Agenda item

8.1

It was moved by Councillor Zahira Naz, and seconded by Councillor Tony Downing, 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.

8.2

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Robert Reiss, and seconded by Councillor Roger Davison, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.       the deletion of sub-paragraphs (a)(i) to (v) and the addition of new sub-paragraphs (i) to (iv) as follows:-

(i)       Labour is not proposing any additional funding for local government, with Shadow Local Government Minister, Sarah Owen MP, quoted in the Manchester Evening News saying “the party does not want to talk about extra funding”;

(ii)       in a speech on Monday, Sir Keir Starmer advised that Labour will not “turn on the spending taps”, arguing that austerity might not be just a “choice” after all;

(iii)      the webpage containing the 10 pledges based on the “moral case for socialism” used in Keir Starmer’s leadership election has been taken down, and the pledges themselves largely reversed; and

(iv)      Keir Starmer praised Margaret Thatcher in the Sunday Telegraph for bringing “meaningful change” and seeking “to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism”;

2.       the substitution, in sub-paragraph (b)(i), of the number “8” for the number “13”;

3.       the insertion, in sub-paragraph (b)(iv) of the word “second” immediately before the word “Government”;

4.       the insertion, in sub-paragraph (c)(i) of the words “and Labour” after the word “Conservatives”;

5.       the deletion of sub-paragraph (c)(iii) and the addition of a new sub-paragraph (c)(iii) as follows:-

(iii)      call on members of the Council to represent their electors according to their best judgment, instead of condemning policies they are about to adopt;

6.       the deletion of sub-paragraph (c)(iv) and the addition of a new sub-paragraph (c)(iv) as follows:-

(iv)      support the Liberal Democrats policy on:-

(A)      implementing a federal United Kingdom to move control and finance away from Whitehall and into local communities;

(B)      committing to building 150,000 social homes a year;

(C)      fixing our broken relationship with Europe, forge a new partnership built on cooperation, and move to conclude a new comprehensive agreement which removes as many barriers to trade as possible;

(D)      invest in infrastructure and skills to create prosperity in every region of the UK, while tackling the climate emergency; and

(E)      ensuring that tax burdens don’t fall disproportionately on low earners and reversing the Conservatives’ tax cuts for big banks.

8.3

It was then moved by Councillor Paul Turpin, and seconded by Councillor Brian Holmshaw, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.       the addition of new sub-paragraphs (a)(vi) to (ix) as follows:-

(vi)      austerity has failed on its own terms as national debt has increased along with poverty and inequality, while public services have been decimated to the brink of failure or beyond;

(vii)     Labour supported austerity in 2010 through 2015;

(viii)    the Shadow Chancellor has committed to arbitrary and restrictive “fiscal rules” that would effectively continue austerity; and

(ix)      Labour channelled Margaret Thatcher in 2010 and now Keir Starmer is doing the same;

2.       the addition of anew sub-paragraph (b)(vii) as follows:-

(vii)     Keir Starmer has made it clear that he “won’t turn on spending taps” if Labour win the next general election, and Labour do not have policies which will address the scale of the problems the UK faces;

3.        the addition of new sub-paragraphs (c)(v) to (viii) as follows:-

(v)      request the relevant Policy Committees to consider placing on their work programmes consideration of backing income-generating schemes like the Employers’ Workplace Parking Levy, and review parking fees and charges, to help fund public transport, road safety and active travel measures;

(vi)      request the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to consider placing on its work programme investigating the establishment of a wholly-owned Council company to help deliver the Council’s objectives and raise income to deliver reliable services for Sheffield residents;

(vii)     request the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to consider placing on its work programme consideration of every opportunity for investing in renewable energy projects on Council land and buildings to generate energy and income;

(viii)    request the Chief Executive to write to both Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak, calling for:-

(A)      proper funding of Councils to deliver local services and to implement the recommendations of the Taxing Wealth Report;

(B)      remove the two child cap on benefits, and to raise Universal Credit by £40; and

(C)      proper funding of a Green New Deal, education, emergency services, health and legal services.

