The following motions have been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 16:

The following motion was received from Councillor Tony Parsons and supported by the Labour Group

The original motion on Social Care as set out on the agenda was altered by Councillor Tony Parsons and presented to the council as follows:

Social Care Costs 

? 

This Council notes: 

In October 2023, Skills for Care estimated that there were 1000 vacancies in the adult social care workforce in Shropshire (a vacancy rate of 81]. However, in a survey of its care provider members the average staff turnover rate over the last 12 months reported by respondents was 19%, and nearly a quarter (23%) of respondents stated that they are employing less staff than this time last year, with nearly a third (31%) of domiciliary care providers stating that they now employ less staff than a year ago. 

? 

For much of the past 12 months our local hospitals in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin have continued to face the challenge of trying to discharge people back into the community made difficult by the lack of available care. As was the case a year ago, this is not due to a lack of care providers, but their inability to recruit and retain staff the low wages they can afford to pay their staff due in part to the low fee rates payable by local authorities. 

? 

This is compounded by significant operational cost pressures over the last 12 months. Inflation as measured by CPI rose by 3.9% in the 12 months to November 2023, but for the period April-September 2023 was significantly higher, ranging from 6.7%-8.7%. 

? 

The National Living Wage (NLW) is due to increase by 9.8%, from £10.42 to £11.44 per hour, from 1 April 2024 and?whilst this is a positive move for care workers?will directly impact on care providers’ staff Put simply, if local authority fee rates do not at least cover the increase in NLW this will represent cut in fee rates.??In addition to staff costs, care providers have continued to face significant financial challenges over the last 12 months relating to staff recruitment, energy/utility costs, PPE and other operating costs including insurance, IT and staff travel. 

?? 

This Council believes: 

Both Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council had been awarded additional funding by central Government, through the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), under the Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund for investment in adult social care in 2023/24. Shropshire Council had been allocated an additional £2,119,773 which was used to improve fee rates together with additional investment from the Council. We await to see what funding is provided by central government in 2024/25. 

? 

Most local care providers have grave concerns regarding their financial viability and the sustainability of their business in continuing with local authority-funded care going forward without a significant increase in local authority fee rates from April 2024. Whilst Council awaits funding from the Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund for investment in adult social care for financial year 2024/25, when that funding is provided it needs to be specifically targeted to address this issue. 

? 

Only 19% of respondents to the survey of care provider members conducted by Partners in Care in October 2023 feel that current local authority fee rates cover their actual weekly operating costs. More than half (54%) of all providers who responded confirmed that they have reduced the amount of local authority funded placements/packages they accept in the past 12 months, with 56% of all respondents also expecting to further reduce the amount of council funded care they provide in the next 12 months if fee rates remain the same in 2024/25. 

? 

? 

This Council commits: 

? 

To use funding received from central government for investment in adult social care in 2024/25 to increase fee rates paid to adult social care providers, particularly as we continue to prepare for the implementation of charging reform.” 

By way of amendment Councillor Cecilia Motley proposed

That paragraphs 2 - 6 be deleted and replaced with the following: -

This Council believes:

Both Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council had been awarded additional funding by central Government, through the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) under the Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund for investment in adult social care in 2023/24.  Shropshire Council had been allocated an additional £2,119,773 which was used to improve fee rates together with a large investment of more than £6m provided by Shropshire Council, and increased contributions as demand and prices continued to rise. 

A proportion of care providers have their financial but our ASC teams are not seeing large exits from the market to support this.  Furthermore, despite increasing financial pressures Shropshire Council already pays the highest rates for domiciliary care across the region and the second highest care home rates.  This needs to be . 

Additionally, Shropshire Council should not be expected to bear the full brunt of National Living Wage and care costs in the county when it only commissions 30% of care, with the NHS also commissioning 30% and private funders the remaining 40%.  homes negotiate a rate with the Council depending on so it is hard for generalise costs. 

This Council commits: 

To use funding received from central governmentand aligned to grant conditions for investment in adult social care provision in 2024/25 which best meets the needs of our residents in the most way. 

Councillor Parsons indicated that he was happy to accept the amendment.

By way of further amendment Councillor Roger Evans proposed that the following be added to the end of the motion

“including paying more to care staff through improved hourly rates.”

Councillor Parsons and Councillor Motley both indicated that they were happy to accept this amendment

Following a vote it was unanimously RESOLVED

This Council commits:

To use funding received from central government and aligned to grant conditions for investment in adult social care provision in 2024/25 which best meets the needs of our residents in the most cost-efficient way, including paying more to care staff through improved hourly rates. 

The following motion was received from Councillor Alan Mosley and supported by the Labour Group

Consultation on Car Parking Increases

This council notes:

The decision by Shropshire Council cabinet this January to raise £2m income through increasing car parking charges seeks to introduce increases of 33% at St. Julian Friars, 50% at Frankwell, 67% at Abbey Foregate and zero at Raven Meadows. This appears to penalise those who park outside of loop, whilst rewarding those who drive into the centre.

The cabinet proposals also seek to increase charges in the evening until 8pm and introduce them on Sundays and Bank Holidays

The scale of the increases has also sparked a considerable number of objections and concerns raised by the public, residents, workers, businesses and visitors.

 Recent surveys and submissions by Shrewsbury BID provide evidence that there is considerable concern about the adverse impact on businesses of all types.

There has been a lack of any meaningful engagement with businesses or the wider public on the rationale and potential impact of the changes.

The proposals as they currently stand could undermine the Shropshire Plan:-

“We'll develop Shropshire as a vibrant destination that attracts people to live in, work in, learn in and visit. We'll deliver excellent connectivity and infrastructure, and increasing access to social contact, employment, education, services and leisure opportunities. We will communicate clearly and transparently about what Shropshire Council delivers, signposting to the right places for services and support, and listen to what communities say about their place and what they need.”

This council believes:

1.    The proposed hikes, ranging from 29% to 67%, could have a profound and serious impact on our Town’s economy and attraction without any other mitigating improvements to town centre access, for example public transport, park and ride, highways infrastructure, active travel. Hence, the new charges pose a significant risk to the Shrewsbury town centre economy and its on-going post- Covid recovery

2.    The swingeing increases for Abbey Foregate and Frankwell will have a particularly serious impact on those commuting to work, especially those on low income, where they have no affordable or convenient alternatives.

3.    The changes are contrary to proposals within the movement strategy aimed at encouraging parking outside of the river loop.

4.    Changes to Sunday and early evening charges could have a particularly seriously impact on the those employed in the night-time, hospitality and cultural economy and on visitors and residents in the town.

5.    Many could be deterred from using designated car parks and will seek on-street parking around the town centre, much to the detriment of local residents.

This Council:

1.    Recognises the need for a new Parking Strategy to be developed and for a review of the role, structure and staff in the Parking Services operation. This needs to be completed and with full public consultation, before such significant proposals are introduced.

2.    So the parking increases need to be paused until such consultation has gathered feedback from those affected and demonstrated mitigation.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Julia Buckley

Following a vote the motion was not supported.