Agenda item
Motions
The following motions have been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 16:
1. The following motion has been received from Councillor Rob Wilson and is supported by Councillors Julian Dean, Kate Halliday and Rosemary Dartnall
Transport and Developments Supplementary Planning Document
This Council notes:
1. At Full Council in May 2019 Shropshire Council declared a Climate Emergency.
2. At Full Council on 24th September 2020 Shropshire Council resolved to:
a. Support the Prime Minister’s “Gear Change” announcement.
b. Ensure that all cycling infrastructure built in Shropshire conforms to the standards laid out in LTN 1/20.
3. At Full Council on 25th February 2021 Shropshire Council resolved that LTP4 would “adopt ‘Transport for New Homes’ principles for responding to development proposals. Where proposals do not meet high standards against the Transport for New Homes checklist they should be rejected.”
4. At Full Council in September 2021 Shropshire Council resolved to proactively reduce the number of short car journeys taken, particularly in our towns at first, act to discourage cars from our town centres, develop low traffic zones, create safe active travel routes, and improve urban public transport.
5. Local Plan as submitted says that more than 30,000 new homes will be built in Shropshire by 2038.
6. In April 2021 Shropshire Council has appointed its first Active Travel Manager.
7. Shropshire Council has submitted a £98m bid to the Department for Transport for the “Bus Back Better” programme.
8. LTN 1/20 chapter 14 “Integrating cycling with highway improvements and new developments” is introduced as follows: “It is important that cycle infrastructure requirements are embedded into local authority planning, design and highway adoption policies and processes. This will ensure that good quality cycle infrastructure is delivered in all new developments, new highways and highway improvement schemes.”
9. The Government has set the target that 50% of journeys in towns should be walked or cycled by 2030.
10. Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) are currently being developed for Market Towns across Shropshire
11. The new Local Transport Plan (LTP4) is currently being developed, and has been envisioned as a high level umbrella document which is supported by a number of supplementary documents.
12. Bath and NE Somerset Council has recently developed a Supplementary Planning Document to address Transport and Developments (Document overview | Bath and North East Somerset Council (bathnes.gov.uk)).
13. Sheffield City Council passed a motion in November 2021 that developers will need to make a Climate Change Declaration when submitting a planning application (Sheffield City Council - Agenda item - Notice of Motion Regarding "Developers Climate Change Declaration" - Given By Councillor Angela Argenzio and To Be Seconded By Councillor Peter Garbutt (moderngov.co.uk))
This Council resolves:
1. to express disappointment that a number of recent developments fall below the standards aspired to for public and active transport; for example SUE South, Sweetlake Meadow and Bowbrook Meadows in Shrewsbury.
2. to instruct the executive to plan for the Planning Policy team to develop a Supplementary Planning Document to specifically ensure that sustainable, active and public transport is embedded into all new developments in Shropshire.
3. to call on the executive to ensure that following the adoption of the Local Plan, the said Supplementary Planning Document is developed and implemented as soon as possible.
4. to call on the executive to ensure that planning development officers are fully conversant with LTN 1/20, Transport for New Homes principles alongside other existing policies.
5. That to promote better development for sustainable transport, pending the adoption of the new Local Plan, the Council will promote ‘Transport for New Homes’ guidance to developers and will ask developers to give their answers to these questions as part of the Planning process:
· What measures have been/will be taken to limit car dependency and to maximise opportunities for the take up of active travel and public transport?
· What measures have been/will be taken to ensure connectivity and access to services and to opportunities for work, rest, play within distances reachable by walking, wheeling or cycling?
6. That the Council will publicly recognise those developers who have gone above and beyond minimum Government requirements to support sustainable transport.
2. The following motion has been received from Councillor Duncan Kerr and is supported by the Green Group
Governance, democracy and the committee system
Background
The committee system is a method of decision-making where a collective group of elected members meet, debate proposals and make decisions, usually in the public domain. Committees are usually politically proportionate. The chairperson of a committee would usually oversee the business of the committee, lead on agenda planning and would have a second or casting vote to resolve tied voting. Committees meet around every two months with published agendas and reports containing recommendations. This method of governance was the predominant method in local government for many years.
The Labour Government’s Local Government Act 2000 introduced new systems of governance, including the Leader and Cabinet model for executive decision-making, which was adopted by Shropshire Council and most other local authorities. The committee system was abolished for all but the smallest local authorities. The main aims of the new approach were to speed up decision-making and to identify individual accountable elected members for areas of responsibility and to make the system more easily understood by the public.
