Agenda item

That this Council:-

(a)       welcomes the announcement of a City Deal for the Sheffield City Region, with an unprecedented shift in power and investment from the Government to Sheffield City Region;

(b)       understands the deal has the potential to deliver 4,000 new apprenticeships, 2,000 employees with new training, nearly £40 million to redevelop the city centre, and 12,000 new jobs at the City’s enterprise zone;

(c)        thanks Liberal Democrats in Government for securing this historic deal, in particular the Deputy Prime Minister;

(d)       recalls that the deal follows hundreds of millions of pounds of investment in the region’s infrastructure, including the recent announcement of the electrification of the Midland Main Line, the start of the Streets Ahead project, and the financial backing for a Sheffield University Technical College;

(e)       believes the deal underpins this Government’s commitment to re-balancing the nation’s economy, away from the City of London so shamelessly courted by Governments of the last thirty years, and towards cities of the North;

(f)         calls upon local authorities, the local enterprise partnership and business leaders in the Sheffield City Region to work together to ensure the City Deal is a success and that Sheffield becomes a deliverer of growth; and

(g)       directs that an annual report is presented to this Council setting out progress made in meeting the goals set out in the City Region’s deal.

It was moved by Councillor Ian Auckland, seconded by Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, that this Council:-

(a)       welcomes the announcement of a City Deal for the Sheffield City Region, with an unprecedented shift in power and investment from the Government to Sheffield City Region;

(b)       understands the deal has the potential to deliver 4,000 new apprenticeships, 2,000 employees with new training, nearly £40 million to redevelop the city centre, and 12,000 new jobs at the City’s enterprise zone;

(c)        thanks Liberal Democrats in Government for securing this historic deal, in particular the Deputy Prime Minister;

(d)       recalls that the deal follows hundreds of millions of pounds of investment in the region’s infrastructure, including the recent announcement of the electrification of the Midland Main Line, the start of the Streets Ahead project, and the financial backing for a Sheffield University Technical College;

(e)       believes the deal underpins this Government’s commitment to re-balancing the nation’s economy, away from the City of London so shamelessly courted by Governments of the last thirty years, and towards cities of the North;

(f)         calls upon local authorities, the local enterprise partnership and business leaders in the Sheffield City Region to work together to ensure the City Deal is a success and that Sheffield becomes a deliverer of growth; and

(g)       directs that an annual report is presented to this Council setting out progress made in meeting the goals set out in the City Region’s deal.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Leigh Bramall, seconded by Councillor Julie Dore, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the substitution of the following words therefor:-

(a)       welcomes the City Deal for Sheffield City Region which delivers innovative proposals on skills, investment, transport and innovation developed by the present Administration and partners across the Sheffield City Region, however, notes that despite the welcome proposals in the City Deal, the vast majority of the money is not extra funding, it is existing Government money that will now come under local control rather than a significant rebalancing of government finance from London to the north;

(b)       notes that as part of the City Deal negotiations, Core Cities were asked to come forward with their ‘asks’ of Government and believes that asking for control of skills funding to shape how this is invested and to meet the needs of the local economy demonstrates that the City Region is leading on the skills agenda which is key to bringing jobs, developing growth industries and securing investment in the Region and demonstrates that the present Administration is standing up for Sheffield;

(c)        welcomes the successful collaboration and joint working between public and private sector partners across the Sheffield City Region to secure the City Deal, noting that the private sector have been heavily involved in the Deal, ensuring that it is responsive to the needs of local business and supports the business friendly approach of the present Administration;

(d)       welcomes the creation of the Sheffield City Region Apprenticeship hub which will deliver 4,000 new apprenticeships by 2016 and comes on the back of the innovative Sheffield Apprenticeship Programme developed by the present Administration and thanks everyone involved in developing and participating in this successful scheme including the apprentices, young people and council officers;

(e)       welcomes the numerous other proposals in the City Deal including Tax Increment Financing (TIF) 2, infrastructure investment, the ‘sourcing roadmap’ to support the City Region’s advanced manufacturing industry and transport funding;

(f)         however, notes that despite the welcome proposals in the City Deal, the majority of this funding is not new investment and not a substitute for a credible economic plan to take the country out of recession; and

(g)       resolves to send a copy of this motion to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling on the Government to take responsibility for the situation they have created and to develop an alternative based on the Shadow Chancellor’s Plan for Jobs and Growth.

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

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