Sheffield City Council are set to increase council tax by 1.99 per cent with an extra three per cent precept to fund adult social care. The council will spend a significant proportion of its 2017/18 budget on adult social care and faces pressures of an ageing population, increased demands for services and increased costs. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to councillor Ben Curran, cabinet member for finance and resources at Sheffield City Council.
The national charity, Food Cycle, have launched a new hub in Sharrow at the Cemetery Road Baptist Church with over 100 people attending the launch event. The Food Cycle Hubs, of which this will be the third in Sheffield, aim to reduce social isolation by providing a nutritious meal created from food surplus and prepared by volunteers. Every Wednesday volunteers serve a three course lunch and bring people together from the surrounding community around a freshly-cooked meal. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Graham Duncan, organiser of the Food Cycle initiative in Sheffield.
Natalie Bennett, former Green Party leader, has condemned the use of a “repressive” law to arrest her colleague Alison Teal and six others during a protest against tree felling. Alison Teal, who is the councillor for Netheredge and Sharrow, was arrested along with three other women and three men on suspicion of preventing lawful work under section 241 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 during a protest against the removal of a horse chestnut tree on Chippinghouse Road. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Natalie Bennett.
Sheffield Council have pledged to put social housing at the top of the agenda as new homes open to families in Darnall and Manor. A plan to provide 1000 homes by 2021 has already seen new building on Ouse Road, Darnall among other locations. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Councillor Jayne Dunn.
Green Party Councillor Alison Teale was one of seven protestors arrested today at a peaceful demonstration against the felling of trees on Chippinghouse Road. The arrests came after Sheffield Council contractors, Amey, put a cordon around one of six trees scheduled to be felled as part of the city-wide Streets Ahead programme. Residents and campaigners occupied the protection zone ahead of the planned felling of the horse chestnut tree, delaying the operation and leading to the arrests. Sheffield Live! reporter Sham Powell captured the events and spoke to local residents and tree campaigners.
Jorge Silva-Bland, twelve years old, has decided to cut off his flowing locks and donate his hair to the Little Princess Trust who make free wigs for children undergoing cancer treatment. Jorge took up the charity challenge seventeen months ago when he was just ten years old. He was further motivated when his uncle was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Not happy with achieving the minimum seven inches required for real hair donation, Jorge continued until he had twelve inch tresses. Now he has decided to ‘brave the shave’ to raise funds for the Macmillan Cancer Support charity and to complete his hair donation pledge for children facing hair loss. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffielders came out in force for a third time this weekend to protest against decisions of new US President, Donald Trump, and his planned State visit to the UK. The City Hall demonstration was one of many events organised around the World at which millions have protested against Trump’s ban on entry to the US for nationals of seven mainly muslim countries. The rally was organised by Sheffield Stand Up to Racism. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield and its South Yorkshire neighbours have received a £7.5 million boost to improve cycling and walking facilities across the area. Sheffield City Region successfully bid for the slice of a £64 million government funding package to get more people saddling up or travelling by foot. The money will be distributed between Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham, with the exact split yet to be decided. In Sheffield, the Council have said the cash would support more than 20 cycle projects over the next three years, including schemes to provide cycling training, bike hire and secure parking for cyclists. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield Council has confirmed the controversial closure plan for Hurlfield View dementia centre in Gleadless despite a public campaign to retain the facility. The centre is scheduled to be closed at the end of March after which overnight respite care is to be referred to other care homes across the city and day centre support will be offered through other providers. The Council is in the final stages of procuring new contracts with providers and has promised to release further details later this month. Sheffield Council Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Councillor Cate McDonald the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care.
Hallamshire MP and former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg spoke to Sheffield Live! following the House of Commons vote to leave the European Union. Azz Mohammed reports.