Content

9.1

The Committee considered a report of the Chief
Operating Officer which set out the Council’s response to an
externally undertaken investigation (by VWV law firm) into a
complaint received by the Council from four Sheffield residents in
relation to the way in which the Council acted towards them due to
their involvement in legal campaigning and protest activity during
the Streets Ahead programme. The complaint was set out in section
1.10 of Appendix 1.

 

 

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the
Finance and Performance Policy Committee:-
 
a)   
Note the investigation report and that the recommendations have
been accepted by the Council
b)   
Consider and endorse the action plan as set out in the appendices
to the report
c)   
Request officers to bring back regular progress reports to the
committee
d)   
Note there will be specific mention of this complaint in the annual
complaints review to be received by Strategy and Resources
Committee in September 2025 to reflect the wider context
surrounding the Sheffield Street Tree Inquiry and the lessons
learned from this investigation and to update on the apologies

 

 

 

 

9.3

Reasons for
Decision

 

 

9.3.1

Following review of the investigation report
by the Councils Chief Operating Officer, who was not involved in
any previous Street Tree Inquiry activity nor in the direct
commissioning of the investigation, the officer recommendation is
to accept all the recommendations as set out in the report.

 

 

9.3.2

The response to the recommendations is set out
in the action plan with specific steps, activities, accountability
and the means to address them.

 

 

9.3.3

The council has sought feedback from the
complainants and worked to address their concerns in the action
plan. It is however, recognised that the action plan alone cannot
not fully address the impact the council’s chosen course of
action has had on the complainants and that an update should be
received by the committee for in public consideration in six months
to demonstrate progress towards addressing the findings and
recommendation set out in the investigation report.

 

 

9.4

Alternatives
Considered and Rejected

 

 

9.4.1

To reject the findings of the investigation.
The investigation was undertaken externally and following internal
review and engagement with the complainants there were no grounds
to reject the findings of the investigation. Therefore, this option
has been discounted and the action plan prepared