Councillors have voted to increase council tax in Sheffield by 4.99% for the financial year beginning April 2023 to cope with budget challenges. People living in Band D homes will pay £1,840.69 for city council services in the year 2023 to 2024 consisting of 2.99% city council increase and a 2% social care precept. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to councillor Douglas Johnson, chair of the Housing Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council.
The 2023 Community Cinema Conference took place in Sheffield at the weekend, hosted by the Workstation and Showroom Cinema. The event, showcasing and celebrating grassroots cinema, included film screenings, workshops, discussions and seminars. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Hundreds of teachers in Sheffield have joined National Education Union (NEU) strike action across Yorkshire in a dispute over pay and conditions. NEU members have also voted for industrial action on 14th and 15th March. Unions are calling for above-inflation increases and want extra money for schools to ensure pay rises do not come from existing budgets. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Toby Malinson, joint branch secretary for the NEU in Sheffield.
Sheffield’s new Clean Air Zone (CAZ) regulations came into force on Monday 27 February, meaning drivers of the most polluting vehicles such as taxis, vans and lorries will have to pay a charge to drive into the city centre and the inner ring road. Taxis will pay £10 while buses and HGV will pay £50 per day. The local authority says the charges will rid the city off dirty commercial vehicles, partly blamed for the poor air quality in the city. Sheffield Live! reporter spoke to councillor Mazher Iqbal, co-chair of the Transport Regeneration & Climate Policy Committee of Sheffield City Council.
The UK’s biggest fruit and vegetable growers have warned the shortage of some fruit and vegetables could last for over two months. The Lea Valley Growers Association said major UK growers were delaying planting some crops due to high energy costs. Earlier this week several UK supermarkets, including Tesco, Asda and Lidl, announced restrictions on some fruit and vegetable sales due to the shortages. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to customers at Tesco’s Saville Street store.
A pop-up exhibition is on display at Sheffield’s Millenium Gallery to showcase stories from the pandemic, part of a city wide project led by Opus Independents, in partnership with Compassionate Sheffield and Sheffield City Council. The 10 day mixed media exhibition aims to highlight the impact of Covid-19 on individuals and communities and will feed into the city’s wider memorial activity. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Ruth Nutter, a community worker at Compassionate Sheffield.
With Sheffield’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) coming into force this week, dozens of angry protesters marched through the city centre at the weekend to oppose the scheme. More than 200 people including campaigners against the charges, taxi drivers and small businesses marched from the Town Hall to Sheffield train station to protest what they describe as a plan to make money out of local residents. CAZ comes into force from Monday, 27th of February and some of the most polluting vehicles such as taxis, buses, coaches, vans, LGVs and HGVs will be charged £10 per day for entering the city centre and the inner ring road. Steve Vaughan, a van owner and has worked in Sheffield city centre for over 20 years and spoke to Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh.
Planning proposals have been submitted to transform the old Castle Market, demolished over five years ago, into a public space, including an events venue, new public art and opening up of the River Sheaf. The application focuses on the public space proposals, turning the currently empty plot into what the local authority described as a “vibrant and inviting area in the city centre” for residents and visitors to “socialise and enjoy events”. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to councillor Mazher Igbal.
Sheffield City Council leader Terry Fox, speaking to Sheffield Live! said the Fargate shipping container project “was not our finest hour”. Engineers have begun uninstalling the eight units following a report which recommended the complex be dismantled and stored for future use in communities or parks. The failed project, which cost over £0.5 million, had been due to open in October 2022 but faced many delays before it eventually opened for a few weeks. Baillor Jalloh reports.
The Alzheimer’s Society charity is encouraging people in South Yorkshire affected by dementia to share their experience of diagnosis of the condition. The charity says dementia diagnosis rates have fallen significantly since the Covid-19 pandemic and long waiting list. More than 30,000 additional people across the UK are currently on a waiting list for a diagnosis. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke Michael White, area manager for Alzheimer’s Society.