Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Dean Carroll who was required to self isolate and joined the meeting remotely.

None were declared.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2021, TO FOLLOW

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2021 be confirmed a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2021 be confirmed 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 10.00 am on Monday 19 July 2021

No questions had been received from members of the public.

To receive any questions from members of the council.  Deadline for notification is not later than 5.00 pm on Friday 16 July 2021

Member questions were received as follows:

Councillor Andy Boddington – regarding plans for the former biodigester and recycling site at Coder Road, Ludlow; any plans to bring forward use of the green field employment site located south of Sheet Road, Ludlow; proposals for brownfield regeneration on the fringes of the centre of Ludlow and, finally, timescales for an update of the Ludlow Local Economic Growth Strategy.

Prior to receiving any question from Councillor David Vasmer, the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure, Highways and Built Housing stated that submission of an expression of interest for the mini Holland funding was supported whilst recognising that the Council would continue to prioritise active travel across the whole county.

Councillor Vasmer commented that he welcomed the statement made by the Deputy Leader and looked forward to the development of a bid for the mini Holland funding and hoped that, as £20M was available, the county would benefit.

Councillor Rob Wilson – regarding the percentage of the Council’s budget allocated towards the active travel infrastructure in 2020/21 and 2022/23 and its percentage of the total highways budget.

The full questions and answers are provided on the webpage for the meeting: http://shropshire.gov.uk/committee-services/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=130&MId=4229&Ver=4

There were no items from scrutiny.

Lead Member – Councillor Gwilym Butler – Portfolio Holder for Resources

Report of Executive Director of Resources attached

Contact:  James Walton 01743 258915

RESOLVED: To accept the position as set out in the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources presented the reportoutlining the treasury management activities of the Council in the last quarter. He commented on the modest return on investments given the base rate of 0.1% and stressed the importance of investing in other areas of the capital programme that gave better returns particularly as base rate predictions forecast low interest rates for at least three years.

Responding to a question from Councillor Vasmer, he stated that he would report back on whether the impact on climate change could be incorporated into the definition of treasury management activities.

RESOLVED:

To accept the position as set out in the report.

Lead Member – Councillor Steve Charmley – Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure, Highways and Built Housing

Report of Executive Director of Place TO FOLLOW

Contact:  Mark Barrow 01743 258919

RESOLVED:

2.1    That Cabinet agrees that following the end of social distancing measures on 19 July an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order be confirmed closing Shrewsbury High Street to traffic Monday to Sunday 11-4 but allowing buses and taxis to use the road Monday- Friday and for this arrangement to continue until after the consultation referred to in recommendation 2.2 has been completed and a further report has been considered by Cabinet to longer term arrangements for High Street.

2.2    That Cabinet approves an 8-week public consultation to be initiated in the late Autumn led by Shropshire Council and its key partners to consider proposals for pedestrianisation of the High Street between:

·           Monday to Friday 11am – 4pm for all vehicles except buses, taxis, and cyclists to be prevented from accessing the High Street.

·           Saturday/Sunday 11am – 4pm all vehicles to be prevented from accessing the High Street

·           to reduce or restrict through traffic on Town Walls via the formalisation of existing temporary measures on Town Walls and or the implementation of a Low Traffic Zone.

2.3    That Cabinet delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place, and Head of Communications / Head of Transport and Environment (working with partners) to finalise the consultation plan with the Council’s key partners.

2.4    That Cabinet to receive a further detailed report on the outcomes of the public consultation.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure, Highways and Built Housing presented a report setting out an approach to implement a new Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) to adjust from social distancing to an experiment for the Shrewsbury high street. In addition, support for the formalisation of existing measures and/or a Low Traffic Zone on the Shrewsbury Town Walls would be ascertained. He added that the closure times would remain unchanged, and on weekends all traffic would be prohibited during the closure period.

The Deputy Leader commented that a consultation exercise would be undertaken with stakeholders and the general public and this would consider all impacts of the experimental measures and assist the Council and its partners to implement the optimum longer-term arrangements for the town centre, its businesses, residents and stakeholders without impinging on its economic growth.

