Agenda item

Manufacturing Industry

It was moved by Councillor Colin Ross, seconded by Councillor Penny Baker, that this Council:-

(a)       wishes to place on record its thanks to the outgoing Master Cutler and wholeheartedly welcomes his recent comments in The Sheffield Star (Thursday, 11th September) which point to a more balanced economic recovery taking place;

(b)       is heartened by his optimistic assessment on the future of manufacturing and in particular welcomes the series of gains he outlines, which include:

(i)         a long term plan to grow the manufacturing industry in the UK;

(ii)        tax relief on energy and innovation;

(iii)       the huge expansion of apprenticeships posts;

(iv)       support for the Advanced Manufacturing Centre, which has created a magnet for new businesses and helped to create thousands of new jobs; and

(v)        progress towards a more balanced economy; and

(c)        notes this record is in sharp contrast with the record of the previous Government, who oversaw a more rapid decline in the manufacturing industry than the Government of Margaret Thatcher, and welcomes the fact that we have a Government that finally ‘gets it’.

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 in paragraph (a) of all the words after the words “11^th September)” and their substitution by the words “paying tribute to manufacturing in the city”;

2.         the deletion of paragraphs (b) and (c) and the addition of new paragraphs (b) and (c) as follows:-

(b)       welcomes the following actions contributing to the development of manufacturing in the city and the city region:

(i)         the development of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre;

(ii)        the plans developed by Richard Caborn for a new Advanced Wellbeing Centre in collaboration with Sheffield’s Universities;

(iii)       the approval of the Jessop East planning application; and

(iv)       the development of the Factory of the Future; and

(c)        pays tribute to the Master Cutler for the contribution he has made to Sheffield manufacturing in recent decades including his work with the University and with one of the city’s most successful companies, Forgemasters.

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

It was then moved by Councillor Steve Ayris, seconded by Councillor Richard Shaw, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of new paragraphs (d) and (e) as follows:-

(d)       notes the opinion of a former Labour Trade Minister that this country now has "the most successful economy in the developed world"; and

(e)       notes the extraordinary speech by the Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband, MP in which he described his vision for the economy without saying  anything about tackling the deficit that was created by the last Labour Government. 

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

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

RESOLVED:  That this Council:-

(a)       wishes to place on record its thanks to the outgoing Master Cutler and wholeheartedly welcomes his recent comments in The Sheffield Star (Thursday, 11^th September) paying tribute to manufacturing in the city;

(b)       welcomes the following actions contributing to the development of manufacturing in the city and the city region:

(i)        the development of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre;

(ii)       the plans developed by Richard Caborn for a new Advanced Wellbeing Centre in collaboration with Sheffield’s Universities;

(iii)      the approval of the Jessop East planning application; and

(iv)      the development of the Factory of the Future; and

(c)       pays tribute to the Master Cutler for the contribution he has made to Sheffield manufacturing in recent decades including his work with the University and with one of the city’s most successful companies, Forgemasters.