Apologies for absence were received from Councillors L Chapman and D Minnery.

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.

None were made.

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 21 March 2018.  TO FOLLOW

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 21 March 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 21 March 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 10 April 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 6 April 2018.

No questions were raised by any member of the Council.

To receive feedback from the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee on issues considered at its meeting on 28 March 2018:

i)             The recent call ins on a) The Parking Strategy and b) Local Commissioning of Youth Activites [update report TO FOLLOW]

ii)            The report of the Rapid Action Group on Refuges for Victims of Domestic Abuse, attached.

RESOLVED:

i)             That, following a recent call in, it be noted that the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee upheld Cabinet’s decision re the Parking Strategy;

ii)            That, following a recent call in, it be noted that the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee upheld Cabinet’s decision re the ‘Local Commissioning of Youth Activities’;

iii)           That the additional recommendation from the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee regarding ‘Local Commissioning of Youth Activities’ be approved as follows, ‘That Officers meet with representatives of Shrewsbury Town Council to discuss the availability of transitional funding to support youth activity provision in Shrewsbury’;

iv)           That the report from the Rapid Action Group on refuges for victims of domestic abuse be noted and the recommendations within be approved.

The Chair of the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee presented feedback following the Scrutiny Committee’s meeting held on 28 March 2018.  Referring to the two call-ins considered at that meeting she reported that Cabinet’s decision on the Parking Strategy had been upheld.  The call in of the local commissioning of youth activities had also resulted in the Cabinet decision being upheld with the addition of a further recommendation for Officers to meet with Shrewsbury Town Council representatives to discuss the availability of transitional funding to support youth activity in the town.

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People commented on the late submission of representations from Shrewsbury Town Council that would necessitate further discussion and consideration.  Some Members commented that the real issue lay in the reduction in youth funding and were disappointed in the need to highlight the late receipt of feedback.  The Leader added that Shrewsbury Town Council had been aware of these funding changes and had increased its precept to meet future demand in this area.  The Scrutiny Chair added that youth funding provision had been enhanced in some parts of the county and the additional recommendation recognised Shrewsbury Town Council’s issues.

Finally, the Chair of the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee drew attention to the report from the Rapid Action Group [RAG] on Refuges for victims of domestic abuse and commented that the Committee had wholeheartedly supported the RAG’s recommendations.  She also paid tribute to the swift action from the Leader and the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in compiling a rapid response to the Government’s consultation.  The Chair of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee confirmed that close working had been agreed between the Chairs of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee on these issues and she would provide an update in six months’ time.

RESOLVED:

i)             That, following a recent call in, it be noted that the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee upheld Cabinet’s decision re the Parking Strategy;

ii)            That, following a recent call in, it be noted that the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee upheld Cabinet’s decision re the ‘Local Commissioning of Youth Activities’;

iii)           That the additional recommendation from the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee regarding ‘Local Commissioning of Youth Activities’ be approved as follows, ‘That Officers meet with representatives of Shrewsbury Town Council to discuss the availability of transitional funding to support youth activity provision in Shrewsbury for 2018/2019’;

iv)           That the report from the Rapid Action Group on refuges for victims of domestic abuse be noted and the recommendations within be approved.

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

Report of the Director of Adult Services

Contact: Andy Begley         Tel: 01743 258911

RESOLVED:

i)             That a further commitment to resettle ten Syrian families during 2018/2019 be agreed;

ii)            That the response to UKVI regarding the request for Shropshire Council to commit to Asylum Dispersal in Shropshire be agreed.

In the absence of the Portfolio Holder, Councillor D Carroll presented the report from the Director of Adult Services setting out the current context relating to Syrian resettlement in the Shropshire Local Authority area.  He reported that the experience gained by the Cross Party Working Group would allow Shropshire to ably cope with the proposed cohort of ten Syrian families. He also paid tribute to the work of the two groups, ‘Shropshire Welcomes Refugees’ and ‘Oswestry Welcomes Refugees’.  He stressed that any commitment to Asylum Dispersal in Shropshire would serve only to dilute the skill acquired, members subsequently agreed the tabled response regarding the Dispersal Scheme for Adult Asylum Seekers, a copy of which is included with the formal record of the meeting.  

