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Latest news from the Sheffield Live! teams

Street tree campaigners deserve apology says former councillor

Alison Teal, former Green Party councillor for Nether Edge and Sharrow who was thrown out of a full council meeting in 2017 over the street trees dispute, has called for a public apology from senior councillors who had defended the felling of street trees. Speaking to Sheffield Live! Teal said “people were really brutalised, people were physically hurt”. Teal was one of six campaigners who were arrested by police and detained for several hours for protesting against the felling of street trees across the city. The independent review into the trees dispute recommended the local authority apologise for “developing and adopting a flawed plan” to remove and replace street trees in the city. Baillor Jalloh reports.

Tree campaigners welcome independent report

Members of the Sheffield Tree Action Group have welcomed the findings of Sir Mark Lowcock’s independent report into the dispute on the felling of thousands street trees in the city. Campaigners Russell Johnson and Phillip William Yates, speaking to Sheffield Live! said they were content with the findings of the report and called for the resignation of councillors Terry Fox, leader of Sheffield Council, and Bryan Lodge who were heavily involved in the project delivery. The findings concluded the local authority should apologise for what the report described as “developing and adopting a flawed plan” to remove and replace street trees in the city. Baillor Jalloh reports.

Report highlights council failures over street trees

The independent review into the felling of Sheffield street trees, published on Monday, has described a “failure of strategic leadership” at senior levels in the city council. The report, conducted by Sir Martin Lowcock, calls on the local authority to apologise for”developing and adopting a flawed plan” to remove and replace street trees in the city. Thousands of trees were felled as part of a £2.2 billion street maintenance contract, sparking public anger and residents’ protests. Lowcock accused Sheffield council of undermining public trust and of being “economical with the truth”. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Council property repairs backlog reduced, says councillor

Sheffield Council has made improvements in tackling the repair backlogs of council properties, according to councillor Douglas Johnson, chair of the Housing Policy Committee. Last year the local authority was criticised for hundreds of repair backlogs in council properties but councillor Johnson, speaking to Sheffield Live! said there has been a “lot of good progress out there”. Baillor Jalloh reports.

Sheffield hosts climate conference

More than 20 schools from across South Yorkshire took part in the region’s first face-to-face school’s climate conference, held at Victoria Hall. The aim of the event was to engage pupils in learning about the climate crisis, possible solutions and how they can get involved. The event also included a climate related art competition. Sheffield Live! Baillor Jalloh spoke to some of the students participating and to Richard Souter, co-ordinator of the event.

Sheffield council tax to rise by nearly 5%

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.

Sheffield hosts community cinema conference

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!