Campaigners claim Sheffield Council planned to send out misleading information about referendum

Sheffield Council has denied it was due to send out misleading information about a referendum, following complaints from campaigners.
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In May, voters will be asked if they want the council to keep its current Cabinet and Leader model or switch to a committee system.

The referendum, which will take place on the same day as the local elections, was prompted by It’s Our City campaigners.

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They say the council was days away from sending out misleading information – which the council has refuted.

Ruth Hubbard with It's Our City campaignersRuth Hubbard with It's Our City campaigners
Ruth Hubbard with It's Our City campaigners

Ruth Hubbard of It’s Our City said: “Officers told us they are making significant and extensive changes to the information published on the council website and to information that will be sent to all Sheffield households before the referendum on May 6.

“Our council was a few days away from sending information out to every Sheffield household that, we believe, would have seriously misled citizens and communities.

“This would be against government regulations on referendums and could have had very serious legal implications.

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“It’s Our City has put considerable effort into trying to ensure that our council did not make such a serious error, and so that citizens do receive fair and legal information.

“We welcome the last minute revisions that include wide-ranging amendments and major sections removed or rewritten.”

Sheffield Council says the claims are “inaccurate”.

It says it deliberately commissioned independent advice from the Local Government Association to inform what was sent out.

The advice did not say the previous version was misleading but the council made some suggested changes to make the information even clearer.

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Chief executive Kate Josephs said: “It’s important that people are crystal clear what the options are in the referendum and how each system would work.

“As an additional measure, we commissioned independent advice from the Local Government Association, and made some suggested changes to make the information even clearer. We are confident people will be able to make an informed choice.”

The updated information can be found here

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In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.