Agenda and minutes

To identify items where resolutions may be moved to exclude the press and public.

Members to declare any interests they have in the business to be considered at the meeting.

To receive any questions or petitions from the public, or communications submitted by the Lord Mayor or the Chief Executive and to pass such resolutions thereon as the Council Procedure Rules permit and as may be deemed expedient.

(NOTE: There is a time limit of one hour for the above item of business.  In accordance with the arrangements published on the Council’s website, questions/petitions are required to be submitted in writing, to committee@sheffield.gov.uk, by 9.00 a.m. on Monday 4th December. Questions/petitions submitted after the deadline will be asked at the meeting subject to the discretion of the Chair.)

6.1      Questions relating to urgent business – Council Procedure Rule 16.6(ii).

6.2      Questions relating to the discharge of the functions of the South Yorkshire Joint Authorities (under the provisions of Section 41 of the Local Government Act 1985) and of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority – Council Procedure Rule 16.6(i).

6.3      Supplementary questions on written questions submitted at this meeting – Council Procedure Rule 16.4.

That this Council:-

(a)      notes:-

(i)       Sheffield’s cultural and religious diversity – we are a growing and diverse city with around 120 languages spoken and people from a range of backgrounds living and contributing to every part of the city; our diversity is part of what makes Sheffield such an amazing place;

(ii)       our heritage as the UK’s first City of Sanctuary and pride in offering a welcoming home to people seeking safety, demonstrated in how we’ve welcomed those affected by the war in Ukraine;

(iii)      that in developing our City Goals, our communities have shown how much they value Sheffield’s diversity and its people; celebrating and respecting histories, heritage and cultures and finding common ground is embedded in the draft Goals;

(iv)      the progress that has been made, together with partners, on implementing the recommendations of the Race Equality Commission, and the importance of holding course towards the aim of being an anti-racist city; and

(v)      the contributions of many diverse communities to the UK, in particular, the service of millions of Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, those of no faith, LGBTQ+ and others, in defeating the evil of the Nazis in the Second World War and upholding the values of civil rights, democracy and rule of law;

(b)      believes:-

(i)       that this Council stands with all our communities in their rights to live peacefully and safely;

(ii)       that even in difficult circumstances, Sheffield’s communities have shown amazing strength and unity, standing together to be kind and support one another; as they did 12 months ago, when the Stannington floods turned people’s lives upside down, and we saw community groups, businesses, and local politicians including the late Councillor Vickie Priestley, working hard for each other;

(iii)      that our city provides the perfect stage for celebrating diversity, bringing people together into our city centre, local high streets and public spaces to celebrate, respect and learn about our cultures; next year this includes celebrating the Lunar/Chinese New Year of the Dragon, Easter, Eid-al-Fitr and our whole calendar of cultural events from Pride to Black History Month; and 

(c)      resolves to:-

(i)       encourage communities, partners and Councillors to support the development of the city’s new Cohesion Framework, taking its lead from the City Goals, so that we have a shared approach for respecting and supporting each other now and for the long term; and

(ii)       wish everyone a belated happy Diwali, and Happy Hanukkah, Happy Christmas and Happy New Year.

That this Council:-

(a)      notes that:-

(i)       Sheffield City Council has been hammered since 2010, first by the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition and now by the Conservatives;

(ii)       Sheffield Council has almost 30% or £856 per household less to spend in real terms, compared to 2010/11, and further notes that this massive cut is well above the national average of 20% or £581 per dwelling;

(iii)      some wealthy councils like Surrey have only seen a reduction of 8%;

(iv)      when you take out local taxation, the cut in funding for Sheffield is approximately 50% in real terms since 2010/11; and

(v)      the most intense cuts happened to Local Government during the Coalition years of 2010-15;

(b)      believes that:-

(i)       the Autumn Statement lifted the lid on 13 years of Conservative economic failure with growth revised down for 2024, 2025 and 2026;

(ii)       real wages are set to fall, we will see the biggest hit to living standards on record, and taxes have risen;

(iii)      yet again, the Conservatives failed to help with any of the challenges that councils like Sheffield face, with local authorities left picking up the pieces of years of underinvestment in health and social care, homelessness, and housing;

(iv)      just as public services face more cuts, it is shameful that the Rt. Hon. Lord David Cameron is back in the Cabinet after the damage his Government caused to our city and the country;

(v)      despite the Conservatives holding us back, Sheffield is a city on the up; we are setting out ambitious plans for economic growth, delivering massive regeneration projects, building thousands more affordable homes, and restoring our public transport network; and

