135.1  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.

136.1  No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest were made.

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the ordinary and Special Cabinet meetings held on 10 and 17 February 2016 respectively.  Attached, marked 3. TO FOLLOW.

Contact: Jane Palmer 01743 257712

137.1  RESOLVED:

          That the Minutes of the ordinary and special Cabinet meetings held on 10 and 17 February 2016 respectively be approved as correct records and signed by the Leader.

To receive any public questions 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 11 March 2016.

138.1  Mr Bernard Wills representing the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Forum submitted a question to establish whether the Council had any indication from sports bodies as to whether the proposed water area under the new build options would meet their current recommendations for future proofing swimming demands in Shrewsbury.  A written reply was tabled at the meeting and a copy of the full question and response is attached to the signed Minutes.

138.2  By way of a supplementary question, Mr Wills queried, particularly in the light of the Council’s budgetary position, the reasoning behind consideration of a new swimming pool when the existing facility at the Quarry would meet short to medium term requirements.  The Director of Commissioning explained that a full report detailing the options, the preferred location and the funding pressures would be presented to the July meeting of Cabinet when a decision on the way forward would be made.

139.1  There were no matters referred from Scrutiny or Council.

Lead Member – Mr Stuart West – Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture.

Report of the Director of Commissioning is attached, marked 6.

Contact: George Candler 01743 255003

RESOLVED:

i)             That the Visitor Information Centre at Mile End Service Area be decommissioned as soon as possible;

ii)         That the Council endeavours to hand back the lease to the landlord in a condition that meets the requirements of the lease; although there is no provision for an early surrender therefore this would be subject to negotiation;

iii)        That a display board be erected on the site to guide visitors to other sources of information;

iv)        That Oswestry Borderland Tourism Association be commissioned via a three year Contract for Services to deal with enquiries from visitors by email, telephone and post; and

v)         That the Director of Commissioning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, be delegated responsibility to take any further decisions and actions to implement the recommendations 

140.1  The Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture presented a report by the Head of Commissioning on the redesign of visitor information services in North West Shropshire.  He explained the proposal to decommission the Visitor Information Centre at Mile End Service Area near Oswestry and commission Oswestry Borderland Tourism Association to deal with enquiries from visitors by email, telephone and post with alternative sources of information for visitors being signposted from the service area.

140.2  RESOLVED:

i)             That the Visitor Information Centre at Mile End Service Area be decommissioned as soon as possible;

ii)         That the Council endeavours to hand back the lease to the landlord in a condition that meets the requirements of the lease; although there is no provision for an early surrender therefore this would be subject to negotiation;

iii)        That a display board be erected on the site to guide visitors to other sources of information;

iv)        That Oswestry Borderland Tourism Association be commissioned via a three year Contract for Services to deal with enquiries from visitors by email, telephone and post; and

v)         That the Director of Commissioning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, be delegated responsibility to take any further decisions and actions to implement the recommendations 

Lead Member – Mr Mal Price – Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment.

Report of the Director of Commissioning is attached, marked 7.

Contact: George Candler 01743 255003

            RESOLVED:

              That the Burford and Tenbury Parish Council areas be confirmed as an appropriate area for the development of a single joint Neighbourhood Development Plan and that the Parish Council be notified accordingly.

141.1  The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment presented a report by the Director of Commissioning to consider and determine the application to designate the parishes of Burford and Tenbury Wells (Malvern Hills District Council) as a single neighbourhood area for the purposes of neighbourhood planning.  He added that the Plan would be led by Malvern Hills DC.

141.2  Responding to a Member’s comments on the potential difficulties caused by the boundary situation in this area, the Portfolio Holder gave assurances that the two parishes had worked well together and this application gave no cause for concern in this regard.

141.3  RESOLVED:

            That the Burford and Tenbury Parish Council areas be confirmed as an appropriate area for the development of a single joint Neighbourhood Development Plan and that the Parish Council be notified accordingly.

Lead Member – Mr Mal Price – Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment.

Report of the Interim Director of Adult Services is attached, marked 8.

Contact: Andy Begley 01743 252421

RESOLVED:

i)  That Cabinet consider the progress made to date by the Cross Party Working Group and confirm their ongoing commitment to providing support, as appropriate, to Syrian refugees and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children.

ii)  That Cabinet agree to Shropshire supporting up to 10 families under the Syrian repatriation programme managed by UNHCR.

iii) That Cabinet agree to assist Kent with their challenge of supporting up to 2000 children that have arrived there as Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children and that delegated responsibility be allocated to the Director of Children and Young People’s services in conjunction with the Cross Party Working Group to consider and agree any requests for support.

iv) That Cabinet note that there may be future requests to support UASC as further clarity is provided on the position regarding UASC in Europe.

v)    That Cabinet note the information regarding the Asylum Dispersal Scheme.

vi) That Cabinet agree to the funding being made available for the resettlement of Syrian refugees being ring fenced within a dedicated cost centre in adult social care to provide support to this group of people over the 5 year term of the funding.

vii)  That the Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People be added to the membership of the Cross Party Working Group.

142.1  The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment presented a report by the Interim Director of Adult Services setting out the position on the levels of support required for refugees and asylum seekers in Shropshire.

142.2  He paid tribute to the efforts of the Cross Party Working Group that had been established in Shropshire in response to the UK Government’s response to the repatriation scheme for Syrian refugees.  Cabinet noted the four different cohorts of people that may need support in Shropshire, as:

·                     Refugees under the UNHCR Syrian resettlement programme

·                     Asylum seekers

·                     Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children dispersed from Kent County      Council

·                     Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children currently in Europe

Members received an update on the background to each of the four groups, the work undertaken to date together with any future requirements.

142.3  It was acknowledged that this inter-agency working was of great benefit to the task in hand.  All agreed the merits of the Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People being included as a member of the Cross Party Working Group in future.

142.4  RESOLVED:

i)  That Cabinet consider the progress made to date by the Cross Party Working Group and confirm their ongoing commitment to providing support, as appropriate, to Syrian refugees and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children.

ii)  That Cabinet agree to Shropshire supporting up to 10 families under the Syrian repatriation programme managed by UNHCR.

iii) That Cabinet agree to assist Kent with their challenge of supporting up to 2000 children that have arrived there as Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children and that delegated responsibility be allocated to the Director of Children and Young People’s services in conjunction with the Cross Party Working Group to consider and agree any requests for support.

iv) That Cabinet note that there may be future requests to support UASC as further clarity is provided on the position regarding UASC in Europe.

v)    That Cabinet note the information regarding the Asylum Dispersal Scheme.

vi) That Cabinet agree to the funding being made available for the resettlement of Syrian refugees being ring fenced within a dedicated cost centre in adult social care to provide support to this group of people over the 5 year term of the funding.

vii)  That the Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People be added to the membership of the Cross Party Working Group.

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.

143.1  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 from the meeting during consideration of the remaining item.                    

To approve as a correct record and sign the exempt Minutes of the ordinary and Special Cabinet meetings held on 10 and 17 February 2016 respectively.  Attached marked 10. TO FOLLOW

Contact: Jane Palmer 01743 257712

144.1  RESOLVED:

          That the Exempt Minutes of the ordinary and special Cabinet meetings held on 10 and 17 February 2016 respectively be approved as correct records and signed by the Leader.