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

          Public Questions

The Speaker announced that ten public questions had been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 15 (a copy of the report containing the questions and the formal responses was attached to the signed minutes):

(i)       Received from Mrs Joyce Brand regarding income from car parking in Ludlow and Oswestry which was answered by the Leader, Mr M Pate – copy attached to the signed minutes.

There was no supplementary question.

(ii)      Received from Mr Stephen Froggatt and answered by Mr M Pate, Leader, in relation to the reduction of library services and levels of councillor’s personal allowances – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Froggatt asked for details of who the Independent Remuneration Panel members were.

In response, the Leader undertook to let Mr Froggatt have this information following the meeting.

(iii)      Received from Mr Peter Gilbert and answered by Mr S Jones, Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transportation, in relation to the bus and coach station in Shrewsbury – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Gilbert asked when the remedial works would be started and also asked for an assurance that the maintenance would be kept up in future.

In response, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that the weeds would be dealt with by the end of the week and the remaining outstanding works would be completed before the end of the financial year – he was sorry he could not be more specific – but he assured the works were in hand.

(iv)     Received from Mr Peter Gilbert and answered by Mr M Pate, Leader, in relation to the Guildhall, Shrewsbury – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Gilbert asked when the Council would start to receive rental income from the Guildhall.

In response, the Leader confirmed that this had already been covered in his formal response to Mr Gilbert’s question.  He was disappointed that the benefits and advantages of having a University in Shrewsbury was not being viewed more positively, especially with the benefits that came with it.

(v)      Received from Ms Emma Bullard and answered by Mr M Pate, Leader, in relation to staff redundancies – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Ms Bullard asked if it was true that some vacancies were left unfilled and was it the case that Shropshire Council no longer employed bridge engineers?  If so, what exactly were the implications for bridge safety across the county?

In response, the Leader confirmed that he would write to Ms Bullard after the meeting with a formal response.

(vi)     Received from Ms Emma Bullard and answered by Mr S West, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, in relation to the management of the Sports Village at Sundorne – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Ms Bullard asked if the swimming pool was to be included within the Sports Village, Sundorne, would a Travel Plan be worked up and if so, how would this be monitored and enforced if this were to go ahead.

In response, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that he would get back to Ms Bullard with a formal response if this were to happen.

(vii)     Received from Mr Steve Boulding and answered by Mr S Jones, Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transportation, in relation to investigating railway re-openings on existing lines – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Boulding asked if the portfolio holder would acknowledge that at stations that had been re-opened across the country by other local authorities, their income and passenger usage had wildly exceeded forecasts.

In response, the Portfolio Holder said there was currently no business case to re-open any stations.

(viii)    Received from Ms Olwen Rose and answered by Mr D Minnery, Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People, in relation to how proposed cuts to youth services would affect the already limited provision for LGBT young people – copy attached to the signed minutes.

There was no supplementary question.

(ix)     Received from Mr Julien Dean and answered by Mr S Jones, Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transportation, regarding toxic air pollutants and bus contracts let by Shropshire Council – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Dean asked if the Council would use it’s leverage to the good, to negotiate reduced emissions in future bus contracts.

In response, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that he would look to seek improvements in this area in future.

(x)      Received from Ms Linda Senior and answered by Mrs K Calder, Portfolio Holder for Health, in relation to the recently published Sustainability and Transformation Plan and the justification of proposed cuts in services – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Ms Senior reiterated that vulnerable people and potentially vulnerable people should not be deprived of services.

In response, the Portfolio Holder said that difficult decisions had to be made due to the difficult financial position that existed.  It was everyone’s problem and a clear focus around transformation was essential.  She looked forward to working together actively to address these issues.