To receive any questions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.

          Public Questions

The Speaker advised that four public questions had been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 15 (a copy of the report containing the detail of the questions and the relevant formal responses is attached to the signed minutes).

Public Question 1

Received from Mrs J Brand and answered by Mr M Pate, the Leader, regarding the total cost of building the Guildhall, Shrewsbury, including costs of internal furnishings.

By way of a supplementary question Mrs Brand asked what it cost the Council to build the Guildhall and why was the Shirehall no longer re-locating there?

The Leader replied that the Guildhall had been given to the University of Chester for a nominal rent, which would be deferred until the University was in credit.  He also confirmed that they were paying full business rates.  The Guildhall had been built originally by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council and was inherited by Shropshire Council at the time of unitary status (in 2009).  He undertook to look at this again and let Mrs Brand have a more detailed answer as far as possible after the meeting.

Public Question 2

Received from Ms M Gaunt and answered by Mr M Pate, Leader regarding the reputation of the County and the behaviour of the the ex-Leader in connection with ip&e.

By way of a supplementary question Ms Gaunt asked if the Leader could assure her that stringent measures would be put in place to prevent a similar breach of Shropshire Council’s Members Code of Conduct in the future.

The Leader assured Ms Gaunt that this would be taken seriously.

Public Question 3

Received from Mr N Richardson, on behalf of Churches’ Ludlow Under Pressure Group, and answered by Mr D Minnery, Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People about possibly funding a local community-wide initiative, managed by a church backed group.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Richardson asked if the Council could give the group any hope for possible funding for youth work in Ludlow in the medium- or long-term future, when the need for austerity cuts was judged to be over?  Or was this funding now ruled out on principle or a priori?

Unfortunately the Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People was not present at the meeting to answer the supplementary question in person, but the Speaker undertook to ensure that Mr Richardson would receive a written response from Mr Minnery following the meeting.

Public Question 4

Received from Mr D Kilby, Secretary to the Shropshire Playing Fields Association and answered by Mr M Price, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment about why it had no up to date Open Space Needs Assessment.

By way of a supplementary question Mr D Kilby stated that Mr Price had conceded in his response that Shropshire Council did not have a robust open space needs assessment in place as required by National Planning Policy.

It was likely that communities across Shropshire were being denied vital community infrastructure levy funding towards the provision of open spaces, for multifunctional uses including Sport, Play and Recreation facilities, despite many local parish and town councils putting it as a priority in their place plans.

The question `we’ (SPFA) intend asking `your’ (addressing elected members) communities is;

-        Are they one of those communities we believe are missing out as a result of this local planning authorities failure to provide appropriate vital evidence of need as required in the National Planning policy framework.

-        We would appreciate the assistance of yourselves (elected members) towards accessing this information from your local communities.

Unfortunately the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment was not present at the meeting to answer the supplementary question in person, but the Speaker undertook to ensure that Mr Kilby would receive a written response from Mr Price following the meeting.