Agenda item

6.1

Petitions

6.1.1

Petition Requesting Resurfacing and Other Road Safety Measures on Mill Road, Ecclesfield

The Council received a petition containing 78 signatures and requesting resurfacing and other road safety measures on Mill Road, Ecclesfield.

Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made by Fran Holland and Lorraine Ricketts.

Fran Holland stated that Mill Road was in a very poor condition and she drew particular attention to the concerns regarding road safety. Motorists had restricted vision owing to vehicles being parked on both sides of the narrow road. There were 62 dwellings on Mill Road, predominantly comprising terraced housing, pre-fabs or bungalows and 43 properties had no off-road parking. Residents had to pull out into the traffic. Access was required to the doctors’ surgery, which caused people to park on the road and contributed to existing congestion.

Bus drivers had expressed concern about the congestion on Mill Road and the difficulty for adults and children in crossing the road safely was also of great concern. Between 7 and 13 vehicles per minute used the road according to a recent traffic survey.

Lorraine Ricketts stated that dust and gravel was thrown up by passing traffic, which damaged residents’ parked cars and there were HGVs using the road both day and night, which woke people from their sleep. Mill Road was not built to withstand such levels of traffic. It was recommended that a one-way system was introduced on Mill Road from the Common to Church Street, which would improve safety. Weight restrictions might also be introduced. Vehicles travelled faster than the present 30 mph speed limit and it was suggested that speed cameras were installed to enforce the speed limit. She said that an accident was waiting to happen on Mill Road.

The Council referred the petition to Councillor Jack Scott, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Streetscene.  Councillor Scott responded that the resurfacing works which were part of the Streets Ahead project had been scheduled for 2017. However, he had spoken with the local Councillors and Mill Road would now be resurfaced later in 2014 instead, because of the condition of the Road.

In relation to other concerns regarding safety, speed and enforcement, the Council had a duty of care. He suggested that a meeting be arranged for local people to meet with him and local ward councillors so that an action plan could be developed.

6.2

Public Questions

6.2.1

Public Question concerning the Sheffield Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations

James Turton submitted information and several questions concerning the Sheffield Federation and asking the Council to support the Federation, which it was intended would act as an umbrella organisation for Tenants and Residents’ Associations. On behalf of the Federation, he asked the Council for a first year grant of £ 61,500. If the Council was not willing to make such a grant, he asked for the reasons for this to be publically stated by the Council.

In response, the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, Councillor Harry Harpham, stated that he did support the idea of an independent, democratic and accountable federation, which was able to help the Council to deliver a better housing service and one which would serve tenants well. He said that he would need to see clear evidence that the Federation was supported by Tenants and Residents’ groups across the City.

Councillor Harpham stated that he would provide a more detailed response to the questions in writing to Mr Turton.

6.2.2

Public Question concerning Field Sports

Knowledge Kutekwa referred to the closing of the Don Valley Stadium and to an absence to facilities for field athletics in Sheffield, which had caused some young athletes to seek alternative provision in Manchester, for example. He asked that a balance be reached between spending cuts and the availability of such sports facilities.

The Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure, Councillor Isobel Bowler responded that facilities for field athletics were accommodated at the re-opened Woodburn Road Stadium, which was run by Sheffield Hallam University for the City. Two Sheffield athletics clubs transferred to the Stadium and used the track and field facilities there. In fact, the in-field at the Stadium was considered to be better than that previously situated at Don Valley as it did not endure damage, which had sometimes resulted from the multiple uses of Don Valley, for example, Rugby League. She said that the Sheffield Hallam University City Athletics Stadium was a good facility at which athletics could take place in Sheffield.  

6.2.3

Public Question Concerning Freebee Bus Service and Moor Market

Valerie Wilson stated that the traders at the Moor Market were losing customers because of the Market’s location and the removal of the city centre Freebee Bus service. Some stalls were closing and trade was decreasing, affecting people’s income and jobs. She believed the environment of the market was more akin to a shopping mall.

