Campaigners call for leadership and accountability at Sheffield Council

Campaigners who want to change the way Sheffield Council is run say they are keeping a close eye on democracy during lockdown.
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It's Our City campaigners collected a petition with 26,000 names, sparking a citywide referendum on whether the council should move to a committee system, away from the current leader and cabinet model.

The referendum has been delayed until next year but there's concern about how decisions are being made during lockdown.

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Anne Barr, campaign spokeswoman, said: "We have to get out priorities right as the coronavirus is increadibly serious, but we know governance and democracy all ties together and in Sheffield we seem to have things being pushed through with very little scrutiny and very restricted meetings

Carole Sutherland and Anne BarrCarole Sutherland and Anne Barr
Carole Sutherland and Anne Barr

"I hope this won't be an excuse to get things through without any proper scrutiny. We want to make sure that doesn't happen.

"It's a fine line not to be too critical or divisive but we are trying our best to keep an eye open and bring attention to things."

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The referendum was due to be held the same day as the local elections on May 7, which have also been postponed.

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Councillors will rollover for another year but there are three empty council seats - Olivia Blake stood down from her Walkley ward when she became the MP for Sheffield Hallam, Michelle Cook resigned from her Broomhill and Sharrow Vale seat due to ill health and Manor Castle representative Pat Midgley sadly died from coronavirus.

Ms Barr is concerned about the elections being postponed:

She said: "We have empty council seats and others where members have not been re-elected, so we are on sticky ground for the mandate to govern.

"Sheffield communities were straight off the starter blocks to help people, but we need cross-party leadership and that doesn't seem to be out there.

"Where is the leadership on advising what schools should do locally?

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“Who is speaking about things such as cleaner air and crime?

“We need to hear more from people at the top. We need true leadership and to see people being held accountable for making decisions."

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