Elected in 2021 
Tell us a little bit about yourself
My name is Maroof Raouf. I am a proud immigrant who can speak multiple languages, I have worked across a number of different countries, and I also have a wide range of experiences with many different cultures and peoples around the world.
I have been a campaigner for a number of years and have recently been involved in getting the Islamophobia Motion to the Green Party Conference.
I want to give my constituents a greater voice in the decisions that affect them.
What do you think makes a good local councillor?
A good councillor represents the needs and wants of their Ward and of individual constituents.
They respond to enquiries and representations from their constituents in a fair and impartial manner.
They will also actively encourage constituents to get involved in decision making and support the strong administration of the Ward.
Tell us three things you're aiming to focus on or achieve for your ward during your term as councillor
I want to involve residents in local decision making by genuinely seeking their views, not just consulting them after decisions have already been made.
I want to ensure local businesses, community groups, and voluntary organisations are supported to help them build back better as they struggle through the many issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
I want to take actions to address the climate emergency by making the city carbon neutral by 2030, in everything that I do as a Green councillor.
Tell us three things you're aiming to focus on or achieve for the city of Sheffield during your term as councillor
I am wanting to put the climate emergency at the heart of all the actions of the Green council group, thus creating a Green city for the future. See the Green budget proposal here.
I want to encourage the restoration of true democracy to the city of Sheffield and the council chamber after the People’s Referendum vote is won and Labour lose overall control of the city, both of which are very likely outcomes on May 6th.
I want to ensure people across the city feel valued and that everyone’s contributions to society are recognised as much as they can be. Listening to people and recognising that different groups require different solutions to similar problems is something I want to focus on, including ending the top-down, one-size-fits-all approach to local governance that has been taking place in Sheffield over the last 10 years.
Transport: The Sheffield City Region bus services should be taken back into public ownership
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral/Other
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
If you'd like to add details on your position, please do so here
The Greens have encouraged and supported this for more than a decade, as the negative impacts of privatisation on fares and services have become clear. Many people are reliant on buses to get to and from their jobs, local authorities need to be in control of services and routes to ensure people are put before profits. Good, affordable bus services can drive the increased passenger numbers that reduce cars, reduce traffic jams, and reduce dangerous air pollution.
Economy: A Universal Basic Income pilot should happen in Sheffield
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral/Other
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
If you'd like to add details on your position, please do so here
The Greens have been long standing supporter of a Universal Basic Income. Sheffield Greens have consistently supported a pilot in Sheffield. The Green Party supports scrapping Universal Credit, means-testing, and the cruel benefit sanctions regime, which have been found to push people further into poverty and destitution. UBI provides a non-means-tested safety net. The people of Sheffield will have more choices and more people will be able to cut working hours to retrain. Sheffielders will be able to start new green businesses, take part in community actions, or even simply improve their own well being.
Democracy: How would you like Sheffield City Council to be run?
- By a leader who is an elected councillor chosen by a vote of the other elected councillors (this is how the council is run now)
- By one or more committees made up of elected councillors (this would be a change from how the council is run now)
If you'd like to add details on your position, please do so here
The Sheffield Green Party is a registered supporter of the Sheffield People’s Referendum. We were asked by the It’s Our City campaign group if we would deliver their leaflets and have been doing so across many council wards. The last few years of “one party” state rule by the Labour group have not only been damaging to the Council but also to local democracy. The people of Sheffield have lost trust in the existing strong leader model, it just does not work in giving the people a voice, Vote for Change on May 6th!
Social: Do you agree with the finding of the Government's Sewell Report stating the UK is no longer institutionally racist?
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral/Other
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
If you'd like to add details on your position, please do so here
Sheffield Greens posted this on our Facebook page on the morning the report was published: “Priti Patel described Black Lives Matter protests as “dreadful”. This whitewash report from the government dismisses institutional racism. They say the report is a “major shift in the race debate”. It’s a disturbing and dangerous shift that must be opposed. Stand up to Racism!”