Lib Dems protest at cut to 'Cleaner Sheffield' programme

10.31.16am GMT Thu 23rd Feb 2006

The Labour controlled Sheffield City Council have recommend a huge cut to its 'Cleaner Sheffield' strategy in its 2006/07 budget. The £500,000 cut will mean vast areas of Sheffield will get less graffiti removal, street cleaning and environmental works then originally promised.

Phase one of the 'Cleaner Sheffield' programme was completed in 2005, phase two has been fully funded and is nearing completion this year. However, the new cutback will mean the next phase of the programme will only receive £300,000, significantly less investment than promised by the controlling Labour group. It is likely that the last phase of the programme will receive a similar cut next year.

Under pressure from the Lib Dems, Labour had originally committed to cleaning each area of Sheffield equally. Although under their controversial 'favoured areas' policy, selected areas would be done first. Lib Dems are criticising the council and have highlighted that now cleaning in 'favoured areas' has been completed and fully funded, Labour will cut the amount of cleaning for the rest of Sheffield.

The cut affects over half of the city with areas in the far North, South West and South East of the city worst hit. It will mean significantly less investment in streetscene, parks and open spaces in the affected areas.

Lib Dems believe the cut is unfair and shows that the controlling Labour group are not committed to providing decent council services to the whole of Sheffield. Lib Dems are also renewing their call for the Tories on Sheffield City Council to cease supporting Labour's 'favoured areas' policy.

Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Streetscene, said: -

"This cut is a kick in teeth for all those residents in many areas of Sheffield who where looking forward to seeing more cleaning and environmental works in their area. On one hand Labour will ask them to find extra money for a huge council tax increase, on the other the very same people will suffer a cut to basic street cleaning services that had been previously promised"

"At the beginning of Labour's 'Cleaner Sheffield' strategy we were told that, despite areas coming in the later phases of the programme, they would receive the same investment as favoured areas in the first phases. This promised has been broken and it shows that Labours 'favoured areas' policy, supported by the Tories, is unfair"

"Its time that Labour started looking after the interests of the whole of Sheffield and provided decent basic services for all. I support the idea that deprived areas should receive extra investment in social regeneration and other targeted funding, but when it comes to basic services such as street cleaning I believe every area in Sheffield is entitled to its fair share"

Note: -

Areas affected by the cut include Gleadless Valley, Ecclesfield, Chapeltown, High Green, Grenoside, Low Edges, Graves Park, Dore, Totley, Stocksbridge, Stannington, Fulwood, Ecclesall, Mosborough, Woodhouse, Birley and Richmond.

Details of work done in the first 'Cleaner Sheffield' phases, only a fraction of this work will be done (£0.3m) in the later phases after the cut: -

Fund additional street cleansing, dog fouling bins, litter bins, enforcement and legal action in the Phase 2 targeted areas to produce a transformational change in the standards of cleanliness in the streetscene, parks and open spaces. [£840,000]

Rapid response team to clear weeds and cut back vegetation in gennels and remote footways during the spring and summer months [£40,000].

Development of a number of key streetscene sites e.g. roundabouts with floral displays, particularly in areas where external funding has been difficult to attract and environmental features of a high standard [£30,000].

To fund the purchase and planting of a further 1 million bulbs [assuming community involvement in planting at the same level as previous years] [£40,000].

Enhance standards of environmental maintenance on major gateways e.g. to create a weed free streetscene and zero grass growth around street furniture [£20,000].