There were no apologies for absence.

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.

None were declared.

To consider and approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 30 November 2016.

Contact: Jane Palmer          Tel: 01743 257712

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 30 November 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 30 November 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

To receive any questions or petitions from members of the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is 5.00pm on Friday 16 December 2016.

No questions from members of the public had been received.

To consider any matters from Council or any of the Scrutiny Committees.

There were no scrutiny matters to consider.

Lead Member – Councillor Malcolm Pate – Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan.

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [s151 Officer]

Contact: James Walton      Tel: 01743 258915

RESOLVED:

That the position as detailed in the report be accepted.

The Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan presented a report from the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [s151 Officer] that outlined the treasury management activities of the Council in the last quarter.  It also highlighted the economic environment in which the treasury management decisions had been made and provided an update on the internal treasury team’s performance.

RESOLVED:

That the position as detailed in the report be accepted.

Lead Member – Councillor Malcolm Pate – Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan.

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [s151 Officer] TO FOLLOW

Contact: James Walton      Tel: 01743 258915

The Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan stated that a report on the impact of the Local Government finance settlement would be made to the next meeting of Cabinet to allow its impact to be fully assessed.  He drew particular attention to the New Homes Bonus reforms and assured Members that the Council would be receiving this funding as it had achieved 1.6% growth.  Referring to the funding of Adult Social Care [ASC], he stated that this was going to be revisited by Government, further changes to the precepts of Parish and Town Councils had been deferred.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transportation added that the Council had been assessed at Level 3 of the Department of Transport incentivisation funding and would be receiving increased income from 2017. The Portfolio Holder for Rural Communities commented on the pressure on rural Council Tax by the Government’s withdrawal of the Transitional Relief Fund.  The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and the Environment commented that the New Homes Bonus funding would reduce as more funding was put into Adult Social Care with no overall increase of funding to the authority.  He drew attention to the fact that the Council was ranked 28^th in the country re New Homes Bonus and was delivering well above its weight.  Acknowledging Members’ concerns, the Leader stated that a strongly worded letter had been sent to the Minister regarding funding for Adult Social Care.

A Member commented on the confusion in the funding of Local Government by the current Government and considered that the austerity measures and uncertainties were causing damage to public services.  The Leader responded that the problems caused by the previous Government were still being felt and considered that fair sharing of existing funding would allow the effective delivery of services.

Another Member drew attention to the comments of the local Member of Parliament advocating a merger of Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Councils in order to achieve significant savings.  However, the Leader commented that joint working and service delivery where possible represented a more reasonable approach.

Lead Member – Councillor Malcolm Price - Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment.

Report of the Director of Adult Services

Contact: Andy Begley         Tel: 01743 258911

RESOLVED:

      i.        That the Housing Governance Board set up to deliver the appropriate governance has changed its name to that of the Asset Assurance Board be noted and that this change needs to be reflected in the Council’s Constitution;

    ii.        That the Housing Governance Board’s overarching advisory role to inform Cabinet/Council on developing and discharging the Council’s Housing Strategy, be transferred to the existing Social Housing Forum in recognition of the Asset Assurance Board more business focussed approach, and that this change needs to be reflected in the Council’s Constitution.

   iii.        That the Governance Framework and the Terms of Reference recommended to them by the Asset Assurance Board on 5th Oct 2016 be agreed;

   iv.        That the Director of Adult Services (housing portfolio) in conjunction with the Monitoring Officer be asked to prepare a report to Council concerning amendments to the Constitution to reflect the changes identified in the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and the Environment presented a report from the Director of Adult Services on the governance framework and terms of reference recommended by the newly established Asset Assurance Board and the arrangements relating to Shropshire Towns and Rural Housing (ST&RH].  In acknowledging the new arrangements relating to ST&RH, a Member urged that action needed to be taken to finally resolve current sewerage issues with some properties in the Bridgnorth area.  The Portfolio Holder acknowledged the current problems and agreed that a fair resolution needed to be achieved for the benefit of those living in both ST&RH properties and those living in their own properties that had been purchased during the right to buy initiative.

RESOLVED:

      i.        That the Housing Governance Board set up to deliver the appropriate governance has changed its name to that of the Asset Assurance Board be noted and that this change needs to be reflected in the Council’s Constitution;

    ii.        That the Housing Governance Board’s overarching advisory role to inform Cabinet/Council on developing and discharging the Council’s Housing Strategy, be transferred to the existing Social Housing Forum in recognition of the Asset Assurance Board more business focussed approach, and that this change needs to be reflected in the Council’s Constitution.

   iii.        That the Governance Framework and the Terms of Reference recommended to them by the Asset Assurance Board on 5th Oct 2016 be agreed;

   iv.        That the Director of Adult Services (housing portfolio) in conjunction with the Monitoring Officer be asked to prepare a report to Council concerning amendments to the Constitution to reflect the changes identified in the report.

