To elect a Chairman for the ensuing year

The Chief Executive informed the Council that he had just received the formal resignation of the Chairman, Councillor Vince Hunt, with immediate effect, thus enabling him to remain in the Chamber and vote in the event of his nomination for the office of Chairman.  The Vice-Chairman took the Chair and called for nominations for the election of Chairman of Shropshire Council.

It was proposed by the Leader, Councillor Lezley Picton and seconded by the Deputy Leader, Councillor Ed Potter that Councillor Vince Hunt be elected as Chairman of Shropshire Council.

It was RESOLVED:

That Councillor Vince Hunt be elected as Chairman of Shropshire Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council on 11 May 2023.

Councillor Hunt then took the Chair and subscribed his Declaration of Acceptance of Office before being invested with the Chairman’s badge of office.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Andy Boddington, Steve Charmley, Nat Green, Tracey Huffer, Vivienne Parry and Alex Wagner (for the afternoon).

To appoint a Vice Chairman for the ensuing year

The Chief Executive then informed the Council that he had just received the formal resignation of the Vice-Chairman, Councillor Brian Williams, with immediate effect, thus enabling him to remain in the Chamber and vote in the event of his nomination for the office of Vice-Chairman.  The Chairman called for nominations for the election of Vice-Chairman of Shropshire Council.

The Leader, Councillor Lezley Picton proposed that Councillor Brian Williams be elected as Vice Chairman of Shropshire Council. This was seconded by the Deputy Leader, Councillor Ed Potter.

It was RESOLVED: -

That Councillor Brian Williams should be appointed as Vice-Chairman of Shropshire Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council on 11 May 2023.

Members are reminded that they must declare their disclosable pecuniary interests and other registrable or non-registrable interests in any matter being considered at the meeting as set out in Appendix B of the Members’ Code of Conduct and consider if they should leave the room prior to the item being considered. Further advice can be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

Members were reminded that they must not participate in the discussion or voting on any matter in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or any other registrable or non-registrable interest in any matter being considered and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

Councillor Ruth Houghton declared an interest in Item 15, Motion 6, as the trustee of a care provider.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 24 February 2022, attached

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 24^th February 2022, as circulated with the agenda papers, be approved and signed as a correct record.

To receive such communications as the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, 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 himself and the Vice Chairman since the last meeting of the Council on 24^th February 2022, which had been circulated by email prior to the meeting.

Resignation of Member

The Chairman noted that Councillor Dave Tremellen, Member for Highley, had resigned from the Council on 21 April 2022, and on behalf of the Council thanked him for his service and wished him well.

To receive any questions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is not later than 5.00 pm on Friday 6 May 2022.  Information on submitting questions is available from here:  Public question time | Shropshire Council

The Chairman advised that public questions had been received from Peter Phillips, Christine Glover, Mike Streetly, Slawomir Fefjer and Save Our Shirehall. A copy of the questions and the responses provided are attached to the minutes and available from the web page for the meeting.

Agenda for Council on Thursday, 12th May, 2022, 10.00 am — Shropshire Council

To agree the constitution of Committees and allocate seats between political groups.

Report of Assistant Director Legal and Governance is attached – Appendix 2 to follow

It was proposed by the Leader of Shropshire Council, Councillor Lezley Picton, seconded by Deputy Leader, Councillor Ed Potter, that the report of the Assistant Director of Legal & Governance, a copy of which is attached to the minutes, be approved by Members.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and agreed.

To resolve that the Responsibility for Functions, set out in Part 3 of the Constitution and the Scheme of Delegations, set out in Part 8 of the Constitution be agreed. There have been no substantive changes since the updates approved by Council on 15 July 2021. 

Contact:  Tim Collard, Assistant Director Legal and Governance 01743 252756

The Chairman moved that the Responsibility for Functions, set out in Part 3 of the Constitution and the Scheme of Delegations, set out in Part 8 of the Constitution be agreed. This was seconded by the Vice-Chairman.