The Conservative led Coalition Government amended the Local Government Act in 2011 to empower Local Authorities by enabling any local authority to revert to the committee system, either if the council itself agreed this, or if a petition of at least 5% of the electorate was received asking the Council to change its governance arrangements.
Council notes
That recently a number of leading unitary local authorities have seen the benefits to public accountability, transparency and effective scrutiny and have opted to revert to a Committee system. This is particularly important when a Council is facing difficult and challenging decisions in the light of diminishing resources.
Council resolves
To widen the brief of the Boundary Review working group (and rename it a Governance and Boundary Review working group) to investigate and make recommendations to the Council regarding the re-introduction of a Committee system.
3. The following motion has been received from Councillor Julian Dean and is supported by the Green Group
Council notes:
The 54% increase in the price cap on energy bills from 1st April, leading to an estimated 6.3m households (27% of homes in England) now being in fuel poverty.
This will mean a significant increase in the number of households in Shropshire facing fuel poverty from the 23,000 (17%) estimated by Age UK in September 2021
The widely expected further increase to energy bills in October.
The urgent need to eliminate fossil fuel imports from the Russian Federation in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
The urgent need to decarbonise our energy system to stand any chance of reaching commitments to limit global heating to 1.50 or below 20
That research suggests energy bills of almost 8m households could be slashed by up to 40% if the government prioritises retrofitting the country’s draughty, heat-leaking homes, yet trailed plans for an expansion to the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme as part of the Energy Strategy were abandoned.
That ‘Onshore wind is one of the cheapest forms of renewable power’ according to the Energy Strategy and that 83% of voters support its expansion, yet initial suggestions to ease planning restrictions for this were abandoned.
That new nuclear energy production costs roughly twice as much as new wind and solar energy and, according to government research, takes up to 17 years to bring on stream.
Council believes:
The British Energy Security Strategy was a missed opportunity to deliver urgent additional investment in home energy efficiency & speedy, affordable renewable energy production that could improve the UKs energy security, quickly reduce the impact of the energy price rises & have a lasting impact in reducing carbon emissions.
Council resolves:
To lobby our MPs directly, & to call on the LGA to lobby government to;
· Review & revise planning laws to enable the rapid expansion of onshore wind energy where there is local community support.
· Review & revise plans to ramp up home energy efficiency investment, using the planned Local Net Zero Forum to plan the rapid development of a retrofit industry, whilst strengthening Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards and their enforcement.
To require the Executive to bring forward reports in the Autumn of 2022, building on the Sustainable Warmth Programme report of February 2022, to update the council on progress in:
· Identifying opportunities for community and/or council led renewable energy generation in our area as part of the council’s economic development work
· Addressing the warmer homes supply chain issues mentioned in the February report through economic development work.?
· Bringing in further funds to improve the energy efficiency standards of all housing in the county
· Strengthening the Affordable Warmth and Energy Efficiency Team (as indicated in answer to members question at Cabinet 16/2/22)
· Providing accessible information, advice & guidance in a variety of formats to those looking to improve the energy efficiency of their homes
· Working in partnership with other agencies & voluntary & community groups to address fuel poverty and home energy efficiency
· Improving energy efficiency and decarbonisation of heating in social housing in Shropshire.
To become a Member of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition.
4. The following motion has been received from Councillor Tracey Huffer, seconded by Councillor Heather Kidd, and is supported by Andy Boddington and Richard Huffer
1. At its February meeting, councillors unanimously agreed to back a petition requesting the council’s support for the countywide campaign for improving ambulance responses times in returning an ambulance hub back in Ludlow, South Shropshire or the return of local rapid response vehicles who can be on call or based in local areas such as hospitals, GP surgeries and fire stations to attend until an ambulance arrives.
2. At that meeting, Tracey called on the council to set up an inquiry to get answers from the hospital trust, from the ambulance trust, the CCG and others, and to hear views from across the county such as those Darren Childs expressed at that meeting. An inquiry would be a powerful statement from Shropshire Council that is not a passive player when the health service in our country is struggling and too often failing to deliver services that we need.
3. In the week to 3 April, 72% of ambulances arriving at the RSH and PRH experienced handover delays of 30 minutes or more, compared to 27% nationally. This is one of the causes of delays in getting to new patients and transferring them to A&E, along with the distances that ambulances must often travel.
4. Delays in transfer into A&E results from many problems. SaTH has difficulty in staff recruitment and retention and there has been higher than normal staff sickness in recent months. The two hospitals are often close to full bed occupancy, a situation exacerbated by delays of transfer into the care system. A&E attendances are up 13% over five years.
