Apologies were received from Councillors Gwilym Butler, Lee Chapman and David Minnery

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 22 May 2019, attached.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 May 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 May 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader

There were no scrutiny items.

To receive any questions of which members of the Council have given due notice, the deadline for notification for this meeting  is 5.00 pm on Friday 7 June 2019.

There were no Member questions.

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 is no later than 24 hours prior to the commencement of the meeting. 

The Reverend Michael Plunkett read out a question in relation to bus services on behalf of Enterprise South West Shropshire. 

Questions were also received in relation to Climate Change from Isobel Lewis, Jonathan Bruton, Adam Shipp, Dougald Purce and Charles Green, CPRE.  A full copy of the questions and responses provided by the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Climate change is attached to the signed minutes and available on the Council’s website with the papers for Cabinet meetings.  

Lead Member – Councillor S Davenport – Portfolio Holder for Highways and Car Parking

Report of Director of Place attached

Contact:  Mark Barrow, 01743 258916

RESOLVED:

          Local Bus Services

         i.          To not implement the reduction or removal of services as consulted, but where the consultation feedback has highlighted genuine efficiencies or cost pressures those will be focussed upon.  

       ii.          To amend the Council’s 2019/20 budget and reduce the planned reduction in the public transport budget from £405,000 to £180,000.

2.2     Shrewsbury Park & Ride

         i.          To approve the proposal as consulted upon on Shrewsbury Park & Ride fare increase from £1.60 to £2.00 return.

       ii.          To remove the Shrewsbury Park & Ride group ticket option, which currently allows up to 5 passengers to travel for the price of £2.50 (return).

      iii.          To refer the matter of the removal of the discretionary discount for concessionary fares on Shrewsbury Park and Ride to Scrutiny for consideration, along with consideration of a Family Ticket offer. 

     iv.          To agree the proposed changes to Park & Ride become effective from 1 September 2019  

2.3     Future Public Transport Services

i.                 To commence a review of the current operation and future opportunities for, improved public transport services across Shropshire, including reviewing concessionary travel and the opportunities for bus franchising.

In introducing the report of the Director of Place, the Portfolio Holder for Highways and Car Parking thanked the Deputy Portfolio Holder for Transport for his hard work on bus transport issues and emphasised the need to start thinking differently in the future.

The Deputy Portfolio Holder reported that there had been 956 responses to the six week consultation on the proposals to reduce the Council’s expenditure on the local bus services it subsidised and the Shrewsbury Park and Ride Service.  The responses had highlighted the reliance on bus services for people in Shropshire in undertaking their daily lives, particularly the elderly, those with a disability, young people and families on low incomes.  

The report before Council had taken account of the consultation responses and it was now proposed not to reduce or remove services, but to focus on where genuine efficiencies or cost pressures could be focused on.  This meant the full savings reduction of £405,000 would not be achieved and would be reduced to £180,000. 

A number of Members of the Council addressed the Cabinet and welcomed the news that services would not be reduced or removed.  They highlighted issues raised in their electoral divisions in relation to social isolation, access to education and employment and the economy.  Members also raised issues around recording of bus pass useage, and equitable access to bus passes that covered 7 day a week travel.  Members also highlighted the need for a sustainable transport system and use of environmentally friendly vehicles. 

Members also spoke in relation to the Shrewsbury Park and Ride, the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan, the funding made available to community transport groups.    

Responding to comments, the Portfolio Holder and Leader reiterated the desire to be more efficient rather than implement cuts and highlighted the opportunities presented by the developing Rural and Community Strategy and in the area of climate change and carbon reduction which would help shape and influence future transport policy.

An amendment was proposed and agreed so that the Park and Ride proposals to remove the concessionary discount be referred to a Task and finish Group for further consideration, along with

consideration of a family discount offer.

RESOLVED:

          Local Bus Services

         i.          To not implement the reduction or removal of services as consulted, but where the consultation feedback has highlighted genuine efficiencies or cost pressures those will be focussed upon.  

       ii.          To amend the Council’s 2019/20 budget and reduce the planned reduction in the public transport budget from £405,000 to £180,000.

