Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Andy Boddington, Ted Clarke, Gerald Dakin, Paul Gill, Richard Huffer, Tracey Huffer, Mike Isherwood, Heather Kidd, Alan Mosley,  Tony Parsons and John Price.

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 and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

Councillor Rob Gittins declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item 8 as he owned a house of multiple occupancy which is used by Shropshire Council

Councillor Julia Buckley declared in interest in agenda items 18a and 18b  as she was the MP for Shrewsbury

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 July 2024

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2024, as circulated with the agenda papers, be approved and signed as a correct record.

To receive such communications as the 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 18 July 2024, which had been emailed prior to the meeting.

To receive any questions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  Deadline for notification is 12.00 noon on Friday  20^th September 2024.

PETITION

A petition, bearing over 1000 signatures has been received from Julie Mitchell, requesting a debate under the Council’s Petition Scheme.  The petition requests that the Council:

Reconsider their decision in regards to green waste charges and bookings for recycling centres

1.    Significantly reduce the proposed annual charge of £56 per year for each green bin.

2.    Abandon the booking system for recycling centres

The Chairman advised that public questions had been received from Mike Streetly, Frank Oldaker and Emma Bullard. A copy of the questions and the responses provided are available from the web page for the meeting.

Public Questions Council 26 Septemebr 2024 with responses.pdf (shropshire.gov.uk)

Petitions

The Chairman advised that a petition, bearing over 1000 signatures has been received from Julie Mitchell, requesting a debate under the Council’s Petition Scheme.  The petition requested that the Council:

Reconsider their decision in regard to green waste charges and bookings for recycling centres

1.    Significantly reduce the proposed annual charge of £56 per year for each green bin.

2.    Abandon the booking system for recycling centres

Ms Mitchell was given 5 minutes to open the debate during which she made the following points:

·       The petition was not calling for the removal of the charge but for a reduction

·       There was no reduction for pensioners and those on benefits

·       Reducing the charge could result in increased revenue due to more people being able to afford to pay.

·       There was no need for the booking system. The benefits are said to reduce queues, increase recycling and to prevent use by business and non Shropshire residents but if staff need to check in bookings and deal with arrivals without bookings, there is a high potential for longer queues to result.

Several Members spoke in support of the petition and cited examples of where their constituents had encountered problems with trying to register for the service.

In response to the petition the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, Councillor Ian Nellins thanked the petitioner for submitting the petition and made the following points –

·       Over 80% of local authorities in England already charge and more are introducing the charge, all of our neighbouring councils apart from Telford and Wrekin charge for the removal of green waste.

·       The petitioner had cited several councils with lower charges than that of Shropshire, but they were able to do this as they only collected for a proportion of the year.

·       Over 48,000 people had already signed up for the service.

·       In other Councils the introduction of a booking system had reduced car journeys by 5% as people tended to take larger loads reducing the number of visits.

In closing the Portfolio Holder thanked the petitioner again and proposed that no further action be taken and that the Council would continue with the arrangements as planned which would be reviewed over the coming year.

Following a vote it was RESOLVED

That that no further action be taken and that the Council would continue with the arrangements as planned which would be reviewed over the coming year.

To receive any questions from Members, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2.  Deadline for notification is 12.00 noon on Friday 20^th September 2024.

The Speaker advised that the following questions had been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.

Question from Councillor Ed Potter in relation to the availability of school places.  By way of supplementary question Councillor Potter asked whether there were suitable ways of tracking to make sure that pupils not currently in schools don't get lost until a suitable place is found for them.  The Portfolio Holder assured him that the school admissions team did monitor the situation

Question from Councillor Joyce Barrow regarding the delivery of school safety and active travel training.  There was no supplementary question.

Question from Councillor Rob Wilson with regard to home to school transport costs.  By way of supplementary question Councillor Wilson asked what pressure the Portfolio Holder was putting on colleagues in the highways department to accelerate the delivery of the Shrewsbury movement and public space strategy to enable more transport independence.  The Portfolio Holder advised that there was absolutely a focus on getting pathways cleared and working with town and parish councils

Question from Councillor Dan Thomas with regards to improvements to the Homepoint system.  There was no supplementary question

Question from Councillor Rachel Connolly with regards to repairs to New Road Bridgnorth.  In response to a supplementary question the Portfolio Holder confirmed that the design and the bulk of the works required would be completed by the end of this financial year.

Question from Councillor Duncan Kerr with regards to Equality Impact Assessments.  There was no supplementary question.