(vi)      we could do so much more if we had stable, long-term funding; and

(c)      resolves to:-

(i)       unlike the Conservatives, always manage every pound of public money wisely;

(ii)       do everything we can to protect public services that people rely on, grow the local economy, and secure more investment;

(iii)      call on every member of the Council to condemn the successive governments since 2010 for the damage they have done to Sheffield; and

(iv)      support Labour’s position on:-

(A)      introducing a Take Back Control Act to give places like Sheffield the tools needed to develop long-term growth plans;

(B)      setting up a National Wealth Fund, with the British taxpayers owning a share of that wealth;

(C)      providing certainty by setting out a modern industrial strategy; and

(D)      introducing a publicly invested Green Prosperity Plan, to bring in private sector investment to the industries of the future.

That this Council:-

(a)      notes:-

(i)       the right to strike is a fundamental British freedom which is protected by international law; this can be seen in the Human Rights Act, Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the International Labour Organisation’s Convention 87 and Article 6(4) of the European Social Charter;

(ii)       the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 sets out that when employees in relevant sectors democratically vote to strike they can be required to work and sacked if they don’t comply;

(iii)      the Joint Committee on Human Rights has expressed concern that this legislation is not compatible with the UK’s commitments to human rights for workers and trade union members; and

(iv)      the Regulatory Policy Committee has determined that the impact assessment for this Bill was ‘not fit for purpose’;

(b)      believes:-

(i)       the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 is a direct attack on the right to strike fundamental freedom;

(ii)      that consecutive Conservative Governments have been carrying out brutal attacks on trade unions for decades, culminating with this most recent attack on the right to strike;

(iii)      that this Government, instead of tackling the causes of the cost-of-living crisis, are attempting to cut through the recent wave of strikes by trying to shift the blame from profiteering bosses who have manufactured unsustainable levels of inflation, on to ordinary workers who are exercising their right to fight for dignity and fair pay at work and in their lives;

(iv)      the regime initiated by the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 is draconian, unnecessary and unworkable;

(v)      the Act undermines constructive industrial relations and is likely to inflame and prolong disputes; and

(vi)      that this Act is a direct attack on the freedoms of the ordinary, hardworking residents of our city; and

(c)      resolves:-

(i)       to ask the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to consider how the Council will, if it can use provisions in the Act, continue to protect the rights of its workers to strike and how it should be reflected in our policies, such as the ethical procurement policy;

(ii)       to raise these concerns with all relevant bodies - including the Fire and Rescue Authority, Health boards, and any other relevant bodies with employee status;

(iii)      to work with local unions and our trades council to oppose this legislation together as effectively as possible; and

(iv)      to write to the Rt. Hon. Sir Keir Starmer and demand he pledges an incoming Labour government to reverse fines and other measures taken against any union under the terms of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023.

That this Council:-

(a)      notes that, in relation to environmental considerations:-

(i)       disposable vapes are a hazard for waste and litter collection and cause fires in bin lorries;

(ii)       single use vapes are designed as one unit so batteries cannot be separated from the plastic, making them almost impossible to recycle without going through special treatment;

(iii)      the lithium batteries inside the plastic can sharply increase in temperature if crushed and can become flammable; this comes at a cost to the council taxpayer through fire damage to equipment and the specialist treatment needed to deal with hazardous waste; and

(iv)      with 1.3 million disposable vapes thrown away every week, they have also become a regular and obvious item of litter on our streets;

(b)      notes that, in relation to health considerations:-

(i)       there is concern about the impact vaping is having on children and young people; the marketing of vapes with designs and flavours that may appeal to children, in particular those with fruity and bubble gum flavours, and colourful child-friendly packaging, is inappropriate;

(ii)       it is worrying that more and more children – who have never smoked – are starting vaping;

(iii)      in the past few years, vaping among young people has risen; Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) data shows that 8.6% of 11- to 18-year-olds in England vaped in 2022, compared with 4% in 2021, and the Charity also reported that among those who tried vaping, 40.1% had never smoked before; and

(iv)      the Local Government Association has called on its members to step up enforcement to deal with growing numbers of shops selling vapes to children despite the 18-age limit, with many “especially concerned” by child-friendly marketing, including colourful packages; and

(c)      therefore asks the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State asking for single use vapes to be banned and note that, with the EU proposing a ban in 2026 and France rolling out a ban in December 2023, there is a risk that, as markets close, disposable vapes will flood into the UK.

To receive the record of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 4th October 2023 and to approve the accuracy thereof.

To consider any changes to the memberships and arrangements for meetings of Committees etc., delegated authority, and the appointment of representatives to serve on other bodies, which may be proposed at the meeting.