Green Councillors' report to the Sheffield Green Party AGM 2007

Jillian Creasy & Bernald Little

Focus on May-Dec 2007

Committees

• Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (BL) - on subgroup for policy development for affordable housing and low carbon new housing
• Culture, Economy, Sustainability Board (JC) - policy development on noise nuisance
• South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority (BL) - support for travel planning and opposition to Robin Hood Airport rate relief
• Pensions Authority (BL) - contributing to development of sustainable pension plans
• Allotments Advisory Group (JC) - liason between "growsheffield" & allotment office
• Modernisation Group (JC) - changing format Full Council; Your Council Your Say
• Cross party working group on floods (JC)
• Planning Policy Advisory Group (BL) - Sheffield Development Framework
• Transforming Learning Strategy (BL/JC) - neighbourhood commissions re Trust and Academy schools
• Fairtrade working group (BL) - not meeting regularly or well!
• City Council Cycle Forum (BL)
• Climate Change Task Group (of Sheffield First) (BL)

Full Council

Motions on:

• number business meetings; arrangements for Full Council;
• Mottram Bypass; ID scheme;
• road widening St Mary's gate;
• banning plastic bags;
• review of housing allocations policy;
• no extension 28 day detention;
• Regional renewable energy targets;
• banning foie gras

Amendments on:

• community cohesion;
• how SCC could help post offices;
• independent review of Wisewood decision (withdrawn);
• transforming learning strategy (withdrawn);
• against closing Wisewood;
• call to nationalise railways;
• Corporate Plan;
• City Strategy;
• written buy in to electoral code of conduct;
• inadequate Decent Homes standard;
• need for mixed communities in city centre;
• Economic Masterplan;
• licensing;
• members allowances;
• 101 funding;
• Core Cities & climate change (in)action;
• Made in Sheffield trade mark

We have also had some ideas incorporated into cross-party motions: including action plan for cycling; reference to climate change in post-floods statement; referring to Sheffield's Burmese community and Pakistani community in motions condemning recent anti-democratic crackdowns

Major speeches on:

• City Strategy;
• Economic Masterplan;
• City wide carbon footprint;
• Moor markets;
• Wisewood/Myers Grove merger

Questions (in Scrutiny Council) on

• support for parents with learning disabilities and encouragement of closer working between Sheffield Youth Forum and City Council
• And last but not least, votes, often recorded on everything (there is no escape for the gang of four!)

Community Forums/TARAs/Safer Neighbourhood groups (NAGs)

• BL - Kelham Island, Shoreham St, Hawley St, Leverton, Flockton Court, Sharrow NAG, City Centre NAG
• JC - Lansdowne, Hanover, Broomhall Forum, Broomhall NAG, Sharrow Partnership (Neighbourhood Management project), Sharrow Community Forum, Staveley Rd Gardens, Leaseholder meetings
• Both - City Centre Community Forum

Public bodies/appearances

• Trustee Sheffield Debt Support Unit (BL) - trying to shift focus to housing issues
• Healthy Transport Group at Sheff Teaching Hospitals (BL) - pushing for travel planner, cycle and bus promotion
• Governor at Springfield Primary School (JC) - linked to Gell St playground work
• Guantanamo Campaign - monthly vigils and chaired two meetings (JC)
• CND - spoke at anti-trident meetings at Uni (JC)
• WDM - spoke on climate change (BL)
• Support for Sheffield Campaign Against Climate Change (both) - help re petition etc
• Star opinion piece on local economy (BL)
• Telegraph letters (Wisewood, Economic Masterplan) (JC)
• Star letters (BL & JC)
• Regional TV re leaseholder/Decent Homes rip off (JC)
• Radio Sheffield re street drinkers, official opening incinerator & Roney's show (JC)
• Monthly Cllr surgeries (both, alternately)

SGP events/election efforts/canvassing

• Green Fair (Robin Hood and the Green Fairy both abseiled)
• Canvassing training day (both);
• Leadership debate (both);
• Manifesto day (both)
• Fortnightly SGP meetings (most);
• Green tank (both);
• Housing subgroup (BL)
• Central ward meeting ( both)
• Writing, editing and helping to deliver Central ward newsletter (both)
• Sunday canvassing (one or other of us most weeks since summer break)

Casework and mini-campaigns

• JC recorded 200 new cases since May;
• BL about 60 Support & advice for canvassers' casework
• Mini-campaigns (petitions, presswork etc) in most polling districts - e.g London Rd triangle, Staveley Rd gardens, street drinkers, planning application Baron St, Decent Homes problems, leaking roofs on Hanover and Lansdowne, recycling bring banks, permit parking, noise from trams on West St, extra cycle facilities at Midland rail station, traffic issues around Shoreham St, antisocial behaviour on Chippinghouse Rd

Overarching issues

• Housing - affordable to rent/buy and heat
• Transport - integrated, affordable public transport
• Economy - local, sustainable, low carbon
• Privatisation in education & health