Lead Member – Councillor Steve Charmley – Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Commercial and Corporate Support

Report of the Chief Executive

Contact: Clive Wright          Tel: 01743 257736

RESOLVED:

i)             That the key underlying and emerging issues in the reports and appendices be considered; and

ii)            That the performance portal be reviewed and any performance areas to be considered in greater detail be identified or referred to the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Commercial and Corporate Support presented the report detailing the Council’s performance against its key outcomes for Quarter 4 2017/2018.  He drew attention to the apparent increase in road fatalities that resulted from the Police change to recording this detail, referring to the number of people involved in incidents rather than the number of actual incidents.

Responding to a Member’s concerns regarding the impact of cuts in public health funding to measures for improving public health, the Portfolio Holder for Adult Services, Health and Social Housing explained that the public health budget had been cut 2.6% nationally.  He added that the Council worked closely with other partners to use the ringfenced budgets to ringfenced outcomes.

The Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure explained that there was a national trend of reduced library visitors but she added that there had been a marked increase in digital loans.  She added that the future use and location of libraries was under deliberation.

Responding to a question on the frequency of inspections of food and drink premises in Shropshire, the Portfolio Holder for Adult Services, Health and Social Housing explained that inspections were undertaken on a risk basis with those of a higher risk receiving more inspections.  The Portfolio Holder for Communities, Waste and Regulatory Services undertook to provide more detail on this issue and circulate accordingly.

Responding to a Member’s further comment, the Leader stated that measures to reduce car usage and increase visitors to market towns were matters for future consideration.

Referring to the need for improvement in mental health services, particularly for young people, the Portfolio Holder for Adult Services, Health and Social Housing assured Members that serious questions had been raised on this issue by the Health and Wellbeing Board and that ongoing scrutiny of this issue was vital to seek improved delivery in future.  Highlighting of the issues was essential and partnership working between agencies would be promoted and encouraged in order to seek future improvement.

RESOLVED:

i)             That the key underlying and emerging issues in the reports and appendices be considered; and

ii)            That the performance portal be reviewed and any performance areas to be considered in greater detail be identified or referred to the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee.