms of following this up.

Councillor Simon Clement-Jones said that unfortunately we were at the end of the municipal year but felt that the matter would fit well with priorities in the Community Plan.

Councillor Sue Auckland asked whether the Chair could put the matter on the agenda for the first public meeting of the new municipal year or for future discussion by the committee.

Councillor Nighat Basharat felt that something needed to be done and tackling loneliness was about working with communities.  She said that since covid, there were still many people who did not have the confidence to go out in public.  Councillor Basharat said that it was good to hear that this was being addressed in Frome and other places.

5.2

Questions from Russell Johnson

1.  Are the Elected Members here aware that Sheffield City Council is using part of the old nurseries land at Graves Park as a Waste Transfer Depot?

It is likely that the required registration for this use is not in place. Would Members, particularly Councillor Johnson who serves on the relevant Sub-Committee, please concisely comment?

Furthermore, an FOI response from Sheffield City Council stated that the area is not designated as a depot.  If that is the case, the observed and photographed activities at the site appear to be inappropriate.

More broadly, are South LAC Councillors content with the Sheffield City Council Trustees’ oversight of the Charitable Trust with regard to Graves and many other parks?

Should the Sub-Committee consider co-opting people who have the necessary knowledge and who have the Park’s interests at heart? 

In response, Councillor Ian Auckland said that the area in Graves Park was a depot and was referred to as a depot.  He said the park was gifted as charitable park land and used as Norton Nurseries.  With regard to the management of the area, he disagreed with how it was run as the Council and Charitable Trustees are the same.  Councillor Auckland said he was supportive of more local involvement in the running of the park, but the Council is the Trustee and didn’t think it would be appropriate to have the park run by the LAC.  Councillor Auckland felt that local groups should be allowed to sit on the management group thus changing the setup.  He said that the Council does have a licence in terms of waste transfer.

Councillor Richard Shaw said that he and his Liberal Democrat colleagues had called for the area to become part of the park as it joins onto the aboretum.  He said he has raised the issue with the Cabinet Member, insisting that this was park land.  Councillor Shaw felt that it was not for the City Council to do whatever it wanted to do, the Park belonged to the people of Sheffield and there was a need to safeguard the integrity of the Park.

Councillor Paul Turpin felt we needed to be wary. Parks take a lot of maintaining and it was necessary to use the depot for plant machinery to be stored there.  He said that by storing large equipment on site, it would save on fuel and the carbon footprint by not moving plant machinery around the city.  Councillor Turpin said that personally, he hadn’t seen any fridges or furniture dumped on the site, so as far as he was concerned, it was to store machinery, but he would look into the matter and ensure that the depot was used appropriately.

Councillor Sue Auckland said that she lived across the road from the depot and had seen vans arriving at the depot and dumping rubbish.  She said it was a big issue that needed addressing.

2.  In the context of the excoriating and utterly damning Lowcock Inquiry Report, please would each of the Councillors here, on the record,  briefly express confidence or otherwise in the Leader of the Council and the Finance Co-Chair  continuing as Councillors or in their current positions of responsibility? (Long explanations unnecessary – really a yes/no answer only is needed)

In response, all Members present at the meeting, with the exception of Councillor Nighat Basharat (or Labour Councillor) said that they did agree that the Leader of the Council and the Finance Co-Chair should no longer continue as Councillors, and each stated their reasons why.

5.3

Question from Annette Taverner

1.  Annette Taverner said that she lived in the Nether Edge area and the roads were full of potholes.  She said the Council workmen would paint a yellow ring around the pothole and then come and fill it in with tarmac.  She asked what are we paying for? 

Are there are any plans to properly resurface Sheldon Road in Sharrow and, if so, what are the timescales as there are numerous large potholes and the temporary fixes don’t work, feel the road is dangerous for some users e.g. cyclists?

2.  Ms. Taverner then referred to the tree dispute.  She said that she had been told that if she stood in her garden, she would be arrested.  She said that she had given evidence at the Inquiry and had had not response from those responsible, she felt totally failed by the Council.  Ms. Taverner said that on her road, it had once been a community prior to the tree felling issue, now there was no community cohesion and asked the Labour Councillor present to comment on this.

