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.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 18^th January 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18^th January 2023 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 Thursday 9^th February 2023.

To receive any questions from Members of the Council. Deadline for notification is not later than 5.00 pm on Thursday 9^th February 2023.

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

Report of James Walton – Executive Director of Resources

RESOLVED:

That Members:

A.    Noted that at the end of Quarter 3 (31st December 2022), the full year revenue forecast is a potential overspend of between £4.138m and £17.506m, with best estimates indicating an overall overspend of £9.950m;

B.    Considered the detrimental impact of this on the Council’s General Fund balance and mitigating actions urgently required to avoid this.

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

Report of James Walton – Executive Director of Resources

RESOLVED:

That members discussed and noted the position as set out in the report, in particular the continued compliance with the prudential indicators and the treasury management strategy.

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

Report of James Walton – Executive Director of Resources

Report to follow

RESOLVED:

·       That Cabinet considered the MTFS and, subject to any amendment, recommended the 2023/24 budget of £645.741m outlined in the Budget Book at Appendix 3, to full Council for discussion and approval.

·       That Cabinet discussed the key changes since the December update of the MTFS and the advice relating to those changes, in particular

o   The public consultation and early results from that

o   The Alternative Budget process and its outcomes

o   The Financial Settlement and the outcomes for this Council

o   The Collection Fund outturn and the impact on next year

o   The latest budget forecast for the current year, the deterioration in the outlook, and the resulting likely impact on reserves in this year and next (also included in the MTFS assumptions)

·       That Cabinet noted that the Council papers will include the full budget report including all proposals to achieve the estimated MTFS position, but that some of those proposals will require further specific member approval, and possible consultation.

·       Agreed the adoption of the Capital Strategy 2022/23 – 2027/28 attached as Appendix 2.

·       That Cabinet noted that the budget report for Council will include the council tax resolution and the relevant decisions to be made in setting that.

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

Report of James Walton – Executive Director of Resources

RESOLVED:

That Members:

·       Noted the overall Collection Fund estimated surplus of £6.841m for the year ending 31st March 2023, comprised of an estimated surplus of £2.836m for Council Tax and an estimated surplus of £4.005m for Non-Domestic Rates (NDR).

·       Noted the estimated surplus/deficit incorporates the final year of the three year phasing of the 2020/21 in year deficit.

·       Noted the distribution of the Collection Fund estimated surplus for Council Tax and NDR to the major/relevant precepting authorities and the Secretary of State.

·       Noted Shropshire Council’s share of the overall estimated surplus of £4.313m, comprised of an estimated surplus of £2.331m for Council Tax and an estimated surplus of £1.982m for NDR, and how this will be applied to improve the council’s overall financial sustainability and resilience.

·       Noted the inclusion of Shropshire Council’s share of the overall estimated surplus for Council Tax and NDR in the 2023/24 budget.

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

Report of James Walton – Executive Director of Resources

Report to follow

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

·       Received the Treasury Strategy 2023/24 and recommended its adoption to Council from the perspective of this setting out the policy Cabinet wish to adopt;

·       Recommends that Council:-

a)    Approve, with any comments, the Treasury Strategy for 2023/24

b)    Approve, with any comments, the Prudential Indicators, set out in Appendix 1, in accordance with the Local Government Act 2003, noting that the new Liability Benchmark indicator needs to be finalised.

c)     Approve, with any comments, the Investment Strategy, set out in Appendix 2 in accordance with the DLUHC 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.

g)    Authorise the Section 151 Officer to progress and finalise the restatement and amendment of Cornovii Development Ltd loan agreements.

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

Report of James Walton – Executive Director of Resources

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet members discussed the proposed fees and charges and recommended Full Council to –

·       Note the breakdown of the total income for 2022/23 and 2023/24 and in particular that the proposed 2023/24 charges for discretionary services represent £45.052m of the £86.918m of income derived from Fees and Charges.

·       Approve the charges for 2023/24 as detailed in Appendix 3 to be implemented from 1 April 2023.

·       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.

·       Revise housing rents as follows (subject to restrictions or exemptions identified in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill):

i.                Social Housing rents for 2023/24 are increased by 7% from 3rd April 2023.

ii.               Affordable rents for 2023/24 are increased by 7% from 3rd April 2023

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. For 2023/24 the increase is capped at 7% in line with the cap imposed on social housing rents.

iv.             Service charges continue to be set based on actual cost.

Lead Member – Councillor Rob Gittins – Portfolio Holder for Culture and Digital

Report of James Walton – Executive Director of Resources

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

·       Considered and endorsed, with appropriate comment, the performance to date

·       Considered any issues in this report as set out in paragraph 9.2

·       Reviewed both the appendix and performance portal to identify any performance areas that Cabinet would like to consider in greater detail.

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

Report of Tanya Miles – Executive Director of People

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet determined the proposed admission arrangements 2024- 2025 for Shropshire’s community and voluntary controlled schools and further approved the publication of the arrangements in accordance with the School Admissions Code 2021 and to the notification of this to parties specified in the Code.

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

Report of Tanya Miles – Executive Director of People

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet accepts the recommendation of Shropshire Schools Forum on the funding formula for Shropshire schools for the financial year 2023-24 for maintained schools, and the academic year 2023-24 for academies

Lead Member – Councillor Rob Gittins – Portfolio Holder for Culture and Digital

Report of James Walton – Executive Director of Resources

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet and Council are recommended to adopt the ICT and Digital strategy (Appendix 1) and endorse the core objectives of the digital county.

Lead Member – Councillor Lezley Picton – Leader - Policy and Strategy, Improvement and Communications

Report of James Walton – Executive Director of Resources

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

·       Noted the progress made since the approval of The Shropshire Plan by Council, driving the fundamental transformation of the Authority around the vision ‘Shropshire Living the Best Life’.

·       Approved the appointment of a Strategic Transformation Partner to provide capacity and capability in the delivery of the extensive transformation programme required to deliver The Shropshire Plan within the projected funding envelope over the period of the Medium Term Financial Strategy

Lead Member – Councillor Richard Marshall – Portfolio Holder for Highways and Regulatory Services

Report of Mark Barrow – Executive Director of Place

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet agreed the designation of the proposed Neighbourhood Area identified on the map in Appendix 2, covering the Parish of Church Stretton as an appropriate basis for the development of a Neighbourhood Development Plan and notifies Church Stretton Town Council accordingly.

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.

To confirm the exempt minutes from the meeting held on 18^th January 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 18^th January 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.