95.1    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.

96.1    No Disclosable Pecuniary Interests were declared.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  The deadline for this meeting is 5.00pm on Friday 22 January 2016.

97.1    No public questions were received.

98.1    No items had been referred from Scrutiny or Council.

Lead Member – Mr 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 is attached, marked 5.  TO FOLLOW

Contact – James Walton Tel: 01743 255001

RESOLVED:

i)             That the impact of the Provisional Local Government Settlement and Spending Review on the Council’s Financial Strategy be noted, as set out in Section 6.

ii)            That the revised proposals to manage the 2016/17 budget as a result of the Provisional Local Government Settlement be approved, as set out in Section 7.

iii)              That the revised modelling of Council Resources over the following 2 years 2017/18 to 2018/19 be noted, as set out in Section 8 and the implications for future service delivery, Council Tax increases and budget reductions.

iv)           That the target budgets for each Directorate of the Council and the initial savings to achieve a balanced budget for 2017/18 and 2018/19 be noted, as set out in Appendix 3 to this report. 

99.1       The Leader presented a report from the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) – copy attached to the signed Minutes – which presented the next important stage in developing a sustainable financial strategy for the Council.  The Leader stated that the report detailed the worst case scenario. Government consideration of the financial settlement for rural and urban areas would be taking place in February 2016 and may provide some answers to the current situation. He added that he had personally made written representations to the Prime Minister and he would also be seeking an audience with Ministers to make further representations.  He stated that he would welcome input from all political parties within the Council with this task.

99.2       A Member commented that the report made disturbing reading and queried whether it could be deliverable.  He queried whether the Council could legally deliver the service required for safeguarding children, the impact on the Council’s recreational facilities and the diminishing of economic development.  Responding, the Leader drew attention to the fact that expenditure on children’s and adult services had been prioritised to ensure that the Council’s statutory obligations were met.  He stated that there was a new era dawning with the opportunity to work together to make the situation more palatable.    

99.3       The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and the Environment commented that there would be an impact on services and agreed that adult and children’s services had to be protected.  He urged all Members from all political persuasions to work together and to share ideas on ways to protect services for the future.

99.4       In answer to the suggested reinstatement of the Council Tax Support Grant to Parish and Town Councils, the Leader commented that he did not see any reason to reconsider this matter.  He added that a conference was to be held with Parish and Town Councils to discuss working together in partnership to help local communities.  Another Member commented that there was little capacity in this and the voluntary sector to take on additional responsibilities.  He concluded that this was a very sad meeting that he believed illustrated the diminution and decline of public services.

99.5       The Portfolio Holder for Rural Services and Communities stated that Shropshire, through the Rural Services Network (RSN), had been at the forefront of making representations to government on the disparity of funding between urban and rural areas.  She drew attention to the increase in the rural services delivery grant from £800k in 2012 to £65M this year following heavy pressure from the RSN.  She stressed that the disparity between rural and urban was still far too great particularly given the cost per capita being much higher in rural areas and service delivery costs being far greater.  The exemplary work being undertaken by Members working on rural issues was recognised.

99.6       The Portfolio Holder for Adults acknowledged the burden of being the biggest single liability to the Council.  He drew attention to the £77M savings made  ...  view the full minutes text for item 99.