To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the ordinary and special meetings held on 24th June 2010, attached marked 3(i) and 3(ii), respectively. Contact Richard Thomas Tel 01743 252725.

To receive such communications as the Chairman, Speaker or Chief Executive may desire to lay before Council.

To receive any questions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.

To receive any questions from Members, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, attached marked 6.

To receive the Statements from the Leader on the Council's progress and from the Portfolio Holders for Culture and Leisure and Economy and Waste, attached marked 19. In accordance with Procedure Rule 15, up to 40 minutes will be allocated to the presentations, members questions and their supplementaries.

To receive the report from the Chair of the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee, attached marked 20. In accordance with Procedure Rule 15, up to 20 minutes will be allocated to the reports, Members' questions and their supplementaries.

The following motions have been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 16: 21.1 Received from Mr A N Mosley: Council notes: That the increase in VAT from 17.5% to 20% announced in the Government's June Budget will fall hardest on those least able to afford it. That the increase in VAT will lead to higher prices for goods and services; will have a disproportionate impact on pensioners and other low income groups; and will have a severe impact on businesses, charities and community groups in Shropshire. That the effect of the increase in VAT, when taken with other measures in the Budget, will be unfair to pensioners, who have not had a compensatory increase in other benefits and allowances. That the way the VAT increase will affect pensioners and other low income groups runs counter to the Government's Coalition Agreement statement on 20 May 2010 that it would "ensure that fairness is at the heart of those decisions so that all those most in need are protected.” That the Institute of Fiscal Studies has stated the VAT increase was not "unavoidable," as the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his Budget speech. Council resolves: To write directly to the Chancellor of the Exchequer raising concerns about the impact of the proposed VAT increase on pensioners, other vulnerable groups and businesses in Shropshire. To call on the Members of Parliament representing Shropshire to stand up for Shropshire pensioners, businesses and wider community, to voice their opposition to this unfair increase in VAT and to vote against it in Parliament. 21.2 Received from Mr N J Hartin: This Council supports the campaign to retain Shrewwsbury County Court and asks the Chief Executive and Leader of Council to write to the Minister of Justice advising him that this Council is against the closure of the County Court in Shrewsbury and to include the following reasons: The County Town has a population of some 70,000 serving an administrative area of almost 300,000 people Within the County Town and County of Shropshire there are some of the worst pockets of social disadvantage in the country The County Town is more readily accessible to those in Shropshire than Telford with all major roads and railways leading to the County Town Closure of the court will be detrimental to the vulnerable and needy Closure of this court will have a dwetrimental effect on the local economy with many businesses dependent on the court going elsewhere. An alternative home for the County Court In Shrewsbury could be the underused Magistrates Court in Shrewsbury. In any event no closure should take place until satisfactory explorations in delivering justice through the use of technology have been carried out and consulted on. 21.3 Received from Mr G H L Butler: Race Online 2012 Access to the internet is increasingly becoming an essential part of life – to access information, stay in touch, buy goods and services and for entertainment. Around 10 million people in the UK have never been online. 4 million of these are among the most socially excluded in society. So many of the people who have the most to gain from the internet – whether to overcome isolation, save money or access essential services – are the ones who are missing out most. Race Online 2012 is a national campaign, led by Martha Lane Fox – the Government’s UK Digital Champion – to improve the chances of these 10 million people and to achieve as near 100% UK online population as possible by 2012. This would have obvious benefits for people who are helped to get on line but also an estimated £22 Bn saving to the UK economy, including by reducing the costs of accessible key public services and helping the private sector services and helping the private sector reach new markets. The campaign is looking for 10,000 organisations from the private, public and voluntary sector to sign up as supporters and commit to at least one action to help make this vision a reality. So far 8 Councils including Westminster City Council, Lancashire County Council and Staffordshire County Council have joined up with pledges ranging from running more internet taster sessions in their community to working with technical providers to improve online access. Many high profile major, and more local private sector companies have also joined up including Sky and Google. Shropshire Council is firmly committed to improving the chances of residents to access a high quality internet connection, and through Telly Talk and Broadplace sites, giving online access to key local services for people who are otherwise digitally excluded. In signing up to Race Online 2012 we can reaffirm our commitments to: • Provide informal, friendly, accessible IT learning opportunities through our Broadplaces network and through 300 community based volunteers • Working with other public and private sector partners to seek to improve broadband access throughout Shropshire”. We should also commit afresh to: • Joining up IT learning provision across the county so people can easily find their nearest learning opportunity, using Libraries, visitor information and customer service points. • Explore option with locally based IT shops to provide basis IT learning vouchers with every PC they sell.