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Clean Air Zone Consultation
August 2019
The consultation being held by Sheffield City Council on the "Clean Air Zone" proposals finishes on Sunday 25th August 2019.
You can find the link to it here. All individuals that live, work or travel regularly to the city centre are encouraged to complete it along with business owners, van and taxi drivers.
If you know someone whom does not have access to complete it through the internet, you can contact Melanie Crawford, Service Support Officer through the council on 0114 2039567 or email cleanair@sheffield.gov.uk and give an address for a paper copy to be sent out.
Thanks to Sheffield Climate Alliance for this information.
Stopping the council mowing grass verges
July 2019
A new petition aims to stop Sheffield City Council mowing grass verges at the sides of roads, where there is no foot traffic or safety concern. Long grass is an important habitat for many insects; we need to create more such areas due to climate change. Rotherham Council now treats such areas as wildflower meadows with popular approval.
Grass petition
Update: August 2019
It has emerged (in response to a freedom of information request) that Sheffield Council uses dangerous Glyphosate herbicide on the city’s pavements and greenery. This substance (the best know brand is Monsanto’s RoundUp) is very dangerous to insects, plant life and humans. Legal cases against Monsanto are now being won, after years of campaigning. It has been banned by various countries and UK councils. Glyphosate is toxic even down to killing earthworms and soil micro-organisms, and effects continue underground for 2 years or longer.
Safe alternatives to Glyphosate are available, so Extinction Rebellion Sheffield, Sheffield Green Parents, Sheffield Green Party and Sheffield Greenpeace are backing a petition on this matter. We urge Alt-Sheff readers to sign this petition, please.
Stop Using Glyphosate petition
Sheffield People’s Petition succeeds
Autumn 2018, petition open until Aug. 2019
A petition is aiming to improve how Sheffield Council works. It urges a referendum to move from the current undemocratic "strong leader" system (just 10 councillors make nearly all decisions) to a modern committee system where all councillors have real power to represent the communities that elected them, and a big issue for local democracy, it was covered in an Alt-Sheff article in Now Then magazine.
The petition is being run by It’s Our City, a non-party-political community network in Sheffield.
UPDATE December 2018
Feedback shows a big gap in people’s knowledge of how the Council works under the "strong leader" system. Virtually everyone does not know that the power to make nearly all decisions is in the hands of just 10 out of the 84 elected councillors. People are genuinely shocked, and about 80%+ support and sign the petition for change, which is heading towards half of the total necessary signatures.
UPDATE July 2019
From 23rd August, the council will no longer have a choice – a referendum will be statutorily required under the 2011 Localism Act. The campaign has achieved the required number of signatures.
The first batch of 7000 signatures triggered a Full Council debate on 3rd July. The campaign called on the Council to change to a committee system, the last timetabled opportunity for the Council to avoid costs of a referendum. (Many councils have freely decided to make the change, most recently Cheshire East.)
The outcome of the Council debate was rather strange. The motion proposed by Deputy Leader Cllr. Olivia Blake (which was passed) refers the issue to herself, for discussion with others, to report within six months. This is confusing because the petition will automatically force a city-wide vote far sooner. The Council will be legally forced to start preparations before the report.
All other city-wide votes have resulted in a rejection of the ‘strong leader’ system.
Short BBC Radio Sheffield clip: Toby Foster’s show
Radio reports on the debate, and webcast from the Council chamber, here:
www.itsoursheffield.co.uk/news-3rd-july-2019
The People´s Petition continues collecting signatures, because some will not count (people not registered to vote, etc.) Please sign the petition before the final submission date, August 23rd:
It’s Our City Petition
Free cycling lessons
Autumn 2019
Pedal Ready offers free cycling lessons in Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster. From learning to ride a bike to advanced commuter skills; bike included with all lessons.
For details of courses and day sessions email: admin@pedalready.co.uk or phone Sheff 2412775.
Pedal Ready
Housing co-operative vacancy at Share Instead
June/summer 2019
Share Instead Housing Co-op has a vacancy, and another one very likely soon.
Share Instead is a five-member mutual housing co-op living in a spacious old house in Sharrow/Nether Edge with a large garden. They make decisions by consensus and aim to keep rent below the maximum paid by Housing Benefit. Eating is together on weekday evenings, taking turns to prepare a vegan meal. They share the costs of food, as well as maintenance costs and bills, and also share the work involved in running the co-op and caring for the house.
Share Instead has a core aim of working towards a more peaceful, sustainable and fairer world. They want the co-op to be a place that supports members in activities which help to build such a world. The co-op is a member of Radical Routes secondary co-op, a network of trading and housing co-ops with similar values.
If you are interested in joining a housing co-op, please email shareinstead@gmail.com for more details and how to apply.
Share Instead info at Radical Routes
