To receive any questions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  Deadline for notification is 10am on Tuesday 21 September 2021

A petition, bearing over 1000 signatures has been received from Rachel Connolly, requesting a debate under the Council’s Petition Scheme.  The petition requests that the Council:

Hold a full member debate on the rationale and impact of Kier and Shropshire Council's proposal to centralise the highways service delivery by closing the 2 depots serving the East of the county. Members are asked to consider whether closing and selling off the depots in Bridgnorth & Hodnet is in the interests of local residents and quality of service. Members will take a vote on whether the proposed closures should go ahead or not. 

The petitioner will be allowed 5 minutes to outline their case, after which there may a debate of up to a maximum of 15 minutes

The Chairman advised there were two public questions from Jamie Russell and Stephen Mulloy. Answers to the questions were provided by the respective Portfolio Holders. A copy of the questions and the responses provided are attached to the signed minutes and available from the web page for the meeting. 

Agenda for Council on Thursday, 23rd September, 2021, 10.00 am — Shropshire Council 

A petition, bearing over 1000 signatures had been received from Rachel Connolly, requesting a debate under the Council’s Petition Scheme. The petition requested that the Council: 

Hold a full member debate on the rationale and impact of Kier and Shropshire Council's proposal to centralise the highways service delivery by closing the 2 depots serving the East of the county. Members are asked to consider whether closing and selling off the depots in Bridgnorth & Hodnet is in the interests of local residents and quality of service.  

Members will take a vote on whether the proposed closures should go ahead or not. 

The petitioner was allowed 5 minutes to outline their case, after which there was a debate of up to a maximum of 15 minutes. 

The Portfolio Holder, Councillor Charmley, thanked the petitioner. He replied for the Council and at the end of the debate and in line with the options laid out in the Constitution; proposed that the Council undertake further research into the matter and consult those affected before bringing a report to Council or Cabinet (as appropriate) in due course. 

Clarification was sought whether the proposal would result in the closure of the depots in the interim period. Members were advised that the depots were temporarily closed for health and safety reasons. Permanent closures would be brought to Council or Cabinet for Members’ decision. 

On being put to a recorded vote the proposition was carried by 38 Members voting in favour, 26 against and no abstentions, as follows: 

For – Councillors Aldcroft, Anderson, Bardsley, Barrow, Biggins, Broomhall, Burchett, Butler, Carroll, Charmley, Dakin, Elner, D Evans, Gill, Gittins, Harris, Hignett, Hunt, Hurst-Knight, M Jones, S Jones, Lea, Luff, Lumby, Lynch, Macey, Marshall, Morris, Motley, Mullock, Nellins, Picton, Potter, Price, Thomas, Wild, Williams, Wynn 

Against – Bagnall, Boddington, Buckley, Clarke, Dartnall, M Davies, Dean, J Evans, R Evans, Green, Halliday, Hartin, Houghton, Isherwood, Kerr, Kidd, Moseley, Mosley, Pardy, Parry, Parsons, Tindall, Towers, Vasmer, Wagner, Wilson 

Abstentions - Nil