The Freebee Bus service was withdrawn after the Moor market was opened. The bus service had been very reliable and was a good service for people who found it difficult to travel in the City Centre. She asked City Councillors to visit the Moor Market for themselves to find out how things are at the Market and she specifically asked Councillor Leigh Bramall, the Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Development, to meet with her at the Moor Market.

In response, the Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Development, Councillor Leigh Bramall, stated that he was willing to meet with traders at the Moor market and that he had visited the Markets many times and had spoken with people there. He believed that people should not talk-down the Moor Market. 62,000 people visited the Market every week, although he recognised that this was not as many people as had been previously anticipated.

He had met with traders 3 weeks ago with his Cabinet Advisor, Councillor Chris Rosling-Josephs, who was also a member of the National Market Traders Federation. Traders of food and drink were doing well, but it was recognised that some traders were not doing so well. The Council’s role was to create an environment where well run businesses could be successful and prosper.

In a recent radio phone in on the subject of the Moor Market, some people clearly said they did like it and it was probably a matter of personal opinion as to whether or not somebody liked the Market itself.

The Freebee bus service was withdrawn as the result of Government budget reductions to the local councils in South Yorkshire that, in turn, funded the Passenger Transport Executive, which had operated the Freebee Bus. Due to cuts to their own budgets, Councils reduced the funding they provided to the Passenger Transport Executive. The Passenger Transport Authority, having considered its budget position, decided to withdraw the Freebee bus services, which operated in both Sheffield and Rotherham. However, in Rotherham a modified service operated, which ran from the town centre to the Parkgate shopping centre and would be funded by the owners of the shopping centre for approximately two years until the opening in 2016 of the Tram-Train service between Sheffield and Parkgate.

He said that the cuts to local government had been disproportionate and funding reductions had been made across Council services. Footfall in the Moor market was measured and there had not been a change in footfall since the Freebee Bus service ended.  More buses served the new Market than the Castle Market.

The route of the rapid transit scheme was being examined to see whether the route of the former Freebee bus might be replicated in some form in Sheffield City Centre. He pointed out that First Bus charge a flat fare of 50 pence to travel anywhere in the City Centre, although more might be done to promote that offer. Pensioners could also use bus services for free. He emphasised that the withdrawal of the Freebee bus service was not something that the Council would have wanted to happen.

6.2.4

Public Question Concerning Leopold Street

Jonathan Marsden asked if the Council could please rename Leopold Street as it was named after King Leopold of Belgium, who he said was responsible for mass murder in the Congo.

In response, the Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Streetscene, Councillor Jack Scott, stated that, whilst he was aware of the genocide which took place in the Congo, he would have to conduct some research into when and after whom Leopold Street in Sheffield was named. He undertook to respond to Mr Marsden in writing once he had obtained more information.

6.2.5

Public Question Concerning Workfare

Jonathan Marsden asked for the City Council to send out a strong message that charities using Workfare-indentured Jobseekers Allowance labour were not welcome in Sheffield and will not receive funding from the Council or European Union Funding for which the Council was responsible. This included ‘Help to Work’ and ‘Community Work Placements’. 

In response, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, Councillor Ben Curran, stated that he would provide an answer on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Health, who was not able to attend this Council meeting. He said that he believed that work should pay and that he was aware that there were examples of Workfare having acted as a substitute for paid work. He said that people should be properly employed and that a Motion concerning Workfare schemes had been passed at the meeting of Council in July, which pledged that the Council would not use any Workfare placements and would also encourage contractors not to use the schemes.

Councillor Curran stated that he would ask Councillor Mazher Iqbal, the Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Health, to respond to Mr Marsden in writing on the issues of grant allocations to charities. He added that there were many charities which did contribute greatly to the City. 

6.2.6

Public Question Concerning Public Questions

Marcus O’Hagan referred to a question, which he had raised at the Council meeting on 5 February 2014 and which concerned responses given by Cabinet Members to public questions. He stated that Councillor Dore had responded at that meeting with regards to the production of written advice for members of the public concerning how they can ask questions of the Council. He now asked Councillor Dore to provide a progress report on this issue, including where it had been discussed and where the minutes of such discussion can be accessed.

