Julie Dore Explained

Julie Dore
Office:Leader of Sheffield City Council
Predecessor:Paul Scriven
Successor:Bob Johnson
Term Start:18 May 2011
Term End:6 January 2021
Office2:Member of Sheffield City Council for Park and Arbourthorne Ward
Term Start2:5 May 2016
Term End2:May 2021
Predecessor2:Ward created
Office3:Member of Sheffield City Council for Arbourthorne Ward
Term Start3:10 June 2004
Term End3:5 May 2016
Predecessor3:Ward created
Successor3:Ward abolished
Office4:Member of Sheffield City Council for Park Ward
Term Start4:19 October 2000
Term End4:10 June 2004
Successor4:Ward abolished
Nationality:British
Party:Labour
Children:2
Residence:Gleadless
Alma Mater:Hurlfield School

Julie Dore is a British Labour Party politician, who was Leader of Sheffield City Council from May 2011 until January 2021,[1] on which she represents Arbourthorne.[2] She has been a member of Sheffield City Council since she was elected to the predecessor Park Ward in a by-election in October 2000. In 2008 she became Chair of a Council Scrutiny Board, and in May 2010 she joined the Shadow Cabinet.[3]

On 11 February 2020 Dore announced that she would not contest her seat at the upcoming local elections in May, and would stand down as leader of the council.[4] However, following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, and the subsequent postponing of the elections until 2021,[5] Dore stated that she would remain as Leader during this "difficult period".[6]

Personal life

Dore grew up in Wybourn and Arbourthorne, attending Hurlfield School. She lives in Gleadless with two sons.[7]

Career

For more than two decades, she worked for a social housing association. For 10 years, she worked in the construction industry.[8]

As leader of Sheffield City Council, Dore was one of the political leaders of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority – the others Council Leaders from Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham – to agree to the South Yorkshire devolution deal in 2020,[9] alongside Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis. The devolution agreement should see the City Region Mayor able to invest £900 million over thirty years, as well as increased power over transport, strategic planning and skills in the region.

Dore was also a Member of the HS2 Growth Taskforce. The taskforce published its final report in July 2014.[10]

Tree felling

Dore has come into the public spotlight concerning the mass tree felling across Sheffield as part of the controversial Streets Ahead programme. As part of the £2.2 billion Private Finance Initiative (PFI) partnership with Amey Plc, a large proportion of street trees across Sheffield are to be felled and replaced. Sheffield City Council (SCC) indicate that up to 10,000 trees are to be replaced [11] although wording in the PFI contract indicates a target of 17,500.[12] SCC have denied that 17,500 is an actual target.[13] However, there is evidence from an SCC Cabinet Meeting that in 2010[14] that SCC planned to remove and replant 17,500 trees as part of the PFI contract and an interview with the SCC Head of Highways in December 2012 indicated the Contract would include replacement of "half of the city's 36,000 highway trees".[15]

Campaigners have alleged that this makes road maintenance and resurfacing cheaper over the 25-year contract, and helps corporate profit at the expense of the environment.[16]

On 17 November 2016, under Dore's leadership, colleague Councillor Bryan Lodge sanctioned a 4am felling of eight trees from the Rustlings Road area of Sheffield, leading to the arrest of three protesters, under section 241 of Trade Union Relation Act, a law normally used in the event of industrial action.[17] The tree felling programme sparked the sign-up of over 9,900 members to Sheffield Tree Action Groups (STAG) Facebook group against the mass removal of Sheffield's street trees.[18]

Following the controversy there was a halt to the tree felling in March 2018.[19] The pause lasted throughout the year whilst representatives from Sheffield City Council, Amey and Sheffield Tree Action Group held extend talks, mediated independently by the Bishop of Sheffield.[20] Following this there was a U-turn from the council with nearly 200 trees due to be felled now retained.[21] Following the mediated talks an action plan, which supports a new approach to managing the city's street trees, was agreed between the council and Sheffield Trees Action Groups (STAG). The plan claims to identify practical solutions for retaining more street trees as part of a new approach adopted by the council and its wider partners.[22] There have been no widespread protests on this issue since. In December 2019 SCC apologised for the initial strategy admitting that they 'got things wrong', and argued they had a renewed commitment to the city's trees and highway network, whilst promising to continue the collaborative with STAG, which was warmly welcomed by the group's co-chair.[23]

