33.1    There were apologies for absence from Mrs Karen Calder, Mr Lee Chapman and Mrs Ann Hartley.

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.

34.1    Mr Tim Barker declared a pecuniary interest in item 19 (Greenacres Day Opportunities) due to his involvement with one of the bidders.  He left the room during the consideration of, and voting on, this item.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 10^th June 2015, attached marked 3.

Contact – Penny Chamberlain (01743 252729)

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 June 2015 be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Leader.

35.1    RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 June 2015 be approved 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.

36.1    There were no public questions.

37.1    There were no matters referred from Scrutiny/Council.

Report of the Empty Homes Task and Finish Group

Report of the Empty Homes Strategy task and finish group is attached, marked 6.

Contact – George Candler – 01743 255003

That the recommendations of the Task and Finish Group be approved, namely:

1.         That the Empty Homes Team continues to work in accordance with the current Empty Homes Strategy.

2.         That a data sharing agreement be produced and put in place within one month to allow the Empty Homes Officers read only access to the Council Tax system.

3.         That the Council Tax Team should, on receipt of investigation/case evidence from Empty Homes Officers that a property is empty or incorrectly registered, update property records to reflect this. This would ensure properties were correctly registered and being charged accordingly. Council Tax should inform the Empty Homes Team of the type of evidence they required in order to be able to do this.

4.         That the Empty Homes Officers be enabled to utilise appropriate enforcement action when necessary in order to return empty properties to use, either in partnership with the Planning team, or by having these powers delegated to them.

5.         That the Task & Finish Group considers that both additional funding and staff resource in the Empty Homes Team would be of significant benefit to both the Council and Shropshire communities. It is therefore recommended that a business case be produced, to be considered by Cabinet on an agreed date, detailing the level of additional funding required to deliver a more widespread and comprehensive approach to Empty Homes work.  This should include the additional staffing resource required to carry out the tasks identified in the report’s findings, and budget required to be able to effectively utilise enforcement powers, including works in default.  It should highlight the positive benefits these measures could have for the Council and Shropshire Communities.

38.1    The Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services, Housing and Commissioning (Central) introduced a report by the Director of Commissioning – copy attached to the signed minutes – on the outcome of the work undertaken by the Empty Homes Strategy Task and Finish Group.  The main objective of the Group set up by the Enterprise and Growth Scrutiny Committee was to investigate and address whether the current strategy was ambitious enough in its aims and targets in order to effectively tackle and reduce the number of empty homes in the county.

38.2    RESOLVED:

That the recommendations of the Task and Finish Group be approved, namely:

1.         That the Empty Homes Team continues to work in accordance with the current Empty Homes Strategy.

2.         That a data sharing agreement be produced and put in place within one month to allow the Empty Homes Officers read only access to the Council Tax system.

3.         That the Council Tax Team should, on receipt of investigation/case evidence from Empty Homes Officers that a property is empty or incorrectly registered, update property records to reflect this. This would ensure properties were correctly registered and being charged accordingly. Council Tax should inform the Empty Homes Team of the type of evidence they required in order to be able to do this.

4.         That the Empty Homes Officers be enabled to utilise appropriate enforcement action when necessary in order to return empty properties to use, either in partnership with the Planning team, or by having these powers delegated to them.

5.         That the Task & Finish Group considers that both additional funding and staff resource in the Empty Homes Team would be of significant benefit to both the Council and Shropshire communities. It is therefore recommended that a business case be produced, to be considered by Cabinet on an agreed date, detailing the level of additional funding required to deliver a more widespread and comprehensive approach to Empty Homes work.  This should include the additional staffing resource required to carry out the tasks identified in the report’s findings, and budget required to be able to effectively utilise enforcement powers, including works in default.  It should highlight the positive benefits these measures could have for the Council and Shropshire Communities.

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

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance is attached, marked 7.

Contact – James Walton (01743 255001)

(a)   That the level of savings required in 2016/17 to deliver the third and final year of the 2014-17 Financial Strategy be noted.

(b)  That the work being undertaken to develop a sustainable Business model for the Council be noted.

