Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J Barrow.

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 approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 15 November 2017. TO FOLLOW

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 15 November 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 15 November 2017 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 1 December 2017.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To receive any questions of which members of the Council have given notice.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is 5.00pm on Friday 1 December 2017.

There were no questions raised by members of the public.

To receive a verbal report from the Chair of the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Claire Wild, on the Committee’s views/recommendations on the Council Tax Support Grant consultation.

RESOLVED:

That the feedback from the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee following its consideration of the Council Tax Support Grant consultation be noted.

The Chair of the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee provided a verbal report on the Committee’s consideration of the Council Tax Support Grant consultation.   She stated that the Committee had agreed to both endorse Option 4 of the report and to also request the Welfare Task and Finish Group to consider the use of Discretionary Housing Payments [DHP] to support claimants adversely affected by the changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme and to undertake a review 12 months’ after the introduction of Universal Credit.

A Member commented that he had attended the Scrutiny Committee meeting and had been disappointed at the volume of information that had been tabled when little time had been allowed for consideration of the information.  He stressed that the introduction of Universal Credit in May and June 2018 would affect a number of vulnerable people and he cited a preference for Option 1 or 2 [as considered by Cabinet at the meeting on 18 October 2017].  Another Member commented on the deplorable situation whereby in addition to the overall austerity measures the Council was taking money away from vulnerable people in the county.

The Chair of the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee stated that five examples had been considered by the Committee illustrating the impact on different people and evidence had also been heard from the CAB.  She added that other neighbouring authorities had already been charging for several years.

RESOLVED:

That the feedback from the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee following its consideration of the Council Tax Support Grant consultation be noted.

Lead Member – Councillor Peter Nutting – Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategy

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [Section 151 Officer]

Contact: James Walton      Tel: 01743 255001

RESOLVED:

That the position as detailed in the report be accepted.

The Leader presented a report from the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance that outlined the treasury management activities of the Council in the last quarter.

RESOLVED:

That the position as detailed in the report be accepted.

Lead Member – Councillor Steve Charmley – Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support

Report of the Director of Place and Enterprise

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 255003

RESOLVED:

i)             That the key underlying and emerging issues in the reports and appendices be considered; and

ii)            That the performance portal be reviewed and any performance areas for consideration in greater detail be identified or referred to the appropriate Overview Scrutiny Committee.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support presented a report from the Director of Place and Enterprise on the Council’s performance against its key outcomes for Quarter 2 2017/18.  He thanked the performance team for pulling the information together and drew particular attention to continued improvements in i) delayed transfer of care, ii) attendance at Theatre Severn and the Old Market Hall and iii) permanent admissions to residential care.

A Member voiced congratulations to all staff working in Children’s Services on the achievement of ‘Good’ rating in the recent Ofsted inspection.  The Leader stated that this excellent result would be openly and widely acknowledged and this showed that the Council achieved to a high level.

The Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure also paid tribute to the excellent work of staff in culture and leisure and added that the 2017 Pantomime at Theatre Severn was already sold to 93% capacity.

RESOLVED:

i)             That the key underlying and emerging issues in the reports and appendices be considered; and

ii)            That the performance portal be reviewed and any performance areas for consideration in greater detail be identified or referred to the appropriate Overview Scrutiny Committee.

Lead Member – Councillor Lezley Picton – Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure

Report of the Director of Place and Enterprise

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 255003

It was noted that this item had been deferred for consideration by Cabinet at the meeting on 10 January 2018.

Lead Member – Councillor Steve Charmley – Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support

Report of the Director of Place and Enterprise TO FOLLOW

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 255003

It was noted that a public report on this issue had not been compiled and that information would be considered following the exclusion of the public and press from the meeting.

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 Procedure Rules, the public and press be excluded from this meeting during consideration of the following item/s.

RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with the provisions of Scheduled 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 from the meeting for the following item/s.

RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with the provisions of Scheduled 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 from the meeting for the following item/s.

Lead Member – Councillor Steve Charmley – Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support

Exempt Report of the Director of Place and Enterprise TO FOLLOW

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 255003

RESOLVED:

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

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support presented a confidential report from the Director of Place and Enterprise on Shrewsbury Town Centre.

RESOLVED:

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