Agenda item

11.1

It was formally moved by Councillor Minesh Parekh, and formally seconded by Councillor Ruth Milsom, that this Council:-

(a)      notes that:-

(i)       through its Decarbonisation Routemaps, the Council is setting out plans to minimise, mitigate and adapt to the climate emergency;

(ii)       small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 50% of UK business emissions, yet currently 76% of SMEs do not have a decarbonisation strategy;

(iii)      as well as residents, SMEs are struggling with record energy costs; and

(iv)      Sheffield’s businesses want to be leaders on climate but need a willing partner in Government that is prepared to invest in low-carbon energy and provide energy support for businesses;

(b)      welcomes:-

(i)       that South Yorkshire is the UK’s first Investment Zone which will create new opportunities for jobs and investment in Sheffield;

(ii)       the new £80m investment for a Boeing-led research project at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) into manufacturing lightweight structures for aeroplanes which is a key part of making global aviation more sustainable;

(iii)      that Sheffield has been announced as a heat network zoning pioneer, opening a route to cheaper and cleaner energy for our city’s businesses and public services; and

(iv)      the Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee’s recent approval of £3.4m Shared Prosperity Funding to support SMEs become more energy efficient;

(c)      believes that:-

(i)       the development of home-grown British renewables and nuclear power will make us less dependent on energy imports;

(ii)       we must address climate change in a way that creates good green jobs;

(iii)      trade unions must be partners in any industrial transition;

(iv)      Sheffield’s advanced manufacturing and research expertise provides enormous potential to create new jobs in the nuclear and low-carbon energy sectors;

(v)      pursuing a decarbonisation agenda will unlock social, economic and climate opportunities and deliver sustainable economic growth;

(vi)      Sheffield’s draft Local Plan sets out an ambitious vision for advanced manufacturing and green industries and will deliver high-skilled, high-wage jobs; and

(vii)     the Labour Party’s commitment to invest £3 billion in green steel production will support steel jobs in Stocksbridge and lead to more steel jobs in the future; and

(d)      resolves to:-

(i)       ask the Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee to consider working with partners, including its Diverse Business Advisory Board and the Chamber of Commerce, on how to further support small businesses to address climate impacts; and

(ii)       establish a cross-committee working group, drawing on Members from the Governance Committee, the Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee, and the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, to investigate how the Authority’s Decarbonisation Routemaps can be embedded into our decision-making structures.

11.1.1

(NOTE: With the agreement of the Council and at the request of the mover of the Motion (Councillor Minesh Parekh), the Motion as published on the agenda was altered by the substitution of the word “advanced” for the word “advancing” in sub-paragraph (c)(iv) of the Motion.)

11.2

Whereupon, it was formally moved by Councillor Martin Smith, and formally seconded by Councillor Robert Reiss, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.       the addition of new paragraphs (b) and (c) as follows, and the re-lettering of original paragraphs (b) to (d) as new paragraphs (d) to (f):-

(b)      believes that SMEs are essential for sustainable economic growth and job creation;

(c)      believes that Sheffield’s historic heavy industry sector continues to play a critical role in the city and that these large employers must be properly supported on the net zero transition, and welcomes the moves towards ‘Green Steel’ production through modern steelmaking technology;

2.       the insertion, in the original sub-paragraph (b)(ii) [re-lettered as a new sub-paragraph (d)(ii)], of the words “University of Sheffield and” after the words “£80m investment for a”;

3.       the insertion at the end of the original sub-paragraph (b)(iv) [re-lettered as a new sub-paragraph (d)(iv)], of the words “, and the Committee’s continued funding for the Launchpad start up and early stage business support scheme”;

4.       the addition of a new sub-paragraph (d)(v) [in the original paragraph (b)], as follows:-

(d)(v)  that Sheffield has significantly improved its environment for business start ups, and in particular has:-

(A)      the strongest annual business growth across the core cities at 27%;

(B)      the 3rd lowest business failure rate across the core cities; and

(C)      been voted the best city to start a business in 2022;

5.       the addition at the beginning of the original sub-paragraph (c)(iii) [re-lettered as a new sub-paragraph (e)(iii)], of the words “a wide range of stakeholders including”;