Responding to comments from Members, he made the following additional points:

·         Town Walls residents would be fully consulted in an additional follow up consultation on the implementation of a Low Traffic Zone;

·         Balance would be needed between long term measures and consideration of the addition of extra disabled parking bays

·         An incremental approach would be taken to the scheme, for example, trial scheme, consultation, permanent measures

·         All businesses would be consulted including those non-BID members

·         Enforcement of the restrictions would fall to the Police

The Leader stated that she held some reservations and stressed the merits of a trial period for these initiatives (including the Low Traffic Zone on the Town Walls) and recognised the need for further consideration of enforcement measures without necessarily a reliance on the finite resources of the local Police.  Responding to a Member’s query, she added that an update would be provided on the series of signage to encourage traffic flow and parking away from the town centre.

RESOLVED:

i)             That Cabinet agrees that, following the end of social distancing measures on 19 July 2021, an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order be confirmed closing Shrewsbury High Street to traffic Monday to Sunday 11-4 but allowing buses and taxis to use the road Monday- Friday and for this arrangement to continue until after the consultation referred to in recommendation (ii) has been completed and a further report has been considered by Cabinet to longer term arrangements for High Street.

ii)            That Cabinet approves an 8-week public consultation to be initiated in the late Autumn led by Shropshire Council and its key partners to consider proposals for pedestrianisation of the High Street between:

·           Monday to Friday 11am – 4pm for all vehicles except buses, taxis, and cyclists to be prevented from accessing the High Street.

·           Saturday/Sunday 11am – 4pm all vehicles to be prevented from accessing the High Street

·           to reduce or restrict through traffic on Town Walls via the formalisation of existing temporary measures on Town Walls and or the implementation of a Low Traffic Zone.

iii)           That a separate consultation be held with businesses within the loop of the river that will be directly affected by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Lead Member – Councillor Steve Charmley – Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure, Highways and Built Housing

Report of Executive Director of Place TO FOLLOW

Contact:  Mark Barrow 01743 258919

RESOLVED:

2.1           That Cabinet approves in principle the use of a 240-litre wheeled bin for recycling, and the intended roll out plan as described in the report, subject to funding of the project being identified and approved.

2.2     That the preferred option for funding the initiative was as follows:

a)    The Council to bearing the cost of the initiative, which has been estimated at £2.932m.  This option would require material changes to be made to the Financial and Capital Strategies to take account of the cost.  An additional capital cost of £2.932m would be likely to result in an additional revenue cost of £0.335m per annum for ten years.  Revised Financial and Capital Strategies will require full Council approval.

            The Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Natural Assets & the Green Economy presented the report detailing an initiative for the provision of a 240-litre wheeled bin for recycling to all Shropshire households on request, to be introduced over a 6 month period, starting in Autumn 2021. He added that the wheelie bins would provide an alternative to the boxes currently used for recyclable glass bottles and jars, metal containers and plastic containers and would be available to households if requested but would not be compulsory.

Local feedback indicated that this would make recycling more convenient and would also increase the basic capacity available for this waste resulting in a reduction in the amount of Shropshire waste sent for disposal and an increase in the amount recycled.

Members were supportive of this initiative and the following additional comments were made during the debate:

·         Recovery of costs directly from residents was greatly opposed whilst recognising the need to make residents aware of the costs involved and the impact on the Council’s resources by funding this scheme.

·         The level of take up of the scheme would be interesting; residents of some types of property may find it difficult, e.g. flats, terraced properties

·         Climate change appraisal within future reports needed to be given greater consideration

·         Consideration of emptying bins less frequently (monthly) was not being considered at this time as the anticipated increase in recycling would help cover the revenue costs of the scheme but this could be reviewed at a later date

·         The 240L wheelie bin was a generic size but consideration was being given to the offer of a slimline 120L bin

·         The impact of the awaited Environment Bill may have implications on charging opportunities for local authorities and would be considered in due course.

RESOLVED:

i)             That Cabinet approves in principle the use of a 240-litre wheeled bin for recycling, and the intended roll out plan as described in the report, subject to funding of the project being identified and approved.

ii)            That the preferred option for funding the initiative was as follows:

The Council to bear the cost of the initiative, which has been estimated at £2.932m.  This option would require material changes to be made to the Financial and Capital Strategies to take account of the cost.  An additional capital cost of £2.932m would be likely to result in an additional revenue cost of £0.335m per annum for ten years.  Revised Financial and Capital Strategies will require full Council approval.

