16.1    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.

17.1    Members were reminded that they must not participate in the discussion or voting on any matter in which they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 4^th June 2014, attached marked 3.

Contact – Penny Chamberlain (01743 252729)

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 4 June 2014 be confirmed as a correct record and be signed by the Leader.

18.1    RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 4 June 2014 be confirmed as a correct record and be signed by the Leader.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.

19.1    A question had been received from Mr S Martin on behalf of Shropshire CPRE and answered by Mr M Price Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Commissioning (Central) in relation to the possibility of reducing housing target levels for the remaining years of the adopted Core Strategy – copy attached to the signed minutes.

19.2    By way of a supplementary question Mr Martin queried whether the Council would recognise the desirability of keeping the figures low and if necessary keeping to 27,500 up until 2026 even if there were pressures from other areas such as immigration.

19.3    In response the Portfolio Holder indicated that the SAMDev had been submitted to Council and subsequently DCLG and expressed a preference to retain the higher level particularly as they would be examined in depth by the Public Inspector.  He commented that the Inspector could suggest that the figures be amended either up or down and also re-iterated that the early review of the Strategy might change the figures.

20.1    There were no matters referred from Scrutiny/Council.

21.1    There were no reports from the Scrutiny Committees.

Lead Member – Mr Mike Owen, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support.

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) is to follow.

Contact – James Walton (01743 255011)

(a)  That it be noted that the funding gap of £80m for the period 2014-17 identified in the Council Business Plan and Financial Strategy agreed by Council in February 2014 was retained for planning purposes.

(b)  That the initial funding gap identified for 2017/18 be noted, which would be refined before being built into the Council’s next Medium Term Financial Plan.

(c)  That it be noted that a further, updated report, was due to be presented to Council in September to reflect the financial implications of the planned university and Annual Business Plan for ip&e.

22.1    The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) – copy attached to the signed minutes – on an overview of the latest estimates of the Council’s revenue resources and expenditure.  It was set in the context of the Council’s other key strategic documents, in particular, the Treasury Management Strategy and the Capital Strategy which was now incorporated within the Business Plan.

22.2    The Financial Strategy was a rolling plan which was revised throughout each financial year, usually quarterly, as more information became available about the level of resources, service pressures and service delivery.  The report submitted to this meeting was the first in 2014/15 and considered the information from current year monitoring reports and any implications of this for future year’s budgets.  It also considered revised information for years 2 and 3, 2015/16 and 2016/17 of the current financial plan and outline initial projections for 2017/18.

22.3    RESOLVED:

(a)  That it be noted that the funding gap of £80m for the period 2014-17 identified in the Council Business Plan and Financial Strategy agreed by Council in February 2014 was retained for planning purposes.

(b)  That the initial funding gap identified for 2017/18 be noted, which would be refined before being built into the Council’s next Medium Term Financial Plan.

(c)  That it be noted that a further, updated report, was due to be presented to Council in September to reflect the financial implications of the planned university and Annual Business Plan for ip&e.

Lead Member – Mr Mike Owen, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support.

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) is attached marked 8.

Contact – James Walton (01743 255011)

That the position set out in the report of the Head of Governance, Finance and Assurance be accepted.

23.1    The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) – copy attached to the signed minutes – on the treasury management activities of the Council in the first quarter of 2014/15.  It highlighted the economic environment in which treasury management decisions had been made and the interest rate forecasts of the Council’s Treasury Advisor, Capita Asset Services.  It also updated Cabinet on the internal treasury team’s performance.

23.2    RESOLVED:

That the position set out in the report of the Head of Governance, Finance and Assurance be accepted.

Lead Member – Mr Mike Owen, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support.

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) is attached marked 9.

Contact – James Walton (01743 255011)

That the position as set out in the report of the Head of Governance, Finance and Assurance be accepted.

24.1    The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) – copy attached to the signed minutes – on the treasury activities for Shropshire Council for 2013/14, which included the investment performance of the internal treasury team to 31 March 2014.  He indicated that the internal treasury team had outperformed their investment benchmark by 0.3% in 2013/14 with the performance for the last three years being 0.5% per annum above benchmark.  Treasury activities during the year had been within approved prudential and treasury indicators set and had complied with the Treasury Strategy.

24.2    RESOLVED:

That the position as set out in the report of the Head of Governance, Finance and Assurance be accepted.

Lead Member – Mr Mike Owen, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support.

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) is to follow.

Contact – James Walton (01743 255011)

(a)  That it be noted that at the end of Quarter 1 (27 June 2014), the full year forecast was a potential overspend of £3.225m.

(b)  That consideration be given to the impact of this on the Council’s General Fund Balance.

25.1    The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) – copy attached to the signed minutes – which set out the revenue forecast for 2014/15 as at Quarter 1 and identified the current projections on delivery of savings included within the forecast.