5. This is complex web of problems which requires a dedicated inquiry with a panel of experts drawn from across the local health economy and councillors.
6. We recognise that this is a major undertaking and the terms of reference will need to ensure that the inquiry is focused on the key issues. It will also require administrative resource. However, the benefits to the county and to individuals of a local health system that works efficiently are immeasurable.
7. This council agrees to establish a working group to:
a) Investigate how an inquiry might operate.
b) To set draft objectives and terms of reference for the inquiry.
c) To identify the organisations from which members of the inquiry would be drawn.
d) To report its findings to Cabinet.
5. The following motion has been received from Councillor Rosemary Dartnall, seconded by Councillor Caroline Bagnall, and is supported by the Labour Group
Shropshire Public Transport
15 Arriva bus services, until recently commercially viable, are under notice and Shropshire’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding was rejected by government. Of the threatened Arriva bus routes, some are now being subsidised by Shropshire Council in the short term, some face cancellation and some have been combined into other routes: beyond September, the future is very uncertain. The provider has the right to run or cancel any commercially viable service because the council does not have full control of our public transport.
Shropshire’s bus service is failing us, failing our residents. This failure is happening before our eyes, at the very moment we need an effective integrated public transport and active travel system designed to drive down the number of car journeys in Shropshire. We have an outdated bus network and it is under threat. Of course, there are problems: passenger numbers have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, fuel costs have increased and there is a shortage of drivers. We must act now.
We urgently need a modal shift that encourages transport choices that allow us to begin the overdue journey towards zero carbon. The failure of Shropshire Council’s BSIP bid is a matter of great regret: a positive result would have given Shropshire residents the benefit of an upgraded system for our towns, villages and rural areas, redesigned featuring responsive services, integrated connections to our trains and town bus routes. We urgently need a plan B.
When public transport fails, as with any service, reduced provision in response to reduced demand rapidly leads to an ever-declining system, in this case with inbuilt inequality and increased car dependency for the residents we represent. Our bus system is now on such a downward spiral and we must act now to avoid a failure of leadership. We must be bold and head-off that downward spiral, deal with the immediate problems but set a course now to rectify the medium and the long term.
There is only way to do that – to develop a “One Public Transport Vision” for Shropshire and apply for Franchise Powers that put the council in control of scoping, maintaining and improving public transport, treating it as a keystone policy in the battle against the impending climate emergency.
This council resolves to;
1. Recognise the future of the threatened Arriva bus services remains uncertain and bring them in-house now, to be run as a Shropshire Council prototype.
2. Acknowledge that developing and maintaining a robust policy for an integrated “One Public Transport Vision” combined with an active travel network is our only route to decarbonisation in Shropshire.
3. Apply immediately to government for Franchise Powers to strengthen our Local Transport Plan and decarbonisation strategy. Plan to complete a Shropshire-wide, fully consulted franchise design for integrated public transport, ready within 12-18 months to go out to tender.
4. Apply for each and every BSIP, electric bus and associated funding round announced by government, as well as any for active travel grants, but keep the franchise plan on track meanwhile to ensure our bus services thrive in the medium to long term.
6. The following motion has been received from Councillor Bernie Bentick and is supported by the Liberal Democrat Group
This Council notes:
1. The findings of The Ockenden Report, the recent extremely poor Ambulance emergency response and patient transfer times and the inadequate Community provisions for patients fit for discharge home but requiring support.
2. Additionally, Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group/Integrated Care System (CCG/ICS) has planned a radical change in the delivery of Primary Care with the introduction of Health Hubs, without adequate consultation.
3. The Health Scrutiny committees simply do not have the capacity to cover the many vitally important health changes facing our residents.
4. Currently the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee is not fulfilling its statutory role which is defined as:
To review and scrutinise, in accordance with the Local Authority (Overview and Scrutiny Committees Health Scrutiny Functions) Regulations 2002 as amended, matters relating to the health service in the authority’s area and to make reports and recommendations in accordance with those Regulations.
5. We welcome the Leader of Council’s answer to the Question raised at Cabinet on April 6th:
I agree that Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee as a Statutory body, is an important element of Shropshire Council holding the local NHS to account.??
To this end the cabinet supports strengthening the role of Scrutiny.??
· In terms of strengthening the role of Joint HOSC, Cabinet will work with the joint Chairs of HOSC to lobby to strengthen the role of Joint Scrutiny.?
· We are also in conversation with the LGA regarding the Scrutiny function. This discussion will be taken through Joint HOSC planning sessions.?
