Apologies were received from Councillor Rob Gittins

Members are reminded that they must declare their disclosable pecuniary interests and other registrable or non-registrable interests in any matter being considered at the meeting as set out in Appendix B of the Members’ Code of Conduct and consider if they should leave the room prior to the item being considered. Further advice can be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

None were declared

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 27^th April 2022, attached.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 April 2022 be confirmed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 April 2022 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 5.00 pm on Tuesday 31^st May 2022.

There were no public questions.

To receive any questions from Members of the Council. Deadline for notification is not later than 5.00 pm on Thursday 31^st May 2022.

Member questions were received from the following:

1.    Councillor Kevin Pardy in relation to plans for the development of the Quarry and Sports Village swimming pools

2.    Councillor Peggy Mullock regarding access to the south platform of Whitchurch Railway Station

3.    Councillor David Vasmer regarding microplastics and the blue paper and card recycling bags used by Veolia

By way of a supplementary question, Councillor Vasmer asked if it was possible for residents to receive a new blue bag at the same time as their new wheely bin.  Councillor Ian Nellins, Portfolio Holder for  explained that residents could request a new blue bag at any time.

4.    Councillor David Vasmer regarding a late night bus service for Shrewsbury

In response to a supplementary question, the Leader confirmed that a late night bus service was being considered as part of the review into river safety.

5.    Councillor Rob Wilson regarding compliance with new guidance regarding LTP 4 (read out by Councillor Vasmer)

In response to a supplementary question it was reported that the timeline was subject to the issue date of the DFT guidance but the current aim was end of December 2022. 

6.    Councillor Andy Boddington regarding  ANPR cameras

In response to a supplementary question Cllr Nellins agreed to look into the outcome of a Traffic Survey previously conducted on volume of traffic in Lower Corve Street, Ludlow and report back to Councillor Boddington.

The full question an responses provided are available from the web page for the meeting:  Member questions and responses 8 June 22

RESOLVED:

To recommend to Council acceptance of the findings of the Task and Finish Group on the Climate and Ecology Bill and proposed letter to Zero Hour Shropshire

Councillor Claire Wild, Chair of Performance Management Scrutiny Committee updated Cabinet on the work of the Task and Finish Group on the Climate and Ecology Bill which had reported to the Committee on 4 May 2022,  and on a proposed letter to Zero Hour Shropshire. 

RESOLVED:

To recommend to Council acceptance of the findings of the Task and Finish Group on the Climate and Ecology Bill and proposed letter to Zero Hour Shropshire

Lead Member – Dean Carroll – Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure

Report of Mark Barrow, Executive Director of Place, attached

Tel. 01743 258915

RESOLVED:

To note the contents of the report.

To agree to receive a further report on river safety when the planned review has concluded, and key partners have had the opportunity to consider its findings and propose appropriate action

The Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure, Councillor Dean Carroll introduced the report.  Recent tragic events had brought to the forefront issues around river safety in Shrewsbury and Shropshire and, as agreed at the last Council meeting, the report before members provided an update on work to date.   Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council had commissioned the WSP River Safety Team to carry out a review in partnership with other organisations. 

The outcome of the review would be used as learning for all other hotspots in Shropshire with rivers close to populations.    As sensitive an approach as possible would be taken in the interests of those impacted by recent events.  The outcome of the review would be brought back to Cabinet as soon as possible. 

In response to a question about a timeline for the work, Councillor Carroll and the Leader were emphatic that the work would be completed as quickly as possible. 

RESOLVED:

To note the contents of the report.

To agree to receive a further report on river safety when the planned review has concluded, and key partners have had the opportunity to consider its findings and propose appropriate action

Lead Member – Councillor Ian Nellins – Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Natural Assets & The Green Economy

Report of Mark Barrow, Executive Director of Place, attached

Tel:  01743 258915

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet approve:

The proposal to go out to public consultation to implement a pilot 20mph speed limit zone in the study area as shown in Figure 1.

The receipt of a future report from officers summarising the results of the public consultation exercise with a view to introducing an 18 month pilot 20mph speed limit zone in the study area.

