Apologies for absence were received from Councillor S Davenport.

None were declared.

To approve as correct records and sign the Minutes of the ordinary and Special Cabinet meetings held on 12 and 25 July 2017 respectively.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the ordinary and Special Cabinet meetings held on 12 and 25 July 2017 respectively be approved as correct records and signed by the Leader.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the ordinary and Special Cabinet meetings held on 12 and 25 July 2017 respectively be approved as correct records and signed by the Leader.

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 for this meeting is 5.00pm on Friday 1 September 2017.

No questions had been received from members of the public.

To receive any questions of which Members of the Council have given notice.  Deadline for notification is 5.00 pm on Friday 1 September 2017. 

No questions had been submitted by any member of the Council.

To consider any scrutiny matters from Council or any of the Council’s Scrutiny Committees.

There were no scrutiny matters for consideration.

Lead Member – Councillor Steve Charmley – Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support

Report of the Director of Place and Enterprise

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 255003

RESOLVED:

i)             That the key underlying and emerging issues in the reports and appendices be considered; and

ii)            That the performance portal be reviewed and any performance areas for consideration in greater detail or referred to the appropriate Overview Scrutiny Committee be identified.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support presented a report from the Director of Place and Enterprise on the Council’s performance on its key Outcomes for Quarter 1 2017/2018.          He drew particular attention to the increased visitor numbers to leisure centres, outdoor recreation sites, visitor attractions, Theatre Severn and The Old Market Hall.  The Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure commented that the hard work of staff at the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery had reaped significant benefits and their efforts were to be applauded.

Responding to a Member’s query on improvements to the 55% satisfaction level on transport and highways, the Director of Place and Enterprise commented that 100% satisfaction remained the target but the volume of roads in a rural county needed to be accepted.  He stated that ongoing works remained a topic of frustration for users with plaudits rarely being received once works had been successfully completed. Another Member drew particular attention to the issues surrounding the works at Meole Brace, Shrewsbury and suggested that satisfaction rates separated out specifically for the Shrewsbury area and then for other parts of the county would be interesting.  Another Member commented that works in the Much Wenlock area had been completed in a timely manner and had been of good quality to the satisfaction of local people.

RESOLVED:

i)      That the key underlying and emerging issues in the reports and appendices be considered; and

ii)     That the performance portal be reviewed and any performance areas for consideration in greater detail or referred to the appropriate Overview Scrutiny Committee be identified.

Lead Member – Councillor Robert Macey – Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services

Report of the Director of Place and Enterprise

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 255003

RESOLVED:

i)             That it be agreed that the Condover Parish Council area (shown in Appendix B to the report) is appropriate for the development of a Neighbourhood Plan, and that the Parish Council will be notified accordingly.

ii)            That it be noted that if the proposed Neighbourhood Plan Area is agreed, Condover Parish Council will be able to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for this area, which will be subject to public consultation, examination and local referendum as set out in Regulations.  Assuming any subsequent local referendum if successful, Shropshire Council’s full Council will then be asked to adopt the final version on the Neighbourhood Plan.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services presented a report by the Director of Place and Enterprise seeking approval for the application by Condover Parish Council for the area of the ParishCouncil to be considered as an appropriate area for a potential Neighbourhood Plan to be prepared by the Parish Council.  He stated that another community coming forward into the process was to be welcomed.

RESOLVED:

i)             That it be agreed that the Condover Parish Council area (shown in Appendix B to the report) is appropriate for the development of a Neighbourhood Plan, and that the Parish Council will be notified accordingly.

ii)            That it be noted that if the proposed Neighbourhood Plan Area is agreed, Condover Parish Council will be able to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for this area, which will be subject to public consultation, examination and local referendum as set out in Regulations.  Assuming any subsequent local referendum if successful, Shropshire Council’s full Council will then be asked to adopt the final version on the Neighbourhood Plan.

Lead Member – Councillor David Minnery – Portfolio Holder for Finance

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [Section 151 Officer]

Contact: James Walton      Tel: 01743 258915

RESOLVED:

i)     That at the end of Quarter 1 (30 June 2017), the full year revenue forecast is a potential overspend of £4.188m, be noted;

ii)    That the impact of this on the Council’s General Fund Balance be considered.

iii)   That a budget of £0.783m for the remaining elements of the Education Services Grant is vired from Corporate Budgets to Learning and Skills as detailed in Appendix 2, be approved.

iv)   That net budget variations of £3.367m to the 2017/18 capital programme, detailed in Appendix 3/Table 6 and the re-profiled 2017/18 capital budget of £77.162m, be approved.

v)    That re-profiled capital budgets of £29.438m for 2018/19 and £3.600m for 2019/20 and £0.167m for 2020/21 as detailed in Appendix 1/Table 9, be approved.

vi)   That the capital expenditure to date of £6.709m, representing 9% of the revised capital budget for 2017/18, with 25% of the year having elapsed, be accepted.

vii)  That the virement of £1m of Department of Transport National Productivity Investment Funding from Highways to the University project as set out in paragraph 8.2, be approved.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented a report from the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [Section 151 Officer] on the projected revenue expenditure for the whole of 2017/2018 as at Quarter 1 and the capital expenditure up to the end of Quarter 1.

The Leader commented that much of the current picture was a reflection of the previous Administration and he stressed that robust decisions were being and would continue to be made, where needed.

