69.1    There were apologies for absence from Mrs Karen Calder and Mr Mal Price.

Members are reminded that they must not participate in the discussion or voting on any matter in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

70.1    None were declared.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  The deadline for this meeting is 5.00pm on Friday 23 October 2015.

71.1    There were no questions from members of the public.

72.1    There were no matters referred from Scrutiny or Council.

Lead Member – Mr David Turner, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support.

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance is attached, marked 5. TO FOLLOW

Contact – James Walton Tel: 01743 255001

RESOLVED

i)             That the current financial position and the substantial work necessary to deliver a balanced 2016/17 budget and in future years as set out in Section 7 be noted.

ii)            That the work being undertaken to develop a Sustainable Business Model for the Council be noted, in particular

a.    Resources and Expenditure projections from 2016/17 to 2020/21 as set out in Section 6

b.    The categorisation of services into “Protected Services” which form the core of services to be delivered by the Council under a Sustainable Business Model as set out in Section 8.

c.    The potential impact on other services which would need to be delivered to a level contained within the Council’s remaining resources (Sections 8 and 9).

iii)           That the options available to Council to manage and maximise resources as set out in Section 8 (8.26 onwards) which will need to be formally agreed in February 2016 be noted.

iv)           That the impact of the Chancellor’s Announcement on 100% Local Business Rate Retention as set out in Section 10, be noted.

v)            That the launch of the ‘Big Conversation’ to engage with stakeholders and the general public over the coming months be noted as set out in Section 11.

73.1    The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support and I.T. presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance – copy attached to the signed Minutes – on the Council’s Financial Strategy 2015/2016 to 2020/2021.  The report presented the next stage in developing a sustainable financial strategy for the Council and modelled the funding anticipated to be available to the Council over the next five years and how expenditure would be contained within these limits.  He stated that insufficient detail was currently known on new opportunities announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer for increased retention and control over local business rates; this matter would be considered further when more information had been received. 

73.2    He added that the Council was planning to save over £77 million over the next five years and put the Council’s finances onto a sustainable footing; by 2016/17 the target of £30 million savings was anticipated. He drew particular attention to the launch of the Council’s ‘Big Conversation’ with the public to help explain the changes that needed to be made to the Council and to allow everyone to have an input into the process.

73.3    During the ensuing debate the headline points were acknowledged and support for the ‘Big Conversation’ initiative was supported.  The Leader agreed that the way things were done would have to change and some things would have to stop altogether.  He stressed the importance of the ‘Big Conversation’ and confirmed that a delegation to Westminster may be appropriate and the lobbying of Shropshire MPs represented the first step.

73.4    RESOLVED

i)              That the current financial position and the substantial work necessary to deliver a        balanced 2016/17 budget and in future years as set out in Section 7 be noted.

a.            Resources and Expenditure projections from 2016/17 to 2020/21 as set out in Section 6

b.            The categorisation of services into “Protected Services” which form the core of services to be delivered by the Council under a Sustainable Business Model as set out in Section 8.

c.            The potential impact on other services which would need to be delivered to a level contained within the Council’s remaining resources (Sections 8 and 9).

ii)               That the options available to Council to manage and maximise resources as set out in Section 8 (8.26 onwards) which will need to be formally agreed in February 2016 be noted.

iii)              That the impact of the Chancellor’s Announcement on 100% Local Business Rate Retention as set out in Section 10, be noted.

iv)              That the launch of the ‘Big Conversation’ to engage with stakeholders and the general public over the coming months be noted as set out in Section 11.

Lead Member – Mrs Ann Hartley, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services

Report of the Director of Children’s Services attached, marked 6. TO FOLLOW

Contact – Karen Bradshaw Tel: 01743 254201

This item was removed from the agenda for this meeting.

74.1    This item was removed from the agenda for this meeting.

To RESOLVE that in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and Paragraph 10.2 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules, the public and press be excluded during consideration of the remaining items.

75.1    RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and Paragraph 10.2 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules, the public and press be excluded during consideration of the remaining items.

Lead Member – Mr Keith Barrow, Leader and Portfolio Holder for I.T.

The report of the Chief Executive is attached, marked Exempt 8. TO FOLLOW

Contact – Clive Wright Tel: 01743 252702

RESOLVED

That the three exempt recommendations as detailed in the exempt report of the Chief Executive be approved.

76.1    The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support and I.T. presented an exempt report by the Chief Executive – copy attached to the signed exempt minutes – on a progress update and further suggested short term and strategic recommendations to complete the outstanding actions from the ICT internal audit report in 2013.  He drew attention to the remedial actions relating to an existing data centre’s physical and environmental controls, system documentation, disaster recovery plans and system recovery tests.

76.2    RESOLVED

That the three exempt recommendations as detailed in the exempt report of the Chief Executive be approved.

Lead Member – Mr Lee Chapman, Porfolio Holder for Adult Services and Commissioning (South).

Exempt report of the Director of Adult Services is attached, marked Exempt 9. TO FOLLOW

Contact – Stephen Chandler Tel: 01743 253704

RESOLVED

That the recommendations as detailed in the exempt report of the Director of Adult Services be approved.

77.1    The Portfolio Holder for Adult Services and Commissioning (South) presented an exempt report by the Director of Adult Services – copy attached to the signed exempt minutes – on the context for and scope of the service model relating to commissioning out social work practice and the resources needed to continue to build on from the Council’s pilot phase of the Department of Health’s Social Work Practice Pilot.

77.2    RESOLVED

That the recommendations as detailed in the exempt report of the Director of Adult Services be approved.

(The full version of exempt Minutes 76 and 77 detailed above constitutes exempt information under category 3 of Paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules and has therefore been with-held from publication.)