Under Dore's leadership SCC committed to a 15-year Woodlands Strategy which will see the planting of least 100,000 additional trees, and replace trees on a 2-for-1 basis in the city's green spaces and woodlands.[24]

Political Views

In the 2020 Labour Party leadership election Dore stated, "I do not want a continuity Corbyn candidate. It was the most disastrous result ever and we can't just change the face, change the name, change the gender maybe, and just continue and do what we’ve done before".[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Julie Dore. Arts Council. 15 November 2016.
  2. Web site: Arbourthorne Ward. 23 May 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111017112938/https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sys_upl/templates/PT_Councillor/PT_Councillor_details.asp?mapid=36&tid=153&pgid=921 . 17 October 2011 .
  3. Web site: 'Outsider' Julie Dore to lead Labour in Sheffield. The Star. 15 November 2016.
  4. Web site: Sheffield Council Leader Julie Dore announces she is quitting. www.thestar.co.uk. 20 April 2020.
  5. Web site: Postponement of May 2020 elections. GOV.UK. 20 April 2020.
  6. Web site: Coronavirus: Julie Dore to stay on as leader of Sheffield Council so she can "be here during difficult period". www.thestar.co.uk. 20 April 2020.
  7. Web site: A look back at Julie Dore's time as leader of Sheffield City Council. The Sheffield Telegraph. 14 January 2020.
  8. Web site: Councillor Julie Dore. Arts Council. 15 November 2016.
  9. News: South Yorkshire leaders agree on devolution deal. 16 January 2020. BBC News. 20 April 2020.
  10. News: HS2 Growth Taskforce. Gov.uk. 8 March 2020.
  11. News: Sheffield council's tree-felling project pledges to 'regain trust'. 19 January 2017 . BBC News. 19 January 2017.
  12. News: Sheffield Council forced to reveal target to remove 17,500 street trees under PFI deal. Yorkshire Post. 3 December 2018.
  13. News: Sheffield Council 'has no obligation to axe 17,500 trees despite contract payment'. Yorkshire Post. 3 December 2018.
  14. Web site: Cabinet Agenda Wednesday 10 February 2010, Appendix 3: Sheffield Green and Open Space Strategy – Stage 1 programme (2010–12). Sheffield City Council. 3 December 2018.
  15. News: Whitelaw . Jackie . 1 December 2012 . Sheffield streets team starts city's core refurbishment . Transportation professional . 12 February 2016.
  16. News: Sheffield trees dispute prompts 'scenes you'd expect in Putin's Russia'. The Guardian . 28 November 2016 . Guardian News and Media. 28 November 2016. Pidd . Helen .
  17. News: Dawn tree felling in Sheffield sparks outrage. 17 November 2016 . BBC News. 17 January 2017.
  18. Web site: Sheffield Tree Action Group. Facebook. 3 December 2018.
  19. News: Halliday . Josh . Sheffield council pauses tree-felling scheme after criticism. 26 March 2018. The Guardian. 20 April 2020. 0261-3077.
  20. Web site: Pause on tree felling continues as talks extended. www.thestar.co.uk. 20 April 2020.
  21. News: Trees lining city's streets saved from felling. 10 July 2019. BBC News. 20 April 2020.
  22. Web site: Action plan agreed following street tree inspections Sheffield Newsroom Sheffield City Council. Council. Sheffield City. 20 December 2019 . 20 April 2020.
  23. Web site: Sheffield Council admits 'we got things wrong' over tree-felling saga. www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. 20 April 2020.
  24. Web site: 100,000 trees to be planted as part of trees and woodlands strategy Sheffield Newsroom Sheffield City Council. Council. Sheffield City. 6 December 2018 . 20 April 2020.
  25. News: 'It has to be someone not in denial': can Labour rebuild its red wall? . The Guardian. 22 January 2020 . 22 January 2020. Halliday . Josh . Murray . Jessica . Walker . Amy .