Agenda item

5.1

Petitions and Public Questions

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Colin Ross) reported that questions would be taken at the meeting from four members of the public.  No petitions had been received.

5.2

Questions from Hilary Smith

“I asked a question at the recent Strategy and Resources Policy Committee about the steps that the Council could take to reduce its complicity with Israel's system of apartheid and ethnic cleansing. In response, the Leader of the Council told me what he thought the Council was unable to do.

What he did not do was to tell me what steps he thought that the Council could take to reduce its financial relationship with companies or institutions that support, directly or indirectly, Israel's system of apartheid.

The Council is aware of the United Nations database of companies that operate in or otherwise support Israeli settlements, all illegal under international law.

Will the Council commit to investigating, as a matter of urgency, whether it has any financial relationship with any of those companies, directly or indirectly, and make that information public?

Secondly, if the Council concludes that it is unable to disengage from financial relationships with any of these companies, will the Council make that information public? Sheffield residents have a right to know if the Council's business make it complicit with Israeli apartheid and a right to know if the law explicitly prevents the Council from ending those financial relationships.

Thirdly, the Leader did not respond, at Strategy and Resources Committee, to my question about whether the Council would change its bank from Barclays. Will the Leader now answer that question?”

Ms. Smith added that a genocide was currently taking place, made possible because the world gave the green light to Israeli apartheid.  She asked that the Council delay no longer in taking action against Israel’s system of apartheid.

In response, Councillor Tom Hunt (the Leader of the Council and Chair of the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee) stated that in answering the questions, it was important to be clear about, and separate, the actions of the government of Israel and the state of Israel.  He commented that the first and second questions refer to businesses within the database of business enterprises that is published by the United Nations, and he reported that the current database includes 112 businesses, of which three are UK companies. He stated that he had requested that officers investigate whether the Council had a contractual relationship with any of those companies and he would send a written response to Ms. Smith when he had been supplied with that information. He added that although he was unable to answer a question about what that information might tell us, he would commit to being fully open and transparent in relation to this matter.

In response to the third question, about the Council’s banking arrangements, Councillor Hunt stated that the banking contract was procured in 2022 and the process was run as an open tender, as required by the public contracts regulations.  He reported that social value commitments were considered as part of the evaluation when awarding that contract and added that contractors/suppliers are required to abide by the principles of the Council’s Ethical Procurement Policy and Ethical Code of Conduct for Suppliers.  He stated that there were no plans, at present, to change the banking contract and he added that he was confident that procurement officers at the Council would continue to apply the ethical procurement policy correctly and would provide advice if any changes to contracts were needed to be made.

Councillor Hunt concluded his response by confirming that upon receipt of the further information that he had requested from officers, he would discuss with colleagues whether action needed to be taken.

5.3

Question from Val Johnson

“I noted the comments of the Leader at the last full Council meeting, which I attended, when he referred to the need for the city to come together and there to be unity. I am also aware of some individuals attempting to characterise marches and rallies which take place in solidarity with the Palestinian people as 'hate marches'.

The marches and rallies which have been taking place in our city have been a model of everything which makes me proud to live in Sheffield. Far from being marches of hate, they have included people of all ages, including many families, people from Christian, Jewish, Muslim and secular backgrounds, and included speakers from many diverse backgrounds.

We are united not because we are on one side or the other, but because we believe in human rights, international law, and justice for all, and we will not stay silent whilst the Palestinian people are being oppressed by a military occupation and ethnic cleansing of the most brutal kind.

My question is to ask members of this Council if they will attend a rally, listen to the speakers, and then reflect on their responsibilities to defend human rights and to uphold international law.”

In response, Councillor Tom Hunt (the Leader of the Council and Chair of the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee) stated that the description of ‘hate marches’ that the former Home Secretary has used is offensive and one he utterly rejects.  He commented that tarring everybody with the same words was dangerous and divisive rhetoric from a Conservative party that had sought to stoke up a manufactured culture war. He believed that if the Government spent more time focused on finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict and less on seeking to divide people, then he was sure that we would all be in a better place. He added that the only positive thing he could say on this matter was that Suella Braverman was no longer Home Secretary, and he sincerely hoped that next year the rest of the Cabinet would follow her out of the exit door and be replaced by a Labour party that takes its responsibilities at home and abroad more seriously.

Councillor Hunt stated that members of this Council have attended rallies, vigils, solidarity walks, and have organised fundraisers to raise money for humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza. He commented that every member of the Chamber takes their responsibilities extremely seriously and added that it was incumbent on all of us to work together to bring people together at this difficult time.

5.4

Questions from Annie O’Gara

“For context: Sheffield was the first Local Authority in the UK to declare itself an Apartheid Free Zone in 1981 in the days of South African Apartheid – The Council members took a bold, principled stance against this crime, creating a reputation for Sheffield that is celebrated to this day.

In the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee of November 20th, I asked a question arising from the Council’s resolution of November 1st, regarding the Sheffield Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid.

In response, the Leader promised that “officers will prepare a thorough report for consideration by the Strategy and Resources Committee,” following which a “recommendation” will be made to the Committee.

