Minutes of the Meeting of the Council of the City of Sheffield Held in The
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3 Minutes of the Meeting of the Council of the City of Sheffield held in the Council Chamber within the Town Hall, Sheffield, on Wednesday, 5th January, 2011, pursuant to notice duly given and Summonses duly served. PRESENT THE LORD MAYOR (Councillor Alan Law) THE DEPUTY LORD MAYOR (Councillor Sylvia Dunkley) 1 Arbourthorne Ward 10 Dore & Totley Ward 19 Mosborough Ward Jack Scott Keith Hill Isobel Bowler Julie Dore Colin Ross Gail Smith John Robson Mike Davis David Barker 2 Beauchief/Greenhill Ward 11 East Ecclesfield Ward 20 Nether Edge Ward Clive Skelton Garry Weatherall Anders Hanson Louise McCann Colin Taylor Ali Qadar Simon Clement-Jones Vic Bowden Colin France 3 Beighton Ward 12 Ecclesall Ward 21 Richmond Ward Helen Mirfin-Boukouris Roger Davison Martin Lawton Ian Saunders Mike Reynolds Lynn Rooney Chris Rosling-Josephs John Campbell 4 Birley Ward 13 Firth Park Ward 22 Shiregreen & Brightside Ward Karen McGowan Joan Barton Peter Rippon Bryan Lodge Chris Weldon Jane Bird Peter Price 5 Broomhill Ward 14 Fulwood Ward 23 Southey Ward Alan Whitehouse Janice Sidebottom Gill Furniss Paul Scriven Andrew Sangar Tony Damms Shaffaq Mohammed Leigh Bramall 6 Burngreave Ward 15 Gleadless Valley Ward 24 Stannington Ward Talib Hussain Cate McDonald David Baker Jackie Drayton Frank Taylor Arthur Dunworth Ibrar Hussain Denise Reaney Vickie Priestley 7 Central Ward 16 Graves Park Ward 25 Stocksbridge & Upper Don Ward Mohammed Maroof Bob McCann Alison Brelsford Robert Murphy Peter Moore Jack Clarkson Jillian Creasy Ian Auckland 8 Crookes Ward 17 Hillsborough Ward 26 Walkley Ward Sylvia Anginotti Janet Bragg Ben Curran Brian Holmes Joe Taylor Diane Leek John Hesketh Steve Ayris Penny Baker 9 Darnall Ward 18 Manor Castle Ward 27 West Ecclesfield Ward Mazher Iqbal Terry Fox Trevor Bagshaw Mary Lea Pat Midgley Kathleen Chadwick Harry Harpham Jenny Armstrong Alan Hooper 28 Woodhouse Ward Ray Satur Jackie Satur Mick Rooney Council 5.1.2011 Page 2 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Denise Fox and John Knight. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Notice of Motion 16 – Sheffield Financial Inclusion and Advice Project The following Members of the Council declared a personal interest in the above item: Councillor Ian Auckland as his wife was employed at the Woodseats Advice Centre Councillor Simon Clement-Jones as a Director of Woodseats Advice Centre Councillor Mike Davis as a Trustee of Woodseats Advice Centre Councillor Jack Scott as he is a national Director of Citizens Advice Councillor Janet Bragg as a Director of Hillsborough Area Advice Centre Councillor Jenny Armstrong as a Director of Manor Rights and Advice Service Councillor Leigh Bramall – Foxhill Parson Cross Advice Centre Councillor Robert Murphy declared a prejudicial interest as his partner’s employment relates to debt specialist caseworkers. Notice of Motion 14 - Voting Reform The following Members of the Council declared a personal interest in the above item: Councillor John Robson as a member of Make Votes Count and the Labour Electoral Reform Society Councillor Mike Reynolds as a member of Unlock Democracy 3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING RESOLVED: On the Motion of Councillor Clive Skelton, seconded by Councillor Jack Clarkson, that the minutes of the meeting of the City Council held on 3rd November, 2010, be approved as a correct record. 4. PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS 4.1 Petitions (a) Petition Expressing Concerns at the Possible Loss of Debt Advice Services in the City The Council received a petition containing 2,938 signatures expressing concern at the possible loss of debt advice services in the City. Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made by Sheena Hockley who referred to the debt case workers funded through the Financial Inclusion Fund Project which was managed by the Citizens’ Advice Bureau Debt Support Unit. Reference was made to 12 specialist case workers employed in the most deprived areas of the City in partnership with the City Council. Sheena Hockley also referred to the contribution of advisers to debt relief Council 5.1.2011 Page 3 orders introduced in April 2002. The specialist case workers had experience of working with such orders and providing associated support. She stated that the number of signatures collected over the holiday period showed the overwhelming support of Sheffield people for the debt specialist case workers and their contribution to helping people in Sheffield’s most deprived areas. She asked that the City Council consider the service provided through the debt advice project when considering wider cuts to funding for advice services in the City. (NOTE: Councillor Chris Rosling-Josephs asked for it to be noted that he had signed the above petition.) The Council referred the petition to the Deputy Leader of the Council (Councillor David Baker) who thanked the petitioners for