Agenda item

9.1

It was formally moved by Councillor Laura Moynahan, and formally seconded by Councillor Dawn Dale, that:-

this Council:-

(a)      notes the well-documented benefits of play, particularly outdoor play, for children’s physical, mental, social, and emotional development;

(b)      believes that play is a vital component of childhood, promoting creativity, resilience, problem-solving, and social interaction;

(c)      supports the essential role of qualified playworkers with knowledge of the Playwork Principles, creating safe environments for children to engage in self-directed, spontaneous play and allowing them the freedom to take risks and learn through their own experiences;

(d)      notes the profound impact of austerity measures and the COVID-19 pandemic on play opportunities and playwork services, with the reduction in funding for community services leading to the closure of vital play spaces and limited access to qualified playworkers, resulting in a diminished play experience for many children;

(e)      believes that despite these challenges, Sheffield City Council has demonstrated its commitment to providing play settings through initiatives such as Pounds Park and ongoing improvements to parks and green spaces across the city, helping to restore much-needed play opportunities for children of all ages;

(f)       notes the invaluable role of the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCF) in supporting play and playwork across the city, with organisations such as Pitsmoor Adventure Playground, Sharrow Community Forum, and Manor After School Kids Klub (MASKK), forming part of the Sheffield Play Partnership, being instrumental in delivering play services;

(g)      believes that the successful joint working between the Play Partnership, the VCF and the Council is pivotal in promoting play and playwork across the city to help work towards sustainable play opportunities for children;

this Council resolves to:-

(h)      welcome and endorse the ongoing joint efforts between Sheffield City Council and the Sheffield Play Partnership to play and playwork for the city’s children;

(i)       call on the Council’s Education, Children and Families Policy Committee, and the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee to consider working together to develop a joined-up strategy for play and playwork within the Council’s Belonging Framework;

this Council commits to:-

(j)       building upon the excellent work currently taking place in family hubs, community youth services, and through the support of VCF organisations;

(k)      ensuring that there is comprehensive support for children of all ages, from 0 to 18 years (or 25 years for those with SEND), with particular attention to the gap in services for children aged 5-10, who often fall between early years and youth services provision; and

(l)       creating inclusive, high-quality play opportunities in communities and ensuring that Sheffield is a child friendly city.

9.2

Whereupon, it was formally moved by Councillor Mohammed Mahroof, and formally seconded by Councillor Penny Baker, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

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

(c)      notes that policies such as the two-child limit on benefits keep hundreds of thousands of children in poverty with significant impact on their mental and physical health;

(d)      notes that the Household Support Fund has helped tens of thousands of families in Sheffield such as through Free School Meal vouchers in the school holidays and is a vital safety net for the most vulnerable families;

(e)      welcomes the Government’s decision to extend the Household Support fund for six months, and hopes this vital support will be made permanent, as it is essential to provide children with the foundations on which they can further their development through education and play;

(f)       supports the Liberal Democrat manifesto promise to put a dedicated mental health professional in every primary and secondary school, providing support for all young people;

2.       the addition of a new paragraph (n) as follows:-

(n)      ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with a copy of this motion, calling for the abolishment of the two-child benefit cap and for a permanent provision of the Household Support Fund;

3.       the re-lettering of the original paragraphs (j) to (l) as new paragraphs (o) to (q).

9.3

It was then formally moved by Councillor Marieanne Elliot, and formally seconded by Councillor Alexi Dimond, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.       the addition of a new paragraph (f) as follows, and the re-lettering of the original paragraphs (f) and (g) as new paragraphs (g) and (h):-

(f)       believes that free-to-use, open play spaces are genuine improvements to parks and green spaces and the Council should take every opportunity to prioritise inclusive, free and open play spaces to increase play opportunities for children;

2.       the addition of new paragraphs (i) and (j) as follows, and the re-lettering of original paragraph (h) as a new paragraph (k):-

(i)       regrets that children today do not have the opportunities for play which their parents and grandparents had due to the exponential increase in motor vehicles which take up space and make streets dangerous;

(j)       notes that in December 2017, the Council voted against a trial to develop a Play Streets policy framework pilot to take place in Sheffield in the summer of 2018, including designing a quick and simple application process for residents wishing to facilitate playing out sessions on their street, and removing barriers to them doing so;

3.       the re-lettering of the original paragraph (i) as a new paragraph (l), and the addition of the following sub-paragraphs at the end of that paragraph:-

(i)       for that strategy to include enabling a Sheffield pilot including designing a quick and simple application process for residents wishing to facilitate playing out sessions on their street, and removing barriers to them doing so; and

(ii)       that the strategy is informed by Playing Out schemes currently or previously operating successfully in places such as Leeds, Hackney, and Bristol, to learn about the key steps to successfully implementing the policy;

4.       the re-lettering of the original paragraphs (j) to (l) as new paragraphs (m) to (o).