The Leader also said that he himself would meet the Coalition and he would tell Leaders of other Parties details of that meeting, with “no expectations on them whether they want to attend.” He added that he himself would read the material submitted by the Coalition and he would “circulate” it to others – presumably with no expectation that they would read it. (The materials comprise our launch pamphlet and the Executive Summary of Amnesty International’s report “Israeli Apartheid against Palestinians: a cruel system of domination and a crime against humanity”)

Questions:-

1. Will the report by Officers on this issue, including the recommendation(s), be given to the Coalition in advance of the relevant Strategy and Resources Policy Committee meeting in the New Year?

2. Are we correct in interpreting the Leader’s words as meaning the following:-

• That he will be the one and only officer or elected member who commits to meeting the Coalition
• That he places no expectation on anyone else to join him in that discussion, or even to read succinct materials on an important citizens’ movement and on Israel’s Crime against Humanity of Apartheid.
• That the Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee will rely on a report and recommendation by officers only, whilst elected members have no responsibility to engage with this city’s response to Apartheid, as their predecessors in 1981 did?

3. If we are correct in our interpretation of his words, will the Leader now assure us that any meeting between the Council and the Coalition reflects the magnitude of the moral and legal issues involved by guaranteeing that this meeting isn’t marginalised, as his words suggest?

4. Lastly, has the Chief Executive sent a letter to the Government, as resolved on November 1st?

• We request both a copy of that letter to the Government and a copy of any reply received.
• How has the Chief Executive enacted what she was clearly asked to do by the City Council?”

In response, Councillor Tom Hunt (the Leader of the Council and Chair of the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee) stated that he would share the officer report with the Coalition once it had been written and would ask his office to arrange a meeting with the Coalition at which the report can be discussed.  He added that, as he had said last month at the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee meeting, he will share the details of the meeting with the other party leaders once it has been arranged and invite them to attend. They would be very welcome, but he was not able to mandate that they attend.  He reiterated that he was happy to meet with representatives of the Coalition to discuss the report.

Councillor Hunt reported that in advance of any committee meeting, it was standard practice for elected members to meet with officers to discuss and shape the contents of reports, and he stated that this was what would happen in this instance, before the committee meeting takes place in the new year.

Councillor Hunt stated that the meeting that he was to have with the Coalition will be to discuss matters that are of significant importance to a great many people in the city.

In relation to the final question, Councillor Hunt reported that the Chief Executive had written to the Prime Minister on 8^th November and he added that a copy of the letter would be sent to Ms. O’Gara.  He stated that the letter was to make the Prime Minister aware of the resolution that was passed in the Council Chamber on 1^st November, as had been requested in the resolution. This was the only action that was requested of the Chief Executive in relation to this matter and had been enacted.  He added that no reply to the letter had yet been received.

(NOTE: After that answer had been given at the meeting by the Leader of the Council, it was discovered that a response from the Government, to the letter sent by the Council’s Chief Executive, had been received on the matter within the Chief Executive’s office, by way of a written hard copy letter from the Minister of State for the Middle East.  The Leader had not been made aware of the letter at the point that he gave the answer in the full Council meeting.  Both letters have been published on the website - Agenda for Council on Wednesday 1 November 2023, 2.00 pm | Sheffield City Council - attached to the Resolution on “Stopping Genocide in Gaza”.)

5.5

Questions from Simon Jenkins

“Regarding the reduction of the MUGA at Hillsborough Park to enable a new “proposed activity hub and cafe”.

What consultation was taken place on this?

There was a petition against, with 2000 signatures taken by Friends of Hillsborough Park who have now disbanded due to the lack of support from the Council.

Also, were relevant local businesses, such as already operating cafes, consulted? Also were groups who rely on MUGA, such as Friends2gether, taken into consideration, as they were clearly not consulted?”

In response, Councillor Richard Williams (Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee) stated that, as regards the reduction of the MUGA at Hillsborough Park, a report was submitted to the meeting of the Charity Trustee Sub-Committee on 5^th June 2023 which set out the proposal for the  Activity Hub in the Park and included full details of the consultation held in relation to the proposed Hub.  He added that the report was available on the Council’s website and he would provide a link to it within the written response that he would provide to Mr Jenkins after the meeting.  Councillor Williams stated that the report was over 200 pages in length, but a summary of the consultation was set out on pages 26-28 of the agenda pack.

With regard to the Friends of Hillsborough Park, Councillor Williams indicated that he was sorry that the Friends had decided to dissolve the group, but fully respected their decision to do so, stating that volunteer groups had the right to decide their own destiny.  He commented that he had thanked the Friends group for the work they had done, over many years, which had been incredibly valuable and resulted in significant changes seen in the Park, including the investment into the Coach House, improvements to the playground, installation of the all wheels track, and more. Councillor Williams stated that part of the announcement made by the group on their disbanding was that they felt they had not been listened to, but he believed they were doing themselves a disservice.  He stated that, as a result of the questions which were raised at the Committee by representatives of the Friends group, an on-site meeting had been held with the group, involving some members of the Committee as well as local Ward Councillors, and as a direct result of the concerns relayed at that meeting, particularly by Andy Chaplin, the way that the MUGA was to be used in the future was changed.  Credit was due to the Friends for this.

Councillor Williams added that he was aware that some of the former Friends volunteers were forming another group, specifically focussing on the Walled Garden, and he hoped that they would continue to have a good relationship with the Council. He concluded by acknowledging that parks across the city rely on Friends groups for support and help and without their support the parks would not flourish as well as they do.