RESOLVED:

That the changes be agreed and accepted.

Report of the Assistant Director Legal and Governance attached

Contact:  Tim Collard, Tel 01743 252756

It was proposed by the Chairman, and seconded by the Vice-Chairman, that the recommendations within the report of the Assistant Director of Legal and Governance, a copy of which is attached to the minutes, be approved.

RESOLVED:

That Mr Stephen Donkersley and Mr Tim Griffiths be appointed as Independent Persons for a period until the Annual Meeting of the Council due to be held in 2026.

At the meeting of Council on 23 September 2021, Tim Collard, then Interim Assistant Director Legal and Democratic Services, was appointed as Monitoring Officer on a temporary basis - until the Assistant Director Post was filled permanently.  Tim Collard has now been appointed to the role of Assistant Director Legal and Governance, and it is recommended that he is now appointed as Monitoring Officer of the Council on a permanent basis. 

It was proposed by the Chairman and seconded by the Vice-Chairman, that Tim Collard, Assistant Director of Legal & Governance be appointed as the permanent Monitoring Officer of Shropshire Council.

RESOLVED:

That Tim Collard, Assistant Director of Legal & Governance be appointed as the permanent Monitoring Officer of Shropshire Council.

Report of Chief Executive, TO FOLLOW

Contact:  Andy Begley, 01743 258675

It was proposed by the Leader, and seconded by Councillor Gwilym Butler, that the report and recommendations be received and agreed. 

During discussion, reference was made to insulation, decarbonisation, gaps in the economy, the role of scrutiny in the performance management framework, the name of the plan, and the role of parish and town councils and other partners.  In response Councillor Butler confirmed that the Plan set out the high level vision and established the ‘golden thread’ for all other strategies and plans to align to.  Consultation and meetings had taken place with other partners including Shropshire Association of Local Councils. 

The Leader acknowledged the important role of scrutiny both in meaningful performance management and in developing plans to sit under the Shropshire Plan. 

RESOLVED:

i.             That the draft Shropshire Plan be approved

ii.           That the Council’s draft vision ‘Shropshire living the Best Life’ be approved

Report of Executive Director of Place, TO FOLLOW

Contact Mark Barrow, 01743 25

It was proposed by the Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure, Councillor Dean Carroll and seconded by Councillor Mark Jones that the report of the Executive Director of Place, a copy of which is attached to the minutes and the recommendations contained therein, be received, and agreed.

RESOLVED:

     i.        To approve that Shropshire Council extend the term of the Management Agreement with STAR for a term of 10 years, incorporating such changes as are needed to give effect to Campbell Tickell’s recommendations.

   ii.        To approve that all actions to facilitate the 10-year extension of the agreement and to respond to points arising in the discussions with STAR are delegated to the Assistant Director of Homes and Communities in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure

  iii.        That work to develop and agree the Management Agreement and other related documentation between STAR and Shropshire Council is completed and that the authority to approve and complete the Management Agreement is delegated to the Assistant Director Homes and Communities in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure

  iv.        Should any changes be required to the Constitution of STAR, the authority to approve those changes is delegated to the Assistant Director Home and Communities in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure

   v.        That a future report will be presented to Cabinet prior to March 2023 regarding the future relationship, arrangements, monitoring and governance between STAR and Shropshire Council

Report of Executive Director of Place attached

Contact Mark Barrow, tel 01743 258676

It was proposed by the Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure, Councillor Dean Carroll and seconded by Councillor Simon Harris, that the report of the Executive Director of Place, a copy of which is attached to the minutes, and the recommendations contained therein, be received, and agreed. 

The proposals were welcomed and comments were made about the practicalities involved and need for implementation as soon as possible as well as the need for accommodation with more than one bedroom.  The Portfolio Holder confirmed that there was a strong collaborative working relationship between the Council’s Assets and Housing Services Teams and STAR Housing and that units built and delivered by Cornovii and STAR would deliver above the minimum space standards.

