To receive any questions from Members, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, attached marked 25.

The Speaker advised that six questions 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).

a)    Received from Mr D Kerr and answered by Mr M Pate, the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan about consideration of holding a Referendum on increasing Council Tax above the capping limit.

By way of a supplementary question Mr Kerr requested a written breakdown of the costs of a referendum.

In response, the Leader and Portfolio Holder stated that he would provide Mr Kerr with a written response.

b)    Received from Mr D Kerr and answered by Mr M Price, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment about the time taken to process a change of circumstances in relation to a constituent’s benefit.

By way of a supplementary question, Mr Kerr asked the cause of the problem and what changes were being made as a result of this.

In response, the Portfolio Holder stated that he would provide Mr Kerr with a written response.

c)    Received from Mr M Kenny and answered by Mr S Jones, Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transportation about issues surrounding the Shrewsbury North West Relief Road including the funding bid and grant obtained under the Department of Transport’s Local Majors Fund [LMF]; those to be involved in the associated Outline Business Case and the need for an ecological survey along the entire route of the North West Relief Road.

By way of a supplementary question, Mr Kenny asked how the proposals would illustrate benefits that accorded with the Council’s Corporate Plan.

In response, the Portfolio Holder stated that he would provide Mr Kenny with a written response.

d)    Received from M Kenny and answered by Mr M Price, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and the Environment about the supply of affordable homes not keeping pace with the demand from those eligible for social housing.

By way of a supplementary question, Mr Kenny asked for further clarification on the plans to answer the current problems caused by the fall in the number of affordable homes for rent.

In response, the Portfolio Holder stated new Policies would be emerging in January 2017 to deal with the issues, the Local Plan would be used to greater advantage and challenges would continue to be made to Government on the level of housing benefit.  He considered that properties were available but the biggest issue was whether people could afford to be in them.

e)    Received from Mr T Barker and answered by Mr L Chapman, Portfolio Holder for Adult Services about the cost and delivery performance of the Council’s Adult Services as shown in the National Performance and Cost Tables as compared against other authorities.

By way of a supplementary question, Mr Barker conveyed his congratulation to the Portfolio Holder and queried to what the Council’s success could be attributed. 

In response, the Portfolio Holder paid tribute to the wealth of committed, hardworking staff including a management team striving for the best, an informative peer review, social workers, care workers, volunteers and carers and all staff involved in this service.

f)     Received from Mr D Turner and answered by Mr M Pate, the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan about the steps taken to give the Authority a clear forward direction.

By way of a supplementary question, Mr Turner queried whether there were any other achievements and ambitions to be made known at this time.

In response, the Leader and Portfolio Holder emphasised the efforts made by the Administration to try to mitigate the Council’s financial position and move the authority forward.  He stressed that the primary aim was to continue to deliver excellent services to the people of Shropshire.