5.       the addition, at the end of newly re-lettered paragraph (o) [the original paragraph (l)], of the words “where children can play and travel safely to and from school”.

9.4

The amendment moved by Councillor Mohammed Mahroof was put to the vote and was carried.

9.4.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR - 39 Members; AGAINST - 33 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 1 Member.) 

9.5

The amendment moved by Councillor Marieanne Elliot was then put to the vote and was lost, except for Parts 1 and 5 of the amendment, which were carried.

9.5.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR - 12 Members; AGAINST - 57 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 5 Members.  Although Liberal Democrat Group Members voted against, they voted for Parts 1 and 5 of the amendment. Although Sheffield Community Councillors Group Members abstained from voting, they voted against Part 2 of the amendment.)

9.6

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

RESOLVED: That:-

this Council:-

(a)      notes the well-documented benefits of play, particularly outdoor play, for children’s physical, mental, social, and emotional development;

(b)      believes that play is a vital component of childhood, promoting creativity, resilience, problem-solving, and social interaction;

(c)      notes that policies such as the two-child limit on benefits keep hundreds of thousands of children in poverty with significant impact on their mental and physical health;

(d)      notes that the Household Support Fund has helped tens of thousands of families in Sheffield such as through Free School Meal vouchers in the school holidays and is a vital safety net for the most vulnerable families;

(e)      welcomes the Government’s decision to extend the Household Support fund for six months, and hopes this vital support will be made permanent, as it is essential to provide children with the foundations on which they can further their development through education and play;

(f)       supports the Liberal Democrat manifesto promise to put a dedicated mental health professional in every primary and secondary school, providing support for all young people;

(g)      supports the essential role of qualified playworkers with knowledge of the Playwork Principles, creating safe environments for children to engage in self-directed, spontaneous play and allowing them the freedom to take risks and learn through their own experiences;

(h)      notes the profound impact of austerity measures and the COVID-19 pandemic on play opportunities and playwork services, with the reduction in funding for community services leading to the closure of vital play spaces and limited access to qualified playworkers, resulting in a diminished play experience for many children;

(i)       believes that despite these challenges, Sheffield City Council has demonstrated its commitment to providing play settings through initiatives such as Pounds Park and ongoing improvements to parks and green spaces across the city, helping to restore much-needed play opportunities for children of all ages;

(j)       believes that free-to-use, open play spaces are genuine improvements to parks and green spaces and the Council should take every opportunity to prioritise inclusive, free and open play spaces to increase play opportunities for children;

(k)      notes the invaluable role of the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCF) in supporting play and playwork across the city, with organisations such as Pitsmoor Adventure Playground, Sharrow Community Forum, and Manor After School Kids Klub (MASKK), forming part of the Sheffield Play Partnership, being instrumental in delivering play services;

(l)       believes that the successful joint working between the Play Partnership, the VCF and the Council is pivotal in promoting play and playwork across the city to help work towards sustainable play opportunities for children;

this Council resolves to:-

(m)     welcome and endorse the ongoing joint efforts between Sheffield City Council and the Sheffield Play Partnership to play and playwork for the city’s children;

(n)      call on the Council’s Education, Children and Families Policy Committee, and the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee to consider working together to develop a joined-up strategy for play and playwork within the Council’s Belonging Framework;

(o)      ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with a copy of this motion, calling for the abolishment of the two-child benefit cap and for a permanent provision of the Household Support Fund;

this Council commits to:-

(p)      building upon the excellent work currently taking place in family hubs, community youth services, and through the support of VCF organisations;

(q)      ensuring that there is comprehensive support for children of all ages, from 0 to 18 years (or 25 years for those with SEND), with particular attention to the gap in services for children aged 5-10, who often fall between early years and youth services provision; and

(r)       creating inclusive, high-quality play opportunities in communities and ensuring that Sheffield is a child friendly city where children can play and travel safely to and from school.

9.6.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote on the Substantive Motion was FOR - 73 Members; AGAINST - 0 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 1 Member.  Although Labour Group Members voted for, they voted against paragraphs (c) to (f), (j) and (o) of the Substantive Motion.)