(c)  That the implications of the outturn position for 2014/15 and P3 monitoring on the Financial Strategy be noted.

(d)  That the 2015/16 allocations against New Homes Bonus Funding be noted.

39.1    The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance – copy attached to the signed minutes – on the review undertaken of the Council’s Financial Strategy 2014/2-15 to 2016/2017 since it had been agreed by Council on 26 February 2015.  The Strategy was a rolling plan which would be revised each financial year, usually quarterly, as more information became available about the level of resources, service pressures and service delivery changes.  The updates would use the most up to date information to develop, guide and review a new Sustainable Business Model for Shropshire Council.

39.2    In response to comments made during the ensuing discussion the Chief Executive emphasised that the Council’s concerns regarding the implications of continuing public sector austerity measures both current and into the future in the county and also nationally were being made clearly to central government by the Local Government Association.  He also referred to the key role held by Mrs Cecilia Motley on the Rural Services Network/Rural Alliance which afforded her the opportunity to highlight concerns at a high level regarding improving provision in the rural areas.

39.2    RESOLVED:

(a)  That the level of savings required in 2016/17 to deliver the third and final year of the 2014-17 Financial Strategy be noted.

(b)  That the work being undertaken to develop a sustainable Business model for the Council be noted.

(c)  That the implications of the outturn position for 2014/15 and P3 monitoring on the Financial Strategy be noted.

(d)  That the 2015/16 allocations against New Homes Bonus Funding be noted.

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

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance is attached, marked 8.

Contact – James Walton (01743 255001)

(a)  That it be noted that at the end of Quarter One (26 June 2015), the full year forecast was a potential overspend of £5.023m.

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

(c)  That Shropshire Council act as accountable body for the new Technical Assistance programme.

40.1    The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance – copy attached to the signed minutes – which set out the Revenue forecast for 2015/2016 at Quarter 1 and identified the current projections on delivery of savings included within the forecast.

40.2    RESOLVED:

(a)  That it be noted that at the end of Quarter One (26 June 2015), the full year forecast was a potential overspend of £5.023m.

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

(c)  That Shropshire Council act as accountable body for the new Technical Assistance programme.

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

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance is attached, marked 9.

Contact – James Walton (011743 255001)

(a)  That approval be given to the net budget variations of £1.6m to the 2015/16 capital programme, detailed in Appendix 1/Table 1 and the re-profiled 2015/16 capital budget of £65m. Including new allocations of capital receipt funding as follows:

·         £279,970 for six new Solar PV installations on school roofs.

(b)  That approval be given to the re-profiled capital budgets of £37.1m for 2016/17 and £27.8m for 2017/18 and £70k for 2018/19 as detailed in Appendix 1/Table 4.

(c)  That the expenditure to date of £6.9m, representing 10.6% of the revised capital budget for 2015/16, with 25% of the year having elapsed be accepted.

41.1    The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance – copy attached to the signed minutes – on the current position for the Council’s 2015/2016 to 2018/2019 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 2015/2016 and future years.

41.2    RESOLVED:

(a)  That approval be given to the net budget variations of £1.6m to the 2015/16 capital programme, detailed in Appendix 1/Table 1 and the re-profiled 2015/16 capital budget of £65m. Including new allocations of capital receipt funding as follows:

·         £279,970 for six new Solar PV installations on school roofs.

(b)  That approval be given to the re-profiled capital budgets of £37.1m for 2016/17 and £27.8m for 2017/18 and £70k for 2018/19 as detailed in Appendix 1/Table 4.

(c)  That the expenditure to date of £6.9m, representing 10.6% of the revised capital budget for 2015/16, with 25% of the year having elapsed be accepted.

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

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance is attached, marked 9.

Contact – James Walton (011743 255001)

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

42.1    The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance – copy attached to the signed minutes – on the treasury activities for Shropshire Council for 2014/2015, which included the investment performance of the internal treasury team to 31 March 2015.

42.2    RESOLVED:

That the position as set out in the report by the Head of Finance, Governance 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 is attached, marked 10.