submitting the petition and gave thanks to Sheena Hockley for coming to see him earlier and explaining her concerns and the problems as outlined. He stated that it was his understanding that the petitioners wished the Council to provide support by telling the Government that the Council would like them to continue funding the project rather than ceasing funding when the current arrangements came to an end and the Council was also asked to consider the general impact of not funding such advice services. Firstly, he stated that he had written to Business Secretary, the Rt Hon Vince Cable MP on this matter and had copied this letter to Sheena Hockley. Secondly, he stated that the Council would not be able to promise not to make reductions in funding to partner organisations that provided such services but he emphasised that the Council would be looking at individual applications for funding and decisions would be made as regards funding for 2011/12. Whilst he could not say with certainty what the outcome of funding applications would be, he did state that he understood the need for debt support services in the City. (b) Petition Complaining About Frequency, Unreliability and Lack of Buses on the 45, 45A and 46 Routes The Council received a petition containing 273 signatures and complaining about frequency, unreliability and lack of buses on the 45, 45A and 46 routes. Representations on behalf of the petitioners were made by John Sheldon. He stated that First Bus had decided to no longer run buses to Firth Park and people wishing to continue their journeys would be required to wait for a community bus. He stated that this affected shops and the level of trade in Firth Park. He also referred to the lack of frequency of services and to occasions when several buses came at the same time and because of the width of the road, often buses had to reverse to allow other traffic through. He stated that he had contacted First Bus and they stated that they would investigate the timing and frequency on these routes. However, the situation was still the same. He also referred to the 46A which was a Sunday service and did travel through to Firth Park, unlike weekday services. The Council referred the petition to the Cabinet Member for Business, Transport and Skills (Councillor Ian Auckland) who stated that the City Council 5.1.2011 Page 4 Council did not control bus services, but he stated that, as a member of the Integrated Transport Authority, he would raise the issue of timing on the petitioners’ behalf. He understood that First Bus were to withdraw the 45A and 46 routes in order to deal with the issue of reliability and replace these with three other services, the detail of which he could share with the petitioner. He stated that First Bus had said that they were trying to listen to people’s concerns and make appropriate changes. (c) Petition Requesting Traffic Calming Measures and Road Safety Improvements around the Yorkshire Muslim Academy The received a petition containing 224 signatures requesting traffic calming measures and road safety improvements around the Yorkshire Muslim Academy. The Council referred the petition to the Cabinet Member for Business, Transport and Skills (Councillor Ian Auckland). Councillor Auckland stated that the petition would be dealt through the Council’s usual process relating to requests for traffic calming and road safety improvements. (d) Petition Objecting to the Rise in Tuition Fees The Council referred the petition to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services (Councillor Colin Ross) who referred to the Notice of Motion relating to tuition fees passed at the meeting of the City Council in November 2010. 4.2 Public Questions (a) Public Question concerning the Sheffield Blitz Memorial Patrick Strafford referred to Sheffield Blitz Memorial which commemorated those people who lost their lives and those who worked and lived through the bombing and air raids of 1940. He spoke of the experience of bombing and the terrifying experience of delayed action bombing. He stated that it was important that the memorial to the Sheffield Blitz be put in a prominent position as both a reminder and a message to young people in particular of those killed, injured or involved in the bombing. In response, the Leader of the Council (Councillor Paul Scriven) thanked Mr Strafford for sharing his experiences and stated that people like him were the silent heroes of Sheffield in World War 2. He stated that he wished to say thank you on behalf of Sheffield for the determination of those living at that time, recognising the loss experienced by families but also the achievements of people in rebuilding the City. Councillor Scriven stated that the memorial on Devonshire Green was not in a prominent position as it should be and he referred to the joint Notice of Motion at this meeting which resolved to consider bringing the memorial into a more prominent position to remember the Sheffield Blitz and to mark the Council 5.1.2011 Page 5 determination of Sheffielders at that time.