2.2     Shrewsbury Park & Ride

         i.          To approve the proposal as consulted upon on Shrewsbury Park & Ride fare increase from £1.60 to £2.00 return.

       ii.          To remove the Shrewsbury Park & Ride group ticket option, which currently allows up to 5 passengers to travel for the price of £2.50 (return).

      iii.          To refer the matter of the removal of the discretionary discount for concessionary fares on Shrewsbury Park and Ride to Scrutiny for consideration, along with consideration of a Family Ticket offer. 

     iv.          To agree the proposed changes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Lead Member – Councillor Lezley Picton, Portfolio Holder Culture, Leisure, Waste and Communications

Report of Director of Place attached

Contact:  Mark Barrow, Director of Place, 01743 258916

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet approve the Shropshire Hills AONB Management Plan 2019-24, and the revised

Terms of Reference for the AONB Partnership.

The Portfolio Holder for Culture, Leisure, Waste and Communications introduced the report of the Director of Place on the Shropshire Hills AONB Management Plan 2019 – 2024 and Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership Terms of Reference.  She emphasised that she and the Council took the need to work closely with the Partnership seriously and recognised its responsibility in supporting the huge environmental, economic and wellbeing benefits it brought to the people of Shropshire.    

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet approve the Shropshire Hills AONB Management Plan 2019-24, and the revised

Terms of Reference for the AONB Partnership.

Lead Member - Robert Macey, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Strategic Planning

Report of Director of Place, attached

Contact:  Mark Barrow, tel 01743 258916

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet approves the draft document for consultation (attached) which identifies preferred strategic sites at the former Ironbridge Power Station, Clive Barracks at Tern Hill and RAF Cosford for consultation subject to minor amendments and editing. The document also seeks views on (but at this stage does not identify as a preferred allocation) outline proposals for a strategic employment site and related community services and housing north of Junction 3 of the M54;

That authority is delegated to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Strategic Planning to confirm the final version of the documents and to publish these for public consultation;

That Cabinet approves a revised Local Plan timetable as set out in the updated ‘Local Development Scheme’ attached to this report.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Strategic Planning presented a report of the Director of Place, seeking approval for a consultation document identifying preferred strategic sites in Shropshire and providing a summary analysis of the feedback received during the previous round of consultation on Preferred Sites.

A number of members addressed Cabinet reporting significant local concern about the land north of Junction 3 of the M54 which lay within the West Midlands Green Belt and asked about timescales in identifying the future of this site.  The Local Member for Much Wenlock emphasised the need to be mindful of the impact of the Ironbridge Power Station development on local settlements and on the very small Parish it was located within, emphasising the need to ensure phasing took into account community cohesion and integration.  

Cabinet members heard that it was expected that the outcomes of the consultation would be presented to Cabinet in March 2020 as part of the draft Local Plan Review for consultation. The Leader referred to national policy which would require Shropshire Council to present an ‘exceptional circumstances’ argument to justify the release of Green Belt land near junction 3 of the M54.

The Portfolio Holder said the Ironbridge Development would be delivered through a carefully phased master planning approach and reported that Telford and Wrekin Council supported this.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet approves the draft document for consultation (attached) which identifies preferred strategic sites at the former Ironbridge Power Station, Clive Barracks at Tern Hill and RAF Cosford for consultation subject to minor amendments and editing. The document also seeks views on (but at this stage does not identify as a preferred allocation) outline proposals for a strategic employment site and related community services and housing north of Junction 3 of the M54;

That authority is delegated to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Strategic Planning to confirm the final version of the documents and to publish these for public consultation;

That Cabinet approves a revised Local Plan timetable as set out in the updated ‘Local Development Scheme’ attached to this report.

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 for the following items.

Lead Member – Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Assets, Economic Growth and Regeneration

Report of Director of Place

Contact:  Mark Barrow, tel 0174 258916

RESOLVED:

To approve the recommendations set out in the report.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Assets, Economic Growth and Regeneration presented an Exempt report of the Director of Place relating to disposal of a site for the provision of self-build plots.

RESOLVED:

To approve the recommendations set out in the report.

Lead Member – Councillor Robert Macey, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Strategic Planning

Report of Director of Adult Service

Contact:  Andy Begley, 01743 258981

RESOLVED

To approve the recommendations set out in the report

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Strategic Planning presented an Exempt report of the Director of Adult Services, Housing and Public Health, relating to lease of a property in Tilstock for the provision of temporary accommodation.

RESOLVED

To approve the recommendations set out in the report