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Shropshire Council
Shirehall
Abbey Foregate
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY2 6ND

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND. View directions

Contact: Tim Ward  Committee Officer

Media

Items
No. Item

65.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ted Clarke, Gerald Dakin, Rob Gittins, John Price, David Minnery, Robert Tindall, Kevin Turley and Mark Williams

66.

Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

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.

Minutes:

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 Richard Marshall declared an interest in item 15.2 – Just Stop Oil motion on the grounds of perceived bias as he was the director of a transport company.  He stated that he would leave the room and take no part in the debate or vote on the item.

67.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 331 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 September 2022

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2022, as circulated with the agenda papers, be approved and signed as a correct record.

 

68.

Announcements

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

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Rachel Connolly to her first meeting following her

election as a councillor for the Bridgnorth west and Tasley Division

 

Chairman’s Engagements

 

The Chairman referred Members to the list of official engagements carried out by himself and the Speaker since the last meeting of the Council on 22 September 2022, which had been circulated by email.

69.

Public Questions pdf icon PDF 106 KB

To receive any questions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14. Deadline for notification is 5.00 pm on Friday 9 December 2022

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that public questions had been received from Mrs Kris Welch and Dr Jamie Russell. A copy of the questions and the responses provided are attached to the signed minutes and available from the web page for the meeting.

 

Agenda for Council on Thursday, 15th December, 2022, 10.00 am — Shropshire Council

70.

Report of Returning Officer - Bridgnorth West & Tasley pdf icon PDF 110 KB

Report of Returning Officer attached

 

Contact:  Andy Begley, 01743 258675

 

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Chairman, Councillor Vince Hunt, and seconded by the Vice Chairman Councillor Brian Williams that the report of the Returning Officer, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes and the recommendations contained therein, be received, and agreed.

 

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted and approved.

 

71.

Setting the Council Tax Taxbase for 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 643 KB

Report of the Executive Director, Resources is attached

 

Contact:  James Walton.  Tel. 01743 258915

 

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate Resources, Councillor Gwilym Butler, and seconded by The Leader Councillor Lezley Picton that the report of the Executive Director of 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 66 Members voting for, none against and no abstentions as follows:

 

FOR:

 

Councillors Aldcroft, Anderson, Bagnall, Bardsley, Barrow, Bentick, Biggins, Bird, Boddington, Broomhall, Buckley, Burchett, Butler, Carroll, Charmley, Connolly, Dartnall, Davenport, Davies, Dean, Elner, D Evans, J Evans, R Evans, Gill, Green, Halliday, Harris, Hartin, Hignett  Houghton, R Huffer, T Huffer, Hunt, Hurst-Knight, Isherwood, M Jones, S Jones, Kerr, Kidd, Lea, Luff, Lumby, Lynch, Macey, Marshall, Morris, Moseley, Mosley, Motley, Mullock, Nellins, Pardy, Parry, Parsons, Picton, Potter, Schofield, Thomas, Towers, Vasmer, Wagner, Wild, Williams, Wilson and Wynn

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

 

a)    To approve, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by Shropshire Council as it’s Council Tax taxbase for the year 2023/24, as detailed in Appendix A, totalling 118,106.08 Band D equivalents.

 

b)    To note the changes to the Council’s localised Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme in 2023/24. The scheme is attached at Appendix B.

 

c)    To note the Council Tax Support Scheme amendments detailed in Appendix B have no impact on the taxbase determination.

 

d)    To note the exclusion of 8,387.51 Band D equivalents from the taxbase as a result of localised Council Tax Support.

 

e)    To note continuation of the discretionary Council Tax discount policy of 0% in respect of second homes (other than those that retain a 50% discount through regulation as a result of job related protection) and note the inclusion of 712.32 Band D equivalents in the Council Tax taxbase as a result of this discount policy.

 

f)     To note continuation of the discretionary Council Tax discount policy to not award a discount in respect of vacant dwellings undergoing major repair, i.e. former Class A exempt properties.

 

g)    To note continuation of the discretionary Council Tax discount policy in respect of vacant dwellings, i.e. former Class C exempt properties, of 100% for one month i.e. effectively reinstating the exemption and the resulting exclusion of 68.99 band D equivalents from the taxbase.

 

h)    To note continuation of the “six week rule” in respect of vacant dwellings, i.e. former Class C exempt properties.

 

i)     To note continuation of the discretionary Council Tax discount policy to levy a Council Tax premium of 100% in relation to dwellings which have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for more than two years (but less than five years) and the resulting inclusion of an additional 293.89 Band D equivalents in the taxbase.

 

j)     To note continuation of the discretionary Council Tax discount policy to levy a Council Tax premium of 200% in relation to dwellings which have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for more than five years (but less than ten years) and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

72.