25.2    During the ensuing discussion a Member expressed his concern at the number of one off items which had been financed through the use of balances and that savings could still not be qualified with any certainty.  He also voiced his disappointment at this stage with the number of proposals for savings delivery which were currently rated as red or amber for this financial year.  In response the Leader expressed confidence that the savings would be delivered and commented that the Finance Team were right to be cautious in their reporting of the figures.  Savings including those in the Adult Social Care field would not be recorded as having been delivered and given a green rating until such time as it was known they had been achieved for definite at the end of the year.

25.3    Reference was also made to the regular monthly meetings being held between the Directors and Cabinet Members in order to review the financial position and ensure targets were being met for the current year.  The meetings also considered the position for the next 2 years.

25.4    RESOLVED:

(a)  That it be noted that at the end of Quarter 1 (27 June 2014), the full year forecast was a potential overspend of £3.225m.

(b)  That the impact of this on the Council’s General Fund Balance be noted.

Lead Member – Mr Mike Owen, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support.

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) is to follow.

Contact – James Walton (01743 255011)

(a)  That approval be given to the net budget variations of £0.5m to the 2014/15 capital programme, detailed in Appendix 1/Table 1 and the re-profiled 2014/15 capital budget of £70.9m.

(b)  That approval be given to the re-profiled capital budgets of £18.3m for 2015/16 and £5,4m for 2016/17 as detailed in Appendix 1/Table 4.

(c)  That Council be recommended to approve the budget increases for new external funding of £2.24m in additional Highways Maintenance funding from the Department of Transport for expenditure in 2014/15 and an additional £1.5m grant for BDUK for the current Broadband Project.

(d)  That the expenditure to date of £5.7m, representing 8.1% of the revised capital budget for 2014/15, with 25% of the year having elapsed, be accepted.

26.1    The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) – copy attached to the signed minutes – on the current position for the Council’s 2014/15 to 2017/18 capital programme which took into account the latest monitoring information on the progress of the schemes, any necessary budget increases and decreases and the re-profiling of budgets between 2014/15 and future years.

26.2    RESOLVED:

(a)  That approval be given to the net budget variations of £0.5m to the 2014/15 capital programme, detailed in Appendix 1/Table 1 and the re-profiled 2014/15 capital budget of £70.9m.

(b)  That approval be given to the re-profiled capital budgets of £18.3m for 2015/16 and £5,4m for 2016/17 as detailed in Appendix 1/Table 4.

(c)  That Council be recommended to approve the budget increases for new external funding of £2.24m in additional Highways Maintenance funding from the Department of Transport for expenditure in 2014/15 and an additional £1.5m grant from BDUK for the current Broadband Project.

(d)  That the expenditure to date of £5.7m, representing 8.1% of the revised capital budget for 2014/15, with 25% of the year having elapsed, be accepted.

Lead Member – Mr Malcolm Price, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Commissioning (Central).

Report of the Director of Commissioning is attached marked 12.

Contact – Andy Evans (01743 253869)

(a)  That the outcome from the Place Plan annual review (2013/14) be noted and the recommendations for use of developer contributions to be incorporated within the LDF Implementation Plan (Appendix B of the report) and CIL Regulations 123 list (Appendix A of the report, be signed off.

(b) That in signing off the recommendations for the use of developed contributions, the risks association with the prioritisation of infrastructure needs be noted and the coordination of all available resources to assist in infrastructure delivery, including use of the New Homes Bonus be endorsed.

(c)  That responsibility be delegated to the Head of Economic Growth and Prosperity, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Commissioning (Central), to allocated CIL monies to items not identified through the Place Plans and CIL Regulation 123 List, where an essential infrastructure requirement was identified during the Development Management process.

(d)  That approval be given to the format of the redesigned Place Plans (see example in Appendix C) as the annual framework for co-ordinating resources and responsibility be delegated to the Head of Economic Growth and Prosperity to finalise the redesign across all 18 Place Plan documents using the identified infrastructure priorities (Appendix D) and wider investment priorities (Appendix E) from this year’s annual Place Plan review.

(e)  That the future role of Local Joint Committee’s be committed to incorporate the Place Plan annual review cycle.

27.1    The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Commissioning (Central) presented a report by the Head of Economic Growth and Prosperity – copy attached to the signed minutes – on the outcomes from the annual Place Plan review and sought approval for the LDF Implementation Plan and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulation 123 List.  The report set out the priorities identified to support new development within Shropshire and made recommendations on the most appropriate delivery mechanisms, taking into account different funding sources and the legislative and local requirements around the use of developer contributions including Section 106 obligations and CIL (Strategic, Local and Neighbourhood Fund).

27.2    RESOLVED:

(a)  That the outcome from the Place Plan annual review (2013/14) be noted and the recommendations for use of developer contributions to be incorporated within the LDF Implementation Plan (Appendix B of the report) and CIL Regulations 123 list (Appendix A of the report), be signed off.

