The following three motions have been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 16 as follows;

          From Councillor Tim Barker:

‘Shropshire Council supports and endorses the Royal British Legion’s campaign to “count them in” which seeks to ensure that questions concerning military service and membership of the armed forces community are included in the 2021 census and subsequent ones.  Including relevant questions will enable statutory and voluntary service providers to better meet the needs of the armed forces community.

Shropshire Council is a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant and by virtue of that has promised to ensure that Service personnel (both regulars and reservists) veterans and service families are treated fairly and not disadvantaged in any way by virtue of their service.’

From Councillor Pam Moseley:

‘The recent decision by the Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group to sign the Sustainable Services Programme Strategic Outline Case letter of support to the Governing Body Board of Shrewsbury & Telford NHS Hospital Trust is a further step towards the acceptance of the Outline Business Case, which will lead to the closure of one of Shropshire's two accident & emergency departments, with the strong possibility that this will be at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Concerns have been raised in many quarters, including by the Local Medical Committee which represents local General Practitioners; it has described the assumptions of the Future Fit process as "optimistic in the extreme" and has concerns about the likely impact on the primary care and community services sectors.

This Council therefore strongly opposes any proposals which would lead to the diminution of emergency care facilities available to Shropshire residents, through the downgrading of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital from an emergency care centre to an urgent care centre.’

From Councillor Andy Boddington:

‘Town and parish councils have called for a referendum on raising council tax above 1.99%.  A rise in the unitary tax rate would reduce the need for large increases in local precepts.  It would also lead to a fairer distribution of costs.  Under current plans, the residents of market towns such as Ludlow face paying extra for services that are used by people from a wide hinterland. 

This motion requires officers of Shropshire Council to explore the willingness of people in Shropshire for a referendum on a council tax rise above 1.99%.  Officers are requested to do this using:

1) The Big Conversation 

2) Discussions with town and parish councils

3) Local press and broadcast media. 

4) Any other ways that they feel will enable communities and local residents to let councillors know their preference.

The outcome of this exercise should be reported back to the September meeting of this Council.’

28.1    The following motion was proposed by Mr T Barkerand duly seconded by Mr C Mellings who also declared an interest (his father was a veteran and his nephew was currently serving with the Rifles);

“Shropshire Council supports and endorses the Royal British Legion’s campaign to “count them in” which seeks to ensure that questions concerning military service and membership of the armed forces community are included in the 2021 census and subsequent ones.  Including relevant questions will enable statutory and voluntary service providers to better meet the needs of the armed forces community.

Shropshire Council is a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant and by virtue of that has promised to ensure that Service personnel (both regulars and reservists) veterans and service families are treated fairly and not disadvantaged in any way by virtue of their service.”

After debate and on being put to the vote, the motion was carried with a large majority of members voting in favour.

28.2    The following motion was proposed by Mrs P Moseley and duly seconded by Mr A Mosley:

“The recent decision by the Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group to sign the Sustainable Services Programme Strategic Outline Case letter of support to the Governing Body Board of Shrewsbury & Telford NHS Hospital Trust is a further step towards the acceptance of the Outline Business Case, which will lead to the closure of one of Shropshire's two accident & emergency departments, with the strong possibility that this will be at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Concerns have been raised in many quarters, including by the Local Medical Committee which represents local General Practitioners; it has described the assumptions of the Future Fit process as ‘optimistic in the extreme’ and has concerns about the likely impact on the primary care and community services sectors.

This Council therefore strongly opposes any proposals which would lead to the diminution of emergency care facilities available to Shropshire residents, through the downgrading of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital from an emergency care centre to an urgent care centre.”

At this point Mrs Chebsey declared a pecuniary interest in this motion and duly left the room.

Mrs K Calder proposed an amendment, which was seconded by Mr L Chapman, to amend the motion to read as follows;

“The recent decision by Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group to sign the Sustainable Transformation Programme Strategic Outline Case letter of support to the Governing Body of Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Hospital Trust is a further step towards the development of the Outline Business Case.

This Council strongly opposes any diminution in the quality of care and accessibility for patients in the provision of rural and urban acute services to all of the residents in Shropshire as a result of the NHS Transformation programmes currently taking place in the County.  We also insist that the government’s arrangements of all of the NHS transformation programmes include elected member involvement in the development and subsequent decision-making, thereby giving the process democratic accountability.”

After debate and on being put to the vote, the amendment to the motion was carried with a large majority of members voting in favour (40 voted For, 19 Against and there was 1 Abstention). 

A recorded vote was requested and duly agreed:

          FOR (40): P Adams, N Bardsley, T Barker, T Biggins, J Cadwallader, K Calder, D Carroll, L Chapman, S Charmley, G Dakin, S Davenport, A Davies, D Evans, J Everall, A Hartley, V Hunt, J Hurst-Knight, S Jones, N Laurens, C Lea, D Lloyd, R Macey, D Minnery, C Motley, W Parr, M Pate, J Price, M Price, K Roberts, M Shineton, R Tindall, K Turley, D Turner, A Walpole, S West, C Wild, B Williams, M Wood, T Woodward and P Wynn.

          AGAINST (19): A Bannerman, C Barnes, A Boddington, V Bushell, P Cherrington, T Clarke, R Evans, H Fraser, N Hartin, R Huffer, J Jones, M Kenny, D Kerr, H Kidd, J Mackenzie, C Mellings, P Moseley, A Mosley and V Parry.

          ABSTENTION (1): P Dee

          Mrs Mosley had a right of reply and in making this she said she was disappointed by the amendment; she believed that the public mood on this had now changed to anger and that the local authority should listen to their concerns.

The substantive motion was then put and was duly carried.

28.3    The following motion was proposed by Mr A Boddington and duly seconded by Mrs H Fraser;

“‘Town and Parish Councils have called for a referendum on raising council tax above 1.99%.  A rise in the unitary tax rate would reduce the need for large increases in local precepts.  It would also lead to a fairer distribution of costs.  Under current plans, the residents of market towns such as Ludlow face paying extra for services that are used by people from a wide hinterland. 

This motion requires officers of Shropshire Council to explore the willingness of people in Shropshire for a referendum on a council tax rise above 1.99%.  Officers are requested to do this using:

1) The Big Conversation 

2) Discussions with Town and Parish Councils

3) Local press and broadcast media. 

4) Any other ways that they feel will enable communities and local residents to let councillors know their preference.

The outcome of this exercise should be reported back to the September meeting of this Council.”

Mr M Pate proposed an amendment, which was seconded by Mrs C Motley, to amend the motion to read as follows;

“Town and Parish Councils have called for a referendum on raising council tax above 1.99%.  However owing to the fact a new Conservative government and Cabinet has so recently been appointed, Council recommends that no action should be considered with regard to investigating the case for adjustments to Council tax until the Government’s intentions on this issue become clearer.”

After debate and on being put to the vote, the amendment to the motion was carried with a large majority of members voting in favour.