To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2021 as a correct record, attached.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2021 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive any questions from members of the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  Deadline for notification is not later than 1.00 pm on Thursday 4 February 2021. 

To receive any questions of which Members have given due notice, the deadline for notification for this meeting is 5.00 pm on Wednesday 3 January 2021

Lead Member – Councillor Ed Potter – Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services

Report of the Director of Children’s Services attached

Contact:  Karen Bradshaw 01743 254201

2.1 That Cabinet approve the draft policy entitled “Financial Support for Children Subject to Special Guardianship Orders’ as attached at Appendix A from 1st April 2021.

2.2 That Cabinet agree to the backdated payment to Special Guardians who now care for children who were previously looked after.

Lead Member – Councillor Ed Potter – Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services

Report of the Director of Children’s Services attached

Contact:  Karen Bradshaw 01743 254201

RESOLVED:

2.1    That Cabinet approves the proposal to amend the local authority’s admission arrangements,

          namely:

•                To decrease the Published Admission Number of Stiperstones CE Primary School from
8 to 7.

•                To amend the designated catchment area of Bowbrook Primary school as set out in the attached plan at Appendix B

2.2  That Cabinet approves the admission arrangements for 2022/23 without further amendment to those determined in February 2020.

2.3  That Cabinet agrees to the publication of the arrangements in accordance with the School Admissions Code 2014.

Lead Member – Councillor David Minnery – Portfolio Holder Finance and Corporate Support

Report of Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance to follow

Contact:  James Walton 01743 258915

RESOLVED:

1. To agree and recommend to Council the 2021/22 budget of £555.960m outlined in the  Budget Book at Appendix 2, including the savings proposals outlined in section 4.5 of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) at Appendix 1.
2. To note the changes required to the 2021/22 budget as a result of the Provisional Local Government Settlement and revised business rates and collection fund estimates.
3. To note the revised funding gap for the years 2022/23 to 2025/26.
4. To approve the recommended level of general balances to support the 2021/22 revenue budget of between £12.174m and £16.598m, noting that the projected balance is presently below this for 2021/22.
5. To note the projected recommended level of general reserves for the following four years at £53m in 2022/23, £40m in 2023/24, £37m in 2024/25 and £35m in 2025/26.
6. To note the continued use of the Policy for Flexibility around the use of Capital

            receipts.

G.   That the figures in recommendations A - F above and those within the Financial Strategy report presented for approval to Council on 25 February 2021 be revised and presented on the basis of a Council tax increase of 3.99% for 2021 – 2022.

Lead Member – Councillor David Minnery – Portfolio Holder Finance and Corporate Support

Report of Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance to follow

Contact:  James Walton 01743 258915

RESOLVED:

A.   To agree the adoption of the Capital Strategy 2021/22 - 2025/26 attached as Appendix 1.

B.   To note the prioritised schemes identified at Section and the associated impact on the revenue budget.

C.   To agree the revised Capital Programme as set out in the report and detailed at Section 6 and Appendix B to the Capital Strategy.

Lead Member – Councillor David Minnery – Portfolio Holder Finance and Corporate Support

Report of Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance to follow

Contact:  James Walton 01743 258915

RESOLVED:

2.1  To note the breakdown of the total income for 2020/21 and 2021/22 and in particular that the proposed 2021/22 charges for discretionary services represent only £41.023m of the £79.242m of income derived from Fees and Charges.

2.2  To approve the charges for 2021/22 as detailed in Appendix 3 to be implemented 1 April 2021, recognising that managers have proposed varying policies for 2021/22.

 2.3  To note that as previously agreed, any changes to fees and charges proposed by Shropshire Community Leisure Trust Ltd. in relation to the outsourced leisure facilities will only be referred to cabinet and council for approval if the proposed increases exceed Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the preceding November.

2.4  Subject to restrictions or exemptions identified in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill it is recommended to Council that:

I.Social Housing rents for 2021/22 are increased by 1.5% from 5th April 2021.

