Bernard's Councillor report to the Sheffield Green Party

28th March 2007

As from January a member of the Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board. We looked at School children behavior in the class room. Problems on school bus runs. Anti-Social behaviour in social housing issues. The night time economy in the city centre. Issues on alcohol abuse in pubs and clubs.

Planning Policy Advisory Board:

• Reviewing Regional Spatial Strategy and the Emerging and Additional Options of the Sheffield Development Framework. Commenting on the Sustanablity Appraisal of this process.

Cycle Forum Member:

• Drawn up with Forum Members a Cycle Motion to council with Clr. Peter Price to be presented to Full Council 4th April.

Fair Trade Group:

• Meets intermittently and has clashed with work time.
  

Trustee of Sheffield Debt Support Unit:

• Meeting second Wednesday morning every month and I am on their Finance Committee.
• Undergoing changes in their role in the city with loss of contract with Legal Services Commission .
• Working towards a Specialist Debt telephone Adivce service for Sheffield.
• Have liaiased with other council officers during difficult transition. City has Beacon Status on Financial Inclusion as result of SDU leading on debt issues across the city.

Full Council.

• Co-presented Green Budget to Full Council in March. Written cycle strategy motion to council.
• Written Local Government Finance draft budget.
• Worked to provide background on Wisewoood School closure motion to council.
  

Climate Change:

• Spoke as a main speaker at Sheffield Against Climate Change conference in February.
• Attended Al Gore presentation during Sheffield is my Planet event. Motion to council setting CO2 targets and a Carbon Footprint for the whole of the City.
• Council has now drawn up a Carbon Footprint for the city and is pushing for Beacon Status on Climate Change to go alongside Beacon Status on Air Quality.
• Sheffield First Partnership has set up, following Al Gore event, a Climate Change Task Group to look at the issue for the whole city.
• Working with energy officers in council plus Heeley City Farm to draw up strategic plan to insulate all homes in city to passivehause standards.

National Budget:

• Responded on local level to Chancellors Budget using Green Party Budget as blue-print.

Other Work:

• Support for community cafe in city centre facing closure from
  re-development.
• Supporting independent shops on West Street and small businesses around Devonshire Green.
• Attending regular City Transport Round-table meetings with leaders of other parties, cabinet members, heads of directorates, business, police and newspaper editors.
• Pushing for examination of Park and Ride Policy. Working with community group in Kelham Island area on traffic and air-pollution and planning issues.
• Working alongside Vulnerable People's Group in City Centre.
• Attending Tenants and Residents Assocation Meetings across the ward.

ENDS

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