(b)  That in signing off the recommendations for the use of developer contributions, the risks associated with the prioritisation of infrastructure needs be noted and the coordination of all available resources to assist in infrastructure delivery, including use of the New Homes Bonus be endorsed.

(c)  That responsibility be delegated to the Head of Economic Growth and Prosperity, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Commissioning (Central), to allocate CIL monies to items not identified through the Place Plans and CIL Regulation 123 List, where an essential infrastructure requirement was identified during the Development Management process.

(d)  That approval be given to the format of the redesigned Place Plans (see example in Appendix C) as the annual framework for co-ordinating resources and responsibility be delegated to the Head of Economic Growth and Prosperity to finalise the redesign across all 18 Place Plan documents using the identified infrastructure priorities (Appendix D) and wider investment priorities (Appendix E) from this year’s annual Place Plan review.

(e)  That the future role of Local Joint Committee’s be committed to incorporate the Place Plan annual review cycle.

Lead Member - Mr Gwilym Butler, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Libraries and Culture

Report of the Director of Commissioning is attached marked 13.

Contact – George Candler (01743 255003)

(a)  That approval be given for officers to work with partners to progress the “replacement” of existing swimming provision at the Quarry with new swimming provision within Shrewsbury to the feasibility stage and that a further report be provided to Cabinet once the different options had been appraised.

(b)  That a three month public consultation be undertaken to support the development of detailed costed proposals for future swimming provision and that different options be assessed against a shared vision and list of future pool requirements.

(c)  That authority be delegated to the Director of Commissioning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Libraries to enter into discussion with Shropshire Community Leisure Trust, the current operator and their managing agent Serco Leisure Ltd and to agree a Contract Variation which would enable the Council to appoint Shropshire Community Leisure Trust to operate any new pool provision.

28.1    The Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Libraries and Culture presented a report by the Director of Commissioning – copy attached to the signed minutes – on the existing swimming provision at the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre in Shrewsbury which was now managed by the Shropshire Community Leisure Trust on behalf of the Council.  The report also covered the issues surrounding future swimming provision within the town both in the medium and long term and the four different options which could be submitted for public consultation with a view to a recommendation on a final location being brought back to Cabinet and Council as and when appropriate.  He expressed appreciation of the contribution made by members of the Quarry Swimming Forum in helping formulate the proposals to date and looked forward to working with them in future to progress proposals which were only now in their infancy.

28.2    During the ensuing discussion a Member welcomed the proposals and referred to a survey carried out by herself mainly by electronic means which indicated that the majority of persons would prefer for the provision to be kept within the town centre rather than relocated to an edge of town location.  In requesting that this be taken into account she also asked that the provision continue to include gym facilities given that many residents were unable to afford private gym membership.

28.3    In response the Leader indicated that the intention was to provide a new enhanced facility at a time when many swimming pools were being closed elsewhere in the country.  He emphasised that the matter would be put out to public consultation and most of the issues raised by the Member including provision for small children would be included as a matter of course.  The Portfolio Holder also explained that the consultation would be far reaching and that the Project Board comprised of individuals from across all sections of the Council with close working also taking place with the Swimming Forum, Horticultural Society and Shrewsbury Town Council.

28.4    At this point in the discussion the Leader invited a member of the public to participate in the debate on behalf of the large number of persons present at the meeting for this issue.  In turn the user of the pool, both a student in Shrewsbury and resident from a village on the edge of town, expressed her support for the existing pool to be retained within the town and for it to be refurbished, albeit she also voiced some concern that this might mean the pool was closed for some time.

28.5    In response the Portfolio Holder indicated that a full survey of the premises would be undertaken to establish the actual condition of the facility.  The Leader also re-iterated the intention to provide a much better facility to that which existed at present and urged all interested parties to become involved in the consultation.

28.6    RESOLVED:

(a)  That approval be given for officers to work with partners to progress the “replacement” of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

Lead Member – Mr Steve Charmley, Portfolio Holder for Business Growth, ip&e and Commissioning (North)

Report of the Head of Business Growth and Prosperity is attached marked 14.

Contact – Andy Evans (01743 253869)

(a)  That approval be given to the establishment of a Marches LEP Joint Committee called The Marches Enterprise Joint Executive Committee and the list of executive functions (as set out in paragraph 13 of the proposed Constitution at Appendix 1) that the Committee can exercise on behalf of Shropshire Council for LEP decision.

(b)  That the proposed constitution for the Marches Enterprise Joint Executive Committee as attached as Appendix 1 be approved and that Shropshire’s voting Member be the Leader of the Council, or the Portfolio Holder for Business Growth and Commissioning (North) or a substitute from the Cabinet.

