Agenda item

That this Council:-

(a)       notes the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2013/14 to 2017/18 presented to Cabinet last month outlining the financial position of Sheffield City Council over the next five years;

(b)       expresses its anger and dismay at the Council’s budget position which is now significantly worse than was previously estimated because the Government are making additional unfair cuts to Sheffield as a result of their failure to grow the economy and notes that even without the additional cuts the Council was already facing an impossible budget position which will have a massive impact on Council services in Sheffield;

(c)        notes that this is in addition to the £140 million that has been reduced from the Council’s budget over the past two years meaning that future cuts will unavoidably have a bigger impact on Council services that are valued by local people;

(d)       further notes that the £50 million of cuts to next year’s budget followed by £35 million the following year means that the cuts will now total £225 million over four years;

(e)       deplores this Government’s continued attack on Sheffield and believes that they have no understanding of the lives of normal hardworking families and the fact that they are making additional cuts to local government at the same time as giving income tax cuts to millionaires indicates the values of this Government;

(f)         is shocked at the irresponsibility of the Government who will not confirm the final settlement until the Autumn Statement in December, when the Council has to set the budget in March;

(g)       continues to oppose the unfairness of the cuts which see councils with the highest levels of deprivation receiving the majority of the cuts whilst some of the wealthiest areas in the country receive almost no cuts at all;

(h)        deplores the continued broken promises of the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam, who earlier this month stated that he would ensure that future cuts are targeted at the wealthiest, whilst at the same time being the Deputy Prime Minister in a Government which is making additional unfair cuts to Sheffield and reneging on its promise that 100% of Sheffield’s business rates would be localised to spend on local services by now reducing this to 50% of business rates;

(i)         welcomes that the present Administration have identified protecting services for the most vulnerable as a key priority in addition to the significant work that the present Administration are undertaking to support the development of the local economy;

(j)         further welcomes that the present Administration are standing up for Sheffield, taking action to bring attention to the damaging impact of the reckless and unfair cuts that this Government are making to Sheffield and to be honest with local people by making clear the impact it will have on Sheffield; and

(k)        resolves to continue to stand up for Sheffield, focus on jobs, be business friendly and support and protect communities, however, regrets that given the level of cuts that the Government are imposing on the Council there will be significant changes to council services in the future which is unavoidable due to the Government’s reckless and irresponsible actions.

It was moved by Councillor Bryan Lodge, seconded by Councillor Ian Saunders, that this Council:-

(a)       notes the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2013/14 to 2017/18 presented to Cabinet last month outlining the financial position of Sheffield City Council over the next five years;

(b)       expresses its anger and dismay at the Council’s budget position which is now significantly worse than was previously estimated because the Government are making additional unfair cuts to Sheffield as a result of their failure to grow the economy and notes that even without the additional cuts the Council was already facing an impossible budget position which will have a massive impact on Council services in Sheffield;

(c)        notes that this is in addition to the £140 million that has been reduced from the Council’s budget over the past two years meaning that future cuts will unavoidably have a bigger impact on Council services that are valued by local people;

(d)       further notes that the £50 million of cuts to next year’s budget followed by £35 million the following year means that the cuts will now total £225 million over four years;

(e)       deplores this Government’s continued attack on Sheffield and believes that they have no understanding of the lives of normal hardworking families and the fact that they are making additional cuts to local government at the same time as giving income tax cuts to millionaires indicates the values of this Government;

(f)         is shocked at the irresponsibility of the Government who will not confirm the final settlement until the Autumn Statement in December, when the Council has to set the budget in March;

(g)       continues to oppose the unfairness of the cuts which see councils with the highest levels of deprivation receiving the majority of the cuts whilst some of the wealthiest areas in the country receive almost no cuts at all;

(h)        deplores the continued broken promises of the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam, who earlier this month stated that he would ensure that future cuts are targeted at the wealthiest, whilst at the same time being the Deputy Prime Minister in a Government which is making additional unfair cuts to Sheffield and reneging on its promise that 100% of Sheffield’s business rates would be localised to spend on local services by now reducing this to 50% of business rates;

(i)         welcomes that the present Administration have identified protecting services for the most vulnerable as a key priority in addition to the significant work that the present Administration are undertaking to support the development of the local economy;

(j)         further welcomes that the present Administration are standing up for Sheffield, taking action to bring attention to the damaging impact of the reckless and unfair cuts that this Government are making to Sheffield and to be honest with local people by making clear the impact it will have on Sheffield; and

(k)        resolves to continue to stand up for Sheffield, focus on jobs, be business friendly and support and protect communities, however, regrets that given the level of cuts that the Government are imposing on the Council there will be significant changes to council services in the future which is unavoidable due to the Government’s reckless and irresponsible actions.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Simon Clement-Jones, seconded by Councillor Andrew Sangar, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.         the deletion of paragraphs (a) to (j)

2.         the re-lettering of paragraph (k) as a new paragraph (a) and the deletion in that paragraph of all the words after the words “regrets that” and their substitution by the words “cuts are necessary due to the previous Government’s reckless and irresponsible actions”; and

3.         the addition of new paragraphs (b) to (j) as follows:-

(b)       highlights the following announcements as big wins for Sheffield and thanks the Coalition Government for its support:

(i)         millions of pounds for Sheffield’s buses and trams, including the financial backing for a Tram/Train pilot;

