Agenda item

Economic Growth and Job Creation

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

(a)      welcomes the latest national unemployment figures, which saw the largest single fall in unemployment in seventeen years, and growth figures, which recorded the UK's fastest annual rate of growth since 2007;

(b)      notes also that British workers – excluding the richest 10% – have seen their take-home pay rise in real terms in the past year;

(c)       furthermore, confirms that the vast majority of new jobs created since 2010 have been in full-time employment;

(d)      also draws attention to research which demonstrates companies in the North of England are now growing at the fastest pace seen in any UK region;

(e)      in addition, notes the latest local employment statistics, which demonstrate that the number of residents claiming jobseekers allowance has reduced in every Ward in Sheffield;

(f)       believes these moves towards a stronger economy and a more balanced economy could not have been achieved without Liberal Democrats in Government;

(g)      recognises that the current situation is a long way from the “post-soviet meltdown”, riots in the street and triple-dip recession predicted by Labour politicians;

(h)      recalls the comments of The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP that one million jobs would be lost under this Government and contrasts this with the more than one million private sector jobs created since 2010;

(i)        believes it is time for Labour politicians to apologise for their dire and failed predictions and for their role in bringing Britain to the brink of the economic precipice;

(j)        however, also underlines the important role the Council can play in delivering a stronger local economy; and

(k)       therefore, implores the ruling group to finally drop its anti-business mentality and actively work with local businesses to help create new jobs in Sheffield.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Gill Furniss, seconded by Councillor Geoff Smith, 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)      echoes criticisms that since it came to power in 2010 this Government presided over the weakest economic recovery in history which was a direct result of the Government’s failure to produce a credible plan for jobs and growth and led to a double dip recession;

(b)      believes that after three damaging years of flatlining, people in Sheffield will be astonished at the breathtaking arrogance and complacency of the Leader of the main opposition group;

(c)       regrets that because of the Government’s mismanagement of the economy, with slower growth and higher unemployment, the Government is now set to continue to make cuts beyond the current Parliament;

(d)      notes that the impact of the Government’s economic failure has hit the north of England and areas such as Sheffield much harder than the south;

(e)      believes that this is illustrated by the recent Centre for Cities report which demonstrates that between 2010 and 2012 80% of all new jobs created in the United Kingdom were in London;

(f)       recalls that the most high profile politician to suggest that unfair government cuts delivered by an unpopular and illegitimate government could lead to riots was the Deputy Prime Minister before the last general election;

(g)      opposes Government decisions which contributed to the weakening of the recovery such as cutting public spending too far too fast, significantly cutting investment in regional economic growth including the abolition of Regional Development Agencies, abolishing the Future Jobs Fund, increasing VAT and failing to put in place measures to stimulate growth;

(h)      calls on the Government to do more to support local businesses and commit to giving genuine support to all small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the lifeblood of our economy, by matching the pledge of the Leader of the Opposition to cut and freeze business rates for all small firms, and not just those in retail, but manufacturers, high-tech firms and other job creators;

(i)        welcomes the business friendly approach of the present Administration and supports the following actions taken locally by the present Administration to support local businesses including:

(i)         the Skills Made Easy Programme;

(ii)        Sheffield Apprenticeship Programme;

(iii)      RISE graduate internship programme;

(iv)       start up loans for young people;

(v)        Keep Sheffield Working Fund;

(vi)       SME Loan Fund;

(vii)      Export Pilot project for 30 companies;

(viii)     launched Threshold Companies Initiative for growth SMEs;

(ix)       Summer Saturdays;

(x)        developed Sheffield City Region Investment Fund;

(xi)       secured Tax Increment Finance scheme for city centre – 1 of 3 places in UK;

(xii)      enterprise programme provided intensive support to over 200 growing SMEs and 150 start ups;

(xiii)     launch of the Sheffield Economic Masterplan;

(xiv)     series of business summits held, hundreds of business engaged;

(xv)      Business Advisor Panel helping to keep Sheffield business friendly; and

(xvi)     making the case for HS2 and Victoria Station; and

(j)        welcomes the present Administration’s action to support the economy, however, believes that the Government must do much more to redress the widening gap between London and the rest of the country and calls on the Government to give cities such as Sheffield the tools they need to grow their local economies and welcomes the Core Cities Prospectus for Growth which outlines several steps the Government could take to achieve this.

On being put to the vote the amendment was carried.

(Note: Councillors Robert Murphy and Jillian Creasy voted for Paragraphs (a), (c), (d), (e), (g) and (h) and abstained on Paragraphs (b), (f), (i) and (j) of the amendment and asked for this to be recorded.)

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

RESOLVED:  That this Council:-

(a)      echoes criticisms that since it came to power in 2010 this Government presided over the weakest economic recovery in history which was a direct result of the Government’s failure to produce a credible plan for jobs and growth and led to a double dip recession;

(b)      believes that after three damaging years of flatlining, people in Sheffield will be astonished at the breathtaking arrogance and complacency of the Leader of the main opposition group;

(c)       regrets that because of the Government’s mismanagement of the economy, with slower growth and higher unemployment, the Government is now set to continue to make cuts beyond the current Parliament;

(d)      notes that the impact of the Government’s economic failure has hit the north of England and areas such as Sheffield much harder than the south;

(e)      believes that this is illustrated by the recent Centre for Cities report which demonstrates that between 2010 and 2012 80% of all new jobs created in the United Kingdom were in London;

(f)       recalls that the most high profile politician to suggest that unfair government cuts delivered by an unpopular and illegitimate government could lead to riots was the Deputy Prime Minister before the last general election;

(g)      opposes Government decisions which contributed to the weakening of the recovery such as cutting public spending too far too fast, significantly cutting investment in regional economic growth including the abolition of Regional Development Agencies, abolishing the Future Jobs Fund, increasing VAT and failing to put in place measures to stimulate growth;

(h)      calls on the Government to do more to support local businesses and commit to giving genuine support to all small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the lifeblood of our economy, by matching the pledge of the Leader of the Opposition to cut and freeze business rates for all small firms, and not just those in retail, but manufacturers, high-tech firms and other job creators;

(i)        welcomes the business friendly approach of the present Administration and supports the following actions taken locally by the present Administration to support local businesses including:

(i)         the Skills Made Easy Programme;

(ii)        Sheffield Apprenticeship Programme;

(iii)      RISE graduate internship programme;

(iv)       start up loans for young people;

(v)        Keep Sheffield Working Fund;

(vi)       SME Loan Fund;

(vii)      Export Pilot project for 30 companies;

(viii)     launched Threshold Companies Initiative for growth SMEs;

(ix)       Summer Saturdays;

(x)        developed Sheffield City Region Investment Fund;

(xi)       secured Tax Increment Finance scheme for city centre – 1 of 3 places in UK;

(xii)      enterprise programme provided intensive support to over 200 growing SMEs and 150 start ups;

(xiii)     launch of the Sheffield Economic Masterplan;

(xiv)     series of business summits held, hundreds of business engaged;

(xv)      Business Advisor Panel helping to keep Sheffield business friendly; and

(xvi)     making the case for HS2 and Victoria Station; and

(j)        welcomes the present Administration’s action to support the economy, however, believes that the Government must do much more to redress the widening gap between London and the rest of the country and calls on the Government to give cities such as Sheffield the tools they need to grow their local economies and welcomes the Core Cities Prospectus for Growth which outlines several steps the Government could take to achieve this.

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