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

The Speaker advised that seven questions from Members had been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 15 (copies of the report containing the detailed questions and their formal responses are attached to the signed minutes).

(i)       Received from Mr D Lloyd and answered by Mr S Jones, the Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transportation in relation to increasing activity by the Road Safety Partnership across the County in connection with speed limits – copy attached to the signed minutes.

There was no supplementary question.

(ii)      Received from Mr D Kerr and answered by Mr M Pate, Leader of the Council in relation to a 10% cut in councillors’ allowances – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Kerr asked if Mr Pate had seen the open letter by Surrey Council about allowances.

In response the Leader confirmed that he was unaware of the open letter, but if Mr Kerr felt so strongly on this issue he was always entitled to refuse his own personal allowance.

(iii)      Received from Mr D Kerr and answered by Mr M Pate, Leader of the Council in relation to Shropshire Council returning to the former committee system of local government – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Kerr asked again if the Leader would consider changing systems.

In response the Leader confirmed that many authorities used the same democratic system as Shropshire Council and there were currently no plans to change this.

(iv)     Received from Mr A Mosley and answered by Mr M Pate, Leader of the Council in relation to the recent closure of ip&e, the costs, staff implications, reasons as to why it failed and the production of a report for public scrutiny – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Mosley asked what were the overall costs of ip&e from set-up to closure.

In response the Leader confirmed that all the answers were detailed in the written response already provided.

(v)      Received from Mr A Mosley and answered by Mr M Price, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment in relation to student accommodation in Shrewsbury – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Mosley asked for an assurance that there would be no further delays and that the work would be started as soon as possible.

In response the Portfolio Holder said that a lot of groundwork had already been undertaken and he confirmed that he would go back and ensure that all works were progressing as they should.

(vi)     Received from Mr R Evans and answered by Mr M Pate, Leader of the Council in relation to pressing central government for better funding – copy attached to the signed minutes.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Evans commented that he believed this was a good opportunity to open up a dialogue with the new Secretary of State for fairer funding for Shropshire in the future.

In response the Leader confirmed that yes, he was in agreement with this, as long as the conversation was properly structured.

(vii)     Received from Mrs T Huffer and answered by Mr M Pate, Leader of the Council in relation to Future Fit and why Shropshire was not campaigning for the single A&E to be based in Shrewsbury – copy attached to the signed minutes.

There was no supplementary question.