Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Steve Charmley and Cecilia Motley.

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.

No declarations of interest were made.

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday 6 April 2016.  Attached, marked 3.

Contact:  Amanda Holyoak 01743 257714

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 6^th April 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

To receive any public questions or petitions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  The deadline for this meeting is 5.00 pm on Friday 22 April 2016.

Contact:  Amanda Holyoak 01743 257714

There were no public questions received.

There were no matters referred from Scrutiny or Council.

Lead Member – Mr Malcolm Price – Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment.

Report of the Director of Adult Services is attached, marked 6.

Contact:  Andy Begley 01743 252421

RESOLVED:

                      I.        That members adopt the new Homelessness Strategy for Shropshire for 2015-17 and the document is made public via the Council website at the earliest opportunity;

                    II.        That members note the new Strategy will make public Shropshire Council’s corporate commitment to adopting a joint approach to preventing homelessness, based on early intervention and continuous improvement, as set out in the proposed Portfolio Holder for Housing’s Foreword to the new Homelessness Strategy (thus achieving the first of the ten ‘local challenges’ toward a ‘gold standard’ housing options service for Shropshire);

                   III.        That members note that the new Homelessness Strategy sets out the Council’s Housing Options team’s commitment to work towards achieving the nationally recognised ‘gold standard’ level of service for our customers, and introduces the re-commencement of a Homelessness Strategy Implementation Group, to be chaired by the Portfolio Holder for Housing or their Deputy, with the aim of encouraging sector-wide participation and responsibility for the effective implementation of the new Homelessness Strategy Action Plan;

                  IV.        That members note the new Homelessness Strategy recommends the implementation of the powers introduced in section 148 of the Localism Act 2011, to enable the Council’s Housing Options team to discharge its accommodation duty, owed toward statutorily homeless households (under sections 193 or 195 of the Housing Act 1996), through the provision of a private rented sector accommodation offer of a suitable assured shorthold tenancy which is for a fixed term of at least twelve months.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment presented a report by the Director of Adult Services which presented a proposed new Homelessness Strategy for Shropshire for 2015 – 2017. 

In response to questions from Members, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that the anticipated timescale to achieve the Government’s Gold Standard level for Housing Options was approximately eighteen months to two years.

RESOLVED:

                      I.        That members adopt the new Homelessness Strategy for Shropshire for 2015-17 and the document is made public via the Council website at the earliest opportunity;

                    II.        That members note the new Strategy will make public Shropshire Council’s corporate commitment to adopting a joint approach to preventing homelessness, based on early intervention and continuous improvement, as set out in the proposed Portfolio Holder for Housing’s Foreword to the new Homelessness Strategy (thus achieving the first of the ten ‘local challenges’ toward a ‘gold standard’ housing options service for Shropshire);

                   III.        That members note that the new Homelessness Strategy sets out the Council’s Housing Options team’s commitment to work towards achieving the nationally recognised ‘gold standard’ level of service for our customers, and introduces the re-commencement of a Homelessness Strategy Implementation Group, to be chaired by the Portfolio Holder for Housing or their Deputy, with the aim of encouraging sector-wide participation and responsibility for the effective implementation of the new Homelessness Strategy Action Plan;

                  IV.        That members note the new Homelessness Strategy recommends the implementation of the powers introduced in section 148 of the Localism Act 2011, to enable the Council’s Housing Options team to discharge its accommodation duty, owed toward statutorily homeless households (under sections 193 or 195 of the Housing Act 1996), through the provision of a private rented sector accommodation offer of a suitable assured shorthold tenancy which is for a fixed term of at least twelve months.

Lead Member – Mr Lee Chapman – Portfolio Holder for Adults.

Report of the Director of Adult Services is attached, marked:  7

Contact:  Andy Begley 01743 252421

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet confirms and approves the approach described within this report to replace the current Adults and Children’s Social Care IT System in line with the recommended option and that Cabinet confirms and approves funding from the sources identified to proceed with the system replacement. The funding for this project exceeds £1m and was not reflected in the Council’s Budget approved on 25^th February. Cabinet is therefore requested to recommend approval of the funding to full Council.

The Portfolio Holder for Adult Services presented the report of the Director of Adult Services, which outlined and confirmed the approach that Shropshire Council would adopt in replacing the current Adult and Children’s Social Care IT System and details the costs and associated with taking the recommended option.

In response to questions from Members, the Portfolio Holder provided an assurance that the Council would be working closely with partner organisations and the Section 151 Officer provided further detail on the financial implications associated with the system. 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet confirms and approves the approach described within this report to replace the current Adults and Children’s Social Care IT System in line with the recommended option and that Cabinet confirms and approves funding from the sources identified to proceed with the system replacement. The funding for this project exceeds £1m and was not reflected in the Council’s Budget approved on 25^th February. Cabinet is therefore requested to recommend approval of the funding to full Council.

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 item.

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 from the meeting during consideration of the remaining items. 

To approve as a correct record and sign the Exempt Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 6 April 2016.  Attached, marked 9.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 6^th April 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.