The receipt of a future officer’s report summarising the results of the pilot 20mph speed limit zone in the study area in the event one is introduced in accordance with 2 above, and recommendation/s for whether or not to roll out other 20mph speed limit zones in other residential or urban settings.

Councillor Ian Nellins, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Natural Assets and the Green Economy introduced the report and explained that the core aim of implementing a 20mph speed limit zone in the study area would be to reduce overall traffic speeds in the area closer to 20mph rather than to bring average speeds on all roads in the area down to 20mph or below. This would be implemented via a phased approach with the initial introduction of low-cost measures including signage and road markings and a community behaviour change campaign to encourage drivers over       time to drive at an appropriate speed without excessive reliance by the Council on enforcement by the Police.

Speeds across the area would be monitored as part of the pilot and would be used to inform whether further engineering measures are required to reduce vehicular speeds at problem sites.

Other members present referred to the consultation process and other parts of the town and county where such schemes would be beneficial.  In response Councillor Gwilym Butler reiterated that communities had the right to include what they wanted in their Place Plan and to identify priorities for spending.   

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet approve:

The proposal to go out to public consultation to implement a pilot 20mph speed limit zone in the study area as shown in Figure 1.

The receipt of a future report from officers summarising the results of the public consultation exercise with a view to introducing an 18 month pilot 20mph speed limit zone in the study area.

The receipt of a future officer’s report summarising the results of the pilot 20mph speed limit zone in the study area in the event one is introduced in accordance with 2 above, and recommendation/s for whether or not to roll out other 20mph speed limit zones in other residential or urban settings.

Lead Member – Councillor Edward Potter – Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Planning

Report of Mark Barrow, Executive Director of Place, attached

Tel:  01743 258915

RESOLVED:

1)    To agree the draft Economic Growth Strategy 2022-2027 and that a Final Draft be made available for public consultation for a period of six weeks, to commence from the end of June 2022.  

2)    To agree that the officers will report the outcome of the consultation back to Council and present the final Economic Growth Strategy 2022-2027 for endorsement.

3)    To delegate authority to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio holder for Economy, Regeneration and Planning, to develop an action plan and appropriate governance with partners to support the Economic Growth Strategy 2022-2027.

Councillor Ed Potter, Deputy Leader, introduced the report and explained that the development of the draft Economic Growth Strategy had built upon the Council’s and partners response to the Covid 19 pandemic and the impacts of Brexit. The Economic Taskforce formed with the Shropshire business community, partners and key stakeholders had addressed the priorities and issues facing Shropshire’s economy and an outcome of this was to review and refresh the previous Strategy with a collaborative approach.  The recommendation was for a proposed public consultation to be undertaken over a period of six weeks. 

        Cabinet thanked officers for the work to date in developing the strategy.

RESOLVED:

1)    To agree the draft Economic Growth Strategy 2022-2027 and that a Final Draft be made available for public consultation for a period of six weeks, to commence from the end of June 2022.  

2)    To agree that the officers will report the outcome of the consultation back to Council and present the final Economic Growth Strategy 2022-2027 for endorsement.

3)    To delegate authority to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio holder for Economy, Regeneration and Planning, to develop an action plan and appropriate governance with partners to support the Economic Growth Strategy 2022-2027.

Lead Member – Edward Potter – Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Planning

Report of Mark Barrow, Executive Director of Place, attached

Tel. 01743 258919

RESOLVED:

To agree

3.1        The submission of four bids: Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Craven Arms and a county-wide transport bid in the second round of the Levelling Up programme.

3.2        Delegation to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Section 151 officer and the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Planning to submit the final bids for the 6 July 2022 deadline.

3.3        Delegation to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Section 151 officer and Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Planning to submit the UKSPF Multiply Investment Plan by 30 June 2022 and the main Investment Plan for UKSPF to Government by the 1 August 2022.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Planning introduced the report outlining the refined and strengthened bids to be submitted in the second round of the Levelling Up Programme.  An innovative Transport bid was also to be submitted, following the unsuccessful outcome of the Bus Back Better bid.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Communities, Culture, Leisure & Tourism and Transport both responded to questions about selection of the projects and the transport bid and on an encouraging meeting with the Transport Minister in relation to a holistic, county wide bid. 