(c)  That Shropshire Council be the employing body for the new LEP team following earlier approval at 15 January 2014 Cabinet of Shropshire Council as Accountable Body for the LEP.

(d)  That the Head of Economic Growth and Prosperity be the Council’s representative on the Marches LEP Enterprise Zone Company Members Board.

29.1    The Portfolio Holder for Business Growth, ip&e and Commissioning (North) presented a report by the Head of Economic Growth and Prosperity – copy attached to the signed minutes – on important governance, human resources and organisational changes required by the Marches LEP to ensure that it was fit for purpose.  It also covered the funding awarded by Central Government to the Marches LEP under the Local Growth Fund as a result of the bid submitted in March 2014. In addition the report proposed the establishment of a joint committee to exercise joint executive functions for decisions at the Marches LEP Board.  Finally the report referred to the recently announced Marches Growth Deal and Government commitment to Local Growth Funding for projects in the Marches.  (See Minute 33 below.)

29.2    RESOLVED:

(a)  That approval be given to the establishment of a Marches LEP Joint Committee called The Marches Enterprise Joint Executive Committee and the list of executive functions (as set out in paragraph 13 of the proposed Constitution at Appendix 1) that the Committee can exercise on behalf of Shropshire Council for LEP decision.

(b)  That the proposed constitution for the Marches Enterprise Joint Executive Committee as attached as Appendix 1 be approved and that Shropshire’s voting Member be the Leader of the Council, or the Portfolio Holder for Business Growth and Commissioning (North) or a substitute from the Cabinet.

(c)  That Shropshire Council be the employing body for the new LEP team following earlier approval at 15 January 2014 Cabinet of Shropshire Council as Accountable Body for the LEP.

(d)  That the Head of Economic Growth and Prosperity be the Council’s representative on the Marches LEP Enterprise Zone Company Members Board.

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 during consideration of the remaining items.

30.1    RESOLVED:

That in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, Section 5 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements)(Meetings and Access to Information)(England) Regulations, and Paragraph 10.2 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules, the public and press be excluded during consideration of the following items.

Lead Members – Mr Steve Charmley, Portfolio Holder for Business Growth, ip&e and Commissioning (North) and Mr Malcolm Price, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Commissioning (Central)

Report of the Head of Public Protection is attached marked EXEMPT 16.

Contact – Paul McGreary (01743 253868)

That the recommendations in the exempt report of the Head of Public Protection be approved.

31.1    The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Commissioning (Central) presented an exempt report by the Head of Public Protection – copy attached to the exempt signed minutes – on the interim business case for the development of a new delivery model for planning, public protection, environmental and business support services.

31.2    RESOLVED:

That the recommendations set out in the exempt report of the Head of Public Protection be approved.

Lead Member – Mr Lee Chapman, Portfolio Holder for Adult Services.

Exempt report of the Head of Social Care Efficiency and Improvement is attached marked EXEMPT 17.

Contact – Ruth Houghton (01743 253093)

That the recommendations in the exempt report of the Head of Social Care Efficiency and Improvement be approved.

32.1    The Portfolio Holder for Adult Services presented a report by the Head of Social Care Efficiency and Improvement – copy attached to the exempt signed minutes – on proposals relating to supported living accommodation for adults with learning disabilities currently living out of county.

32.2    RESOLVED:

That the recommendations in the exempt report of the Head of Social Care Efficiency and Improvement be approved.

Lead Member – Mr Steve Charmley, Portfolio Holder for Business Growth, ip&e and Commissioning (North).

Exempt report of the Head of Economic Growth and Prosperity is to follow.

Contact – Andy Evans (01743 253869)

That the recommendations in the exempt report of the Head of Economic Growth and Prosperity be approved.

33.1    The Portfolio Holder for Business Growth, ip&e and Commissioning (North) presented an exempt report by the Head of Economic Growth and Prosperity – copy attached to the exempt signed minutes – on the recently announced Marches Growth Deal and Government commitment to Local Growth Funding for projects in the Marches.  The report explained the decisions made on the priority infrastructure projects and set out the next steps to ensure these projects could be delivered.  (See Minute 29 above.)

33.2    RESOLVED:

That the recommendations in the exempt report of the Head of Economic Growth and Prosperity be approved.

Lead Member – Mr Mike Owen, Portfolio Holder for Resources, Finance and Support.

Exempt report of the Head of Commercial Services is to follow.

Contact – Steph Jackson (01743 253861)

That the recommendations in the exempt report of the Head of Commercial Services be approved.

34.1    The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support presented an exempt report by the Head of Commercial Services – copy attached to the signed exempt minutes – on the Council’s small holding estate.

34.2    RESOLVED:

That the recommendations in the exempt report of the Head of Commercial Services be approved.

(The full version of Minutes 31 to 34 constitutes exempt information under category 3 of Paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules and have accordingly been with-held from publication.)