Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gwilym Butler, Steve Davenport, David Evans, Richard Huffer, Tracey Huffer, Roger Hughes, Heather Kidd, Matt Lee, Robert Macey, Cecilia Motley, Robert Tindall, Dave Tremellen, Kevin Turley and Claire Wild.

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.

Members were 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.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 May 2017.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2017, as circulated with the agenda papers, be approved and signed as a correct record.

To receive such communications as the Chairman, Speaker, Leader and Head of Paid Service may desire to lay before the Council.

Chairman’s Engagements

The Chairman referred Members to the list of official engagements carried out by herself and the Speaker since the last meeting of the Council on 18 May 2017, which had been circulated at the meeting.

To receive any questions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.

Public Questions

The Speaker advised that 3 public questions had been received in accordance with Procedure rule 15 (a copy of the report containing each question and the formal responses was circulated at the meeting and a copy is attached to the signed minutes).

i)             Received from Mr S Mulloy in respect of amending the Council’s ‘Counter Fraud, Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy Statement’ to clarify a zero tolerance to all fraud.         

By way of a supplementary question Mr Mulloy asked the Leader why he had not declared his interest in the Bowbrook allotment community; the Leader apologised for the oversight and stated that he would make the necessary amendment to his declaration of interests.

ii)            Received from Mr J Smithers in respect of public transport, particularly bus services, in Ludlow.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Smithers asked whether cheaper alternatives had been investigated for rural bus services.  The Leader stated that a full written response would be provided to Mr Smithers on this issue.

iii)           Received from Mr D Kerr in respect of the Council’s commitments within its Corporate Equality Objectives Action Plan 2016/2020 and the leaflet circulated by Councillor Paul Milner as part of his recent election campaign.

By way of a supplementary question, Mr Kerr queried the response that had been provided by the Leader.  The Leader stated that he already fully answered the question with his initial response and did not intend to comment further.

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

The Speaker advised that the following Member question had been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 15 (a copy of the report containing the detailed question and the formal response is attached to the signed minutes).

(i)            Received from Mr R Evans [on behalf of Mr A Boddington] and answered by Mr D Minnery, Portfolio Holder for Finance regarding the distribution of its allocation for 2017/18 under the discretionary business rates relief scheme and the criteria for allocation.

By way of a supplementary question, Mr Evans [on behalf of Mr Boddington] asked if small businesses would be compensated if the increase was more than £15 per month.  The Portfolio Holder, Mr Minnery, stated that the response to the original question covered this issue.  Although sympathetic, there was a limited amount of money available and a statement would be issued by the Council as soon as the position was known.

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

An exempt report from the Director of Place and Enterprise is TO FOLLOW

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 255003

The Council received a confidential report from the Head of Business Enterprise and Commercial Services, a copy of which is attached to the signed Minutes, on the Shrewsbury Pitch and Putt Golf Course.

RESOLVED:

That the confidential report and the recommendations therein be approved.

An exempt report from the Director of Place and Enterprise is TO FOLLOW

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 255003

The Council received a confidential report from the Head of Business Enterprise and Commercial Services, a copy of which is attached to the signed Minutes, on the University Centre, Shrewsbury – Student Accommodation.

RESOLVED:

That the confidential report and the recommendations therein be approved.