To receive any questions from Members, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, attached marked 6.

The Speaker advised that the following seven questions had been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 15 (copy of the report containing the detailed questions and their formal responses is attached to the signed minutes).

(i)            Received from Mr M Kenny and answered by Mr S Charmley, Portfolio Holder for Business Growth, ip&e, Culture and Commissioning (North) about Fairtrade and the action being taken by Shropshire Council during Fairtrade Fortnight this year (23rd February to 8th March 2015).

By way of a supplementary question Mr M Kenny asked who acted as the Fairtrade Champion within the Council and queried if there was a Fairtrade Champion for green issues?

In response the Portfolio Holder said he would look into this following the meeting and let Mr Kenny have a written reply.

(ii)          Received from Mr M Kenny and answered by Mr S Charmley, Portfolio Holder for Business Growth, ip&e, Culture and Commissioning (North) about the Fairtrade Foundation and the action being taken to promote locally grown produce and thereby support local producers and reduce food miles.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Kenny asked what the Council was doing in order to sell local produce in local supermarkets in Shropshire.

In response the Portfolio Holder indicated that the Council did not control the sale of goods in local supermarkets.

(iii)         Received from Mr D Tremellen and answered by Mrs C Wild, the Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport regarding 20 mph speed limits outside schools in Shropshire.

There was no supplementary question.

(iv)         Received from Mr R Evans and answered by Mr L Chapman, the Portfolio Holder for Adult Services and Commissioning (South) about the use of an online bidding system to find care homes for the elderly in Shropshire.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Evans asked if the Council would ever use such a system in Shropshire in the future.

In response the Portfolio Holder said he was unable to predict future plans.

(v)          Received from Mr R Evans and answered by Mr M Owen, the Portfolio Holder for Resources, Finance and Support about the monetary value of grants received so far in the current financial year.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Evans referred to the recent letter from Kris Hopkins and the £3.3 billion for Local Tax Support.  He stated that in 2013/14 £17.9 million was given to Shropshire and he believed that it was just a little less this year.  He asked for an assurance that this was correct and that the money was coming in to Shropshire Council.

In response the Portfolio Holder said he was unable to immediately answer the question but that he would look into this following the meeting and then send Mr Evans a written response.

(vi)         Received from Mr T Clarke and answered by Mr K Barrow, Leader of the Council, about what proportion of the overall collection fund surplus would be distributed to the Parish and Town Councils.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Clarke asked if the Leader could identify a recent time when the year end council tax collection had not been in surplus.

In response the Leader said no but that he would look into the finances and respond to Mr Clarke, whilst moving on to congratulate officers on their excellent work to date on the budget.

(vii)        Received from Mr A Boddington and answered by Mr S Charmley, the Portfolio Holder for Business Growth, ip&e, Culture and Commissioning (North) about staff reductions at Ludlow Museum Resource Centre and future policies over the next decade.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Boddington asked the Portfolio Holder if he was satisfied that the Ludlow Museum Resource Centre could maintain its accreditation in the face of proposed budget reductions.

In response the Portfolio Holder confirmed that the Museum Service’s priority was to maintain museum accreditation.