Marcus O’Hagan stated that he had received a written communication from the Information Commissioner concerning a question which he had raised in January 2014 and requiring that the Council provide a written response to the question. He stated that this communication was received from the Information Commissioner’s Office on 30^th April and, as yet, there had been no response from the Council. Having waited four months he asked, will an answer ever come?

Councillor Julie Dore, the Leader of the Council, responded that with regard to opportunities for the public to ask questions, the Council’s Corporate Members’ Group had discussed on several occasions, how the public questions process might be improved, such as by adding opportunities at the end of Council meetings and permitting questions by email. The Health and Wellbeing Board had, when people were not able to attend a meeting, set up a link through Skype. In other words, the Council was always looking at ways in which people could use different ways to ask questions, such as by telephone, email, Councillors’ surgeries, Cabinet in the Community and budget engagement events.

The issue had been discussed at meetings, including the Corporate Members’ Group and other meetings of leading Councillors and Council Officers. Whilst the minutes of Corporate Members’ Group were not a public record, it may be possible to provide information to Mr O’Hagan as to when the issue of public questions had been discussed.

6.2.7

Public Question Concerning South Yorkshire Police and Child Safeguarding

Marcus O’Hagan stated that, with regard to South Yorkshire Police and Children’s safeguarding, he had made the Council aware over several years that the reporting of safeguarding matters was a flawed procedure. He said that he had brought questions concerning such matters to the Council in the past and he had not been allowed to ask them.

He asked what measures were in place to protect the children of Sheffield from the same abuses which have occurred in Rotherham?

Councillor Julie Dore, the Leader of the Council, responded that the Council did not stop people speaking with the Council on the issue of child safeguarding. She requested Mr O’Hagan to provide more detail concerning the occasion(s) to which he referred.

Councillor Jackie Drayton, the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, stated that she was sorry if My O’Hagan felt that the reporting of safeguarding was a flawed procedure. She said that this was a dedicated service and it was expected that the service would respond to all enquiries. At meetings of Council, if a question identified an individual person, then the person asking the question may have been asked not to ask the question in public, but instead to report the matter to the Cabinet Member. This was a process which had been used whilst she had been Cabinet Member. She suggested if Mr O’Hagan had specific concerns that he writes to her and she would make sure the matter was taken to officers and was investigated.

In relation to measures to protect children in Sheffield, Councillor Drayton stated that the Council aimed to prevent, protect, pursue and prosecute. The child sexual exploitation service was an independent service in Sheffield Futures and it included social workers and dedicated youth workers and police officers. The service had been in place since 2001 and had been Home Office funded and subject to evaluation and scrutiny. Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary had inspected that service and it had also been externally scrutinised by Ofsted. Such external evaluation helped to develop the service.

Sheffield also had a Child Safeguarding Board. Child exploitation was a priority for the programme and training included that issue. The processes in Sheffield were robust and the City was considered an example of best practice by the Inspector of Constabulary and Ofsted. Innovative work had been undertaken with the taxi and the hospitality trades to increase knowledge and awareness. Sheffield had adopted the phrase “say it if you see it” so people understand terminology such as grooming and exploitation. Councillor Drayton stated that she could send Mr O’Hagan further information. 

Councillor Drayton stated that Sheffield should, despite the service performing well, also make sure it reassess processes and there was a policy of the Executive Director and Cabinet Member selecting case files at random and scrutinising what was happening in relation to those particular cases. The Council also had a Scrutiny Committee which considered issues relating to children, young people and families and it had in place the Corporate Parenting Panel. Councillors also went to see for themselves work in this area. The Council needed to remain vigilant as it could always do better. 

