Morning Briefing – Stories to come throughout the day
Two illegal raves kept hundreds of people awake in Sheffield last Saturday
Police are investigating two illegal raves which left residents angry and awake until the early hours of Sunday morning.
South Yorkshire Police said they believed two events were held in Ringinglow and Darnall.
Teachers to strike in Yorkshire tomorrow
Thousands of children will face disruption over the UK as teachers strike over pay.
The first National Education Union (NEU) strike happened on 1 February, with more to come throughout March.
Sheffield City Council's Clean Air Zone goes live today
Drivers of heavy vehicles such as taxis, vans and lorries will have to pay a charge to drive on some roads.
The zone covers the city centre, including the ring road and parts of the Sheffield Parkway, A57.
More to come later today on Sheffield Wire
Petition demanding Sheffield City Council appoint ‘Migrant Champion’ gains over 200 signatures
A petition calling for Sheffield City Council to urgently tackle issues faced by asylum seekers has surpassed 200 signatures.
Started by South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group (SYMAAG) on 2 February 2023, it lists a number of demands, including the appointment of a designated councillor to lead action on migrant-related issues.
This follows clashes between far-right and anti-fascist protest groups outside a hotel housing migrants in Rotherham last Saturday (18 February 2023).
Emma Rattenbury, spokesperson for South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group said: “It is absolutely appalling that the far right are targeting places where asylum seekers are living.
“I certainly think that if Sheffield City Council had a migrant champion then it would signal that we were taking this issue seriously in Sheffield.”
The Migrant Champion Network is a national project initiated by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants. It aims to help councillors across the UK take practical action to support migrants in their local area.
In the petition, SYMAAG said: “Sheffield has a proud history of welcoming people seeking safety from war and persecution, including being the first City of Sanctuary in the UK.
At least eight local authorities in the UK have appointed a councillor to act as Migrant Champion, tasked with leading actions on the rights of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.
SYMAAG's petition said Sheffield City Council is yet to take these actions.
The national Migrant Champions Network will launch on 23 February 2023.
Sheffield trans activists call on government to urgently change Brianna Ghey’s death certificate
Organisers of a Sheffield vigil for a transgender girl found dead in Cheshire have said the government must honour her chosen name and gender in her death certificate.
The city's trans community came together at a vigil in Peace Gardens on the evening of 16 February 2023 to pay their respects to Brianna Ghey.
Avery, an organiser and speaker at the event who would like to remain anonymous, said: “Currently, she’s going to be sent to the grave with her deadname and her biological sex on the records.
"That’s one of my worst nightmares and I can imagine it was one of hers.”
The 16-year-old girl’s body was found in a park in Warrington on 8 February 2023.
Only those over the age of 18 can legally change their gender in the UK, so Brianna’s death certification will register her as male.
It will also refer to her by her ‘deadname’ - the name she used to use before identifying as a woman.
A petition was launched on 15 February demanding the government amend the Gender Recognition Act (2004) to allow families of dead transgender people to apply for a posthumous Gender Recognition Certificate.
The petition now stands at over 12,000 signatures, meaning that the government will respond.
Avery said transgender people across the UK need more support from the government.
“I want access to trans healthcare," they said.
“I want it to be easier to change your gender in the UK - it’s currently a five to seven year process and that’s discounting the fact you have to go through a full medical transition or a gender dysphoria diagnosis.”
Two fifteen-year-olds have been charged with Brianna’s murder and have appeared in court. Police have said there is no evidence to suggest the incident was a hate crime.
Rising council tax prices: what’s happening and how will it affect you?
Despite an ongoing cost of living crisis that has seen households across the country struggling to juggle finances, local governments have taken the decision to raise council tax by almost five per cent.
The maximum local authorities can raise council tax by is 4.99 per cent without holding a referendum.
Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley are all planning to increase the amount they charge for council tax, however Sheffield is the only region which has proposed increasing it by the maximum amount.
So why are council tax rates rising?
Council tax is a compulsory charge paid by anyone who owns or rents a property and is over the age of 18 in England, Scotland and Wales. It acts as the main source of income for local authorities.
These funds are used to pay for services including libraries, rubbish collection, police and fire services, and parks and recreation.
Historically council tax rises year-on-year to ensure these services are protected. However, the amount that local councils can raise the tax without requiring a vote has recently increased, despite the cost of living crisis.