· With regards to additional funding for a health scrutiny officer, I have asked officers to consider how we could prioritise Health Scrutiny and how this prioritization could be resourced / funded
Council Resolves that:
1. Cabinet works with the joint Chairs of HOSC and together lobby Government to put sanctions in place where cooperation from health services is poor.
2. HOSC Officer support is now prioritised and a timeline for the appointment is made available urgently as we all recognise its importance.
3. Shropshire Council lobbies the Health Minister for enhanced funding to recruit social care staff on better pay and enhanced career pathways in the light of the cost-of-living strain and lack of available workforce whilst building on the excellent work of Shropshire staff. This would help enable community support for all those fit for discharge from hospital and have knock on results for A&E and the Ambulance Service.
7. The following motion has been received from Councillor David Vasmer
Council Notes
1. The recent deaths in the River Severn at Shrewsbury and a notable rescue of a man from the water who “was clinging on for dear life”.
2. The dangers posed by flooding which are not always understood by the public
The Council Resolves to:
1. Erect fencing at the edge of paths alongside major rivers in the County where there is no fencing at the moment
2. Provide ladders by steep river banks to help people escape from the water where they have fallen in over the last few years
3. Devise a promotional campaign warning people of the dangers from floodwater to include more signage and public information in news articles/social media postings/adverts/posters
4. Review river safety generally and make a report to a future meeting of Shropshire Council.
Minutes:
The following motions had been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 16.
1. From Councillor Rob Wilson, supported by Councillors Julian Dean, Kate Halliday and Rosemary Dartnall
Transport and Developments Supplementary Planning Document
This Council notes:
1. At Full Council in May 2019 Shropshire Council declared a Climate Emergency.
2. At Full Council on 24th September 2020 Shropshire Council resolved to:
a. Support the Prime Minister’s “Gear Change” announcement.
b. Ensure that all cycling infrastructure built in Shropshire conforms to the standards laid out in LTN 1/20.
3. At Full Council on 25th February 2021 Shropshire Council resolved that LTP4 would “adopt ‘Transport for New Homes’ principles for responding to development proposals. Where proposals do not meet high standards against the Transport for New Homes checklist they should be rejected.”
4. At Full Council in September 2021 Shropshire Council resolved to proactively reduce the number of short car journeys taken, particularly in our towns at first, act to discourage cars from our town centres, develop low traffic zones, create safe active travel routes, and improve urban public transport.
5. Local Plan as submitted says that more than 30,000 new homes will be built in Shropshire by 2038.
6. In April 2021 Shropshire Council has appointed its first Active Travel Manager.
7. Shropshire Council has submitted a £98m bid to the Department for Transport for the “Bus Back Better” programme.
8. LTN 1/20 chapter 14 “Integrating cycling with highway improvements and new developments” is introduced as follows: “It is important that cycle infrastructure requirements are embedded into local authority planning, design and highway adoption policies and processes. This will ensure that good quality cycle infrastructure is delivered in all new developments, new highways and highway improvement schemes.”
9. The Government has set the target that 50% of journeys in towns should be walked or cycled by 2030.
10. Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) are currently being developed for Market Towns across Shropshire
11. The new Local Transport Plan (LTP4) is currently being developed, and has been envisioned as a high level umbrella document which is supported by a number of supplementary documents.
12. Bath and NE Somerset Council has recently developed a Supplementary Planning Document to address Transport and Developments
(Document overview | Bath and North East Somerset Council (bathnes.gov.uk)).
13. Sheffield City Council passed a motion in November 2021 that developers will need to make a Climate Change Declaration when submitting a planning application (Sheffield City Council - Agenda item - Notice of Motion Regarding "Developers Climate Change Declaration" - Given By Councillor Angela Argenzio and To Be Seconded By Councillor Peter Garbutt (moderngov.co.uk))
This Council resolves:
1. to express disappointment that a number of recent developments fall below the standards aspired to for public and active transport; for example SUE South, Sweetlake Meadow and Bowbrook Meadows in Shrewsbury.
2. to instruct the executive to plan for the Planning Policy team to develop a Supplementary Planning Document to specifically ensure that sustainable, active and public transport is embedded into all new developments in Shropshire.
3. to call on the executive to ensure that following the adoption of the Local Plan, the said Supplementary Planning Document is developed and implemented as soon as possible.
4. to call on the executive to ensure that planning development officers are fully conversant with LTN 1/20, Transport for New Homes principles alongside other existing policies.
5. That to promote better development for sustainable transport, pending the adoption of the new Local Plan, the Council will promote ‘Transport for New Homes’ guidance to developers and will ask developers to give their answers to these questions as part of the Planning process:
· What measures have been/will be taken to limit car dependency and to maximise opportunities for the take up of active travel and public transport?