In response, Councillor Basharat said that with regard to the potholes, as a Councillor her role was to represent the community, and she worked honestly and respected the feelings of local people about issues such as this.  She said she was aware of local issues and when she was elected, she stepped into the role to try and help respond to them.  She said she would carry out a site visit in relation to the potholes, and get back to residents. 

Councillor Simon Clement-Jones said that the LAC Team would contact Highways and a response would be provided on behalf of the LAC in relation to the potholes.

5.4

Question asked by Alison Teal

Alison Teal referred to the Tree Inquiry and asked what could be done to bring about change?

In response, Councillor Nighat Basharat said that she was aware of the level of impact and that there was an element of not being listened to.  She said that the Council was there to listen to the people and take their issues and concerns on board and address them.

Councillor Peter Garbutt responded by saying it depended on individual commitment to the Nolan principles which were Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership and applied to anyone who works as a public office-holder, including all those who were elected or appointed to public office.  He said all Councillors when elected, undertake a training session   based around the Nolan principles.  He said there was no mechanism to force a Councillor to resign from public office, the only power to do so rested with national Government.

Councillor Alexi Dimond said there needed to be open, honest and transparent decisions made, not taken behind closed doors.  He said that the Committee system would be in place for the next 10 years and this presented the opportunity to ensure that the Council was more accessible and prevent Councillors spreading mis-information particularly with regard to “red lines”, traveller sites, etc.

Councillor Maroof Raouf said that there needed to be a real mechanism in place to remove Councillors from office.

Councillor Ian Auckland said that he felt that day to day issues should be devolved to local areas.  With regard to the Committee system, he said it was always good to have opposition parties to put forward alternative options.

5.5

Question from Joy Arnott, Friends of Batemoor Park

She said that the Friends of Batemoor Park engage local people in litter picking in the Park and had raised funds.  She said that she felt that Batemoor was getting forgotten about and there needed to be much needed play equipment installed in the Park as soon as possible; she asked if Councillors could support the group to ensure this happens as soon as possible.

Councillor Richard Shaw said that he was always happy to engage and offer support to the Friends of the Park and said that if anyone wanted to meet him to come forward at the end of the meeting. Cllr Simon Clement Jones also said he would support the efforts of the group.

5.6

Question regarding the red lines on Abbeydale Road

The questioner referred to the reconciliation process and looking at working together and get over political sniping.  He said can we have a precise update on the “red lines” on Abbeydale Road.

Councillor Nighat Basharat stated that the Labour Group had already expressed its concerns and would not be supporting the scheme.  She said that a report and recommendations would be submitted to the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee in June/July.

Councillor Maroof Raouf stated that nothing had been taken off the table,  He said that the plan was to replace the double yellow lines already in place to red and was unsure as to why Members were against the scheme.  He said the single red lines would be in force, on a time basis, between 4.00 pm and 6.30 pm, and that they were easier to enforce.

Councillor Alexi Dimond said that there had been a lot of misinformation regarding the red lines and bus lanes.  He said that the consultation process had been followed and all options would be put forward to the relevant Policy Committee.  Councillor Dimond said that in the most deprived areas of the city, many people could not afford cars, so what was needed was a more reliable bus service.

Councillor Peter Garbutt said that red routes would make it easier to enforce parking regulations and get rid of poor parking.  He said that officers were aware that some business owners along Abbeydale Road and Ecclesall Road were very worried and said their views would be taken into consideration.

5.7

Question from Mohammad Mahroof

Mr. Mahroof said that he had asked the question at the previous LAC meeting regarding the takeaway opposite the Mosque on Wolseley Road and whether the Planning Committee could attach a condition to ensure that the takeaway owner provided litter bins outside the premises. He said that so far, he had not received a response to his request. He said that an officer of the local area team had contacted him to confirm that this condition could be attached but so far this had not been done.  He then referred to the recent bad weather, there were no grit bins along Wolseley Road.

Councillor Peter Garbutt said that he had looked into the matter, but it would appear that a different route would need to be considered to try and resolve the issue and install a bin.

Councillor Nighat Basharat said that with regard to the red lines scheme, no-one was totally against the scheme, but businesses  needed to be fully consulted on it. Everyone wanted reliable bus services.  With regard to the litter and grit bins along Wolseley Road, Councillor Basharat said that she would contact the necessary Council department and make sure the grit bins were in place and filled up as and when necessary.