Until last year, councils needed to hold a local referendum if they wanted to increase council tax by more than three per cent. However Jeremy Hunt announced in his 2022 Autumn statement that he would be increasing this to five per cent.
As published on the BBC website, Work and Pension Secretary Mel Stride said the rise in council tax would be "below inflation increase".
He said: "It is for local authorities who are elected by local electors to take those decisions to try and get that balance between the pressure they're putting on local tax payers, but also making sure they're able to continue to provide those services."
In Sheffield, cuts to government funding between 2010 and 2020 means the council has £856 less to spend per household in real terms than it did a decade ago. This has resulted in the City Council making the decision to make use of the full council tax increase.
As reported by the BBC, Tony Kirkham, interim director of finance and commercial services, warned that if it did not act, the authority would "become financially unsound from 2024-25 onwards".
How will rising council tax prices affect you?
Research from the County Councils Network (CCN) shows 84 of the 114 councils that have announced their budget proposals for 2023/2024 intend to raise council tax by 4.99 per cent, which roughly equates to three in every four.
As it stands, the only local authority which is not raising council tax rates at all is Central Bedfordshire council.
Each city council in South Yorkshire is able to set their own council tax rates, meaning that the increase will differ depending on which area you live in.
Sheffield
Sheffield City Council has proposed a 4.99 per cent increase in council tax in their 2023/2024 budget, which will be considered as a part of the draft budget proposal on 21 February.
This means the average household will see an increase of between £5 - £10 a month. The full council will vote on the final budget on 1 March.
Rotherham
Rotherham Council has approved a 4 per cent increase in council tax in their 2023/2024 budget.
This means the average household will see an increase of between £4 - £8 a month.
Barnsley
Barnsley Council has approved a 3.9 per cent increase in council tax in their 2023/2024 budget.
This means the average household will see an increase of between £4 - £7 a month. The full council will vote on the final budget on 23 February.
Doncaster
Doncaster Council has approved a 3.99 per cent increase in council tax in their 2023/2024 budget, which was considered as a part of the draft budget proposal on 15 February.
This means the average household will see an increase of between £4 - £8 a month.
The full council will vote on the final budget on 27 February.
Sheffield United Women first full-time head coach faces stiff challenge against Crystal Palace
Sheffield United Women are playing their first match under newly appointed full-time Head Coach Jonathan Morgan this Sunday.
This is the first time Sheffield United have employed a full-time coach for the women’s team, in what bosses call an “increased commitment” to women’s football.
The team will be looking for a win in their upcoming away game following a run of inconsistent form, having lost to both Durham and Manchester City Women in the past month.
Jonathon Morgan's side are playing away at Hayes Lane Stadium to Crystal Palace Women this Sunday.
Currently, the women's team sit at 11th in the Championship, and are one spot away from being relegated at the end of the season.
Sunday’s rival Crystal Palace Women are currently sit at 6th in the league, having won two of their last five games respectively.
Prior to joining the South Yorkshire team, recently recruited Head Coach Jonathan Morgan spent seven years as Head Coach at Leicester City.
Morgan will be the club’s first full-time Head Coach for the women’s team, showing an increasing dedication from the club to push forward the women’s side of the sport.
Speaking on Morgan’s arrival, Stephen Bettis, Sheffield United’s chief executive officer, said: “The fact that he’s our first full-time head coach affirms our commitment to women’s football at a very exciting time as Sheffield United look to enhance the club’s name within the women’s game.”
In a video interview, Morgan said: “[Being a full-time Head Coach] is a massive indicator of where this club is looking to go. Not just the players here now, but the future players as well and the younger generation. Momentum is growing amongst the women’s game.
“The Lionesses winning last summer was a phenomenal achievement, it was something that Bramall Lane was a part of. This is great for the club that they wanted to show some of the best football in the women’s game here.”
The game at Hayes Lane Stadium will kick off at the original time of 2pm and will be available to stream for free here.
Plans to convert Kelham Island cotton mill are destroying the historic character of Sheffield
Sheffield City Council has been accused of "cashing in on the historic character of the city" by backing plans to convert an old cotton mill and workhouse into housing.
Local business owners, who are currently based in the Georgian building in Kelham Island, have voiced their outrage that they will be evicted if the controversial plans submitted by Citu Developments are approved.