· What measures have been/will be taken to ensure connectivity and access to services and to opportunities for work, rest, play within distances reachable by walking, wheeling or cycling?
6. That the Council will publicly recognise those developers who have gone above and beyond minimum Government requirements to support sustainable transport.
The motion was seconded by Councillor Julian Dean.
By way of amendment, the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth Regeneration and Planning proposed an amendment to point 2 of the motion so that it would read:
2. This Council resolves upon the adoption of the Local Plan, to ask the Planning Policy Team to explorethe opportunities around developmentof a Supplementary Planning Document to specifically ensure that sustainable, active and public transport is embedded into all new developments in Shropshire.
Councillor Wilson confirmed he was content with this proposal. Councillor Claire Wild seconded Councillor Potter’s amendment.
The amended motion, now being the substantive motion, was then put to the vote and it was
RESOLVED
1 to express disappointment that a number of recent developments fall below the standards aspired to for public and active transport; for example SUE South, Sweetlake Meadow and Bowbrook Meadows in Shrewsbury.
2 Upon the adoption of the Local Plan, to ask the Planning Policy Team to explorethe opportunities around developmentof a Supplementary Planning Document to specifically ensure that sustainable, active and public transport is embedded into all new developments in Shropshire.
3 to call on the executive to ensure that following the adoption of the Local Plan, the said Supplementary Planning Document is developed and implemented as soon as possible.
4 to call on the executive to ensure that planning development officers are fully conversant with LTN 1/20, Transport for New Homes principles alongside other existing policies.
5 That to promote better development for sustainable transport, pending the adoption of the new Local Plan, the Council will promote ‘Transport for New Homes’ guidance to developers and will ask developers to give their answers to these questions as part of the Planning process:
· What measures have been/will be taken to limit car dependency and to maximise opportunities for the take up of active travel and public transport?
· What measures have been/will be taken to ensure connectivity and access to services and to opportunities for work, rest, play within distances reachable by walking, wheeling or cycling?
6 That the Council will publicly recognise those developers who have gone above and beyond minimum Government requirements to support sustainable transport.
2. From Councillor Duncan Kerr, supported by the Green Group
Governance, democracy and the committee system
The committee system is a method of decision-making where a collective group
of elected members meet, debate proposals and make decisions, usually in the
public domain. Committees are usually politically proportionate. The chairperson
of a committee would usually oversee the business of the committee, lead on
agenda planning and would have a second or casting vote to resolve tied voting.
Committees meet around every two months with published agendas and reports
containing recommendations. This method of governance was the predominant
method in local government for many years.
The Labour Government’s Local Government Act 2000 introduced new systems
of governance, including the Leader and Cabinet model for executive decision-
making, which was adopted by Shropshire Council and most other local authorities.
The committee system was abolished for all but the smallest local authorities.
The main aims of the new approach were to speed up decision-making and to
identify individual accountable elected members for areas of responsibility and
to make the system more easily understood by the public.
The Conservative led Coalition Government amended the Local Government Act in
2011 to empower Local Authorities by enabling any local authority to revert to the
committee system, either if the council itself agreed this, or if a petition of at least
5% of the electorate was received asking the Council to change its governance
arrangements.
Council notes
That recently a number of leading unitary local authorities have seen the benefits
to public accountability, transparency and effective scrutiny and have opted to
revert to a Committee system. This is particularly important when a Council is
facing difficult and challenging decisions in the light of diminishing resources.
Council resolves
To widen the brief of the Boundary Review working group (and rename it a
Governance and Boundary Review working group) to investigate and make
recommendations to the Council regarding the re-introduction of a Committee
system.
The motion was seconded by Councillor Julian Dean.
On being put to the vote the motion was defeated.
3. From Councillor Julian Dean, supported by the Green Group
Council notes:
The 54% increase in the price cap on energy bills from 1st April, leading to an
estimated 6.3m households (27% of homes in England) now being in fuel poverty.
This will mean a significant increase in the number of households in Shropshire
facing fuel poverty from the 23,000 (17%) estimated by Age UK in September
2021
The widely expected further increase to energy bills in October.
The urgent need to eliminate fossil fuel imports from the Russian Federation in
solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
The urgent need to decarbonise our energy system to stand any chance of
reaching commitments to limit global heating to 1.50 or below 20
That research suggests energy bills of almost 8m households could be slashed by
up to 40% if the government prioritises retrofitting the country’s draughty, heat
leaking homes, yet trailed plans for an expansion to the Energy Company
Obligation (ECO) scheme as part of the Energy Strategy were abandoned.
