Agenda item

5.1

Public Question in respect of land at the top of the Brindley Estate

A representative of the Brindley and Mundella Tenants and Residents Association (TARA) referred to previous correspondence with the Council and Councillor Jack Scott, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Streetscene around 12 months ago as to the possibility of obtaining permission to be allowed the use of grass land at the top of the Brindley estate, to make it into a fenced play area for local children to be able to play ball games etc. and to take some pressure off the tenants and residents in the area. They therefore asked why it was taking so long for Councillor Scott to give their community a definite yes or no to the request?

The questioner then stated that Councillor Scott had told the TARA that the Council had determined the land was to be handed to the parks and recreation department and that there would be allotments allowed on the land. A notice had been displayed some months ago that soil samples were to be taken. However, this had not been done so far and the TARA asked why this was the case?

Finally the TARA stated that they needed to know if they could move forward with further consultation and funding research or did Councillor Scott think that if there were enough delays all the local children will have grown up and there will no longer be a need for a play area?

In the absence of Councillor Scott, Councillor Harry Harpham, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods commented that the TARA had mentioned the issue to him when he had met them over a separate issue around two and a half years ago. However, he did not have detailed knowledge of the issue concerned. He would therefore ensure that the questions were forwarded on to Councillor Scott and a response would be provided within 7 days. If it appeared resolved and all that was required was the signed agreement he would liaise with Councillor Scott to move things forward.

5.2

Public Question in respect of Faith Schools

Mr Nigel Slack commented that he had been surprised to hear Councillor Jackie Drayton, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, defending the decision to hand over 2000 pupils to a Christian Sect in Tinsley/Darnall as a choice of the community. He therefore asked is the Council, noting the reaction seen from some Members at the Full Council Meeting, still of the opinion that they should go with a ‘faith’ private school for Sheffield’s children rather than the slightly less obnoxious secular private schools that are out there?

Mr Slack also asked, in addition to clarify the matter of community choice, can details be published of the meetings that took place, the numbers of the community involved, what organisations, if any were influential in the decision and any minutes that were available?

In response, Councillor Jackie Drayton commented that she found the words of Mr Slack’s question interesting, specifically the statement that she had defended the decision to hand over the new school to a Christian Sect. She had not said that. She had said clearly at the Council Meeting that she did not recognise the Oasis Mr Slack described as the Oasis she knew. The Oasis Charter which was published on their website stated that ‘They would provide an inclusive service to our community by: (1) serving and respecting all people regardless of their gender, marital status, race, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or physical and mental capability, (2) acknowledging the freedom of people of all faiths or none both to hold and to express their beliefs and convictions respectfully and freely, within the limits of the UK law, (3) never imposing our Christian faith or belief on others, (4) developing partnerships with other churches, voluntary groups, statutory agencies and local government wherever appropriate in order to create an effective, integrated service for our clients avoiding unnecessary duplication of resources and (5) providing and publicising regular consultation and reporting forums to client groups and the wider community regarding the effective development and delivery of our work and our responsiveness to their actual needs.

Councillor Drayton had asked Oasis to provide a statement to respond to Mr Slack’s question and she then read this out. It stated that: ‘Oasis is a charity inspired by the Christian values of inclusion, equality and hope for all. We do not recruit either staff or students on the basis of faith. Furthermore we work in diverse communities across the country, partnering with people of all faith and none to deliver first-class education and services for the entire community. Each Oasis academy operates a mainstream curriculum and does not attempt to enforce any belief system onto staff and students. Even the most superficial examination of any of our academies would reveal this. Oasis is excited about working with Sheffield Council to establish a school that will meet the educational needs of local young people and play an active role in its local community.’

Councillor Drayton emphasised that she would not support any indoctrination of any kind in any school across the City. She welcomed the fact that the City had a new school in the Don Valley area in a community which much needed one. It was a Government requirement that all new schools had to become academies. The Department for Education decided the trust who would be a partner in the new school. The Council had a preferred list of sponsors. They had been interviews by community representatives, teachers, union representatives, pupils as well as officers. All of them believed that Oasis was a good and suitable organisation to come to Sheffield.

5.3

Public Question in respect of Public Question Time at Full Council

Mr Nigel Slack referred to the last meeting of Full Council, held on 2 July 2014, which had the TV press in attendance. He commented that, in his opinion, it was notable that there were two questions from the public gallery that appeared to intentionally provide for good news responses from Cabinet Members. Mr Slack was not averse to good news about the City being spread around. However, if the use of public questions to achieve this became a matter of course it would undermine the reputation and respect that some held for this increasingly important facility for holding the Council to account in the public arena. Mr Slack therefore asked if Cabinet wished to comment on this?

Councillor Harry Harpham responded that sometimes people did come to Council meetings to praise things that the Council does. It was lucky that on the occasion referred to by Mr Slack two individuals had come along to praise the Council. Politicians were open to criticism of decisions but also to praise for the decisions they make.

5.4

Public Question in respect of Elections

Vicky Seddon, representing Sheffield for Democracy, commented that Sheffield City Council currently chose to hold elections for local Councillors for each year of three years, electing one Councillor for each ward each year followed by a ‘fallow’ year. An alternative would be to hold an all-out election every four years. This would mean one process rather than three. Ms. Seddon understood that this had been discussed internally and rejected, but without to her knowledge any public consultation. She therefore asked what the cost of holding the annual local election was and what would be the saving over a four-year period of moving to an all-out local election once in every four years?

Councillor Harpham commented that he had seen a breakdown of costs of holding all out elections every four years as opposed to the current system and he would ensure that these were sent to Ms. Seddon. All Cabinet Members were also suffering from the cuts as citizens of the City as they all used Council services. Councillors had turned down rises in allowances recommended by an independent body as they believed it was important to show the City that they were taking part of the burden. There was no Cabinet Member in post for the money.

There had been differences of opinion as to how often the Council should hold local elections. Councillor Harpham was still not definite in his mind which was the best option and had changed his mind on the matter. Democracy was critical and it was important to get the best democratic mandate rather than the cheapest option. Before the upcoming boundary changes are implemented there would be a discussion as to the best system. The last debate had taken place wo years ago and there did not seem to be a big support for change. This was the first time it had been raised at a Council meeting.

5.5

Public Questions in relation to Questions asked at previous Council Meetings

Mr Martin Brighton asked three questions in relation to questions asked at previous Council meetings. Councillor Harpham commented that he had nothing further to add to the responses provided at those meetings.

5.6

Public Question in respect of Batemoor TARA

Mr Martin Brighton asked if the Council would provide the evidence to demonstrate that it had complied with Article 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights in respect of its actions against Batemoor New TARA?

Councillor Harry Harpham responded that he had stated on numerous occasions the Council had done everything legally in derecognising the Batemoor TARA as didn’t meet its Recognition Policy.

5.7

Public Question in respect of Recognition Policy

Mr Martin Brighton stated that the Council had still to explain how an Elected Member was able to announce, in a recorded meeting available on You Tube, the outcome of the Recognition Policy Review six months before the issue was even an agenda item before the Review Group. For this to have happened Mr Brighton believed that there must have already been in place some documents outlining, however tentatively, the Council’s decided final outcome of the Recognition Policy Review Group, not least at policy level. Mr Brighton therefore asked would the Council now please provide those documents.

Councillor Harry Harpham commented that he had answered this question at a number of past Council meetings including Cabinet and Full Council and no such documents exist.