RESOLVED:

i.             To widen the definition of the temporary accommodation programme in the Council report of 13 January 2022 to include “acquisition and works”, thereby allowing the purchase of larger dwellings to be converted into one-bedroom and two-bedroom self-contained dwellings.

ii.           To delegate to the Head of Property and Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure, the authority to agree and enter into appropriate short-term property leases.

The following motions have been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 16:

1.   The following motion has been received from Councillor Rob Wilson and is supported by Councillors Julian Dean, Kate Halliday and Rosemary Dartnall

Transport and Developments Supplementary Planning Document

This Council notes:

1.      At Full Council in May 2019 Shropshire Council declared a Climate Emergency.

2.   At Full Council on 24^th September 2020 Shropshire Council resolved to:

a.   Support the Prime Minister’s “Gear Change” announcement. 

b.      Ensure that all cycling infrastructure built in Shropshire conforms to the standards laid out in LTN 1/20.

3.      At Full Council on 25^th February 2021 Shropshire Council resolved that LTP4 would “adopt ‘Transport for New Homes’ principles for responding to development proposals. Where proposals do not meet high standards against the Transport for New Homes checklist they should be rejected.”

4.      At Full Council in September 2021 Shropshire Council resolved to proactively reduce the number of short car journeys taken, particularly in our towns at first, act to discourage cars from our town centres, develop low traffic zones, create safe active travel routes, and improve urban public transport.

5.      Local Plan as submitted says that more than 30,000 new homes will be built in Shropshire by 2038.

6.      In April 2021 Shropshire Council has appointed its first Active Travel Manager.

7.      Shropshire Council has submitted a £98m bid to the Department for Transport for the “Bus Back Better” programme.

8.      LTN 1/20 chapter 14 “Integrating cycling with highway improvements and new developments” is introduced as follows: “It is important that cycle infrastructure requirements are embedded into local authority planning, design and highway adoption policies and processes. This will ensure that good quality cycle infrastructure is delivered in all new developments, new highways and highway improvement schemes.”

9.      The Government has set the target that 50% of journeys in towns should be walked or cycled by 2030.

10.  Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) are currently being developed for Market Towns across Shropshire

11.        The new Local Transport Plan (LTP4) is currently being developed, and has been envisioned as a high level umbrella document which is supported by a number of supplementary documents.

12.  Bath and NE Somerset Council has recently developed a Supplementary Planning Document to address Transport and Developments (Document overview | Bath and North East Somerset Council (bathnes.gov.uk)).

13.  Sheffield City Council passed a motion in November 2021 that developers will need to make a Climate Change Declaration when submitting a planning application (Sheffield City Council - Agenda item - Notice of Motion Regarding "Developers Climate Change Declaration" - Given By Councillor Angela Argenzio and To Be Seconded By Councillor Peter Garbutt (moderngov.co.uk)) 

This Council resolves:

1.   to express disappointment that a number of recent developments fall below the standards aspired to for public and active transport; for example SUE South, Sweetlake Meadow and Bowbrook Meadows in Shrewsbury.

2.      to instruct the executive to plan for the Planning Policy team to develop a  ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

The following motions had been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 16.

1.   From Councillor Rob Wilson, supported by Councillors Julian Dean, Kate Halliday and Rosemary Dartnall

Transport and Developments Supplementary Planning Document

This Council notes:

1.      At Full Council in May 2019 Shropshire Council declared a Climate Emergency.

2.   At Full Council on 24^th September 2020 Shropshire Council resolved to:

a.   Support the Prime Minister’s “Gear Change” announcement. 

b.      Ensure that all cycling infrastructure built in Shropshire conforms to the standards laid out in LTN 1/20.

3.   At Full Council on 25^th February 2021 Shropshire Council resolved that LTP4 would “adopt ‘Transport for New Homes’ principles for responding to development proposals. Where proposals do not meet high standards against the Transport for New Homes checklist they should be rejected.”