That ‘Onshore wind is one of the cheapest forms of renewable power’ according to
the Energy Strategy and that 83% of voters support its expansion, yet initial
suggestions to ease planning restrictions for this were abandoned.
That new nuclear energy production costs roughly twice as much as new wind and
solar energy and, according to government research, takes up to 17 years to bring
on stream.
Council believes:
The British Energy Security Strategy was a missed opportunity to deliver urgent
additional investment in home energy efficiency & speedy, affordable renewable
energy production that could improve the UKs energy security, quickly reduce the
impact of the energy price rises & have a lasting impact in reducing carbon
emissions.
Council resolves:
To lobby our MPs directly, & to call on the LGA to lobby government to;
· Review & revise planning laws to enable the rapid expansion of onshore wind energy where there is local community support.
· Review & revise plans to ramp up home energy efficiency investment, using the planned Local Net Zero Forum to plan the rapid development of a retrofit industry, whilst strengthening Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards and their enforcement.
To require the Executive to bring forward reports in the Autumn of 2022, building
on the Sustainable Warmth Programme report of February 2022, to update the
council on progress in:
· Identifying opportunities for community and/or council led renewable energy generation in our area as part of the council’s economic development work
· Addressing the warmer homes supply chain issues mentioned in the February report through economic development work.?
· Bringing in further funds to improve the energy efficiency standards of all housing in the county
· Strengthening the Affordable Warmth and Energy Efficiency Team (as indicated in answer to members question at Cabinet 16/2/22)
· Providing accessible information, advice & guidance in a variety of formats to those looking to improve the energy efficiency of their homes
· Working in partnership with other agencies & voluntary & community groups to address fuel poverty and home energy efficiency
· Improving energy efficiency and decarbonisation of heating in social housing in Shropshire.
To become a Member of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition.
The motion was seconded by Councillor Julia Evans
On being put to a vote the motion was defeated.
4. From Councillor Tracey Huffer, supported by Councillors Heather Kidd, Andy Boddington and Richard Huffer
1. At its February meeting, councillors unanimously agreed to back a petition requesting the council’s support for the countywide campaign for improving ambulance responses times in returning an ambulance hub back in Ludlow, South Shropshire or the return of local rapid response vehicles who can be on call or based in local areas such as hospitals, GP surgeries and fire stations to attend until an ambulance arrives.
2. At that meeting, Tracey called on the council to set up an inquiry to get answers from the hospital trust, from the ambulance trust, the CCG and others, and to hear views from across the county such as those Darren Childs expressed at that meeting. An inquiry would be a powerful statement from Shropshire Council that is not a passive player when the health service in our country is struggling and too often failing to deliver services that we need.
3. In the week to 3 April, 72% of ambulances arriving at the RSH and PRH experienced handover delays of 30 minutes or more, compared to 27% nationally. This is one of the causes of delays in getting to new patients and transferring them to A&E, along with the distances that ambulances must often travel.
4. Delays in transfer into A&E results from many problems. SaTH has difficulty in staff recruitment and retention and there has been higher than normal staff sickness in recent months. The two hospitals are often close to full bed occupancy, a situation exacerbated by delays of transfer into the care system. A&E attendances are up 13% over five years.
5. This is complex web of problems which requires a dedicated inquiry with a panel of experts drawn from across the local health economy and councillors.
6. We recognise that this is a major undertaking and the terms of reference will need to ensure that the inquiry is focused on the key issues. It will also require administrative resource. However, the benefits to the county and to individuals of a local health system that works efficiently are immeasurable.
7. This council agrees to establish a working group to:
a) Investigate how an inquiry might operate.
b) To set draft objectives and terms of reference for the inquiry.
c) To identify the organisations from which members of the inquiry would be drawn.
d) To report its findings to Cabinet.
As Councillor Tracey Huffer was not present at the meeting, the Motion was
proposed by Councillor Ruth Houghton. It was seconded by Councillor Bernie
Bentick.
By way of amendment, Councillor Dean Carroll proposed that the proposed motion at point 7 be replaced with the following:
7.This Council resolves to establish a Task & Finish Group to consider the feasibility of an inquiry into ambulance delays to report its findings to Cabinet
This was seconded by Councillor Lezley Picton.