Treasury Strategy 2022/23 – Mid Year Review pdf icon PDF 302 KB

Report of the Executive Director, Resources is attached

 

Contact:  James Walton.  Tel. 01743 258915

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Members agree the Treasury Strategy updates as set out in the report.

 

 

73.

Annual Scrutiny Report pdf icon PDF 469 KB

Report of the Statutory Scrutiny Officer is attached

 

Contact:  Tom Dodds.  Tel. 01743 258518

 

Minutes:

The Chairman advised Members that consideration of the Annual Scrutiny report would be deferred to the next meeting

74.

Broseley Neighbourhood Development Plan – Adoption pdf icon PDF 485 KB

Report of the Executive Director of Place is attached

 

Contact Mark Barrow  Tel: 01743258919

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Portfolio Holder for Highways and Regulatory Services, Councillor Richard Marshall, and seconded by Councillor Dan Thomas 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 Broseley Neighbourhood Development Plan (as set out in Appendix 1) and brings it into force with immediate effect as part of the Development Plan under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

 

75.

Shropshire Economic Partnership Board pdf icon PDF 313 KB

Report of the Executive Director of Place is attached

 

Contact Mark Barrow  Tel: 01743258919

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Portfolio Holder for Growth, Regeneration and Housing, 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 signed minutes and the recommendations contained therein, be received and agreed.

 

By way of amendment Councillor Julian Dean proposed that recommendation 3.2 be amended to read: -

 

To delegate authority to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Growth, Regeneration and Housing to establish a Shropshire Economic Partnership Board to drive forward the Economic Growth Strategy, develop and agree the associated Terms of Reference, to include representation from across the county’s business sectors, public sector organisations, geographies, the voluntary sector, communities, and the chairs of other local stakeholder groups such as the climate action and nature recovery partnerships in the county. The board should also aim for gender balance. 

 

This was seconded by Councillor Duncan Kerr

 

On taking a vote the amendment fell.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Council

 

a)    Approve the establishment of an advisory Shropshire Economic Partnership Board

 

b)    Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Growth, Regeneration and Housing to establish a Shropshire Economic Partnership Board to drive forward the Economic Growth Strategy, develop and agree the associated Terms of Reference.

c)    Delegate to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Growth, Regeneration and Housing to develop through the Shropshire Economic Partnership Board, produce the Action Plan to support the Economic Growth Strategy to delivery and the appropriate KPI’s to support the Economic Growth Strategy and the Healthy Economy priority of the Shropshire Plan

76.

Recruitment of Co-opted Independent Members for the Audit Committee pdf icon PDF 240 KB

Report of the Executive Director, Resources is attached

 

Contact:  James Walton.  Tel. 01743 258915

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

RESOLVED:

 

a.    That the Council consider the approach set out in the report, and delegate authority to the Executive Director of Resources (in consultation with the Chair of the Audit Committee) to progress recruitment of a co-opted independent person for a term of four years.

 

b.    That the Council nominate members to a panel who will undertake the shortlisting, carry out interviews and recommend the successful candidate for this role to Council on a date to be confirmed in early 2023.

 

77.

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman report - Finding of Fault with Injustice pdf icon PDF 195 KB

Report of the Head of Housing is TO FOLLOW

 

Contact:  Laura Fisher  Tel: 01743 258981

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Portfolio Holder for Growth, Regeneration and Housing, Councillor Dean Carroll, and seconded by The Leader, Councillor Lezley Picton that the report of the Chief Executive, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes and the recommendations contained therein, be received and agreed.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Members note the content of the LGSCO report attached at Appendix A and the actions taken to date, to comply in full with the LGSCO’s recommendations.

 

 

78.

Allocation of Committee Seats and Appointments pdf icon PDF 249 KB

Report of the Assistant Director Legal and Governance is attached

 

Contact:  Tim Collard, Tel 01743 252756

 

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Chairman, Councillor Vince Hunt, and seconded by the Vice Chairman Councillor Brian Williams that the report of the Assistant Director of Legal and Governance, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes and the recommendations contained therein, be received, and agreed.

 

By way of amendment Councillor Julia Buckley proposed that the number of Conservative seats on the Pensions Committee be reduced from 3 to 2, and that the number of Labour seats increase from 0 to 1.

 

This was seconded by Councillor Tony Parsons

 

On taking a vote the amendment fell.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.    That the Council confirms the revised allocation of seats to each of the political groups for the 2021/22 municipal year as a consequence of the change in group membership as follows:

 

a)    That the composition and revised allocation of seats on its committees and other bodies as detailed in the report be approved.

b)    That the Leader of the Conservative Group provides notification of which of its members will be removed from each of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

c)    That the Leader of the Independent Group provides notification of  which of its members will be allocated to the Southern Planning Committee.