6.2.8

Public Question Concerning Investment Funds

Martin Brighton asked would this chamber please remind all those who answer questions that whatever they say can be checked and also remind this chamber of the seriousness and consequences should any statements prove untrue. He asked: please can the Council answer question 6 to the Full Council of 2 July. The question asked whether the Council had “any plans, however tentative, to seek investment funds from any institution in any way associated with supporting any proscribed organisation”.

In response, Councillor Julie Dore, the Leader of the Council, stated that she was not aware of any bids or applications of this nature to any of these organisations. She asked Mr Brighton to bring to her attention any such cases.

6.2.9

Public Question Concerning Complaints

Martin Brighton stated that it is recorded by this Council, and in this chamber, how he was subject to sanction (i.e. he had emails blocked for a while) for which an alleged contributory factor was councillor complaints. He asked would those councillors now come forward and provide the evidence to support their complaints.

Councillor Julie Dore, the Leader of the Council, stated that the Council’s Chief Executive would respond in writing to Mr Brighton.

6.2.10

Public Question Concerning Recognition Policy

Martin Brighton stated that the Cabinet Member for Housing had said that he would be politically foolish if he were to approve something that tenants did not want. He asked, given that the Recognition Policy Review Group voted 12:2 against, and City-Wide TARAs voted 38:2 against, why has the rejected Recognition Policy been ‘signed off’.

Councillor Harry Harpham, the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods stated that with regard to the Recognition Policy, no votes had been taken at any point in the review process.

6.2.11

Public Question Concerning Tenants and Residents’ Association

Martin Brighton stated that renewed use of Freedom of Information (FoIA) upon this Council has demonstrated that there is no evidence to support the allegations against BNTARA, all questions were answered, there were no genuine ‘issues and concerns’, and the recent council statement confirmed that due process had not been applied anyway. He asked will this Council now explain the real reason why BNTARA is being abused.

Councillor Harry Harpham, the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, stated that he answered questions on this subject on many occasions and he had nothing to add to the answers that he already provided.

6.2.12

Public Question Concerning Racism Awareness Training

Martin Brighton stated that at the last Full Council, when both ITV and BBC cameras were present, the Cabinet Member for Housing stated that Racism Awareness Courses had been arranged. To date, use of FoIA via council departments and external providers has established that not only were no courses held, but none were planned. He asked: would the Cabinet Member please explain.

Councillor Harry Harpham, the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, responded that there were no racism awareness courses arranged during August. He understood that Louise Nunn, the officer responsible for delivering training for TARAs and employees had responded to Mr Brighton’s enquiry.

6.2.13

Public Question Concerning Recognition Policy (2)

Martin Brighton stated that, in this chamber, it has been explained that the proposed new TARA Recognition Policy excludes or limits democratically elected residents from community volunteering processes that decide how money should be spent. He asked: is it therefore appropriate that the Cabinet Member Advisor on this issue be a Resident who purchased a council house, allegedly because of fears over where the government of the time was going.

Councillor Harry Harpham, the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, responded that tenants and residents were treated equally and the Recognition Policy for TARAs does not discriminate between elected representatives.

6.2.14

Public Question Concerning Complaints (2)

Mr Brighton asked:  has this Council ever suppressed complaints, etc. on grounds of political pragmatism, damage limitation, or reputation management?

Councillor Julie Dore, the Leader of the Council responded that she had never surpressed such information on the grounds referred to in Mr Brighton’s question and nor was she aware that the Council had done so. If there was evidence or specific examples, then she asked that Mr Brighton bring this to her attention.

6.2.15

Public Question Concerning Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)

Nigel Slack referred to the motions on the agenda of the Council meeting concerning the NHS and to the People’s March for the NHS. He asked if the Council will undertake to use their influence with members of the National Labour Party, through local MPs and other contacts, to persuade the party to drop their support for the TTIP whilst ever it contains the condition that the NHS will be available for privatisation.

Councillor Mary Lea, the Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Independent Living, responded that the health reforms proposed by the Government were both unexpected and without a mandate and would allow privatisation throughout the country. There was a two tier system already in operation in some places, in cases where a clinical commissioning group was unable to offer care, this would be referred to a private provider, including some surgical procedures.