RESOLVED:

i)     That at the end of Quarter 1 (30 June 2017), the full year revenue forecast is a potential overspend of £4.188m, be noted;

ii)    That the impact of this on the Council’s General Fund Balance be considered.

iii)   That a budget of £0.783m for the remaining elements of the Education Services Grant is vired from Corporate Budgets to Learning and Skills as detailed in Appendix 2, be approved.

iv)   That net budget variations of £3.367m to the 2017/18 capital programme, detailed in Appendix 3/Table 6 and the re-profiled 2017/18 capital budget of £77.162m, be approved.

v)    That re-profiled capital budgets of £29.438m for 2018/19 and £3.600m for 2019/20 and £0.167m for 2020/21 as detailed in Appendix 1/Table 9, be approved.

vi)   That the capital expenditure to date of £6.709m, representing 9% of the revised capital budget for 2017/18, with 25% of the year having elapsed, be accepted.

vii)  That the virement of £1m of Department of Transport National Productivity Investment Funding from Highways to the University project as set out in paragraph 8.2, be approved.

Lead Member – Councillor Peter Nutting – Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategy

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [Section 151 Officer]

Contact: James Walton      Tel: 01743 258915

RESOLVED:

That the position detailed within the report be accepted.

The Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategy presented a report from the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [Section 151 Officer] detailing the treasury activities for Shropshire Council for 2016/17, including the performance of the internal treasury team to 31 March 2017.

RESOLVED:

That the position detailed within the report be accepted.

Lead Member – Councillor Peter Nutting – Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategy

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [Section 151 Officer]

Contact: James Walton      Tel: 01743 258915

RESOLVED:

That the position as detailed in the report, be accepted.

The Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategy presented a report from the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [Section 151 Officer] outlining the treasury management activities of the Council in the last quarter.

RESOLVED:

That the position as detailed in the report, be accepted.

Lead Member – Councillor David Minnery – Portfolio Holder for Finance

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [Section 151 Officer]

Contact: James Walton      Tel: 01743 258915

RESOLVED:

i)             That the proposals for the New Business Rate Relief Scheme be approved and the arrangements for consultation be confirmed as detailed in the report;

ii)            That, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance be delegated authority to finalise the scheme for 2017-18 following consultation.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented a report from the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [Section 151 Officer] detailing the proposed parameters for the new Business Rate Relief Scheme. 

The Chief Executive commented that only one single authority had to date distributed this grant.  The Leader added that the scheme was extremely complex and funding would be issued as soon as possible.  A Member commented that small businesses were currently suffering and hoped that the funding allocated to Shropshire would be fully allocated for the benefit of Shropshire businesses and not be returned to Government coffers.

RESOLVED:

i)      That the proposals for the New Business Rate Relief Scheme be approved and the arrangements for consultation be confirmed as detailed in the report;

ii)     That, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance be delegated authority to finalise the scheme for 2017-18 following consultation.

Lead Members – Councillors Nic Laurens and Robert Macey – Shropshire Council’s Representatives on the West Mercia Energy Joint Committee

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [Section 151 Officer]

Contact: James Walton      Tel: 01743 258915

RESOLVED:

i)             That the current Joint Agreement be varied to include the provision to be able to broker and supply utilities; and

ii)            That the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [Section 151 Officer] be authorised to finalise and execute the variation.

The Portfolio Holder for Economy and Growth [one of the Council’s representatives on the West Mercia Energy Joint Committee] presented a report from the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [Section 151 Officer] on the proposal to vary the Joint Agreement for West Mercia Energy held by the constituent authorities to enable WME to supply utilities, alongside the supply of energy.

RESOLVED:

i)             That the current Joint Agreement be varied to include the provision to be able to broker and supply utilities; and

ii)            That the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance [Section 151 Officer] be authorised to finalise and execute the variation.

Lead Member – Councillor Lee Chapman – Portfolio Holder for Health and Adult Social Care

Report of the Director of Adult Services TO FOLLOW

Contact: Andy Begley         Tel: 01743 258911

RESOLVED:

That the Personal Budgets Contribution Policy be updated for 2017/2018, retaining Shropshire Council’s existing levels of Minimum Income Guarantee [MIG], at £194.50 per week for a single person and £148.50 per week for a member of a couple.

The Portfolio Holder for Health and Adult Social Care presented a report from the Director of Adult Services recommending the retention of Shropshire Council’s existing rates of Minimum Income Guarantee [MIG], with no increase in 2017/18. He explained that the lower the level of MIG, the greater the income that could be levied by the Council in the form of non-residential care contributions.  Members noted that local authorities had the discretion to set the MIG at a higher rate thereby allowing service users to keep additional income; Shropshire Council’s MIG levels were already set at a higher level than those set out in statute by the Department of Health. 

A Member voiced concern that money was being taken away from the most vulnerable.  The Portfolio Holder gave assurances that those with net assets of less than £23k to £25k would not make any contribution and the level of reduction to those with assets above £25k would depend on the result of their individual means tests.

RESOLVED:

That the Personal Budgets Contribution Policy be updated for 2017/2018, retaining Shropshire Council’s existing levels of Minimum Income Guarantee [MIG], at £194.50 per week for a single person and £148.50 per week for a member of a couple.

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 Procedure Rules, the public and press be excluded during consideration of the following item/s.

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 Procedure Rules, the public and press be excluded during consideration of the following item/s.

To approve as correct records and sign the confidential Minutes of the ordinary and Special Cabinet meetings held on 12 and 25 July 2017 respectively.

RESOLVED:

That the confidential Minutes of the ordinary and Special Cabinet meetings held on 12 and 25 July respectively, be approved as correct records and signed by the Leader.

RESOLVED:

That the confidential Minutes of the ordinary and Special Cabinet meetings held on 12 and 25 July respectively, be approved as correct records and signed by the Leader.