To receive any questions from Members, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, attached marked 6.

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

(i)    Received from Mrs V Parry and answered by Mr S Jones, Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport about the Ludlow bus contract and the level of bus services in Ludlow.

By way of a supplementary question Mrs Parry (who was unable to attend the meeting), asked the following supplementary question through Mr R Evans as follows:

‘The quality of service is very important, especially if you don't have a car as many older people don't want to or are unable to drive and some feel safer if they take the bus or train. Councillor Andy Boddington and I are the local members for most of the bus routes in Ludlow and sadly we were the last people to know about the change in prices for the new Minsterley Motors contract.  It is now going to cost 100% more for local users on the buses and I fear that the buses will not be used because the cost is now beyond most people's budgets.

Is this a way to run the service down and to eventually stop it all together?  We need to have a fresh look at this, and perhaps consider introducing incentive fares.  Therefore will the Portfolio Holder please review this and discuss further with Minsterley Motors.’

In response the Portfolio Holder confirmed that he was in the process of arranging a meeting between himself, officers, Minsterley Motors and the three local members for Ludlow very shortly to discuss a way forward.

(ii)   Received from Mrs T Huffer and answered by Mrs K Calder, Portfolio Holder for Health about the location of a single A&E unit in Shrewsbury.

By way of a supplementary question Mrs Huffer reiterated her original question, saying that the answer as circulated did not in her view answer her question.  The Portfolio Holder was not in attendance and therefore the Speaker confirmed that Mrs Calder would give Mrs Huffer a written response after the meeting.

(iii)  Received from Mr R Evans and answered by Mr M Price, Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services, Housing and Commissioning (Central) about delays in the planning process.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Evans asked how much income had been received from planning applications since April 2013 and exactly where had that money gone or been spent.

In response the Portfolio Holder confirmed that he would let Mr Evans have a written reply after the meeting.

(iv)Received from Mrs C Barnes and answered by Mr S Jones, Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport about travel assistance for young people in her ward attending Shrewsbury College.

By way of a supplementary question Mrs Barnes asked if anything would change.  She commented that in Wales fares had been reduced by two thirds for students and could Shropshire Council consider doing the same?

In response the Portfolio Holder confirmed that he would look at this in more detail with officers following the meeting and that he would notify Mrs Barnes of the outcome in due course.