6.       the deletion of the original sub-paragraph (c)(vii) [re-lettered as a new sub-paragraph (e)(vii)] and the addition of a new sub-paragraph (e)(vii) as follows:-

(e)(vii)the Liberal Democrats commitment to quadruple the Employment Allowance and create an Entrepreneur’s Allowance to help people start new businesses would further support Sheffield’s SME community;

7.       the deletion of the original sub-paragraph (d)(ii) [re-lettered as a new sub-paragraph (f)(ii)] and the addition of a new sub-paragraph (f)(ii) as follows:-

(f)(ii)   reaffirm the Council’s commitment to assessing the environmental impact of relevant decisions, and notes that this will include reference to the Decarbonisation Routemaps where relevant.

11.3

On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried, but in part.  Parts 1 to 5 of the amendment were carried, and Parts 6 and 7 of the amendment were lost.

11.3.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR - 59 Members; AGAINST - 0 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 11 Members.  Although Labour Group Members voted for, they voted against Parts 6 and 7 of the amendment.) 

11.4

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:-

(i)       through its Decarbonisation Routemaps, the Council is setting out plans to minimise, mitigate and adapt to the climate emergency;

(ii)       small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 50% of UK business emissions, yet currently 76% of SMEs do not have a decarbonisation strategy;

(iii)      as well as residents, SMEs are struggling with record energy costs; and

(iv)      Sheffield’s businesses want to be leaders on climate but need a willing partner in Government that is prepared to invest in low-carbon energy and provide energy support for businesses;

(b)      believes that SMEs are essential for sustainable economic growth and job creation;

(c)      believes that Sheffield’s historic heavy industry sector continues to play a critical role in the city and that these large employers must be properly supported on the net zero transition, and welcomes the moves towards ‘Green Steel’ production through modern steelmaking technology;

(d)      welcomes:-

(i)       that South Yorkshire is the UK’s first Investment Zone which will create new opportunities for jobs and investment in Sheffield;

(ii)       the new £80m investment for a University of Sheffield and Boeing-led research project at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) into manufacturing lightweight structures for aeroplanes which is a key part of making global aviation more sustainable;

(iii)      that Sheffield has been announced as a heat network zoning pioneer, opening a route to cheaper and cleaner energy for our city’s businesses and public services; and

(iv)      the Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee’s recent approval of £3.4m Shared Prosperity Funding to support SMEs become more energy efficient, and the Committee’s continued funding for the Launchpad start up and early stage business support scheme;

(v)      that Sheffield has significantly improved its environment for business start ups, and in particular has:-

(A)      the strongest annual business growth across the core cities at 27%;

(B)      the 3rd lowest business failure rate across the core cities; and

(C)      been voted the best city to start a business in 2022; 

(e)      believes that:-

(i)       the development of home-grown British renewables and nuclear power will make us less dependent on energy imports;

(ii)       we must address climate change in a way that creates good green jobs;

(iii)      a wide range of stakeholders including trade unions must be partners in any industrial transition;

(iv)      Sheffield’s advanced manufacturing and research expertise provides enormous potential to create new jobs in the nuclear and low-carbon energy sectors;

(v)      pursuing a decarbonisation agenda will unlock social, economic and climate opportunities and deliver sustainable economic growth;

(vi)      Sheffield’s draft Local Plan sets out an ambitious vision for advanced manufacturing and green industries and will deliver high-skilled, high-wage jobs; and

(vii)     the Labour Party’s commitment to invest £3 billion in green steel production will support steel jobs in Stocksbridge and lead to more steel jobs in the future; and

(f)       resolves to:-

(i)       ask the Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee to consider working with partners, including its Diverse Business Advisory Board and the Chamber of Commerce, on how to further support small businesses to address climate impacts; and

(ii)       establish a cross-committee working group, drawing on Members from the Governance Committee, the Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee, and the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, to investigate how the Authority’s Decarbonisation Routemaps can be embedded into our decision-making structures.

11.4.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR - 59 Members; AGAINST - 0 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 10 Members.  Although Liberal Democrat Members voted for, they voted against sub-paragraphs (e)(vii) and (f)(ii) of the Substantive Motion.)