II.Affordable rents for 2021/22 are increased by 1.5% from 5th April 2021.

III.Shared Ownership rents continue to be set at 2.75% of the outstanding capital value of the home at the time of sale and thereafter increased each April in accordance with

the terms specified in the lease agreements.
IV. Service charges continue to be set on the basis of actual cost.

Lead Member – Councillor David Minnery – Portfolio Holder Finance and Corporate Support

Report of Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance to follow

Contact:  James Walton 01743 258915

RESOLVED:

2.1 To note the overall Collection Fund estimated deficit of £43.579m for the year ending 31^st

March 2021, comprised of an estimated deficit of £0.659m for Council Tax and an estimated

deficit of £42.920m for Non-Domestic Rates (NDR).

2.2 To note the estimated deficit incorporates the three year of phasing of the in year deficit.

2.3 To note the estimated deficit for NDR will be partially offset by the receipt of s31 grants for

extra reliefs awarded as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

2.4 To note the distribution of the Collection Fund estimated deficit for Council Tax and deficit for

NDR to the major / relevant precepting authorities and the Secretary of State.

2.5 To note Shropshire Council’s share of the overall estimated deficit of £21.383m, comprised of

an estimated deficit of £0.542m for Council Tax and an estimated deficit of £20.841m for NDR.

2.6 To note the inclusion of Shropshire Council’s share of the overall

estimated deficit in the 2021/22 budget.

Lead Member – Councillor David Minnery – Portfolio Holder Finance and Corporate Support

Report of Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance attached

Contact:  James Walton 01743 258915

RESOLVED:

To accept the position as set out in the report.

Lead Member – Councillor David Minnery – Portfolio Holder Finance and Corporate Support

Report of Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance attached

Contact:  James Walton 01743 258915

RESOLVED:

To recommend that Council:-

a)     Approve, with any comments, the Treasury Strategy for 2021/22.

b)     Approve, with any comments, the Prudential Indicators, set out in Appendix 1, in accordance with the Local Government Act 2003.

c)     Approve, with any comments, the Investment Strategy, set out in Appendix 2 in accordance with the MHCLG Guidance on Local Government Investments.

d)     Approve, with any comments, the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement, set out in Appendix 3.

e)     Authorise the Section 151 Officer to exercise the borrowing powers contained in Section 3 of the Local Government Act 2003 and to manage the Council’s debt portfolio in accordance with the Treasury Strategy.

f)      Authorise the Section 151 Officer to use other Foreign Banks which meet Link’s creditworthiness policy as required. 

To recommend to Audit Committee

g)     Audit Committee are asked to consider and endorse, with appropriate comment, the Treasury Strategy 2021/22.

Recommendations to the Council

h)     Approve, with any comments, the Treasury Strategy for 2021/22.

i)       Approve, with any comments, the Prudential Indicators, set out in Appendix 1, in accordance with the Local Government Act 2003.

j)       Approve, with any comments, the Investment Strategy, set out in Appendix 2 in accordance with the MHCLG Guidance on Local Government Investments.

k)     Approve, with any comments, the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement, set out in Appendix 3.

l)       Authorise the Section 151 Officer to exercise the borrowing powers contained in Section 3 of the Local Government Act 2003 and to manage the Council’s debt portfolio in accordance with the Treasury Strategy.

m)   Authorise the Section 151 Officer to use other Foreign Banks which meet Link’s creditworthiness policy as required.  

Lead Member – Councillor Dean Carroll, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Services and Climate Change

Report of Director of Adult Social Care, Housing and Public Health attached

Contact:  Tanya Miles, 01743 258663

RESOLVED:

To approve the Policy

Lead Member – Councillor Ed Potter – Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services

Report of the Director of Children’s Services attached

Contact:  Karen Bradshaw 01743 254201

RESOLVED

To accept the recommendation of Shropshire Schools Forum on the funding formula for Shropshire schools for the financial year 2021- 22 for maintained schools, and the academic year 2021-22 for academies