A copy of the questions and the responses provided are available from the web page for the meeting

Member Questions Council 26 September 2024 with Responses.pdf (shropshire.gov.uk)

At Council on 18 July 2024 amendments were made to the Council Procedure Rules to allow officers to respond to member/public questions. A form of wording was agreed which has subsequently been found to be open to interpretation. Group Leaders have agreed that the following wording should now be incorporated into the Council Procedure Rules so that the timescales for member/public questions are as clear as possible:

“By 12 noon on the day preceding  the third clear working day before the meeting”

Members are asked to approve the amended wording.

It was proposed by the Chairman, Councillor Vince Hunt and seconded by the Vice Chairman, Councillor Brian Williams that the following wording should now be incorporated into the Council Procedure Rules so that the timescales for member and public questions are as clear as possible:

“By 12 noon on the day preceding the third clear working day before the meeting”

RESOLVED:

That the following wording should now be incorporated into the Council Procedure Rules so that the timescales for member and public questions are as clear as possible: 

“By 12 noon on the day preceding the third clear working day before the meeting” 

Report of the Executive Director of Place is attached

Contact Mark Barrow Tel: 01743258919

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

RESOLVED: 

That Council approve and formally adopt the Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, attached at Appendix I.

Report of the Assistant Director – Homes and Communities is attached

Contact Jane Trethewey  Tel: 01743 254917 

It was proposed by Councillor Rob Macey, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Digital and seconded by Councillor Dean Carroll, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Assets that the report of the Assistant Director – Homes and Communities, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes and the recommendations contained therein, be received and agreed.

RESOLVED:

That Council: 

1.    Note the results of the public consultation and approve both the business case for the project, as set out in this paper and in Appendix 6, and that the design and development of the Shrewsbury Sports Village Transformation be included in the Capital Programme with an initial budget for the design and planning stages of £2.248 million. The project to be funded from Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and any available grants and capital receipts which may be available during the project. 

2.    Agree that to further contribute the council’s net zero targets, that the design and planning stages include assessing the feasibility and cost of both making the whole of the sports village complex all electric and installing overhead photovoltaic cells on the car park.   

3.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Culture & Digital, to procure, negotiate and agree the terms of any agreements/contracts necessary for the delivery of the design and planning stages of the project including, but not limited to: 

·       Commissioning the UK Leisure Framework to support the procurement strategy.  

·       Selection of a prime design and build contractor and other suppliers. 

·       Site surveys and investigations and relevant reports. 

·       Detailed designs and planning application. 

·       Contract preparation for the build stages. 

4.    Agree that a report is brought back to Cabinet and Full Council after the design stages; following the determination of the planning application and once the project has established the full build costs. This subsequent report will seek a decision on whether to approve the full project budget and to proceed with the build stage.    

Report of the Executive Director of Place is attached

Contact Mark Barrow Tel: 01743258919

It was proposed by Councillor Chris Schofield, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services and seconded by Councillor Roy Aldcroft that the report of the Executive Director of Place, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes and the recommendations contained therein, be received and agreed.

RESOLVED:

That Shropshire Council, as the Local Planning Authority ‘makes’ (i.e. adopts) the Adderley, Morton Say and Norton in Hales Neighbourhood Development Plan (as set out in Appendix 1) and brings it into force with immediate effect as part of the Development Plan for Shropshire.

Report of the Assistant Director – Legal and Governance is attached

Contact Tim Collard  Tel: 01743 252756  

It was proposed by Councillor Lezley Picton, Leader and Portfolio Holder Policy and Strategy, Improvement and Communications and seconded by Councillor Gwilym Butler, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Corporate Resources and Communities that the report of the Assistant Director Legal and Governance, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes and the recommendations contained therein, be received and agreed.

RESOLVED:

That Council  

1.    Approves the establishment of a Budget Task and Finish Group, the membership and basic Terms of Reference of which are set out in the Appendix to this report. 

2.    Suspends the Alternative Budget Procedure set out in the Financial Procedure Rules until it reinstates it. 

Report of the Executive Director of Place and the Executive Director, Resources is TO FOLLOW

Contact Mark Barrow Tel: 01743258919 / James Walton.  Tel. 01743 258915

It was proposed by Councillor Gwilym Butler, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Corporate Resources and Communities and seconded by Councillor Dean Carroll, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Assets that the report of the Executive Director of Place and the Executive Director, Resources, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes and the recommendations contained therein, be received and agreed.