On being put to the vote the amendment to the motion was agreed. The substantive motion was then put to the vote and it was
RESOLVED:
to establish a Task & Finish Group to consider the feasibility of an inquiry into ambulance delaysto report its findings to Cabinet
5. From Councillor Rosemary Dartnall, supported by the Labour Group
Shropshire Public Transport
15 Arriva bus services, until recently commercially viable, are under notice and
Shropshire’s bid for Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding was rejected by
government. Of the threatened Arriva bus routes, some are now being subsidised
by Shropshire Council in the short term, some face cancellation and some have
been combined into other routes: beyond September, the future is very uncertain.
The provider has the right to run or cancel any commercially viable service
because the council does not have full control of our public transport.
Shropshire’s bus service is failing us, failing our residents. This failure is happening
before our eyes, at the very moment we need an effective integrated public
transport and active travel system designed to drive down the number of car
journeys in Shropshire. We have an outdated bus network and it is under threat.
Of course, there are problems: passenger numbers have not yet returned to pre
pandemic levels, fuel costs have increased and there is a shortage of drivers. We
must act now.
We urgently need a modal shift that encourages transport choices that allow us to
begin the overdue journey towards zero carbon. The failure of Shropshire Council’s
BSIP bid is a matter of great regret: a positive result would have given Shropshire
residents the benefit of an upgraded system for our towns, villages and rural
areas, redesigned featuring responsive services, integrated connections to our
trains and town bus routes. We urgently need a plan B.
When public transport fails, as with any service, reduced provision in response to
reduced demand rapidly leads to an ever-declining system, in this case with inbuilt
inequality and increased car dependency for the residents we represent. Our bus
system is now on such a downward spiral and we must act now to avoid a failure
of leadership. We must be bold and head-off that downward spiral, deal with the
immediate problems but set a course now to rectify the medium and the long
term.
There is only way to do that – to develop a “One Public Transport Vision” for
Shropshire and apply for Franchise Powers that put the council in control of
scoping, maintaining and improving public transport, treating it as a keystone
policy in the battle against the impending climate emergency.
This council resolves to;
1. Recognise the future of the threatened Arriva bus services remains uncertain and bring them in-house now, to be run as a Shropshire Council prototype.
2. Acknowledge that developing and maintaining a robust policy for an integrated “One Public Transport Vision” combined with an active travel network is our only route to decarbonisation in Shropshire.
3. Apply immediately to government for Franchise Powers to strengthen our Local Transport Plan and decarbonisation strategy. Plan to complete a Shropshire-wide, fully consulted franchise design for integrated public transport, ready within 12-18 months to go out to tender.
4. Apply for each and every BSIP, electric bus and associated funding round announced by government, as well as any for active travel grants, but keep the franchise plan on track meanwhile to ensure our bus services thrive in the medium to long term.
Councillor Caroline Bagnall seconded the motion.
On being put to a vote the motion was defeated.
6. From Councillor Bernie Bentick, supported by the Liberal Democrat Group
This Council notes:
1. The findings of The Ockenden Report, the recent extremely poor Ambulance emergency response and patient transfer times and the inadequate Community provisions for patients fit for discharge home but requiring support.
2. Additionally, Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group/Integrated Care System (CCG/ICS) has planned a radical change in the delivery of Primary Care with the introduction of Health Hubs, without adequate consultation.
3. The Health Scrutiny committees simply do not have the capacity to cover the many vitally important health changes facing our residents.
4. Currently the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee is not fulfilling its statutory role which is defined as:
To review and scrutinise, in accordance with the Local Authority (Overview and
Scrutiny Committees Health Scrutiny Functions) Regulations 2002 as
amended, matters relating to the health service in the authority’s area and to
make reports and recommendations in accordance with those Regulations.
5. We welcome the Leader of Council’s answer to the Question raised at Cabinet on April 6th:
I agree that Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee as a Statutory body, is an important element of Shropshire Council holding the local NHS to account.??
To this end the cabinet supports strengthening the role of Scrutiny.??
· In terms of strengthening the role of Joint HOSC, Cabinet will work with the joint Chairs of HOSC to lobby to strengthen the role of Joint Scrutiny.?
· We are also in conversation with the LGA regarding the Scrutiny function. This discussion will be taken through Joint HOSC planning sessions.?
· With regards to additional funding for a health scrutiny officer, I have asked officers to consider how we could prioritise Health Scrutiny and how this prioritization could be resourced / funded
Council Resolves that:
1. Cabinet works with the joint Chairs of HOSC and together lobby Government to put sanctions in place where cooperation from health services is poor.
2. HOSC Officer support is now prioritised and a timeline for the appointment is made available urgently as we all recognise its importance.