RESOLVED:

i)             That a further commitment to resettle ten Syrian families during 2018/2019 be agreed;

ii)            That the response to UKVI regarding the request for Shropshire Council to commit to Asylum Dispersal in Shropshire be agreed.

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

Report of the Director of Public Health   TO FOLLOW

Contact: Professor Rod Thomson            Tel: 01743 258918

RESOLVED:

i)             That, with any necessary amendments, the draft Better Regulation and Enforcement Policy, as detailed in Appendix A to the report, be approved;

ii)            That the Trading Standards and Licensing Operations Manager undertake an eight-week period of consultation and the consultation feedback and a proposed Policy be presented to Cabinet for consideration prior to presentation to Council for adoption.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services presented a report from the Director of Public Health detailing a draft Better Regulation and Enforcement Policy and an associated short consultation.  The Director of Public Health added that the process would ensure good standards were in place together with effective engagement.  It was noted that a further report would be presented to Cabinet following the 8 week consultation process.

RESOLVED:

i)             That, with any necessary amendments, the draft Better Regulation and Enforcement Policy, as detailed in Appendix A to the report, be approved;

ii)            That the Trading Standards and Licensing Operations Manager undertake an eight-week period of consultation and the consultation feedback and a proposed Policy be presented to Cabinet for consideration prior to presentation to Council for adoption.

Lead Member – Councillor Steve Davenport – Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport

Report of the Director of Place and Enterprise TO FOLLOW

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 258671

            RESOLVED:

i)             That, including the increase in permit costs, the proposed On-Street Residents Parking Policy detailed in Appendix 1 to the report be adopted;

ii)            That the requests for Residents Parking Schemes detailed in Appendix 2 to the report be assessed and a programme for implementation be developed that best fits with the implementation of both parts 1 and 2 of the new Parking Strategy framework;

iii)           That consultation with local Members be maintained throughout the process.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport presented a report from the Director of Place and Enterprise outlining the conclusions and recommendations for a new On-Street Residents Parking Policy.

In response to a Member’s concerns, the Portfolio Holder gave assurances that the Parking Strategy (Part 2) would be cost neutral to the local authority as no profit could be made on the resident parking scheme.  Members noted that the implementation of Residents Parking Schemes would be driven by local demand and would not be imposed in areas where the majority of residents were not in favour.  The extensive consultation process was explained in detail together with information on the assessment of individual areas that would take place.

Some Members commented on the current level of ignorance on Residents Parking Schemes by members of the public who held the misguided belief that the scheme would provide a free parking space to their household.  The level of desire for these schemes fluctuated dramatically in different parts of the county and this variance would probably become more apparent as the consultation process progressed.  It was noted that some areas were greatly in favour of Residents Parking Schemes and others were not.  A Member urged that an ongoing dialogue should be maintained with the appropriate local Member/s throughout the consultation process; this was agreed.

            RESOLVED:

i)             That, including the increase in permit costs, the proposed On-Street Residents Parking Policy detailed in Appendix 1 to the report be adopted;

ii)            That the requests for Residents Parking Schemes detailed in Appendix 2 to the report be assessed and a programme for implementation be developed that best fits with the implementation of both parts 1 and 2 of the new Parking Strategy framework;

iii)           That consultation with local Members be maintained throughout the process.

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

Report for the Director of Place and Enterprise TO FOLLOW

Contact: George Candler   Tel: 01743 258671

RESOLVED:

i)             That, subject to the completion of all due diligence and the agreement of Heads of Terms, the freehold transfer of Whitchurch Civic Centre from Shropshire Council to Whitchurch Town Council be approved;

ii)            That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Business Enterprise and Commercial Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support, to progress and conclude all aspects of the transfer.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support presented a report from the Director of Place and Enterprise on the asset transfer of Whitchurch Civic Centre to Whitchurch Town Council.

RESOLVED:

i)             That, subject to the completion of all due diligence and the agreement of Heads of Terms, the freehold transfer of Whitchurch Civic Centre from Shropshire Council to Whitchurch Town Council be approved;

ii)            That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Business Enterprise and Commercial Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support, to progress and conclude all aspects of the transfer.