Here is a summary of the scheduled discussions at the Sheffield City Council meeting on 1 October 2025. The agenda included several notices of motion concerning poverty, Yorkshire Water, and the city's parks, as well as a proposal to update the council's constitution. The meeting was also scheduled to include public questions, petitions, and statements, as well as questions from councillors.

Poverty Truth Commission

Councillor Fran Belbin, Deputy Leader of the Council, was scheduled to propose a motion, seconded by Councillor Nabeela Mowlana, regarding the Sheffield Poverty Truth Commission (SPTC) and the principle of Nothing about us, without us, is for us . The motion notes that around one in four people in Sheffield live in poverty, and that the SPTC, established in September 2024, is due to report its findings and recommendations in October 2025. The motion welcomes government action including increases in the minimum wage and expanded free childcare, and also welcomes calls to end the two-child benefit cap. The motion resolves to ask the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to invite SPTC community commissioners to present their report and consider implementation of recommendations, to thank all who took part in the SPTC, and to ensure that the voice of lived experience meaningfully shapes future people-facing strategies.

Dying in Poverty

Councillor Cliff Woodcraft was scheduled to propose a motion, seconded by Councillor Sophie Crossthorn, regarding Dying in Poverty . The motion notes that in 2023, 18% of all those who died in the UK died in poverty, and that women and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately likely to die in poverty. The motion resolves to thank all who support Sheffield residents at the end of their lives, and to ask the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee to consider reviewing the support that Sheffield City Council provides to those with a terminal illness. The motion also resolves to ask the Finance and Performance Policy Committee to consider a Council Tax support scheme to support households that include someone living with a terminal illness, and to ask the Housing Policy Committee to consider a campaign within the Warm Homes programme to work with Sheffield residents with a terminal illness. Finally, the motion resolves to urge the Department for Work and Pensions to back Marie Curie Charity's proposal to support terminally ill people with early state pension access, and to ask the Chief Executive to forward a copy of this motion to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Yorkshire Water

Councillor Ben Miskell was scheduled to propose a motion, seconded by Councillor Mark Rusling, regarding holding Yorkshire Water to account for roadworks and sewage discharges. The motion notes that Yorkshire Water has received multiple fines for sewage discharges, and that the company's Chief Executive has received two additional undisclosed payments of over £650,000 each, on top of her annual pay of £689,000. The motion also notes that Lane Rental schemes allow councils to charge utility companies up to £2,500 a day when they dig up the busiest roads at peak times. The motion requests that the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee consider introducing a Sheffield Lane Rental, working jointly with the Environmental Services and Regulation Policy Committee to ensure that utility companies are charged if they dig up key roads at peak times. It also requests that a copy of this motion is sent to the Chair of Yorkshire Water's board, expressing concern about their record of leaks, pollution, rising bills and executive pay.

Protecting Parks

Councillor Simon Clement-Jones was scheduled to propose a motion, seconded by Councillor Steve Ayris, regarding protecting Sheffield's parks. The motion notes that Sheffield has a national reputation as 'The Outdoor City' and that 61% of the city is green space. It also notes the positive response of residents to the launch of the Hillsborough Tennis Hub complex and the progress that the Rose Garden Café Partnership is making towards the restoration of the café in Graves Park. The motion resolves to ask the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee to consider ways to develop relationships with community groups across Sheffield, and to proactively investigate more innovative funding opportunities to provide additional facilities and provision of services in parks and green spaces. It also welcomes the decision taken by the Charity Trustee Sub-Committee regarding the Norton Nursery Depot and the timeline set out as part of this decision, and asks the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee to consider exploring legal protections for all parkland in the city.

Changes to the Council's Constitution

The council was scheduled to consider a report from David Hollis, General Counsel, regarding changes to the Council's Constitution to bring it up to date. The proposed changes include:

• Updating job titles in the Arrangements for the Delegation of Functions to Officers.
• Removing misleading wording from the Access to Information Procedure Rules.
• Updating the Monitoring Officer Protocol to note the appointment of an additional Deputy Monitoring Officer and updating contact details.

The report recommends that the council approve the changes to the various parts of the constitution. The changes to the constitution report states that the updates are primarily operational in nature.

Other Business

The agenda also included:

• Public Participation: To receive petitions, questions, and statements from the public.
• Members' Questions: Questions relating to urgent business and supplementary questions to written questions.
• Minutes: To approve the minutes of the previous council meeting.
• Memberships: To consider changes to the memberships of council bodies and appointments to external organisations.