Contact – James Walton (01743 255001)

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

43.1    The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Assurance presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance – copy attached to the signed minutes – on the treasury management activities of the Council in the first quarter of 2015/2016.

43.2    RESOLVED:

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

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

Report of the Director of Public Health is attached, marked 12.

Contact – Rod Thomson (01743 253934)

That the Discretionary Housing Payments Policy be agreed.

44.1    The Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services, Housing and Commissioning (Central) presented a report by the Director of Public Health on the outcome of the consultation undertaken on the draft policy for the administration of Shropshire’s Discretionary Housing Payments which had been previously considered by Cabinet on 11 February 2015.  Within this period there had been a significant High Court ruling on the treatment of disability income which had impacted on the policy and also led to amendments being made to the original draft policy. 

44.2    He explained that the draft policy has also been subject to scrutiny by the Performance Scrutiny Committee with examination subsequently being undertaken by a task and finish group with their recommendations also being taken into account and their input reflected in the consultation process.  In turn the Chairman of the Task and Finish Group reported in more detail on the work carried out by the Group and thanked both Members and Officers for their efforts and support in carrying out the task.  In conclusion the Portfolio Holder advised that the matter would be reviewed on a regular basis.

44.3    RESOLVED:

That the Discretionary Housing Payments Policy be agreed.

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

Report of the Director of Public Health is attached, marked 13.

Contact – Rod Thomson (01743 253934)

That the revised draft Local Support and Prevention Fund Policy be approved.

45.1    The Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services, Housing and Commissioning (Central) presented a report by the Director of Public Health – copy attached to the signed minutes – on the draft policy for the administration of Shropshire’s local welfare provision following the recent period of consultation.

45.2    RESOLVED:

That the revised draft Local Support and Prevention Fund Policy be approved.

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

Report of the Director of Commissioning is attached, marked 14.

Contact – Andy Evans (01743 252503)

(a)  That the Place Plan annual review be noted and the updated CIL Regulation 123 list for 2015/16 (Appendix A) be approved.

(b)  That authority be delegated to the Head of Economic Growth and Prosperity in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services, Housing and Commissioning (Central) to approve the final versions of the Place Plans and subsequent LDF Implementation Plan ahead of their publication.

(c)  That priority be given to using CIL (Local) funds to deliver appropriate critical infrastructure, or infrastructure required in order to fulfil the Council’s statutory functions.

46.1    The Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services, Housing and Commissioning (Central) presented a report by the Director of Commissioning – copy attached to the signed minutes – on the outcome of the annual review undertaken of the 18 Place Plans and Local Development Framework Implementation Plan.  The report also sought approval for the updated Community Infrastructure Levy 123 List.

46.2    RESOLVED:

(a)  That the Place Plan annual review be noted and the updated CIL Regulation 123 list for 2015/16 (Appendix A) be approved.

(b)  That authority be delegated to the Head of Economic Growth and Prosperity in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services, Housing and Commissioning (Central) to approve the final versions of the Place Plans and subsequent LDF Implementation Plan ahead of their publication.

(c)  That priority be given to using CIL (Local) funds to deliver appropriate critical infrastructure, or infrastructure required in order to fulfil the Council’s statutory functions.

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

Report of the Director of Commissioning is attached, marked 15.

Contact – George Candler (01743 255003)

(a)  That the responsibility for the function of commissioning and   delivery of youth services within Shrewsbury be formally delegated to Shrewsbury Town Council in accordance with the Local Government Acts 1972 and 2000.

(b)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Commissioning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children & Young People to enter into detailed discussion with Shrewsbury Town Council to agree and to complete all formalities to facilitate the service delegation of youth services in Shrewsbury from Shropshire Council.

(c)  That a one off time limited sum of money, £1,500, be provided by the Council as match funding to support the transitional and ongoing delivery of youth activities within Broseley up to March 2017.

47.1    The Portfolio Holder for Business, ip&e, Culture and Commissioning (North) presented a report by the Director of Commissioning – copy attached to the signed minutes – on a summary of the progress made with the local commissioning of youth activities.