4.      At Full Council in September 2021 Shropshire Council resolved to proactively reduce the number of short car journeys taken, particularly in our towns at first, act to discourage cars from our town centres, develop low traffic zones, create safe active travel routes, and improve urban public transport.

5.      Local Plan as submitted says that more than 30,000 new homes will be built in Shropshire by 2038.

6.      In April 2021 Shropshire Council has appointed its first Active Travel Manager.

7.      Shropshire Council has submitted a £98m bid to the Department for Transport for the “Bus Back Better” programme.

8.      LTN 1/20 chapter 14 “Integrating cycling with highway improvements and new developments” is introduced as follows: “It is important that cycle infrastructure requirements are embedded into local authority planning, design and highway adoption policies and processes. This will ensure that good quality cycle infrastructure is delivered in all new developments, new highways and highway improvement schemes.”

9.      The Government has set the target that 50% of journeys in towns should be walked or cycled by 2030.

   10. Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) are currently being         developed for Market Towns across Shropshire

   11. The new Local Transport Plan (LTP4) is currently being developed, and has been         envisioned as a high level umbrella document which is supported by a number         of supplementary documents.

   12. Bath and NE Somerset Council has recently developed a Supplementary Planning         Document to address Transport and Developments

        (Document overview | Bath and North East Somerset Council (bathnes.gov.uk)).

   13. Sheffield City Council passed a motion in November 2021 that developers will         need to make a Climate Change Declaration when submitting a planning         application (Sheffield City Council - Agenda item - Notice of Motion Regarding         "Developers Climate Change Declaration" - Given By Councillor Angela Argenzio         and To Be Seconded By Councillor Peter Garbutt (moderngov.co.uk)) 

This Council resolves:

1.      to express disappointment that a number of recent developments fall below the standards aspired to for public and active transport; for example SUE South, Sweetlake Meadow and Bowbrook Meadows in Shrewsbury.

2.   to instruct the executive to plan for the Planning Policy team to develop a Supplementary Planning Document to specifically ensure that sustainable,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

To receive questions from Members, notice of which has been given in accordance with procedure rule 15.2, attached

The Chairman advised that pursuant to Procedure Rule 15.2, a Member’s question was received from Councillor Julia Evans. A copy of the question and the response provided are attached to the minutes and available from the web page for the meeting.

Agenda for Council on Thursday, 12th May, 2022, 10.00 am — Shropshire Council

Councillor Evans confirmed that she had no follow up question to the response from the Portfolio Holder.

To receive the report of the Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority arising from its meetings held on 16 and 23 February 2022

The report of the meetings of the Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority held on 16 February 2022 and 23 February 2022 was noted.

To agree that the meetings of the Council in 2022 – 2023 will be held on the following Thursdays, commencing at 10.00 am

7 July 2022

22 September 2022

15 December 2022

2 March 2023

30 March 2023

7 July 2022

22 September 2022

15 December 2022

2 March 2023

30 March 2023

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 items

RESOLVED

That, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and Paragraph10.4 [3] of the Council’s Access to Information Rules, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items.

To approve as a correct record the exempt minutes of the previous meeting held on 24 February 2022

The exempt minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2022 were confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Executive Director of Place TO FOLLOW

Contact:  Mark Barrow, tel 01743 25

It was proposed by Councillor Dean Carroll, and seconded by Councillor Chris Schofieldthat the report, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes and the recommendations contained therein, be received and agreed.

RESOLVED:  That recommendations 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 as set out in the report be agreed.

Exempt report of the Director of Resources attached

Contact:  James Walton 01743 258915

It was proposed by the Leader Councillor Lezley Picton and seconded by the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate Resources,  Councillor Gwilym Butler that the exempt report of the Executive Director Resources, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes and the recommendations contained therein, be received and agreed.

RESOLVED

That the recommendation at 3.1 in the report be agreed.