8.4

It was then moved by Councillor Bryan Lodge, and seconded by Councillor Julie Grocutt, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of new paragraphs (d) to (f) as follows:-

(d)      is disappointed that the Labour Group seem to be more interested in national politics rather than presenting Notices of Motions that deal with issues that affect the communities of Sheffield, including the cost of living crisis, rising energy costs and fuel poverty, and the decimation of public transport, but is not really surprised when the direction of the Labour Group in Sheffield is being driven by the Labour Party nationally through the imposed Campaign Improvement Board;

(e)      is astounded that at the same time that the Labour Group are criticising the Conservative Governments of the last 13 years, Sir Keir Starmer is singing the praises of Margaret Thatcher’s role as Prime Minister, on the approach to the 40^th Anniversary in 2024 of the devastating Miners’ Strike of 1984-85, when, in this Council’s belief, her governments wreaked havoc on the steel and coal mining industries that impacted on the jobs and wellbeing of thousands of Sheffield residents, and destroyed the public transport system that was the envy of the country, and with the impacts of this still being felt today; and

(f)       does not agree with Sir Keir Starmer’s comments, nor thinks that they are reflected across the country, nor by members of our communities here in Sheffield.

8.5

After contributions from three other Members, and following a right of reply from Councillor Zahira Naz, the amendment moved by Councillor Robert Reiss was put to the vote and was carried, but in part.  Parts1, 4, 5 and 6 of the amendment were carried [Parts 1 and 5 to be as additional sub-paragraphs to the Substantive Motion, not replacement sub-paragraphs, and Part 6 to be the deletion of the sub-paragraph only] were carried, and Parts 2 and 3 of the amendment were lost.

8.5.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR - 38 Members; AGAINST - 27 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 6 Members.  Although Green Group Members voted for, they voted against Parts 2 and 3 of the amendment; that part of Part 1 of the amendment that proposed the deletion of sub-paragraphs (a)(i) to (v); that part of Part 5 of the amendment that proposed the deletion of sub-paragraph (c)(iii); and that part of Part 6 of the amendment that proposed the addition of a new sub-paragraph (c)(iv). Although Councillor Sophie Wilson voted against, she voted for the new sub-paragraphs (a)(i) to (iv) in Part 1 of the amendment to be additional sub-paragraphs (not replacement sub-paragraphs), and for sub-paragraphs (iv)(B), (D) and (E) in Part 6 of the amendment.)

8.6

The amendment moved by Councillor Paul Turpin was then put to the vote and was carried, but in part.  Sub-paragraph (vi) in Part 1, Part 2 and sub-paragraphs (vii) and (viii)(B) and (C) in Part 3 of the amendment were carried, and sub-paragraphs (vii) to (ix) in Part 1 & sub-paragraphs (v), (vi) and (viii)(A) in Part 3 of the amendment were lost.

8.6.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR - 13 Members; AGAINST - 25 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 34 Members.  Although Labour Group Members voted against, they voted for sub-paragraph (vi) in Part 1 of the amendment, and abstained from voting on sub-paragraphs (v), (vi) and (vii) in Part 3 of the amendment. Although Liberal Democrat Group Members abstained, they voted for Part 2 and sub-paragraphs (vii) and (viii)(B) and (C) in Part 3 of the amendment, and voted against sub-paragraphs (v), (vi) and (viii)(A) in Part 3 of the amendment. Although Councillor Sophie Wilson voted for, she voted against sub-paragraph (v) in Part 3 of the amendment.)

8.7

The amendment moved by Councillor Bryan Lodge was then put to the vote and was carried.

8.7.1

The votes on that Amendment were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-

For the Amendment (46)

-

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Colin Ross), and Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Sophie Thornton, Ian Horner, Kurtis Crossland, Ann Woolhouse, Denise Fox, Bryan Lodge, Angela Argenzio, Brian Holmshaw, Douglas Johnson, Ruth Mersereau, Martin Phipps, Tim Huggan, Joe Otten, Martin Smith, Robert Reiss, Alan Woodcock, Roger Davison, Barbara Masters, Shaffaq Mohammed, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Alexi Dimond, Marieanne Elliot, Paul Turpin, Ian Auckland, Mohammed Mahroof, Steve Ayris, Christine Gilligan Kubo, Toby Mallinson, Henry Nottage, Terry Fox,  Glynis Chapman, Gail Smith, Maroof Raouf, Sophie Wilson, Dianne Hurst, Tony Damms, Penny Baker, Richard Williams, Julie Grocutt, Alan Hooper, Mike Levery and Ann Whitaker.