(ii)        £1.2 billion to allow Sheffield’s Streets Ahead project to proceed, alongside hundreds of millions of pounds to improve the M1 near the City;

(iii)       approval of massive rail infrastructure projects, including the electrification of the Midland Mainline and massive improvements to the Northern Hub rail service;

(iv)       millions of pounds for Sheffield schools through the Government’s pupil premium, alongside £9.9 million for the construction of a Sheffield University Technical College;

(v)        millions of pounds to support construction and infrastructure through the New Homes Bonus and the Growing Places Fund; and

(vi)       financial backing for more apprenticeships, as part of the £1 billion Youth Contract led by the Deputy Prime Minister and, most recently, £27 million to support the Sheffield City Region Deal for Skills;

(c)        in particular welcomes the £65 million that was recently awarded within Sheffield City Region, as part of the third round of the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, which will boost jobs across the region;

(d)       furthermore, thanks the Government for the Sheffield City Deal, a radical agreement, which will see significant funds and powers devolved to the Sheffield City Region and will put the region in the driving seat for economic growth;

(e)       however, understands the Council faces tough decisions and, therefore, must cut back on any unnecessary spend;

(f)         reminds Members that the previous Government pledged £82bn of cuts and promised to be “ruthless” in cutting public spending if elected again;

(g)       is therefore shocked that the Council’s review of trade union facility time, including the GMB, UNITE and UNISON unions, has still not reported, despite the clear commitment of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources that the review would be completed in July;

(h)        understands that the Council currently spends £476,479 a year on staff that only perform trade union functions, in addition to 61 members of staff who do so on a part time basis, and believes this cost is far too high;

(i)         furthermore, recalls that within the current Administration’s 2012/13 budget, £2.2 million was allocated to the heading “Town Hall Meeting Rooms” in the 2013/14 financial year and believes this spend cannot be justified;

(j)         therefore, recommends that in their 2013/14 budget the current Administration:-

(i)         significantly reduces the budget for full-time trade union officials; and

(ii)        confirms that funds currently earmarked for Town Hall meeting rooms will be re-allocated.

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

It was then moved by Councillor Jillian Creasy, seconded by Councillor Robert Murphy, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of four new paragraphs as follows:-

()          believes the Council’s ability to manage changes to its budget has been severely restricted by the number of large, long-term contracts entered into with private companies for the provision of public services;

()          believes that the estimated £9m profit made last year by the largest contractors would have been better spent on protecting the most vulnerable from central government cuts;

()          also believes that the loss of £9m from the local economy has a significant effect on local businesses and jobs; and

()          requests the Cabinet to take the necessary action to bring services supplied in the Council’s buildings repair and maintenance contract back ‘in house’ in 2014.

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

After a right of reply by Councillor Bryan Lodge, the original Motion was put to the vote and carried, as follows:

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

(a)       notes the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2013/14 to 2017/18 presented to Cabinet last month outlining the financial position of Sheffield City Council over the next five years;

(b)       expresses its anger and dismay at the Council’s budget position which is now significantly worse than was previously estimated because the Government are making additional unfair cuts to Sheffield as a result of their failure to grow the economy and notes that even without the additional cuts the Council was already facing an impossible budget position which will have a massive impact on Council services in Sheffield;

(c)        notes that this is in addition to the £140 million that has been reduced from the Council’s budget over the past two years meaning that future cuts will unavoidably have a bigger impact on Council services that are valued by local people;

(d)       further notes that the £50 million of cuts to next year’s budget followed by £35 million the following year means that the cuts will now total £225 million over four years;

(e)       deplores this Government’s continued attack on Sheffield and believes that they have no understanding of the lives of normal hardworking families and the fact that they are making additional cuts to local government at the same time as giving income tax cuts to millionaires indicates the values of this Government;

(f)         is shocked at the irresponsibility of the Government who will not confirm the final settlement until the Autumn Statement in December, when the Council has to set the budget in March;

(g)       continues to oppose the unfairness of the cuts which see councils with the highest levels of deprivation receiving the majority of the cuts whilst some of the wealthiest areas in the country receive almost no cuts at all;

(h)        deplores the continued broken promises of the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam, who earlier this month stated that he would ensure that future cuts are targeted at the wealthiest, whilst at the same time being the Deputy Prime Minister in a Government which is making additional unfair cuts to Sheffield and reneging on its promise that 100% of Sheffield’s business rates would be localised to spend on local services by now reducing this to 50% of business rates;

(i)         welcomes that the present Administration have identified protecting services for the most vulnerable as a key priority in addition to the significant work that the present Administration are undertaking to support the development of the local economy;

(j)         further welcomes that the present Administration are standing up for Sheffield, taking action to bring attention to the damaging impact of the reckless and unfair cuts that this Government are making to Sheffield and to be honest with local people by making clear the impact it will have on Sheffield; and

(k)        resolves to continue to stand up for Sheffield, focus on jobs, be business friendly and support and protect communities, however, regrets that given the level of cuts that the Government are imposing on the Council there will be significant changes to Council services in the future which is unavoidable due to the Government’s reckless and irresponsible actions.

(Note: Councillors Jillian Creasy and Robert Murphy voted for Paragraphs (a), (c) and (e) to (k)  and abstained on Paragraphs (b) and (d) of the Motion and asked for this to be recorded.)