47.2    RESOLVED:

(a)  That the responsibility for the function of commissioning and   delivery of youth services within Shrewsbury be formally delegated to Shrewsbury Town Council in accordance with the Local Government Acts 1972 and 2000.

(b)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Commissioning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children & Young People to enter into detailed discussion with Shrewsbury Town Council to agree and to complete all formalities to facilitate the service delegation of youth services in Shrewsbury from Shropshire Council.

(c)  That a one off time limited sum of money, £1,500, be provided by the Council as match funding to support the transitional and ongoing delivery of youth activities within Broseley up to March 2017.

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

Report of the Director of Commissioning is attached, marked 16.

Contact – George Candler (01743 255003)

(a)  That, with any necessary amendments, the proposed Regulation of Investigatory Powers Policy as detailed in Appendix A of the report be agreed, and it be recommended to the Council that the policy was adopted with effect from 1 October 2015.

(b)  That authority be delegated to the RIPA Co-ordinator (as defined within the proposed Regulation of Investigatory Powers Policy as set out at Appendix A) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services, Housing and Commissioning (Central) to include additional officers and/or remove named officers, as necessary, from paragraphs 3 and 4 of Appendix 1 to the proposed Policy prior to the proposed Policy being considered by the Council for formal adoption.

48.1    The Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services, Housing and Commissioning (Central) presented a report by the Director of Commissioning (Central) – copy attached to the signed minutes – on the review undertaken of the Council’s current Regulation of Investigatory Powers Policy previously adopted in August 2013.

48.2    RESOLVED:

(a)  That, with any necessary amendments, the proposed Regulation of Investigatory Powers Policy as detailed in Appendix A of the report be agreed, and it be recommended to the Council that the policy was adopted with effect from 1 October 2015.

(b)  That authority be delegated to the RIPA Co-ordinator (as defined within the proposed Regulation of Investigatory Powers Policy as set out at Appendix A) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services, Housing and Commissioning (Central) to include additional officers and/or remove named officers, as necessary, from paragraphs 3 and 4 of Appendix 1 to the proposed Policy prior to the proposed Policy being considered by the Council for formal adoption.

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.

49.1    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 during consideration of the remaining items.

To approve as a correct record the Exempt Minutes of the meeting held on 10^th June 2015 attached, marked Exempt 18.

Contact – Penny Chamberlain (01743 252729)

That the Exempt Minutes of Cabinet held on 10 June 2015 be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Leader.

50.1    RESOLVED:

That the Exempt Minutes of Cabinet held on 10 June 2015 be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Leader.

Lead Member – Mr Lee Chapman, Portfolio Holder for Adult Services and Commissioning (South).

Exempt report of the Director of Adult Services is attached, marked Exempt 19.

Contact – Ruth Houghton (01743 253093)

That the recommendations in the exempt report of the Director of Adult Services be approved.

51.1    The Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services, Housing and Commissioning (Central) presented an exempt report by the Director of Adult Services – copy attached to the signed exempt minutes – on the outcome of the procurement process undertaken and the bid received in response to the opportunity to manage and develop the Council’s day opportunity service for adults with learning disabilities at Greenacres Farm, Baschurch.

51.2    RESOLVED:

That the recommendations in the exempt report of the Director of Adult Services be approved.

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

Exempt Recommendation E and Appendix 4 with regard to the report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance is attached, marked Exempt 20.

Contact – James Walton (01743 255001)

That the exempt recommendation relating to exempt Appendix 4 to the report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Item 7 above)  be approved.

52.1    Further to Minute 39 the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support presented exempt Appendix 4 to the report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance together with an additional exempt recommendation – copy attached to the exempt signed minutes - on the Council's Financial Strategy for 2015/2016.

52.2    RESOLVED:

That the exempt recommendation relating to exempt Appendix 4 to the report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Minute 39 above refers)  be approved.

(The full version of Minute 51 and 52 constitutes exempt information under category 3 of Paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules and has accordingly been with-held from publication.)