Christopher Perry, a silversmith based in the property on Alma Street, said: "The city has changed, the area has changed, and the problem is you're about to remove, through granting this planning permission, over two hundred years of continuation of silversmithing and metalworking from the Kelham Island area."
Mr Perry, who's family business Perry Glossop & Co has been in the area since 2000, said that even if he relocates, he may be forced to move again.
He said: "What guarantee do we have that the next location within the city of Sheffield will not be deemed suitable for residential living area too?
"This is the second time this has happened to us, and it feels there is no longer an area designated to our profession, the profession that helped build Sheffield. The developers are cashing in on the historic character of the city."
Despite Mr Perry and other business owner's objections, the city council backed the application as necessary to meet Sheffield's housing targets.
Planning officer, Lucy Bond, said the plan will "secure the long-term viable use of the building and deliver much-needed additional housing".
She added: "I completely empathise with existing businesses in the building, there's absolutely no questions about that.
"[But] even if we made a decision today to reject the proposal, that isn't a guarantee that those tenants would be able to remain in that property because that's not something the council control."
In the Planning and Highways Committee meeting, held last Tuesday, councillors did question the plan and what it would mean for Sheffield's heritage.
Cllr Roger Davison (Liberal Democrat) said: "I personally think any development which means that someone gains at the expense of somebody else is not a good decision."
The committee voted to defer making a decision, concluding they did not have enough information on what the Sheffield Plan, the council's draft development plan, said about industry.
Debate over the application has come at the same time as ongoing building work on Alma Street, which has frustrated some locals.
Diane Johnson, manager of the Fat Cat Pub on the street, gave her opinion. She said: "It's shocking. It's terrible, lorries are blocking the road."
Full details on the planning application can be viewed here.
Hallam FC’s Youdan Cup triples in value to £350,000
The Youdan Cup, considered by many to be football's first cup competition, has been revalued at an astonishing £350,000.
Owned by Hallam FC, the cup's value has sky-rocketed in price since its last estimate, which featured on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow.
The Youdan Cup was first awarded after a match between Sheffield FC and Hallam FC played in 1867.
Steve Basford, the Chairman of Hallam FC, discussed the cup's valuation:
"Thomas Youdan was a theatre producer and owner and he thought, what a way to get our name forward. The Bill Gates of his time really.
"The valuation, for insurance, is £350,000, but we think if it went onto the open market... we think it would fetch considerably more."
Despite the cup's valuation, Mr Basford maintains that the cup is not for sale.
The chairman is certain of the cup's place as the oldest of football's knockout-competition trophies. The FA have claimed that their cup is the oldest.
He said: "The Youdan Trophy is the oldest football cup in the world.
"The Guinness Book of Records state it, we've got the certificates."
Councillors and campaigners meet with the public at active travel summit in Sheffield
By Joshua Thory-Rao and Ella Harget-Dash.
Campaigners, politicians and members of the public met in Sheffield last Saturday to discuss how to promote walking, cycling and public transport over car use in the active travel summit.
Hosted at the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield City Centre, attendees considered various issues including the local economy, jobs, health, and the climate crisis, as reasons to promote active travel.
Julie Grocutt, deputy leader of Sheffield City Council and member of the transport and travel policy committee, said that public transport was a priority, given that not everyone can walk or cycle.
She added: “It’s really important to us that we make sure that while we are developing the schemes we are engaging with local communities.”
She said that this allows new travel infrastructure to be developed where local communities want and need it, not just where the council feels it would work best.
Although public transport is under the remit of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Authority, the council can make sure that bus stops are well placed, and roads are in a good condition for buses to travel on.
Dexter Johnstone, who is involved with campaign group Cycle Sheffield, stressed the need for community engagement in future council plans involving local people as soon as possible.
Mr Johnstone said that Sheffield has a number of successful schemes, including the Greater Green scheme on Castlegate, also adding that this type of scheme should be implemented across the city.
He took aim at Sheffield’s public transport: “There’s a lot of issues with public transport in Sheffield. It’s unreliable, its expensive, and services are getting cut back.”
The event happens as Sheffield prepares itself for the introduction of a Clean Air Zone next week, which will charge higher polluting vehicles that travel in the inner ring road and city centre areas.
This summit also coincides with the four-year anniversary of Sheffield City Council declaring a climate emergency in early 2019. Climate protesters were outside the town hall today to protest what they see as a lack of action on this.
