Agenda item

Notice of Motion given by Councillor Ian Auckland

That this Council:

           

(a)       believes Graves Park is a jewel in the crown of Sheffield’s great outdoors and a key contributor to Sheffield’s deserved reputation as the greenest city in the country;

 

(b)       thanks the Friends of Graves Park for their tireless efforts to protect and restore the Park;

 

(c)        notes with disgust the images published in July, which appeared to show areas of the Park being used as a dumping ground by the Council;

 

(d)       recalls the decision in 1999 to restore the land in question to publically accessible parkland and regrets this has not happened;

 

(e)       regrets that this latest incident follows consistent attempts by Labour Cabinets to sell-off or dispose of parkland for development;

 

(f)        calls upon the Cabinet to reaffirm that it will:

 

(i)         respect the existing boundaries of Graves Park;

 

(ii)        restore the Norton Nursery site to fully accessible parkland in co-operation with the Friends of Graves Park; and

 

(iii)       renew the governance arrangements to ensure past mistakes are not repeated; and

 

(g)       therefore recommends an immediate review of the governance of the Graves Park Charity on options to take power out of the hands of the Cabinet and ensure that it is exercised locally.

Minutes:

 

Graves Park

 

 

 

It was moved by Councillor Ian Auckland, seconded by Councillor Steve Ayris, that this Council:-

 

 

 

(a)       believes Graves Park is a jewel in the crown of Sheffield’s great outdoors and a key contributor to Sheffield’s deserved reputation as the greenest city in the country;

 

(b)       thanks the Friends of Graves Park for their tireless efforts to protect and restore the Park;

 

(c)        notes with disgust the images published in July, which appeared to show areas of the Park being used as a dumping ground by the Council;

 

(d)       recalls the decision in 1999 to restore the land in question to publically accessible parkland and regrets this has not happened;

 

(e)       regrets that this latest incident follows consistent attempts by Labour Cabinets to sell-off or dispose of parkland for development;

 

(f)        calls upon the Cabinet to reaffirm that it will:

 

(i)         respect the existing boundaries of Graves Park;

 

(ii)        restore the Norton Nursery site to fully accessible parkland in co-operation with the Friends of Graves Park; and

 

(iii)       renew the governance arrangements to ensure past mistakes are not repeated; and

 

(g)       therefore recommends an immediate review of the governance of the Graves Park Charity on options to take power out of the hands of the Cabinet and ensure that it is exercised locally.

 

 

 

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Isobel Bowler, seconded by Councillor Tony Downing, 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 addition of the following words therefor:-

 

 

 

(a)       is proud of Sheffield’s status as the greenest city in the country;

 

 

 

(b)       thanks all Friends Groups across the city for their tireless work in their local parks and green spaces;

 

 

 

(c)        remains committed to maintaining the quality of our parks and green space across the city;

 

 

 

(d)       recognises that the efficient operation of the parks and countryside services is essential in these times of cuts to budgets and continuing financial challenge;

 

 

 

(e)       notes that the depot on the former Norton Nurseries site, which has been used as such for many years, is a vital part of that efficient operation; and

 

 

 

(f)        is reassured that steps have been taken to ensure that the operational problems the parks service experienced in July will not re-occur.

 

 

 

On being put 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)       is proud of Sheffield’s status as the greenest city in the country;

 

 

 

(b)       thanks all Friends Groups across the city for their tireless work in their local parks and green spaces;

 

 

 

(c)        remains committed to maintaining the quality of our parks and green space across the city;

 

 

 

(d)       recognises that the efficient operation of the parks and countryside services is essential in these times of cuts to budgets and continuing financial challenge;

 

 

 

(e)       notes that the depot on the former Norton Nurseries site, which has been used as such for many years, is a vital part of that efficient operation; and

 

 

 

(f)        is reassured that steps have been taken to ensure that the operational problems the parks service experienced in July will not re-occur.