The TTIP was of particular concern because of the potential effect on the NHS and GP Practices. The Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP had written to the Chief Executive of the NHS, requesting that no clinical services contracts were signed before the next General Election and MEPs would demand exemption for the NHS from the TTIP. The City Council will lobby the Government to make sure the NHS remains exempt from TTIP. 

6.2.16

Public Questions Concerning Child Sexual Exploitation

Nigel Slack asked if the Police and Crime Commissioner was going to be present at the Extraordinary meeting of the Police and Crime Panel to be held on 9 September and whether the Panel were in a position to instigate an investigation into possible criminal actions?

Councillor Julie Dore, the Leader of the Council, stated that, if there was a by-election for the post of Police and Crime Commissioner, the cost would be borne by the Home Office.

Councillor Harry Harpham stated that the Police and Crime Commissioner would have to attend a meeting of the Police and Crime Panel, providing that he had been given adequate notice of 5 days. Councillor Harpham stated that, as the Chair of the Panel, he had called a meeting for 9^th September 2014. However, the Police and Crime Commissioner was summoned to London to attend a Home Office Parliamentary Select Committee. In these circumstances, the Select Committee took precedence over the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel. Councillor Harpham explained that it was therefore intended to re-arrange the Panel meeting. 

The Police and Crime Panel could only remove a Police and Crime Commissioner from office if they were arrested and charged with a criminal offence. The Panel could not ask for a criminal investigation to take place.

6.2.17

Public Questions Concerning Oasis Academies

Nigel Slack referred to the inclusion of the Oasis Academies, in the Sheffield education establishment. He said that the Council was choosing not to recognise the problems with the Oasis approach to education. He made reference to the words Evangelical and Pentecostal, which, he said, described the ethos of the Evangelical Pentecostal Oasis Church, who run the academies, which he stated were particularly relevant and gave definitions of both words.

He asked the Council to answer the following questions concerning the decision making process and why, in his opinion, it went so wrong:

1.    Details of all the Academy providers that bid for these three schools?

2.    Who, specifically, was on the 'Panel' that considered their suitability?

3.    Which providers were interviewed by the 'Panel'?

4.    What information was provided to the 'Panel' about each provider?

5.    Where are the minutes of the meetings/ interviews/ deliberations/ decisions of the 'Panel'?

6.    What information did the “desktopinvestigation into all of the providers of academies which put themselves forward” consist of and did the 'Panel' see it all?

7.    Why is this information not available on the council website?

Councillor Jackie Drayton, the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, stated that she would respond in writing to Mr Slack’s questions.

Councillor Drayton stated that it was clear that every academy should be open to anyone and any community, which is what the Oasis Community Trust says. Oasis were on the Government’s approved list of academy providers, which was the result of a process of due diligence. The assertions which Mr Slack had made regarding the Oasis Community Trust were not reflected in what was on the Community Trust’s website. The decision concerning the appointment of the Academy was made in the Department for Education and whilst it was not a decision of the Council, the Council had made sure they had a view from Sheffield. The Panel comprised representatives including from a governing body, trades union, parents, local elected Members, officers and community representative. The website had included detail of the bidding process approximately one year ago and was available where there were no commercial restrictions. This was an open process and there was no evidence regarding the assertions that Mr Slack had made with regard to Oasis Academy.

6.3

Petitions

6.3.1

Petition Requesting the Council to Support World Car Free Day

The Council received an electronic petition containing 33 signatures requesting the Council to support World Car Free Day on 22^nd September, 2014.

There was no speaker to the petition and the Council referred the petition to Councillor Jack Scott, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Streetscene.

6.3.2

Petition Requesting the Council to Relaunch the City Centre Half Marathon in 2015

The Council received an electronic petition containing 26 signatures requesting the Council to relaunch the Sheffield Half Marathon in 2015, with a City Centre start and finish.

There was no speaker to the petition and the Council referred the petition to Councillor Isobel Bowler, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure.