Greens raise concerns over £500m Sheffield City Region borrowing plan

A second senior politician has raised concerns about Sheffield City Region plans to borrow £500m.
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Douglas Johnson, Sheffield Green party leader, said he was ‘deeply suspicious’ of the announcement so close to local elections - and demanded ‘proper public consultation, not just a press release’.

He spoke out after Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis unveiled an £860m ‘economic stimulus’. Some £357m announced for this year includes funds in 30 pre-existing pots and a £500m loan next year is subject to Treasury approval and secondary legislation.

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The Labour-dominated City Region organisation has approved the Renewal Fund plan.

Green Party leader Coun Douglas JohnsonGreen Party leader Coun Douglas Johnson
Green Party leader Coun Douglas Johnson

Mr Johnson said: “Big promises now commit a generation of South Yorkshire residents to pay back loans until 2049.

“As we have seen with Labour’s big private sector deals in Sheffield, like the waste contract with Veolia that stops recycling or the £2 billion contract with Amey that led to the loss of thousands of street trees, people will only find they have been duped after the contracts have been signed. And then they’re stuck with them.

“Spending on this scale could finance a Green New Deal. But apart from a little retrofitting of houses in Doncaster, there are few of the green jobs in energy generation, thermal insulation, transport and food production that could address the climate emergency. There is welcome investment in walking and cycling but still millions going into roads.

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“At the same time, the authority is cutting funding to adult education through the Workers’ Educational Association.”

Dan Jarvis MP.Dan Jarvis MP.
Dan Jarvis MP.

A spokeswoman for Dan Jarvis insisted the announcement was not political.

She said: “The plan will make a difference to people’s lives and deliver on the priorities that matter to them: protecting and creating jobs and apprenticeships, building flood defences, improving buses and revitalising high streets.

“The mayor and local leaders are investing in public transport, active travel, flood defences and housing retrofits which will tackle the climate emergency. The mayor is vice chair of the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission and is leading the region’s drive to net zero.”

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And she insisted Adult Education budgets were not being cut by the Sheffield City Region  Mayoral Combined Authority  and it had secured more than £36m.

She said: “The only difference is that devolution now means South Yorkshire holds the power to commission the adult education provision. So, we can move away from a national system, driven by national priorities, to one that helps us shape South Yorkshire's future.

“To receive grant funding, organisations had to be based in South Yorkshire. The Worker's Education Association are not based in South Yorkshire. The WEA have had the opportunity to bid for funding as part of the recent procurement exercise. These bids are currently being evaluated and contracts will be awarded ahead of AEB delivery beginning in the new academic year.

“The WEA may still be successful in receiving funding through the procurement process.”

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Thank you. Nancy Fielder, editor.