Sheffield | Delivering Growth, Defining Opportunity

Cllr Belbin became Leader of Sheffield City Council in May 2026 and is councillor for Firth Park ward.
Fran is a longstanding community and trade union activist and was first elected as a
councillor in 2021. She is passionate about tackling poverty, improving opportunities
for children and young people and ensuring that communities are empowered
through the devolution agenda.
Alongside Southwark and Leeds Councils, Fran and Sheffield City Council are
playing a leading role in the campaign to secure the Future of Council Housing. Fran
is also a member of the Local Government Association Inclusive Growth Committee.
Prior to becoming a councillor, Fran had a career spanning the VCF sector and
higher education.

Josephs joined Sheffield City Council in January 2021, following a 20-year career in national government in the UK and United States. She leads an organisation of over 8,000 staff, supporting Sheffield’s political leadership to deliver for England’s fourth largest city. Since joining Sheffield, Josephs has led a major programme of organisational improvement and renewal, strengthening the Council’s focus on delivery, resident outcomes, partnership working and long- term strategic planning. She has championed a more ambitious, outward-facing agenda for the city, including the development of Sheffield’s ten-year City Goals and the city’s first inclusive Growth Plan, launched in 2024.

Josephs has played a central role in securing Sheffield’s position as a city of national significance for culture, investment and innovation. This has included work to secure the long-term future of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, support for major housing and city centre growth, and the development of a new investment prospectus to bring forward regeneration and inclusive economic growth. She chairs Sheffield’s Housing Growth Board and has helped build a strong strategic partnership with Homes England, supporting new models of delivery to unlock housing growth across the city. She has also driven Sheffield’s public service reform agenda, including the Council’s Test, Learn and Grow model, and work to develop Sheffield’s role as one of the Government’s Thematic Policy Campuses. Before joining Sheffield, Josephs held senior roles in HM Treasury, the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit, the Department for Education and the Cabinet Office COVID-19 Taskforce. She was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in 2021 for exemplary public service.

Martin leads on the Sheffield City Futures directorate and driving the city’s long-term growth, investment and regeneration ambitions. Since returning to her home city in 2022, she has overseen the development of Sheffield’s ambitious Growth Plans to 2035, working closely with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and business, community and city partners. With more than 25 years’ experience in local government, Marting has held senior leadership roles in Southampton, Camden, Brent and Wolverhampton. A recognised national leader in economic development and place-making, she serves on several national boards including as a director of the institute of economic development for the UK. She advises industry, government organisations, and holds professional memberships across housing, development, economic development, place management and public services delivery and reform.

McClean oversees major development and regeneration programmes, including Heart of the City, and leads housing growth activity across Sheffield. He has been with Sheffield City Council since 2002 and has a strong background in property and project delivery.

Homer is a senior public sector leader with extensive experience in economic development, local government improvement, and regional growth. Having held leadership roles across central and local government, he now serves as Sheffield City Council’s director of economic development and culture, leading work across investment, regeneration, employment & skills, culture, and growth initiatives in the city.