On being put to a recorded vote with 40 Members voting for, 16 against and 2 abstentions as follows:

FOR:

Councillors Aldcroft, Anderson, Bagnall, Bardsley, Barrow, Biggins, Bird, Broomhall, Burchett, Butler, Carroll, Charmley, Connolly, Dartnall, Elner, D Evans, Gittins, Halliday, Harris, Hignett, Hunt, Hurst-Knight, M Jones, S Jones, Lea, Luff, Lumby, Macey, Morris, Motley, Mullock, Nellins, Pardy, Picton, Schofield, Thomas, Tindall, Wild, B Williams and Wynn

AGAINST:

Councillors Bentick, Davies, Dean, R Evans, Green, Hartin, Houghton, Kerr, Minnery, Parry, Sherrington, Taylor, Vasmer, Wagner, M Williams and Wilson

ABSTAIN:

Councillors J Evans and Towers

It was RESOLVED:

That Council

Having considered feedback from Transformation and Improvement Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9^th September 2024,

3.1          Approves the principle of the Income Strip proposal to raise a receipt in the current financial year.

3.2          Delegates to the Executive Directors of Place and Resources in consultation with Portfolio Holders for Assets, Highways and Traffic Management, and Resources to decide on the exact number and exactly which carparks will make up the income strip portfolio.

3.3          Delegates to the Executive Directors of Place and Resources in consultation with Portfolio Holders for Assets, Highways and Traffic Management, and Resources to conclude the income strip proposal as set out in this report and conclude the necessary contractual arrangements. To do so, Officers will be required to undertake all necessary due diligence before any sale is concluded, not limited to obtaining advice from External Audit, specialist legal advice, and specialist financial advice. If any of that advice presents unacceptable risks in the view of the Assistant Director - Legal and Governance and/or the Council’s Section 151 Officer (Executive Director of Resources), considering the evolving financial context of the Council, the Section 151 Officer/CFO is required to cease the arrangements and not to let the contract. The result of approval being given to this report will be to enable the full process for procurement of an income strip arrangement and conclusion of the contract arising from that to be conducted by officers up to and including the receipt of funds arising from the sale and inclusion of the resulting revenue pressure into budget plans for coming years. 

Report of the Executive Director of Place is attached

Contact Mark Barrow Tel: 01743258919

It was proposed by Councillor Dean Carroll, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Assets and seconded by Ian Nellins, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Environment and Transport that the report of the Executive Director of Place, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes and the recommendations contained therein, be received and agreed.

RESOLVED:

That Council agrees to;? 

? 

1.    Authorise the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing & Assets to?? 

                           I.         Declare the Guildhall as the administrative base for the Council and implement the phased move and the relocation of its services in the financial year 2024/25.?? 

                         II.         Rationalise and consolidate the immediate use of the Shirehall building to ground floor and first floor and other essential spaces only to house the data centre, formal meeting spaces, critical storage and remaining tenants until the ultimate building closure in the financial year 2025/26.? 

                        III.         Update the disposal process accordingly to reflect the accelerated decant of the building.? 

? 

2.    Agree the budget of £1.2 million previously identified to facilitate the accelerated exit from the Shirehall including the cost of decommissioning the Shirehall building, to ultimately achieve a revenue saving of £593k per annum once the move is fully completed and the Shirehall is decommissioned.? Full saving achieved by financial year 25/26.?

Report of the Assistant Director – Legal and Governance is attached

Contact Tim Collard  Tel: 01743 252756 

It was proposed by Councillor Lezley Picton, Leader and Portfolio Holder Policy and Strategy, Improvement and Communications and seconded by Councillor Simon Jones that the report of the Assistant Director Legal and Governance, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes and the recommendations contained therein, be received and agreed.

RESOLVED:

That Council approves: 

3.1  That the existing ‘Protocol for Members Attendance at Conferences and Training Events’ be replaced with a ‘Protocol for Member Attendance at Conferences, Training and other External Events’, as set out in the appendix to this report, to be implemented until the financial position of the Council improves.    
 
3.2 Given their strategic importance, Member attendance at the LGA Annual Conference and CCN Conference continue to be supported for a maximum of 2 members at each event, with the fee for attendance, travel expenses and accommodation (if necessary) met by the Council. 

3.3 Attendance at other conferences, training events, seminars, meetings or external events will only be approved in the most exceptional circumstances by the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and relevant Group Leader, with the fee for attendance, travel expenses and accommodation (where necessary) met by the Council. 
  

3.4 The funding of fees for any event attended by Members will be contingent on the preparation of a brief report within one month to be circulated to the relevant scrutiny committee membership and group leaders.  This will outline the learning and feedback gained from attendance.   
 

