To receive any questions of which members of the Council have given notice.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is 4.30pm on Friday 5^th June 2020.

The Chair advised that six Member questions had been received.  A copy of the report containing the detailed questions and their formal response is attached to the signed minutes.  The Chair agreed that the question [4] submitted by Councillor Heather Kidd could be read by Councillor Ruth Houghton on her behalf and as Councillor Houghton was cognisant of Councillor Kidd’s views on the topic she would allow her to submit a supplementary question on Councillor Kidd’s behalf.

i)     Received from Councillor Ruth Houghton in relation to the Care Sector.  By way of a supplementary question Councillor Houghton asked how the Council monitored the payment rate the Carers received.  The Acting Interim Chief Executive, Andy Begley, agreed to provide a detailed response outside of the meeting which would be circulated to all Members of the Committee.  He confirmed that the Council worked with providers through Shropshire Partners in Care to understand current payments to frontline staff.

ii)    Received from Councillor David Vasmer in relation to Climate Change.  By way of a supplementary question Councillor Vasmer asked if the documents referred to in the response could be published for the Performance Management Committee that would consider Climate Change.  The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Services and Climate Change responded that recent issues had delayed the publication of papers due to the redeployment of staff to critical functions. Whilst the work on the strategy had been delayed, the work on the projects to reduce carbon emissions had proceeded.

iii)   Received from Councillor Viv Parry in relation to the mowing of grass verges. By way of a supplementary question Councillor Parry requested that priority be given to the management of verges in the towns.

iv)   Received from Councillor Heather Kidd and asked by Councillor Ruth Houghton on the effect of Covid-19 on care homes.  By way of a supplementary question Councillor Houghton asked whether more detailed information could be given on the outcomes for the under 65 age group with learning difficulties. The Acting Interim Chief Executive, Andy Begley responded that there was ongoing work with the ESP partnership on assessing the outcome of Covid-19 infection for this age group, but the Council could only provide information on those people from this group who were in receipt of council services.  More specific reporting was done through the CQC and national reporting.

v)    Received from Councillor Roger Evans on the recovery plan. By way of a supplementary question Councillor asked why all opposition Councillors were being excluded from the two task groups which had been established when all other authorities were working cross party in response to the Covid-19 crisis.  The Chair advised that this needed to be taken up with the Leader of Council. The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Services and Climate Change advised that a cross party oversight and governance committee was in the process of being established.

vi)   Received from Councillor Roger Evans on the local outbreak control plan. By way of a supplementary question Councillor Evans asked that the cross party oversight and governance committee include cross party members.