Lead Member – Councillor Malcolm Price – Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment

Report of the Director of Public Health

Contact: Rod Thomson       Tel: 01743 252003

            RESOLVED:

            That Cabinet agrees, with any necessary amendments, the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order as detailed in Appendix A and the accompanying consultation documentation as detailed in Appendix B and to instruct the Trading Standards and Licensing Operations Manager to initiate an eight-week period of consultation and to arrange for the results to be brought back to Cabinet for further consideration and any further necessary amendment.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment presented a report from the Director of Public Health on a proposed Public Spaces Protection Order [PSPO] in response to growing concern and evidence that anti-social behaviour within Shrewsbury Town Centre was affecting local businesses, residents, visitors and agencies.  He added that the PSPO formed part of a series of measures aimed at taking an holistic approach to improving Shrewsbury town centre for the benefit of all.  The current main areas of concern were a) people causing nuisance and harassment, b) urinating and defecating in public areas, c) leaving personal items and d) consumption of alcohol in public areas.    

A Member drew attention to the omission of the Frankwell area and the area beyond the railway station.  The Portfolio Holder replied that there was a danger in changing the area to be covered by the Order as this could result in problems being shifted to other areas.  Referring to the number of rough sleepers in the town, totalling seven currently, the Portfolio Holder assured Members that accommodation was offered to them from mid-December to the end of February and that the authority also had a duty to offer accommodation to rough sleepers if there were more than two nights of frost.

The Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture supported the initiative and drew attention to the success of such Orders that had already been implemented in other parts of the country. One of the local Members had indicated his support for this initiative and those present were all in favour of the initiative as a measure to protect the centre of Shrewsbury as a nice place to visit.

RESOLVED:

            That Cabinet agrees, with any necessary amendments, the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order as detailed in Appendix A and the accompanying consultation documentation as detailed in Appendix B and to instruct the Trading Standards and Licensing Operations Manager to initiate an eight-week period of consultation and to arrange for the results to be brought back to Cabinet for further consideration and any further necessary amendment.

Lead Member – Councillor Michael Wood – Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support.

Report of the Head of Human Resources and Development TO FOLLOW

Contact: Michele Leith        Tel: 01743 254402

            RESOLVED:

i)          That the Workforce Strategy attached at Appendix A to the report be approved; and

ii)         That the IT Strategy attached at Appendix B to the report, be approved.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support presented a report from the Head of Human Resources and Development on two key strategies, the Workforce Strategy and the I.T. Strategy that had been developed to underpin the Council’s Corporate Plan.

In answer to a Member’s comment, the Portfolio Holder stated that the Trade Unions had discussed the documents and had signed up to them. The Leader added that regular meetings were held with Trade Unions and he stressed that the Council’s greatest asset was, and would continue to be, its staff.

            RESOLVED:

i)          That the Workforce Strategy attached at Appendix A to the report be approved; and

ii)         That the IT Strategy attached at Appendix B to the report, be approved.

Lead Member – Councillor David Minnery – Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People.

Report of the Director of Children’s Services

Contact: Karen Bradshaw  Tel: 01743 254201

RESOLVED:

i)     That the outcomes from the statutory consultation be noted; and

ii)    That it be agreed to proceed to the publication of closure proposals for Hope CE Primary School and St Mary’s CE Primary School Westbury, with a target date of 1 September 2017, consolidating provision on an expanded site at Worthen CE Primary School.

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People presented a report from the Director of Children’s Services on the outcomes of the consultation on the proposal to amalgamate Hope CE Primary School, Worthen CE Primary School and St Mary’s CE Primary School, Westbury and the recommendation to proceed to the next stage of the statutory process with the publication of the statutory proposals to close the two school sites at Hope and Westbury.

Comments from one of the local Members were read out to the meeting in her absence.  She was in support of the proposals that had resulted from the lack of affordable housing in the area, the closure of the village shop, possible closure of the Post Office and the number of children on roll no longer being viable.  She concluded that urgent measures needed to be taken to regenerate rural communities in the county.

RESOLVED:

i)     That the outcomes from the statutory consultation be noted; and

ii)    That it be agreed to proceed to the publication of closure proposals for Hope CE Primary School and St Mary’s CE Primary School Westbury, with a target date of 1 September 2017, consolidating provision on an expanded site at Worthen CE Primary School.

To resolve that, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and Paragraph 10.2 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 10.2 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items.

Lead Member – Councillor Michael Wood – Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support.

Report of the Head of Human Resources and Development

Contact: Michele Leith        Tel: 01743 254402

            RESOLVED:

            That the two recommendations detailed in the exempt report be approved as detailed in the confidential minutes.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support presented a confidential report from the Head of Human Resources and Development on Shropshire Council’s financial support for Just Credit Union.

RESOLVED:

            That the two recommendations detailed in the exempt report be approved as detailed in the confidential minutes.

Lead Member – Councillor Michael Wood – Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support.

Report of the Director of Place and Enterprise TO FOLLOW

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 255003

            RESOLVED:

            That the four recommendations detailed in the exempt report be approved as detailed in the confidential minutes.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support presented a confidential update report from the Director of Place and Enterprise on the provision of student accommodation for the University Centre, Shrewsbury’s undergraduate offer.

RESOLVED:

            That the four recommendations detailed in the exempt report be approved as detailed in the confidential minutes.

Lead Member – Councillor Steve Charmley - Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business and Economy.

Report of the Director of Place and Enterprise

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 255003

            RESOLVED:

            That the four recommendations detailed in the exempt report be approved as detailed in the confidential minutes.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business and Economy presented a confidential report from the Director of Place and Enterprise on the planned release and development of the next phase of the Shrewsbury Business Park.       

RESOLVED:

            That the four recommendations detailed in the exempt report be approved as detailed in the confidential minutes.