3.5  Attendance at free events both online and in person is encouraged, but if in person and there are travel costs or accommodation involved, members will need to seek approval from the Chief Executive (by emailing democracy@shropshire.gov.uk) in accordance with Paragraph 3.3 
 

3.6 In the case of any event (free or otherwise), where a cancellation charge is made due to non-attendance or cancellation after a deadline date,this will not be met by the Council, but will be the responsibility of the member who failed to provide notification and will be deducted from their monthly allowance, unless there are extenuating circumstances. 

3.7 Attendance at party political conferences are excluded from the protocol and all expenses associated with attendance at these events will be met by the relevant political group or the individual member concerned. 

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Assets is attached

It was proposed by Councillor Dean Carroll, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Assets that the report, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes, and the recommendations therein be received and agreed.

Councillor Carroll presented and amplified his report and responded to questions, concerns and comments.

In response to a request Councillor Carroll agreed to ask for an update on the timeline for the Pyrolysis project to be provided to Councillor Viv Parry 

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the report be noted.

Report of the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee is attached

Councillor Geoff Elner, Chair of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented the annual report of the Committee for 2023-24. He outlined the work that had been carried out by the Committee and thanked members of the committee and officers for all their work.  

Members noted the contents of the report.

Southern Planning Committee

Councillor Kevin Pardy to replace Councillor Julia Buckley as a substitute member of the Southern Planning Committee

It was proposed by the Chairman Councillor Vince Hunt and seconded by the Vice Chairman Councillor Brian Williams that the following amendments to committee membership be agreed.

Southern Planning Committee

Councillor Kevin Pardy to replace Councillor Julia Buckley as a substitute member of the Southern Planning Committee

RESOLVED:

That the following changes in committee membership be agreed

Southern Planning Committee

Councillor Kevin Pardy to replace Councillor Julia Buckley as a substitute member of the Southern Planning Committee

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

Motion received from Councillor Gwilym Butler and supported by the Conservative Group

Motion to ask The Government to reverse the decision to remove Winter Fuel Payments to Pensioners.

We were shocked by the recent announcement by the new Labour Government to stop payments to pensioners of the Winter Fuel Payments unless they are on Pension Tax Credits.

In Shropshire we have 82,000 people over 65 representing 25.3% of the population against the England National average of 20.7% of people over 65.

With the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Payment Shropshire will be adversely affected more than most counties across the country due to our demographics and higher percentage of pensioners. It is compounded in a very rural county with many communities not on the National Gas Grid resulting in alternative fuels for heating at greater cost. We already have many pensioners in Fuel Poverty and the result of this withdrawal will result with many more. The outcome of this will then create further pressures on the local NHS and Social Care compounding the problem making the Governments decision a false economy and push many pensioners into an additional cost of living crisis.

We therefore instruct the Leader to write to Rachel Reeves MP Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer to request she:

Reverse her decision on the removal of the Winter Fuel Allowance

If the Chancellor is not minded to reverse the decision we ask that the income level at which Pension Tax Credit can be obtained should be increased significantly to protect those less well off in our Rural Community, specifically those just about managing.

We note The Household Support Grant has been extended until April 2025. This now needs to be substantially increased to take into account the pensioners who will now be apply for the scheme which is already over subscribed dealing with the poverty across all demographics in Shropshire.

Change the system within DWP so that when applicants apply and qualify for benefits they are automatically flagged for Council Tax relief with their Local Authority .

This was seconded by Councillor Simon Harris.

By way of amendment Councillor Julian Dean proposed the following

Add: 

Council calls on the relevant cabinet members to organise the provision of advice, guidance and direct support to those who may be eligible for pension credits ahead of the final deadline of 21st December to claim – and therefore receive winter fuel payments by: 

·       Identifying through council tax and other data people who may be eligible. 

·       Providing information and practical support to those identified to claim pension credits, without relying entirely on online routes of communication. 

·       Mobilising Shropshire Local venues and staff, as well as other appropriate venues and staff – such as the Affordable Warmth team, to provide information, guidance and direct support to those who may be eligible to claim pension credits. 

·       Providing support and advice to town and parish councils that may be in a position to provide further support. 

·       Working with STAR housing, local Housing Associations and other partners  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

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 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

Exempt report of the Executive Director of Place is attached

Contact Mark Barrow Tel: 01743258919

It was proposed by Councillor Dean Carroll, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Assets and seconded by Councillor Ian Nellins, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Environment and Transport that the exempt report of the Executive Director of Place, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes and the recommendations contained therein, be received and agreed.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained in the report be agreed

Exempt report of the Executive Director of Place is attached

Contact Mark Barrow Tel: 01743258919

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

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations contained in the report be agreed