Lead Member – Councillor Steve Charmley – Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure, Highways and Built Housing

Report of Executive Director of Place attached

Contact:  Mark Barrow 01743 258919

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet: 

2.1  Approves the advertising policy and guidelines set out in Appendix 2  

2.2  Approves the proposal to allow highway assets namely roundabouts boundary signs, lampposts and verges to be used for advertising/sponsorship purposes and branding by businesses advertising on the assets in accordance with the advertising policy/guidelines set out in Appendix 2. 

2.3  Delegates to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure, Highways and Built Housing to conclude the process of a contract award to Community Partners Ltd for a 4 year contract for the provision of a management and advertising scheme for  roundabouts, boundary signs, lampposts and verges further to a direct award under the ESPO, Advertising Solutions Framework. This shall include implementation matters associated with the contract. 

2.4  Delegates to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure, Highways and Built Housing the decision to include additional highway assets for advertising purposes in accordance with appendix 2 and determine the most appropriate procurement method for this.  

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure, Highways and Built Housing presented the report providing details of the proposed scheme to award a contract to provide a management and advertising scheme for roundabouts, boundary signs, lampposts and verges.  He stressed that the signage would be small scale and would be in keeping with the Shropshire brand.  An income stream would be generated to help maintain the programme and would generate income to support maintenance of traffic islands etc.

During the debate on this issue the following comments were made:

·         Ongoing review would be essential to ensure that unnecessary clutter was avoided

·         Consultation would be undertaken as necessary with the appropriate Parish/Town Councils

·         It was recognised that the planning process was well established and the necessary permissions would be sought as needed on a case by case basis

·         There would be no impact on the Council’s biodiversity scheme, hedgecutting, verge cutting

·         Signage would be sympathetic to the area and retain the Shropshire brand

·         Additional revenue attracted by the scheme was understood and supported

·         Dozens of local authorities already successfully operated such schemes

·         The impact on business rates (Appendix 1) had already been assessed

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet: 

i)             Approves the advertising policy and guidelines set out in Appendix 2  

ii)            Approves the proposal to allow highway assets namely roundabouts boundary signs, lampposts and verges to be used for advertising/sponsorship purposes and branding by businesses advertising on the assets in accordance with the advertising policy/guidelines set out in Appendix 2. 

iii)           Delegates to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure, Highways and Built Housing to conclude the process of a contract award to Community Partners Ltd for a 4 year contract for the provision of a management and advertising scheme for  roundabouts, boundary signs, lampposts and verges further to a direct award under the ESPO, Advertising Solutions Framework. This shall include implementation matters associated with the contract. 

iv)           Delegates to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure, Highways and Built Housing the decision to include additional highway assets for advertising purposes in accordance with appendix 2 and determine the most appropriate procurement method for this.  

Lead Member – Councillor Kirstie Hurst-Knight – Portfolio Holder for Children and Education

Report of Executive Director of Children’s Services attached

Contact:  Karen Bradshaw 01743 254201

RESOLVED:

2.1   That Cabinet approves the variations to Shropshire Council’s admission

arrangements for 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, namely to give equal top priority to

children who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside of

England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted, alongside

children who are currently or were previously looked after by English local authorities

and ceased to be so as a result of being adopted.

2.2   That Cabinet approve the variations to take effect from 1 September 2021 in compliance with the School Admissions Code 2021.

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Education presented the report on therevised draft School Admissions Code that had passed through the Parliamentary process on 1 July 2021 requiring admission authorities across the country to agree by 1 September 2021 a variation to their admission arrangements to comply with the new Code. 

She stated that this required IAPLAC children who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted, to be given equal first priority in admission arrangements, alongside Looked After Children (LAC) and Previously Looked After Children (PLAC) children who were previously looked after by English local authorities.

RESOLVED:

i)             That Cabinet approves the variations to Shropshire Council’s admission arrangements for 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, namely to give equal top priority to children who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted, alongside children who are currently or were previously looked after by English local authorities and ceased to be so as a result of being adopted.

ii)            That Cabinet approve the variations to take effect from 1 September 2021 in compliance with the School Admissions Code 2021.

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 Procedure Rules, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item

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 Procedure Rules, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item.

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 Procedure Rules, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item.

To confirm the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2021, TO FOLLOW

RESOLVED: That the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2021 be confirmed a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2021 be confirmed a correct record.