Apologies were received from Councillors Steve Davenport and Robert Macey.

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.

Councillor Nic Laurens declared that he was a member of the Youth Services Committee of Shrewsbury Town Council.  He left the room whilst Local Commissioning of Youth Activities was under consideration. 

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 14 February 2018.  TO FOLLOW

RESOLVED

That, subject to the amendment of Minute 151, to read as, ‘Responding to a Member’s query regarding the number of compulsory staff redundancies….’, the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 14 February 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

RESOLVED

That, subject to the amendment of Minute 151, to read as, ‘Responding to a Member’s query regarding the number of compulsory staff redundancies….’, the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 14 February 2018 be approved as a correct record 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 no later than 24 hours prior to the commencement of the meeting, i.e. by 12.30pm on Tuesday 27 February 2018.

There were no public questions.

To receive any questions of which members of the Council have given due notice.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is 5.00pm on Friday 23 February 2018.

Councillor David Vasmer asked a number of questions in relation to Commissioning of Youth Activities.  A copy of his questions and the responses provided are attached to the signed minutes.  In response to his supplementary question asking whether Shrewsbury Town Council should have been better informed about the substantial cut proposed, the Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People said that there had been a lengthy period of consultation and that he had accepted every invitation he had received from local councils and youth groups during this time.  He had not received an invitation from Shrewsbury Town Council and he felt the report and its recommendations reflected the results of the consultation.

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

There were no scrutiny items.

Lead Member – Councillor Steve Charmley – Deputy Leader of Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support

Report of the Director of Place and Enterprise

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 258671

          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 to be considered in greater detail be identified or referred to the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support drew attention to the increasing numbers of visitors and Shrewsbury Museum and Old Market Hall.  Satisfaction with highways services had decreased, mainly due to inclement weather and these issues would be addressed as the weather improved and days lengthened.  In response to a comment from the Liberal Democrat Group Leader in relation to the low average wage in Shropshire, attention was drawn to the Economic Growth Strategy which looked to grow sectors that would improve this figure. 

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 to be considered in greater detail be identified or referred to the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Lead Member – Councillor Steve Charmley – Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support

Report of the Head of Human Resources and Development

Contact: Michele Leith   Tel: 01743 254402

            RESOLVED:

i)             That the changes to Shropshire Council’s local Discretionary Housing Payment [DHP] Policy which clarifies that the local fund is primarily for use to support Shropshire residents and people with a connection to Shropshire, be considered and agreed;

ii)            That the revised Policy wording covering the introduction of Universal Credit be noted and agreed.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support presented a report from the Head of Human Resources and Development detailing the proposed changes to Shropshire Council’s local Discretionary Housing Payment Policy (DHP).   He explained that the changes were required to reflect the implementation of Universal Credit, and that there was no change in policy.  In response to a question, it was confirmed that DHP would be used holistically and not for assistance with council tax costs alone. 

RESOLVED:

i)                 That the changes to Shropshire Council’s local Discretionary Housing Payment [DHP] Policy which clarifies that the local fund is primarily for use to support Shropshire residents and people with a connection to Shropshire, be considered and agreed;

ii)               That the revised Policy wording covering the introduction of Universal Credit be noted and agreed.

Lead Member – Councillor Nicholas Bardsley – Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People

Report of the Director of Place and Enterprise

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 258671

RESOLVED:

1. That the feedback from the recent consultation on the LJC funding allocations for the commissioning of youth activity proposed in the Cabinet Report of 18^th October 2017 be acknowledged.

2. That the proposed LJC funding allocations be confirmed for the commissioning of youth activities in 2018/19 that have been revised as a result of the feedback received through the consultation (as detailed at 5.9 within the report)

3. That the intention to work with partners over the next 12 months to develop an integrated approach to the provision of universal and targeted youth activities within the context of the wider review of early help services be approved, recognising that there will be new arrangements from 2019/20 onwards, which could include a further budgetary reduction.

4. That the delegation to the Head of Infrastructure and Communities be confirmed in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People to confirm the final design of the revised rurality needs grant scheme.
   
   

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People presented a report from the Director of Place and Enterprise setting out the responses to the public consultation on the proposed changes to the

funding allocations to support the commissioning of youth activity.  The consultation feedback demonstrated that there was strong support for the council continuing to fund youth activities in rural areas, keeping rurality considerations in the funding formula and continuing to offer grants to small voluntary clubs.  The feedback also showed that whilst respondees would like to see all the council’s funding for youth activities continue at current levels, they particularly would like

funding in rural areas to be protected.  The proposals in the report reflected this feedback. 

The Portfolio Holder corrected an error in the printed versions of the report in the table on page 6 – the proposed needs and rurality funding 2018 for Wem and Shawbury should read as £8,000 (not £4,000 as stated). 

RESOLVED:

i.       That the feedback from the recent consultation on the LJC funding allocations for the commissioning of youth activity proposed in the Cabinet Report of 18^th October 2017 be acknowledged.

ii.      That the proposed LJC funding allocations be confirmed for the commissioning of youth activities in 2018/19 that have been revised as a result of the feedback received through the consultation (as detailed at 5.9 within the report)

iii.    That the intention to work with partners over the next 12 months to develop an integrated approach to the provision of universal and targeted youth activities within the context of the wider review of early help services be approved, recognising that there will be new arrangements from 2019/20 onwards, which could include a further budgetary reduction.

iv.    That the delegation to the Head of Infrastructure and Communities be confirmed in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People to confirm the final design of the revised rurality needs grant scheme.