There were no apologies for absence.

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.

Councillors S Davenport, R Macey and L Picton declared interests in their local village halls.  They all left the meeting during consideration of agenda item 9, Review of Non Domestic Rates Discretionary Relief and Council Tax Discretionary Discounts.

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 23 May 2018.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 23 May 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 23 May 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

To receive any questions or petitions from members of the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is no later than 24 hours prior to the commencement of the meeting i.e. by 12.30pm on Tuesday 3 July 2018.

There were no public questions.

To receive any questions of which members of the Council have given due notice, the deadline for notification for this meeting is 5.00pm on Friday 29 June 2018.

There were no Members’ questions.

To consider any scrutiny matters from Council or any of the Scrutiny Committees.

There were no scrutiny matters for consideration.

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.

Lead Member – Councillor David Minnery – Portfolio Holder for Finance

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [Section 151 Officer]

Contact: James Walton      Tel: 01743 258915

RESOLVED:

i)             That the financial implications identified in 2018/19 and 2019/20 from the implementation of the amended Pay and Reward Policy, be noted:

ii)            That the savings proposals to contribute towards the cost of the amended Pay and Reward Policy, as outlined in Appendix 1, be approved.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented the first financial strategy report for 2018/19 from the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance on the Council’s financial position given the increase in expenditure resulting from the approval of the amendment to the Pay and Reward Policy.

A member commented on the merits of the increase in staff pay against the use of agency staff who would not have the same level of loyalty to the authority.

Responding to the concerns of several members regarding the reductions in the budget for public health, the Portfolio Holder for Adult Services, Health and Social Housing reiterated that the public health ring-fenced grant had to be spent on public health outcomes with the resources being used better and work being done more efficiently; the Chief Executive added that efficiencies within the ring fenced public health grant were being sought, the spending level within the grant remained unchanged.

Members noted that authority rated very highly on public health outcomes nationally.  It was further noted that the Chair of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee had already indicated that the Scrutiny Committee could add scrutiny of the new savings proposals, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, to its Work Programme.

A Member referred to paragraph 4.3 of the report and queried the measures being taken to recover outstanding debts with the CCG.  The Portfolio Holder for Adult Services, Health and Social Housing commented that the new executive team at the CCG provided a window of opportunity to make progress regarding the debt and also to forge an improved working relationship.

The Leader stressed that the Council was working more efficiently and spending less with many of the savings implemented having little or no effect on public outcomes.

RESOLVED:

i)             That the financial implications identified in 2018/19 and 2019/20 from the implementation of the amended Pay and Reward Policy, be noted:

ii)            That the savings proposals to contribute towards the cost of the amended Pay and Reward Policy, as outlined in Appendix 1, be approved.

Lead Member – Councillor David Minnery – Portfolio Holder for Finance

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [Section 151 Officer]

Contact: James Walton      Tel: 01743 258915

RESOLVED:

i)             That the Discretionary Relief Policy, detailed in Appendix A, be approved; and

ii)            That the Council’s Policy for Discretionary Business Rates and Council Tax reductions be reviewed every three years.

Councillors S Davenport, R Macey and L Picton left the meeting during consideration of this item.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented a report from the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance on the Council’s three yearly review of non-domestic rates discretionary relief and Council Tax discretionary discounts.  He stated that a six-week consultation was to take place with a final decision being made in the early Autumn

Given the declared interests of some Members in their local village halls, he commented that the proposed changes would not affect village halls and the main aim of the review was fairness to all.

Responding to a query about the impact on social enterprise and commercial interest companies, the Portfolio Holder stressed that each case was looked at on its own merits.  The Leader added that there was always an opportunity to appeal.

RESOLVED:

i)             That the Discretionary Relief Policy, detailed in Appendix A, be approved; and

ii)            That the Council’s Policy for Discretionary Business Rates and Council Tax reductions be reviewed every three years.

Lead Member – Councillor Nic Laurens – Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth

Report of the Head of Economic Growth

Contact: Gemma Davies    Tel: 01743 258985

RESOLVED:

i)             That it be noted that Shrewsbury BID has served notice of their intention to seek a renewal ballot to the Secretary of State and Shropshire Council;

ii)            That the draft Shrewsbury BID 2019 – 2024 business plan and renewal proposal, attached as Appendix 1, be endorsed.

iii)           That a vote in support of Shrewsbury BID’s continuation in respect of the Council’s voting rights for the Council owned premises in the renewal ballot be approved and authority be delegated to the Head of Business Enterprise and Commercial Services to exercise this vote.

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth presented an update report from the Head of Economic Growth on the progress of the Shrewsbury BID renewal process.  He paid tribute to the work of the BID team for their work and drew attention to the value of tourism to the county as a whole, Shrewsbury’s purple flag safe status regarding its night time economy and the wealth of independent shops, 48% which all helped to attract visitors to the town.

Members were wholly in support of the BID and recognised the benefits to, not only Shrewsbury, but to the county as a whole.  The Leader added that the Shrewsbury BID was thriving and the BID in Oswestry was also starting to grow.

RESOLVED:

i)             That it be noted that Shrewsbury BID has served notice of their intention to seek a renewal ballot to the Secretary of State and Shropshire Council;

ii)            That the draft Shrewsbury BID 2019 – 2024 business plan and renewal proposal, attached as Appendix 1, be endorsed.

iii)           That a vote in support of Shrewsbury BID’s continuation in respect of the Council’s voting rights for the Council owned premises in the renewal ballot be approved and authority be delegated to the Head of Business Enterprise and Commercial Services to exercise this vote.

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

Report of the Head of Infrastructure and Communities

Contact: Chris Edwards      Tel: 01743 258912

RESOLVED:

i)             That the progress that the Architect and other specialist advisors have made since the signing of the lease on 29^th March 2018 be noted and that the project be formally approved for inclusion in the Council’s Capital Programme;

ii)            That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Business Enterprise and Commercial Services to agree the works and the final letting of the contracts;

iii)           That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Business Enterprise and Commercial Services to progress, agree final terms and conclude the contracts process.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Commercial and Corporate Support presented a report from the Head of Infrastructure and Communities providing an update and seeking approval for aspects of the project at the Ludlow Assembly Rooms.

RESOLVED:

i)             That the progress that the Architect and other specialist advisors have made since the signing of the lease on 29^th March 2018 be noted and that the project be formally approved for inclusion in the Council’s Capital Programme;

ii)            That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Business Enterprise and Commercial Services to agree the works and the final letting of the contracts;

iii)           That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Business Enterprise and Commercial Services to progress, agree final terms and conclude the contracts process.

To resolve that, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and Paragraph 10.4 (3) of the Council’s Access to Information Rules, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item/s.

            RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and Paragraph 10.4 (3) of the Council’s Access to Information Rules, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item.

To approve as a correct record and sign the exempt Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 23 May 2018.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 23 May 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 23 May 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.