The former Labour Party councillor for Nether Edge and Sharrow, Nasima Akther, who stood down for health reasons, has spoken out in praise of her replacement Jim Steinke. Councillor Akther had had previously been suspended by the Labour Party for not voting along party lines on a motion regarding tree felling. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Labour won the Nether Edge and Sharrow by-election by a narrow margin, with Jim Steinke beating Rob Unwin of the Greens by just 132 votes. Steinke told Sheffield Live! that he accepted the tree felling programme had boosted the Green Party vote but he insisted Labour had run a positive campaign and called for a “progressive alliance” within council. Simon Thake reports.
Additional police officers have been deployed in Burngreave following a shooting incident in which a man was wounded. The altercation between rival gangs, thought by police to be individuals of Kurdish and Somalian origin, took place just two days after a 17 year old was stabbed in the same area. Emergency services were called on Wednesday and a man was taken hospital with suspected gunshot wounds, said to be not life theatening. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Chilypep, the Sheffield-based charity working with children and young people, have been awarded a three year Big Lottery grant to bring communities together in the north of Sheffield. The project called Respect and Understanding Builds Inclusive Communities (RUBIC) will support young leaders to act as community anchors and help resolve tensions between different community groups. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Lesley Pollard, managing director of Chilypep.
The five day festival, with the theme Migration Matters, explores through theatre and arts how migration has made a positive contribution to the city and community life. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Katelyn Mckeown and Firas Sharefy, co-founders of Open Kitchen Social Club.
Sheffield Council has confirmed that all 24 of their residential tower blocks will be fitted with sprinkler systems following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The council also said exterior cladding used to refurbish council-owned tower blocks was “fireproof and complies with building and planning regulations”. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
The chief executive of South Yorkshire Housing Association, Tony Stacey, has told Sheffield Live! that building regulations must change following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Stacey, recently awarded an OBE for 35 years of service to social housing, confirmed that all SYHA properties are fitted with sprinklers as a matter of policy. This report from Simon Thake.
Muslim community leaders have welcomed news that South Yorkshire Police will step up patrols around the city’s mosques in the wake of the weekend terror attack in London. Police have vowed to enhance their presence at mosques as the holy month of Ramadan enters its final week. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live! from the Madina Mosque in Nether Edge.
The Sheffield Council by-election takes place on Thusday 22 June, with candidates from the Liberal Democrats, Labour and the Green Party all in the running. The by-election follows the resignation of Labour councillor Nasima Akther and the winning candidate will join Labour Party councillor Mohammed Maroof and Green Party councillor Alison Teale as representatives for the Nether Edge and Sharrow ward. On the ballot paper are Shahid Ali (Liberal Democrats), Jim Steinke (Labour Party) and Rob Unwin (Green Party). Sheffield Live! reporters Azz Mohammed and Simon Thake interviewed the candidates.
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue have begun additional fire safety checks on all tower blocks in Sheffield. Steve Helps, head of protection and prevention, told Sheffield Live that “early indications are that there are no similarities” between the cladding used on Sheffield high risers and the Grenfell Tower Block. He also confirmed the checks will be on all high risers and not just council-run properties. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!