Councillor Grocutt said: “It’s been great to be at the active travel summit today. This is a really important event for people of Sheffield.”
Controversy over council’s budget increase of bike hub to £410k
A recent increase of Sheffield Council's plan for a new short-term bike storage facility to £410,000 has sparked controversy on social media.
The project's cost was initially estimated at around £250,000 and was set to open in March of last year.
Less than a year later, the council's latest capital approvals have revealed a further increase to £410,000 after having already been moved to £330,000 once before.
Speaking on the reason for this increase, Cllr Douglas Johnson said: "One of the issues that affects councils all over the country is the fact that inflation in the construction industry has gone up massively, even above the rate of inflation affecting ordinary spending."
Building on the council's aim to promote cycling as well as environmental sustainability, this project will add to the already existent cycle hub in the city's train station.
Dexter Johnstone, a representative of CycleSheffield, a campaign group focusing on the safety and accessibility of cycling in the city of Sheffield said: "It is vital that we have a secure storage facility in the centre of Sheffield.
"The increase in costs is unfortunate - a consequence of the delays in opening the facility and constant increase in costs.
"The funding for the cycle hub is from central government and can only be spent on walking and cycling facilities so there is no misuse of public funds."
On Twitter, several users have also shared Mr Johnstone's concerns with bike theft.
He added: "Bike thefts are notoriously high in Sheffield and in the UK in general and so the fear of getting your bike stolen puts people off visiting the city centre by bike."
We've been waiting for this for years. It'll make it easier to cycle into town and shop, without wondering whether your bike will still be there when you get back.
— Pharmacist on a Pushbike (@PPushbike) February 14, 2023
Hope this is put in place quickly, I’d cycle into town at the weekend if I knew my bike was safe.
— Anne Tetley (@anne__tetley) February 14, 2023
These claims are supported as data suggests a shallow but significant increase in bike thefts for the year of 2022, highlighting Sheffield's position as having one of the worst crime rates in South Yorkshire for bicycle theft.
Nevertheless, other users have expressed their discontent with the situation, often referring to the latest failure of the Fargate Container Park as an example of the council's failures relating to budget allocations.
It's Sheffield Council, it'll end up costing 3mil and be placed 3.5 miles from where it was supposed to be
— Jamie (@jamymym) February 14, 2023
Old news this, budget was 250, then 330, seems their literal years of dithering has cost them even more.
— FingerBoardLies (@FingerBoardLies) February 14, 2023
Julian Barker, a Sheffield resident, said: "Would be better off spending money on something more worthwhile. Or is this short term bike storage recycling the Fargate containers?"
Techno with a twist: A “unique and intimate” evening in the Sheffield suburbs
Crookesmoor’s favourite bar Berlin Calling and events brand [TARA] have announced an evening of ambient techno that starts during the day rather than at night.
The event, organised by Techno And Resonance Association [TARA], takes place on Saturday 25 February, starting at 4pm and ending at midnight, the time it would usually start.
Organiser and DJ Ben Marks said: “We’ve got all the people that might not be able to afford a trip out into town, or people that need to work, that can come to their local and have a solid evening of music.
“In the 1990s, big venues weren't in the cities. We see with the COVID pandemic and the recession that people don’t go out in big towns anymore - they’re going to the suburbs.”
[TARA] is the brainchild of sixth form student Mr Marks, who wants to promote a more ambient side of techno, in a city that has long been associated with bass music and late nights.
The evening is described by [TARA] as being in a “unique and intimate suburban space” rather than one of Sheffield’s many larger music venues.
Rising local DJ Porter Brook will be headlining, with a variety of support from other electronic and techno artists;, including Westfall, JP Rooney, and as well as Mr Marks himself.
The 18-year-old DJ also commented that there is no competition for a techno event that took place in the evening rather than the night.
He added: “A night that’s on from 11pm - 4am, you potentially have six other nights to compete with.
“Berlin Calling is in an area that everyone can come down and see. It’s respectful to people. We don’t want to run anything until 5am in a suburban area.”
Sheffield has always been a champion of cultivating exciting acts and spaces in the music scene.
It is home to vibrant and alternative venues such as Bal Fashions, whose Apricot Ballroom party was voted one of the best club nights in the UK by Time Out Magazine.