All members were encouraged to bring forward ideas for the future and to encourage Town and Parish Councils to use Place Plans to identify schemes. 

RESOLVED:

To agree

3.1        The submission of four bids: Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Craven Arms and a county-wide transport bid in the second round of the Levelling Up programme.

3.2        Delegation to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Section 151 officer and the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Planning to submit the final bids for the 6 July 2022 deadline.

3.3        Delegation to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Section 151 officer and Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Planning to submit the UKSPF Multiply Investment Plan by 30 June 2022 and the main Investment Plan for UKSPF to Government by the 1 August 2022.

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

Report of Tanya Miles, Executive Director of People, attached

Contact:  01743 258674

RESOLVED:

3.1        To note the issues raised in the report and consider the impact of sustained increased demand on both the Council and children and young people in the county.

3.2        To refer the following areas for consideration in further depth by the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee :  Looked After Children figures; Child Protection Plans over two years and Social Work Assessment Timeliness

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Education introduced the second of the bi-annual reports to Cabinet  on Children’s Social Care performance, summarising the key performance indicators with the aim of demonstrating the health of the system.  She suggested that the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee be asked to consider Looked After Children figures; Child Protection Plans over two years and Social Work Timeliness in more depth.  She also referred to the inspection of the Children’s Social Care and Safeguarding Service earlier in the year which had helped provide confidence in the quality of services attaining a rating of good.  A development plan was in the progress of being agreed in the light of recommendations made.     

RESOLVED:

3.1        To note the issues raised in the report and consider the impact of sustained increased demand on both the Council and children and young people in the county.

3.2        To refer the following for consideration in further depth by the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee :  Looked After Children figures; Child Protection Plans over 2 years and Social Work Timeliness

Lead Member – Councillor Gwilym Butler – Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate Resources

Report of James Walton, Executive Director of Resources, attached

Tel. 01743 257775

RESOLVED:

To recommend that Council adopt this as the strategy for the Council going forward

The Portolio Holder for Finance and Corporate Resources introduced the Strategy which was designed to be easy to read and sit under the Shropshire Plan.  He thanked the Assistant Director Workforce and her team for their work developing the Strategy, and all staff for their work during the pandemic.  Every staff member should see their role in the context of delivering the Shropshire Plan and he was particularly interested in building relationships between members and officers. 

In responding to questions about the gender pay gap, he explained that this was primarily due to Shire Services and the Leader agreed that it would be useful to obtain more detail around gender figures for a more accurate picture. 

RESOLVED:

To recommend that Council adopt this as the strategy for the Council going forward

Lead Member – Ian Nellins – Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Natural Assets & The Green Economy

Report of Mark Barrow, Executive Director of Place, attached

Tel. 01743 258919

RESOLVED:

To agree the policy outlined in Appendix 1 is adopted

To delegate to the Head of Property and Development to carry out a review of the current policies and the terms and conditions of the leases, licences and hire of Council owned land and premises to ensure that they reflect the Council’s position as regards the use of balloons and sky lanterns on Shropshire Council owned land.

To delegate to Head of Communications and Engagement, Shropshire Council to implement a media campaign to discourage all such releases within the County.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Natural Assets and the Green Economy introduced the report resulting from a motion agreed by Council on 24 February 2022.  The ban would mitigate the risk of danger for wildlife, pets and farm animals also the risk of accidental fires breaking out due to lantern releases. 

RESOLVED:

To agree the policy outlined in Appendix 1 is adopted

To delegate to the Head of Property and Development to carry out a review of the current policies and the terms and conditions of the leases, licences and hire of Council owned land and premises to ensure that they reflect the Council’s position as regards the use of balloons and sky lanterns on Shropshire Council owned land.

To delegate to Head of Communications and Engagement, Shropshire Council to implement a media campaign to discourage all such releases within the County.

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

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item

To confirm as a correct record the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 6 April 2022, to follow

RESOLVED:

To confirm as a correct record the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 6 April 2022

RESOLVED:

To confirm as a correct record the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 6 April 2022