3. Shropshire Council lobbies the Health Minister for enhanced funding to recruit social care staff on better pay and enhanced career pathways in the light of the cost-of-living strain and lack of available workforce whilst building on the excellent work of Shropshire staff. This would help enable community support for all those fit for discharge from hospital and have knock on results for A&E and the Ambulance Service.
The motion was seconded by Councillor David Vasmer.
By way of an amendment, Councillor Simon Jones proposed that paragraph 1 remain the same but the subsequent paragraphs of the motion be replaced with:
“Council Resolves to ask Cabinet to continue working with the Chair of HOSC, to continue working with our neighbours in T&W and to continue lobbying the Health & Care ministers for greater funding as a system including for recruitment and retention of social care staff.”
This was seconded by the Leader, Councillor Lezley
Picton
On being put to the vote the amendment was agreed. The substantive motion was then put to the vote and it was
RESOLVED:
i.That this Council notes the findings of The Ockenden Report, the recent extremely poor Ambulance emergency response and patient transfer times and the inadequate Community provisions for patients fit for discharge home but requiring support.
ii.That Council ask Cabinet to continue working with the Chair of HOSC, to continue working with our neighbours in T&W and to continue lobbying the Health & Care ministers for greater funding as a system including for recruitment and retention of social care staff.
7. From Councillor David Vasmer supported by the Liberal Democrat Group
Council Notes
1. The recent deaths in the River Severn at Shrewsbury and a notable rescue of a man from the water who “was clinging on for dear life”.
2. The dangers posed by flooding which are not always understood by the public
The Council Resolves to:
1. Erect fencing at the edge of paths alongside major rivers in the County where there is no fencing at the moment
2. Provide ladders by steep river banks to help people escape from the water where they have fallen in over the last few years
3. Devise a promotional campaign warning people of the dangers from floodwater to include more signage and public information in news articles/social media postings/adverts/posters
4. Review river safety generally and make a report to a future meeting of Shropshire Council.
The motion was seconded by Councillor Bernie Bentick
Councillor Alan Mosley proposed that the motion be amended to:
Join with other partners, land owners, stakeholders and the general public to undertake a countywide review of the circumstances and siting of river deaths and serious life-threatening incidents and to use this evidence and other risk assessment outcomes to:
1. Consider where additional appropriate barriers may be necessary to improve safety in risk assessed locations
2. Ensure that all existing safety measure and equipment is adequate and in good order
3. Ensure that there is improved CCTV coverage and monitoring in areas of risk and that there is adequate lighting operating in such areas on a 24/7 basis
4. Work with stakeholders to produce promotional material regarding risk and river safety and ensure that such material is prominently displayed in relevant premises. This to include the provision of learning material in schools, colleges, youth facilities, etc.
5. Call a meeting of the Strategic Licensing Committee to clarify the obligations on liquor licensees regarding care and protection of their users and work with the Police to ensure that the responsibilities are exercised, including giving advice to vulnerable people on leaving such premises.
6. Work with Police, existing providers and other volunteers to establish whether greater surveillance can be organised in areas of risk.
7. Take account of representations made by the public throughout our communities
8. Present an interim and progress report to Cabinet on 8th June 2022.
9. Devise a promotional campaign warning people of the dangers from floodwater to include more signage and public information in news articles/social media postings/adverts/posters
This was seconded by Councillor Pam Moseley
On being put to the vote the amendment was agreed. The substantive motion was
then put to the vote and it was
RESOLVED
That the Council:
1 Join with other partners, land owners, stakeholders and the general public to undertake a countywide review of the circumstances and siting of river deaths and serious life-threatening incidents and to use this evidence and other risk assessment outcomes to:
1.Consider where additional appropriate barriers may be necessary to improve safety in risk assessed locations
2.Ensure that all existing safety measure and equipment is adequate and in good order
3.Ensure that there is improved CCTV coverage and monitoring in areas of risk and that there is adequate lighting operating in such areas on a 24/7 basis
4.Work with stakeholders to produce promotional material regarding risk and river safety and ensure that such material is prominently displayed in relevant premises. This to include the provision of learning material in schools, colleges, youth facilities, etc.
5.Call a meeting of the Strategic Licensing Committee to clarify the obligations on liquor licensees regarding care and protection of their users and work with the Police to ensure that the responsibilities are exercised, including giving advice to vulnerable people on leaving such premises.
6.Work with Police, existing providers and other volunteers to establish whether greater surveillance can be organised in areas of risk.
7.Take account of representations made by the public throughout our communities
8.Present an interim and progress report to Cabinet on 8th June 2022.
9.Devise a promotional campaign warning people of the dangers from floodwater to include more signage and public information in news articles/social media postings/adverts/posters