Other Members in Attendance:

Councillor Bernie Bentick – Portfolio Holder for Health

Councillor Roger Evans – Portfolio Holder for Finance (remotely)

Councillor Dawn Husemann – Group Leader (remotely)

Councillor David Vasmer – Portfolio Holder for Highways & Environment

Officers in Attendance:

Claire Braddock – Overview and Scrutiny Officer

Rhian Cains – Interim Head of Legal Services

Tom Dodds – Scrutiny Manager

Lisa Gardner – Development Officer, Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership

Rachel Robinson – Executive Director Public Health

Gavin Waite – Waste Management Services Manager

Duncan Whitfield – Director: Financial Improvement

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alan Holford and David Minnery.  There were no substitutes in attendance.

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.

There were no interests declared.

To consider the minutes of the Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 13^th November 2025.  (Attached).

Contact:  Sarah Townsend (Tel: 01743 257721)

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 13th November 2025 be approved as a correct record.

To receive any questions or petitions from the public of which notice has been given.  The deadline for notification for this meeting is 12 noon on Friday, 23^rd January 2026.

A public question had been received from Mr John Palmer regarding the introduction of weekly food waste collections and not adhering to legislation.  Mr Palmer was in attendance to ask his question and the response to the question was provided by the Chairman.  A full copy of the question and response provided is available from the web page for the meeting.

To receive any questions of which Members of the Council have given notice.  The deadline for notification for this meeting is 12 noon on Friday, 23^rd January 2026.

No member questions had been received.

The Shropshire Community Safety Partnership Annual Report 2024-25 details the progress that the partnership has made over the past year, to tackle crime and disorder issues across the county.  This report focusses upon progress made against its agreed strategic priorities.  All areas of work are delivered in partnership across the county.  (Attached).

Contact:  Jane Rose (Tel: 01743 253948)

The Executive Director Public Health and the Development Officer, Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership introduced the report which fulfilled the Community Safety Partnerships statutory duty to produce a needs assessment and its duty for committee to review and scrutinise decisions made and actions undertaken by the Responsible Authorities for Community Safety in Shropshire.  The report outlined the key actions and achievements realised by Shropshire’s Community Safety Partnership during the 2024-25 period.  It also provided an overview of the strategic plans and priorities that are currently being developed for the forthcoming year, 2025-26.

It was noted that the year was marked by significant organisational change as the partnership transitioned back into three separate boards and that whilst it was a year of change, there were several achievements to be celebrated.

Members asked why Shropshire Council contributed 62% of the Community Safety Partnership budget and how this figure was set.  Officers explained that the budget shown is for the partnership which supports all three boards so, it supports the Adults and Children’s Safeguarding and the Community Safety Partnership and the Council contributes more because of its wider statutory safeguarding responsibilities.

It was questioned how reductions in crime and antisocial behaviour and violence could be confidently attributed to Community Safety Partnership activity rather than standard policing.  Officers commented that direct attribution was difficult, but multi?agency working has clearly strengthened local responses, with revived partnership meetings enabling earlier interventions and better joint problem?solving.

Questions were raised about how the Community Safety Partnership impact is measured and reported and it was confirmed that detailed dashboards, monitoring and police supported analysis existed internally.  Whilst some data was officially sensitive and unable to be published, more detailed information could be shared with Members outside of the public meeting.

Clarification was sought on domestic homicide reviews, including the learning that is generated and how it is shared.  Officers explained that domestic homicide reviews focused on learning and prevention with the need for this to be effectively communicated whilst protecting family confidentiality,

A question was asked regarding the road safety priority and how it would be delivered.  In responding, it was explained that a multi?agency group, chaired by the Fire Service, was analysing detailed collision data and developing an evidence based action plan aligned with national strategy.

The Portfolio Holder for Health expressed confidence in the partnership’s multi?agency work and encouraged people to continue reporting local concerns.  It was noted that the Community Safety Partnership were aware of unreported crimes and in particular, conversations were happening around rural policing.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations as detailed within the report be endorsed:

1.     That the committee considers and notes the content of the report.

2.     That the committee consider priorities proposed for 2025 - 2028 and how these will positively impact the lives of residents in Shropshire.

The Simpler Recycling Legislation came into effect in March 2025 and aims to standardise recycling across England and includes the requirement that all households are required to have a weekly food waste collection by 31 March 2026.  The report outlines the progress that the council has made, and the challenges and additional financial burden associated with this new requirement. 

REPORT TO FOLLOW.  

Contact:  Laura Tyler (Tel: 01743 253178)

The Waste Management Services Manager introduced the report by outlining the new legal duty, arising from the Environment Act 2021 and subsequent Simpler Recycling Legislation, requiring Councils to provide weekly food waste collections to all households from 31 March 2026.  A PowerPoint presentation outlining the various options was presented to the committee and it was explained that while Shropshire had received £3.6m in capital funding, no ongoing revenue funding had been provided, creating a substantial financial challenge. 

The purpose of the report was for the committee to consider the three options detailed in table 7.9 of the report, taking into account resources and risks associated with implementing a weekly food collection, with a view to making recommendations to Cabinet on which of the proposed food waste collection options the Council should implement.  Cabinet would then be considering this at their 11^th March 2026 meeting.  These three options were as follows:

·         Option 1 – Do nothing.

·         Option 2 – Introduce a fortnightly collection of food waste to all households collected with garden waste.

·         Option 3 – Weekly food collection by introducing a fortnightly separate collection of food waste only.

It was noted that to implement Option 3 would create a £3.8m annual pressure and that the Council could not commit to delivery without clarity on funding.

Members questioned whether collecting food wastevia the paid for garden waste service would breach legislation that prohibits charging residents for food waste collection.  It was clarified that the Council would not be charging for food waste; residents paying for garden waste would simply be allowed to place food waste into that bin as an interim measure.  The fee remained solely for garden waste collection.

A question was raised about why the Council could not simply provide compost bins to all households, avoiding the need for new vehicles and revenue costs.  The Waste Management Services Manager responded that while subsidised compost bins already exist and are encouraged, not all households can compost (e.g. flats, small gardens), and that the legislation still required a collection service for food waste, not just disposal options.

Members queried whether the Council had flexibility to use another contractor instead of Veolia, since the collection of weekly food waste was not part of the original PFI contract.  It was confirmed that the Council is contractually bound to Veolia for all household waste collections.

Questions were asked about carbon impacts, with one member concerned that adding new collection rounds could create more emissions than the environmental benefit of food waste recycling.  It was explained that under modelling, the overall system, accounting for energy recovery and other recycling activities, still produced a net positive carbon outcome and that more detailed figures could be shared separately.

Several questions focused on funding and the Interim Director Financial Improvement explained that although capital funding had been given, expected revenue funding had instead been rolled into the general settlement with no identifiable allocation, leaving a £3.8m annual funding gap.  It was noted that there was currently  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

To discuss the Committee’s Work Programme for 2025-2026 and potential topics for inclusion.  (Attached).

Contact:  Claire Braddock (Tel: 01743 258913)

The Chairman commented that the committee had been dealing mainly with urgent, reactive items coming from Cabinet and that it was now important to refocus on committee member led topics.  He proposed holding a work programming session to review and refresh the committee’s future work plan, with an emphasis on creating capacity for task and finish groups to look at issues raised by members.

In responding to a question, the Chairman confirmed that existing task and finish work would continue to be revisited and that the Shrewsbury station gyratory would be re-visited once the outstanding safety audit information was available.  The committee agreed with this proposed approach.

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

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

To consider the exempt minutes of the Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 13^th November 2025.  (Attached).

Contact:  Sarah Townsend (Tel: 01743 257721)

RESOLVED:

That the exempt minutes of the Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 13th November 2025 be approved as a correct record.

The Committee is scheduled to next meet on Thursday, 12^th March 2026 commencing at 6.00 p.m.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to be held on Thursday, 12th March 2026 commencing at 6.00 p.m.