Northern Lights: Sometimes we forget to say thank you

As May 2 approaches with both South Yorkshire Mayoral and local election votes to be cast, it's worth a few reflections.

As most readers will know, Sheffield City Council is made up of a range of political complexions, with no party having overall control.

It is run on a Committee System, and therefore all those groups with a substantial number of seats share the decision making.

Negotiations have to take place and compromises made to get decisions through, including the passage of a balanced budget back at the beginning of March.

With a substantial number of Local Authorities across the country literally going bust and having to be bailed out with short-term, but substantial, loans from the government, delivering key local services has, in many parts of the UK, become a nightmare.

Your vote on May 2 will count because there are varied and important differences on priorities, values and delivery. But whoever gets elected has to be prepared to take some responsibility in a situation where no one “runs” the Council on their own.

Whilst Labour are still the largest party, eight previously elected Labour members resigned when they were suspended by the party nationally, and formed a separate group. The Lib Dems are the next largest group, followed by the Greens, then the eight breakaway members.

Readers may remember that they only voted for the elected Mayor of South Yorkshire a couple of years ago. The reason why Oliver Coppard is seeking re-election is because of the transfer of powers from the Police and Crime Commissioner to the Mayor’s Office.

As well as formulating policies – on taking the tram back into social ownership, trying to make sense of deteriorating bus services, developing an economic and skills plan for growth and productivity in South Yorkshire, the Mayor will now hold South Yorkshire Police to account.

Which leads me to the issue of how little we thank those who have served in difficult times.

The current Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), The Reverend Dr Alan Billings, is standing down after ten years in the most difficult post in our area. Difficult, because Alan inherited a terrible mess. The issue of historic child sexual abuse and exploitation, whilst bedevilling other parts of the UK, erupted as a major issue in Rotherham.

Professor Alexis Jay produced a report which was dynamite. Many services and agencies were involved, but the police service was a focal point.

The then – and newly-elected – PCC was a counsellor from Rotherham who, because of his historic role in terms of children's services, found himself at the epicentre of media attention.

Eventually, he resigned. In 2014, Alan took on the task of rebuilding trust in, and the morale of, the South Yorkshire police. Ten years on, things are very different, and we owe Alan a debt of gratitude.

In fact, back in 2015, shortly after his election, the late Queen and Prince Philip came to Sheffield to hand out the Maundy Money and attend the cathedral service, followed by lunch at the Town Hall. As I stood in line next to Alan whilst we were introduced to the Royal couple, I heard Prince Philip asking him, “who managed to get you into this terrible job?”

I had to confess that I played a part in persuading him to do it.

For Alan is able to gain respect from those of very different political persuasions, from those delivering services and from the wider world. That is what he set out to do, and that's what he’s achieved.

I knew Alan from all those years ago, back in the 1980s when I was Leader of Sheffield City Council, and he was my Deputy in charge of finance and much else. Whilst I was the “ideological voice" taking on Margaret Thatcher and putting forward a very different view of how local government might operate, Alan Billings was the quiet voice keeping on board the business community and those looking on, with a degree of mystification, at a very different kind of politics to what they were used to.

The PCC role is the last political job that Alan will do, but I, and many others, hope that he will continue taking Sunday services, being a wise voice, and bring his experience to bear as we move forward into uncharted waters.

For whatever complexion of government emerges later this year, the financial situation locally, as well as nationally, will be dire.

Surely we should also appreciate all those willing to stand in these elections and thank those who have given sterling service. Councillor Peter Price has given 51 years of service to the City and Sioned-Mair Richards, who made an outstanding Lord Mayor just a couple of years ago.

Britain’s first woman of Yemeni origin to gain elected office, Abtisam Mohamed, is standing down to fight the Sheffield Central seat in the General Election. Long standing Lib Dem Councillors, Ian Auckland and this year’s Lord Mayor, Colin Ross, are also leaving.

Creativity and imagination, as well as steady hands on the tiller, will be needed to save what's left of public services and willingness to join together in partnership – including with the newly elected South Yorkshire Mayor – so that all those of goodwill can play a part in building a vibrant city and an outward-looking and successful South Yorkshire to deliver something better for our children and grandchildren.

​