To receive any questions from Members, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, is attached marked 9.

The Speaker advised that five questions from members had been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 15 (copies of the report containing the detailed questions and the formal responses are attached to the signed minutes).

(i)    Received from Mr M Kenny and answered by Mr Charmley, the Portfolio Holder for Business Growth, ip&e and Commissioning (North) in relation to the Shrewsbury Museum and Fairtrade produce – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Kenny asked for an assurance that Shropshire Council was still committed to Fairtrade and the Fairtrade culture in the county. 

In response Mr Charmley assured Mr Kenny that the Council was indeed committed to Fairtrade.

(ii)   Received from Mrs P Moseley and answered jointly by Mr L Chapman, Portfolio Holder for Adult Services and Mr M Owen, the Portfolio Holder for Resources, Finance and Support in relation to the Local Support and Prevention Fund spend – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Mrs Moseley asked why over 90% of the budget had not been spent on what it was intended for.  There remained a very large underspend from last year and she wanted to know why it was not being spent on those under-represented groups that it was originally intended for.

In response Mr Owen said that the responsible officer Mr Damien Carter who was an expert in this field would be able to answer the questions in detail and he indicated his willingness to discuss the issues in depth with them both outside of the meeting.

(iii)  Received from Mr R Evans and answered by Mrs C Wild, Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport in relation to roadworks in Hanwood – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Evans asked if the highway road and lane markings could be changed back to what were originally requested by the Parish Council and Shropshire Council, as these had now changed.

In response Mrs Wild said that she would make enquiries into the matter and publish the response.

(iv)Received from Mr R Evans and answered by Mr G Dakin, Chairman of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee in relation to the High Court decision on Hartleys Daycentre in Shrewsbury – copy attached to signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Evans asked if the Scrutiny Chairman agreed that the consultation in relation to the daycentre closure was not carried out correctly nor was it properly scrutinised.  This in turn meant that the Council incurred more expenditure than necessary and the adults involved had to go though the trauma of appearing in court.

In response Mr Dakin indicated that he did not agree with Mr Evans and that he had no more to say on the matter.

(v)  Received from Mr K Pardy and answered by Mr D Lloyd, the Speaker in relation to the provisional meeting date in the Council Diary for 17 July Council meeting – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Pardy asked if this was an erosion of democracy, what did ‘provisional’ mean and were all full Council meetings provisional.

In response Mr Lloyd replied that if there was sufficient business to be discussed a meeting would be held.