Agenda item

That this Council:-

(a)       reiterates its commitment to Sheffield’s magnificent parks and green spaces, which have earned Sheffield a reputation as the greenest city in the country;

(b)       praises the work of the previous Council Administration in doubling the number of parks with Green Flag awards, securing more of the awards than any other authority in Yorkshire;

(c)        believes that despite financial constraints the maintenance of local parks and green spaces remains an important duty;

(d)       understands that as the Council faces its future, more innovative and cost-effective methods of delivering services are required; and

(e)       therefore calls upon the Council to investigate new methods for delivering services in local parks, including partnership working with external organisations and greater collaboration with “Friends of Groups”.

It was moved by Councillor Penny Baker, seconded by Councillor Diana Stimely, that this Council:-

(a)       reiterates its commitment to Sheffield’s magnificent parks and green spaces, which have earned Sheffield a reputation as the greenest city in the country;

(b)       praises the work of the previous Council Administration in doubling the number of parks with Green Flag awards, securing more of the awards than any other authority in Yorkshire;

(c)        believes that despite financial constraints the maintenance of local parks and green spaces remains an important duty;

(d)       understands that as the Council faces its future, more innovative and cost-effective methods of delivering services are required; and

(e)       therefore calls upon the Council to investigate new methods for delivering services in local parks, including partnership working with external organisations and greater collaboration with “Friends of Groups”.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Isobel Bowler, seconded by Councillor Julie Dore, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.         the deletion of paragraph (b) and the addition of a new paragraph (b) as follows:-

(b)       praises the work of previous Administrations of both parties in increasing the number of parks with Green Flag awards, securing more of the awards than any other authority in Yorkshire, and welcomes the £150,000 additional investment in parks in the present Administration’s 2012/13 budget amendment demonstrating their commitment to parks and green spaces despite the unprecedented level of cuts from this Government.

2.         the deletion of paragraph (e) and the addition of a new paragraph (e) as follows:-

(e)       notes that the Council is already working with external partners, finding new income streams, looking at new maintenance models and collaborating with Friends groups and other volunteers to maintain our green space despite the challenges of the cuts to the Council budget.

On being 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:-

RESOLVED:  That this Council:-

(a)       reiterates its commitment to Sheffield’s magnificent parks and green spaces, which have earned Sheffield a reputation as the greenest city in the country;

(b)       praises the work of previous Administrations of both parties in increasing the number of parks with Green Flag awards, securing more of the awards than any other authority in Yorkshire, and welcomes the £150,000 additional investment in parks in the present Administration’s 2012/13 budget amendment demonstrating their commitment to parks and green spaces despite the unprecedented level of cuts from this Government;

(c)        believes that despite financial constraints the maintenance of local parks and green spaces remains an important duty;

(d)       understands that as the Council faces its future, more innovative and cost-effective methods of delivering services are required; and

(e)       notes that the Council is already working with external partners, finding new income streams, looking at new maintenance models and collaborating with Friends groups and other volunteers to maintain our green space despite the challenges of the cuts to the Council budget

(Note: The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Vickie Priestley) and Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Shaffaq Mohammed, Rob Frost, Sylvia Anginotti, Penny Baker, Diana Stimely, Keith Hill, Colin Ross, Roger Davison, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Ian Auckland, Bob McCann, Denise Reaney, Katie Condliffe and Alison Brelsford voted for Paragraphs (a) and (c), (d) and (e) and against Paragraph (b) of the Substantive Motion and asked for this to be recorded.)