[TARA] and Berlin Calling are not alone in their mission to reimagine the clubbing scene.
Irish DJ Annie Mac is hosting her own DJ sets across the country this April with a similar twist - Before Midnight also ends at the stroke of twelve.
The party aims to cater for those who aren’t able to stay out until the early hours.
Mr Marks added: “This is the first of many events for [TARA]. If we can make this successful, I hope to run stuff monthly. Possibly at Berlin Calling or elsewhere.”
Tickets to [TARA] and Berlin Calling’s Berlin Calling 001 featuring Porter Brook on Saturday 25 February are available here.
“We’ll be shouting about it from the rooftops”: Wombwell councillor thrilled over investment into town
Works will start in Wombwell today as part of a multi-million investment programme to transform the High Street into a “cleaner, safer and a more enjoyable place for people to visit”.
Wombwell will receive funding from Barnsley Council as part of the principal towns and local village centres programme.
Barnsley Council has committed to investing £35 million into the programme to carry out improvements in the surrounding towns.
James Higginbottom, Labour Councillor for Wombwell said: “It's about making the place a cleaner, safer, more enjoyable area for people to visit to shop and use the market. A more attractive heart of community in the short term.”
Some of the improvements taking place include regrading the pavements around the bus stops where there are flooding issues, as well as investing into making the high street more accessible for wheelchair users and parents with pushchairs.
The council is also investing in more electrical charging points, covers and stalls for market traders.
Mr Higginbottom added: “I do want to stress that this is about a longer term piece of investment that will look at the repurposing of buildings, and some really exciting longer term work around making best use of the assets that we've got on the high street.
“Whilst at the same time investing in the cultural offering and green spaces that we've got to build stronger and more vibrant local economies.”
The town has already seen the benefits of the programme, with investment being used to improve CCTV coverage on the High Street, as well as a shop front grant scheme.
Mr Higginbottom said: ”Over 60 shops have taken advantage of the scheme. It has been so popular that we were having to reassess his options in terms of how much money we're able to put into it.
“It's been very popular and it gives people a bit of a buzz if they see that the shops are getting a new look. It's giving the high street a fresh feel.”
“I hope that that will have that direct economic benefit in terms of creating jobs and supporting business start-ups."
In the coming years the scheme aims to renovate buildings in Wombwell and add to the Transpennine Trail.
The Labour Councillor has also called on local residents to be patient with some short-term disruption.
He said: “We are working as hard as we possibly can to keep the disruption to a minimum. Most of the work will take place at night so we don't have an impact on businesses and on market traders.
“All I would say to people is bear with us. A couple of weeks of potential pain and disruption will be far outweighed by the economic and social benefits that we'll see.”
“This is a really exciting thing. We'll be shouting about it from the rooftops.”
New art project opens up in Walkley for local businesses and artists
A new project, inviting artists to create murals is opening in Walkley, in an effort to add colour to the community.
The wall piece is a part of the Walkley & Upperthorpe Arts Trail, which seeks to create a set of installations between the two areas.
Rob Duffin, 54, owner of gift shop Walkley Press, said how much potential the space has: "It is a tiny little spotlight, sort of. I imagine a lot of people would find it to be a little gem on this road."
Running the project is Zest Community, a business with the aim of improving local wellbeing through their services.
Other works in this trail will include painted telecoms boxes, benches, planters and painted shop shutters.
Financed by the Council’s Economic Recovery Fund, the project is a result of asking communities in Sheffield what changes they would like to see on their high streets after the pandemic.
Brad Mcanearney, 30, a local art enthusiast, believes wall art is a win-win situation for businesses and artists alike.
He said: "It is showing people the less destructive side of street art. It is also beneficial for these companies because it adds a bit of vibrancy. It makes the area just look nice, as if it is popping with colour."
He added: "You have got to pay to go to the National Gallery, and even while the Millennium Gallery is free, it is only accessible within the set times. On the other hand, a mural is open 24/7."
Businesses around Walkley are largely supportive of the idea, with many owners encouraging artists to display their art on the streets.
Pete, 43, owner of Gerry’s Bakery said: "If we can work together with local creators to make something that represents the community and Walkley, that would be a fantastic idea.
"We are actually looking to do something on our shutters too with this art scene becoming more popular. We are open to do anything in future with these artists."
For more information on the project, please check the link here.