Agenda item

Notice of Motion given by Councillor Colin Ross

That this Council:

 

(a)       notes reports that the UK's economy has performed better than that of any other G7 country in the first six months of the year;

 

(b)       welcomes the latest employment statistics, which saw the largest annual fall in youth unemployment since records began, and that the number of Job Seeker Allowance claimants in Sheffield has fallen by 22% since May 2010;

 

(c)        notes that in the last year, Sheffield has reported a record number of people in work and a record low for the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs);

 

(d)       welcomes the latest growth deal, delivered by Liberal Democrats in Government, which has secured a £320 million cash boost for Sheffield City Region and will create over 28,000 jobs and training for 40,000 people;

 

(e)       notes that the Sheffield City Region Growth Deal is the fifth largest in the country and will specifically deliver:

 

(i)         infrastructure investment including improvements to Sheffield city-centre and an extended airport link road to Doncaster-Sheffield Airport;

 

(ii)        a £130 million Skills Bank, which will provide training for 40,000 people in the Sheffield City Region, including between 5,000 and 7,500 apprentices; and

 

(iii)       upgrades to further education facilities and a brand new British Glass Academy;

 

(f)        recalls that this latest Growth Deal follows the City Deal, pioneered by the Rt. Hon. Nick Clegg MP and agreed in 2012, which has:

 

(i)         seen Sheffield record the highest proportion of young people in apprenticeships out of England’s core cities;

 

(ii)        provided training and up-skilling to employees across the city; and

 

(iii)       helped ensure that the city’s New Retail Quarter will finally go ahead thanks to investment in the city-centre;

 

(g)       calls upon the Administration to ensure Sheffield City Region maximises the potential of this investment; and

 

(h)       therefore invites the Chair of Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and the Chair of Sheffield City Region Combined Authority to make a presentation to a Full Council meeting outlining their plans for the Growth Deal.

Minutes:

 

Economic Growth

 

 

 

It was moved by Councillor Colin Ross, seconded by Councillor Joe Otten, that this Council:-

 

 

 

(a)       notes reports that the UK's economy has performed better than that of any other G7 country in the first six months of the year;

 

(b)       welcomes the latest employment statistics, which saw the largest annual fall in youth unemployment since records began, and that the number of Job Seeker Allowance claimants in Sheffield has fallen by 22% since May 2010;

 

(c)       notes that in the last year, Sheffield has reported a record number of people in work and a record low for the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs);

 

(d)       welcomes the latest growth deal, delivered by Liberal Democrats in Government, which has secured a £320 million cash boost for Sheffield City Region and will create over 28,000 jobs and training for 40,000 people;

 

(e)       notes that the Sheffield City Region Growth Deal is the fifth largest in the country and will specifically deliver:

 

(i)        infrastructure investment including improvements to Sheffield city-centre and an extended airport link road to Doncaster-Sheffield Airport;

 

(ii)       a £130 million Skills Bank, which will provide training for 40,000 people in the Sheffield City Region, including between 5,000 and 7,500 apprentices; and

 

(iii)      upgrades to further education facilities and a brand new British Glass Academy;

 

(f)        recalls that this latest Growth Deal follows the City Deal, pioneered by the Rt. Hon. Nick Clegg MP and agreed in 2012, which has:

 

(i)        seen Sheffield record the highest proportion of young people in apprenticeships out of England’s core cities;

 

(ii)       provided training and up-skilling to employees across the city; and

 

(iii)      helped ensure that the city’s New Retail Quarter will finally go ahead thanks to investment in the city-centre;

 

(g)       calls upon the Administration to ensure Sheffield City Region maximises the potential of this investment; and

 

(h)       therefore invites the Chair of Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and the Chair of Sheffield City Region Combined Authority to make a presentation to a Full Council meeting outlining their plans for the Growth Deal.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

1.         the deletion of paragraphs (a) to (g) and the re-lettering of paragraph (h) as a new paragraph (k); and

 

 

 

2.         the addition of new paragraphs (a) to (h) as follows:-

 

 

 

(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)       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;

 

 

 

(c)       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;

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

(e)       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;

 

 

 

(f)        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;

 

 

 

(g)       welcomes any recent falls in unemployment in Sheffield and supports the actions of the present Administration to support job growth 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 England

 

(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

 

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

 

 

 

(h)       welcomes new developments in the city supported by the present Administration such as Ikea, new developments at Sheffield and Hallam University campuses, Factory of the Future, Heart of the City Block 3, plans to improve Castlegate, new developments at Kilner Way and Stocksbridge and latest news of XLN bringing 300 plus jobs to the city announced this week, which are all a result of actions or support by the present Administration;

 

 

 

(i)        welcomes the Sheffield City Region Growth Deal which was developed locally, with the present Administration working in partnership with other City Region Authorities and the Local Enterprise Partnership; and

 

 

 

(j)         recalls that the Sheffield City Region City Deal was also developed and pioneered locally and that in conjunction with the wider work of the present Administration, this has led to the highest proportion of young people in apprenticeships out of England’s core cities and helped to progress and deliver the New Retail Quarter.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

After a Right of Reply by Councillor Colin Ross, 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)       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;

 

 

 

(c)       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;

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

(e)       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;

 

 

 

(f)        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;

 

 

 

(g)       welcomes any recent falls in unemployment in Sheffield and supports the actions of the present Administration to support job growth 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 England

 

(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

 

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

 

 

 

(h)       welcomes new developments in the city supported by the present Administration such as Ikea, new developments at Sheffield and Hallam University campuses, Factory of the Future, Heart of the City Block 3, plans to improve Castlegate, new developments at Kilner Way and Stocksbridge and latest news of XLN bringing 300 plus jobs to the city announced this week, which are all a result of actions or support by the present Administration;

 

 

 

(i)        welcomes the Sheffield City Region Growth Deal which was developed locally, with the present Administration working in partnership with other City Region Authorities and the Local Enterprise Partnership; and

 

 

 

(j)         recalls that the Sheffield City Region City Deal was also developed and pioneered locally and that in conjunction with the wider work of the present Administration, this has led to the highest proportion of young people in apprenticeships out of England’s core cities and helped to progress and deliver the New Retail Quarter.

 

 

 

(k)       therefore invites the Chair of Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and the Chair of Sheffield City Region Combined Authority to make a presentation to a Full Council meeting outlining their plans for the Growth Deal.

 

 

 

(Note 1. Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Richard Shaw, Rob Frost, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Penny Baker, Roger Davison, Diana Stimely, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Ian Auckland, Steve Ayris, David Baker, Katie Condliffe and Vickie Priestley voted for paragraph (k), against paragraphs (a) to (f) and abstained on paragraphs (g) to (j) of the Motion and asked for this to be recorded.

 

 

 

2. Councillors Brian Webster, Jillian Creasy and Robert Murphy voted for paragraphs (a) to (d) and (k) and abstained on paragraphs (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) and (j) of the Motion and asked for this to be recorded.)