CITY OF SHEFFIELD METROPOLITAN DISTRICT ______COUNCIL SUMMONS ______

Notice is hereby given that a Meeting of the Council of the City of Sheffield will be held in the Council Chamber within the Town Hall, Sheffield, on Wednesday, 4th June, 2008 at 2.00 p.m.

PUBLIC INSPECTION OF DOCUMENTS AND ACCESS TO MEETINGS

Council Meetings are open to the public. Admittance to the public gallery can be gained via the First Point Reception, Old Town Hall, Pinstone Street. Details of the business to be transacted can be viewed in advance at the First Point Reception which is open between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. Monday – Thursday and between 9.00 a.m. and 4.45 p.m. on Friday, or you can ring on telephone no. 2734552. A copy of the Council Summons and any reports are also available on the Council’s website at www.sheffield.gov.uk.

THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS IS PROPOSED TO BE TRANSACTED-

1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETINGS

To receive the record of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 2nd April and the Annual Meeting held on 21st May, 2008 and to approve the accuracy thereof. (Copies attached – “A” and “B”)

2. PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

To receive any questions or communications from the public, or communications submitted by the Lord Mayor or the Interim Chief Executive and to pass such resolutions thereon as the Standing Orders permit and as may be deemed expedient. 3. MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

(a) Questions relating to urgent business - Standing Order No. A18(6).

(b) Supplementary questions on written questions submitted at this meeting - Standing Order No. A18(4).

(c) Questions on the discharge of the functions of the South Yorkshire Joint Authorities for Fire and Rescue, Passenger Transport, Pensions and Police - Section 41 of the Local Government Act, 1985 - Standing Order No. A18(6).

(d) Questions on the discharge of the functions of the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly – Standing Order No. A18(6).

4. REPRESENTATION, DELEGATED AUTHORITY AND RELATED ISSUES

To consider any changes to the memberships and arrangements for meetings of Boards etc., delegated authority, and the appointment of representatives to serve on other bodies.

5. ITEMS REFERRED TO COUNCIL

SAFER COMMUNITIES PARTNERSHIP PLAN To consider a report and any recommendation arising therefrom that may be referred by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 28th May, 2008.

6. BURNGREAVE NEW DEAL FOR COMMUNITIES To receive a report of the Chief Internal Auditor and comments of the Burngreave New Deal for Communities Working Party, as requested by the City Council at its meeting held on 6th February, 2008, and to note that the matter is to be considered in more detail by the Audit Committee. (Copies attached – “C1” & “C2”)

7. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR PAUL SCRIVEN

That this Council: -

(a) would like to thank everyone who voted in the recent local elections and is pleased that turnout was up from last year;

(b) recognises that the results clearly show local people voted for a change in their local Council and the positive agenda put forward by the new Liberal Democrat administration, which includes:-

(i) action to cut crime through putting more officers on our streets but also providing extra free activities to give young people something positive to do;

(ii) green action through giving local people more opportunities to recycle and ensuring that, through working with local people, our local parks are protected and enhanced;

(iii) action for a cleaner local environment, allowing local people and their local Councillors to decide on what, how and where money will be spent to clean up local neighbourhoods; (iv) a fair deal for every area, ensuring that every area of Sheffield gets its fair share of money and attention with no "favoured areas" and priority decided on greatest need alone;

(v) better value local services to ensure that Council Tax is only increased if necessary and then kept to a minimum; and

(vi) running the Council and City differently, being open and honest, listening to local people and allowing them and their local Councillors to make the local decisions that affects their community; and

(c) endorses these priorities and is committed to delivering on this agenda over the coming months and years in line with local peoples’ wishes.

8. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR HARRY HARPHAM That this Council:

(a) notes that the issue of educational provision is close to the heart of local communities across the City, and further notes that the discussions that have taken place about the future of Myers Grove and Wisewood Schools have been very difficult and emotive;

(b) notes that both of these communities very much value their local schools, and would like to thank local people, local parents and the Proposing Group for all their hard work;

(c) notes that the Liberal Democrats have promised the people of Hillsborough that they will save Wisewood School;

(d) notes also that the then Leader of the Opposition stated at the Council meeting of 4 July 2007, in response to questions from members of the public, “I absolutely guarantee we are committed to working with you to provide a new school and if the Government turns us down financially we will use the resources that the Council has”;

(e) further notes that this promise was repeated in the Liberal Democrat Group Press Release of 4 July 2007, entitled ‘Lib Dems promise two school solution’, which states, ‘… Liberal Democrats have committed themselves to work for new schools for both Wisewood and Myers Grove, whether to be through securing Government investment or directly funding the improvements through the Council’s own capital funds’;

(f) confirms that all Members of this Council have been told consistently by the Council’s officers that:-

(i) the Government would not expect to receive applications for funding for rebuilding of 2 small schools within one mile of each other through the BSF programme; and

(ii) it is a condition of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme that authorities demonstrate that they have plans to manage the pattern of school places efficiently and make plans to remove excess school capacity;

(g) notes that in 2007 the rebuilding of Myers Grove and Wisewood Schools, as two separate schools, was estimated to cost £25,946,250;

(h) believes that the new administration must make clear immediately to the people of Sheffield what their plans are regarding Myers Grove and Wisewood Schools; and

(i) confirms that the largest opposition group would co-operate in facilitating a Special Council meeting to re-consider the Council’s policy in relation to this issue, at the earliest opportunity. 9. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR ANDREW SANGAR That this Council: -

(a) believes that all our young people are the future of Sheffield therefore providing a first class education for them is one of the most important responsibilities of this Council;

(b) notes with concern that pupil attainment is unacceptably below standard at every level; demonstrated by the fact that:-

(i) at Key Stage One the percentage of children achieving Level 2 or better, out of 149 local authorities, Sheffield is 136 in Reading, 125 in Writing, and 129 in Maths;

(ii) at Key Stage Two the percentage of children achieving Level 4 or better, out of 149 local authorities Sheffield is 141 in English, 144 in Maths, and 139 in Science;

(iii) in English at Key Stage Three the gap between Sheffield and the national average is widening, and in Maths and Science at Key Stage Three the gap between Sheffield and the national average widened in 2007; and

(iv) at Key Stage Four the percentage of children achieving 5 or more A*-C grades including English and Maths, out of 149 local authorities Sheffield is 110th and results are further behind the national average than they were in 2003;

(c) notes that the new administration is aware that, if education and pupil attainment in Sheffield is failing to such an extent and if things don’t improve quickly, there is a real danger that the Government will intervene;

(d) is deeply concerned and disappointed at this news but welcomes the fact that the new Liberal Democrat administration is determined to turn things around so that this Council stops letting our young people down;

(e) believes that key issues such as leadership, levels of aspiration and complacency need to be addressed so that every young person in Sheffield is provided with an excellent education and is able to unlock their full potential;

(f) notes that it is vital we tackle these issues to give all our young people a better life, and furthermore Sheffield will never reach its full potential as a City if there are not enough ‘home grown’ skills and knowledge required to sustain a vibrant and growing local economy; and

(g) looks forward to the new Liberal Democrat administration bringing forward recommendations that will decisively tackle these issues in order to improve education for all our young people in Sheffield.

10. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR JAN WILSON That this Council:

(a) notes that the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group made a statement to the press in March 2008, that although their budget amendment was defeated, if they became the majority group on the Council they would implement their budget proposals;

(b) confirms that although the Council Tax has been set for this year, it is still possible for the Council to review its budget; (c) notes that it would only be appropriate that there would be a lead-in to a revised budget, and would suggest that 2 months would be a reasonable lead-in time, which would still allow the new administration to implement their proposed budget for approximately 8 months of the financial year 2008/09; and

(d) confirms that the largest opposition group would co-operate in facilitating a Special Council meeting to re-consider the budget at the earliest opportunity, or otherwise suggests that the scheduled Council meeting of 30th July 2008 might provide an appropriate opportunity to consider this matter.

11. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR SHAFFAQ MOHAMMED That this Council: -

(a) regrets that recently the Sheffield Labour Party attempted to give local people the false impression that the Liberal Democrats planned to stop weekly black bin collections;

(b) is pleased to confirm that the new Liberal Democrat administration are committed to maintaining the weekly black bin collection for general waste, as well as expanding opportunities for local people to recycle; and

(c) hopes that the Labour Group does not use these kinds of tactics during their time as the largest opposition group on the Council.

12. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR BRYAN LODGE

That this Council:

(a) notes that in April 2008, the then Leader of the Council instructed Council officers to set up a pilot to offer litter louts and graffiti sprayers the opportunity to clean up the City, instead of paying a fine;

(b) further notes that under the new scheme, offenders would be offered the choice between paying the fine and "working off" the fine at the equivalent hourly rate of pay that Council staff would be paid in doing that work;

(c) believes that this scheme would be an excellent way for people to work off their penalty by cleaning up the City and making amends for their bad behaviour, by giving something back to their local communities;

(d) also feels that this new scheme would send out a message that we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in Sheffield; and

(e) confirms that the new administration will support this scheme.

13. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR BERNARD LITTLE

That this Council:

(a) recognises the substantial contribution that post offices make to sustaining businesses in disadvantaged communities, promoting local economic activity, reducing carbon emissions, and providing accessible services to vulnerable people;

(b) is therefore dismayed by Post Office Ltd's plan to close 2,500 of its branches nationally and by the effect this will have on the vitality of communities across the city of Sheffield; (c) congratulates Essex County Council on its efforts to provide postal services through the funding of post offices with the potential to become self-sufficient, combined with the relocation of services into other buildings such as shops, libraries or community centres if required;

(d) notes the experience of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, which has successfully opposed the closure of half the post offices within their area;

(e) notes the experience of Reading Borough Council, which has successfully run a post office for 15 years;

(f) further notes the significant amount of investigation carried out into the difficulties faced by post offices and possible ways of sustaining the network, such as "The Last Post" report for Manchester City Council, the "Post Haste" report for the South East Economic Development Strategy, and recent research carried out by the Federation of Small Businesses;

(g) directs that a report be prepared and approved by Cabinet before August 2008 which:

i) provides a model for assessing the social and economic impact of post office closure on local communities in affected neighbourhoods of Sheffield; and

ii) sets out possible options, including any financial implications, by which Sheffield City Council and the Sheffield First Partnership could help sustain post offices, for instance relocation, provision of post office services, procurement of services;

(h) directs that officers will use the assessment model and work with Post Office Ltd, affected local post offices, Tenants’ and Residents’ Associations, local community groups, and other parties such as Postwatch, so that the Council and local neighbourhoods can make a robust and detailed response to consultations on Post Office Ltd's Area plan; and

(i) will lobby the Government to:

i) commit to subsidising Post Office Ltd to enable a sustainable post office network beyond 2011;

ii) allow post offices to provide TV licenses and other paypoint services;

iii) provide a drop off and collection point for parcels;

iv) provide an extended range of banking services, for example through providing a shared banking service where local branches of banks have closed; and

v) provide an increased level of advertising to the general public on services available through the post office.

14. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR PAUL SCRIVEN

That this Council:

(a) notes the recent Burma Cyclone and China Earthquake disasters which have claimed many lives and devastated vast areas of both countries;

(b) extends heartfelt condolences to the hundreds of thousands of people affected by these terrible events; (c) also recognises that many people living in Sheffield have been affected through family who have been caught up in these disasters; and

(d) directs that the Interim Chief Executive write to both embassies and the relevant community groups within Sheffield to express our support for those affected by these disasters at this difficult time.

15. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR TIM RIPPON

That this Council:

(a) notes that Sheffield was designated as the first official National City of Sport and is a City which has a history of supporting and promoting sporting excellence;

(b) further notes that through the fantastic sports facilities in the City, Sheffield has been proud to be able to nurture and develop the talent of both local and national athletes; and

(c) sends its best wishes and support to the local Sheffield athletes and all the athletes who receive elite support through Ponds Forge and the English Institute of Sport based in Sheffield, who will be competing in the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games in Beijing.

16. OBSERVATIONS

To receive observations on the minutes of the meetings of the various Council bodies for the period 17th March to 9th May, 2008.

Interim Chief Executive

Dated this 27th day of May, 2008.