Against the Amendment (26)

-

The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Jayne Dunn) and Councillors Karen McGowan, Talib Hussain, Mark Jones, Minesh Parekh, Ruth Milsom, Mary Lea, Zahira Naz, Craig Gamble Pugh, Abdul Khayum, Sioned-Mair Richards, Laura Moynahan, Tony Downing, Ibby Ullah, Nighat Basharat, Ben Miskell, Nabeela Mowlana, David Barker, Mike Drabble, Peter Price, Mike Chaplin, Janet Ridler, Laura McClean, Tom Hunt, Mick Rooney and Alison Norris.

Abstained from voting on the Amendment (0)

-

None.

8.8

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

RESOLVED: 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;

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

(vi)      Labour is not proposing any additional funding for local government, with Shadow Local Government Minister, Sarah Owen MP, quoted in the Manchester Evening News saying “the party does not want to talk about extra funding”;

(vii)     in a speech on Monday, Sir Keir Starmer advised that Labour will not “turn on the spending taps”, arguing that austerity might not be just a “choice” after all;

(viii)    the webpage containing the 10 pledges based on the “moral case for socialism” used in Keir Starmer’s leadership election has been taken down, and the pledges themselves largely reversed;

(ix)      Keir Starmer praised Margaret Thatcher in the Sunday Telegraph for bringing “meaningful change” and seeking “to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism”; and

(x)      austerity has failed on its own terms as national debt has increased along with poverty and inequality, while public services have been decimated to the brink of failure or beyond;

(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;

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

(vii)     Keir Starmer has made it clear that he “won’t turn on spending taps” if Labour win the next general election, and Labour do not have policies which will address the scale of the problems the UK faces;

(c)      resolves to:-

(i)       unlike the Conservatives and Labour, 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;

(iv)      call on members of the Council to represent their electors according to their best judgment, instead of condemning policies they are about to adopt;

(v)      request the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to consider placing on its work programme consideration of every opportunity for investing in renewable energy projects on Council land and buildings to generate energy and income; and

(vi)      request the Chief Executive to write to both Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak, calling for:-

(A)      remove the two child cap on benefits, and to raise Universal Credit by £40; and

(B)      proper funding of a Green New Deal, education, emergency services, health and legal services;

(d)      is disappointed that the Labour Group seem to be more interested in national politics rather than presenting Notices of Motions that deal with issues that affect the communities of Sheffield, including the cost of living crisis, rising energy costs and fuel poverty, and the decimation of public transport, but is not really surprised when the direction of the Labour Group in Sheffield is being driven by the Labour Party nationally through the imposed Campaign Improvement Board;

(e)      is astounded that at the same time that the Labour Group are criticising the Conservative Governments of the last 13 years, Sir Keir Starmer is singing the praises of Margaret Thatcher’s role as Prime Minister, on the approach to the 40th Anniversary in 2024 of the devastating Miners’ Strike of 1984-85, when, in this Council’s belief, her governments wreaked havoc on the steel and coal mining industries that impacted on the jobs and wellbeing of thousands of Sheffield residents, and destroyed the public transport system that was the envy of the country, and with the impacts of this still being felt today; and

(f)       does not agree with Sir Keir Starmer’s comments, nor thinks that they are reflected across the country, nor by members of our communities here in Sheffield.

8.8.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote on the Substantive Motion was FOR - 72 Members; AGAINST - 0 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 0 Members.  Although Labour Group Members voted for, they voted against sub-paragraphs (a)(vi) to (ix), (b)(vii), (c)(i), (iv) and (vi) and paragraphs (d) to (f), and abstained from voting on sub-paragraph (c)(v) of the Substantive Motion. Although Liberal Democrat Group Members voted for, they voted against sub-paragraph (c)(iii) and abstained from voting on sub-paragraphs (a)(i) to (v) and (x) and (b)(i) and (iv) of the Substantive Motion. Although Councillor Sophie Wilson voted for, she voted against sub-paragraphs (c)(i) and (iv) of the Substantive Motion.)