Petition: Call on Shropshire Council to Review and Consider “A Stronger, Fairer and More Inclusive Shropshire”

Background and purpose

I am calling on Shropshire Council to formally review my citizen-led policy proposal, A Stronger, Fairer and More Inclusive Shropshire, and provide a transparent response explaining how its recommendations could contribute to improving local public services.

The proposal sets out a comprehensive framework for making services more accessible, joined-up, accountable and responsive to the needs of residents. It covers 79 policy areas, including adult and children's social care, mental health partnerships, autism and neurodiversity inclusion, SEND, education, disability rights, housing, homelessness prevention, transport, rural access, public health, community safety, employment, local democracy and financial accountability.

Its central principle is that public services should be organised around people's lives and needs, rather than leaving residents to navigate complicated systems, repeated referrals and organisational boundaries without clear support.

The proposal recognises that Shropshire has a mixture of urban and rural communities, with different challenges relating to transport, access to services, workforce availability, digital exclusion and community participation. It seeks to encourage practical, evidence-led improvements that take these differences into account.

What the petition is asking Shropshire Council to do

We, the undersigned, ask Shropshire Council to:

1. Formally review the policy proposal

Refer relevant sections to the appropriate council departments, portfolio holders and scrutiny committees so that the recommendations can be considered within their respective responsibilities.

2. Assess current services and identify opportunities for improvement

Compare the recommendations with existing council strategies, statutory duties, current improvement programmes, available evidence and identified service needs. Identify where recommendations are already being addressed and where further assessment may be worthwhile.

3. Prioritise practical and achievable recommendations

Identify a manageable set of recommendations for further development, with consideration given to potential benefits, legal responsibilities, affordability, workforce capacity, risks, delivery timescales and available funding.

4. Improve coordination between services

Consider opportunities to strengthen partnership working between council departments, the NHS, schools, housing providers, voluntary organisations, town and parish councils and other relevant bodies, while making responsibilities clear.

5. Strengthen resident participation

Explore accessible ways for residents, including disabled and neurodivergent people, families, unpaid carers, young people, service users and frontline staff, to contribute their experiences and help shape service improvements.

6. Consider prevention and early intervention

Assess whether opportunities exist to provide appropriate support earlier, reduce avoidable barriers and improve coordination before people's needs escalate. Any expected benefits or savings should be evaluated rather than assumed.

7. Improve transparency and accountability

Consider publishing a clear response explaining which recommendations are accepted, partly accepted, already in progress, referred to partners, require further evidence or are not recommended, with reasons where appropriate.

8. Establish clear next steps

Where recommendations are taken forward, identify appropriate responsible services, potential timescales, funding considerations, outcome measures and arrangements for reporting progress through existing council governance and scrutiny processes.

Priority areas for consideration

The proposal identifies several areas that could be considered for further assessment:

- Adult social care and unpaid carers: person-centred support, reablement, access to information, carer pathways and service quality.
- Children's services and family support: early help, safeguarding pathways, support for families and transitions for care leavers.
- SEND, autism and ADHD: accessible communication, sensory inclusion, participation and better coordination across education, health and social care.
- Mental health and public health: partnership working, prevention, health inequalities and improved access to appropriate information and support.
- Housing and homelessness: prevention, accessible and supported housing, and coordination between housing and support services.
- Rural communities and transport: barriers to accessing education, employment, healthcare, shops and community activities.
- Local democracy and public accountability: understandable decisions, accessible consultations, clear service standards and meaningful resident involvement.
- Workforce and public finances: realistic implementation planning, transparent costing, sustainable staffing and monitoring whether changes achieve their intended outcomes.

These are areas for consideration, not a claim that every service is failing or that every recommendation is ready for implementation.

Why a review matters

Public services affect residents at different stages of life, and many needs cross the boundaries between organisations. A person may need support from several services, while families and carers may have to navigate multiple systems.

A structured review could help identify opportunities to improve coordination, make information easier to access, strengthen participation and clarify responsibility for decisions and outcomes.

The proposal also recognises that public money and staff capacity are limited. Recommendations should therefore be assessed against evidence, costs, legal duties, workforce requirements and potential risks before decisions are made.

What we want to achieve

The aim of this petition is to secure a fair and transparent consideration of the policy proposal, identify recommendations that merit further work, and create opportunities for residents to contribute to discussions about the future of local public services.

We are not asking Shropshire Council to accept every recommendation automatically, commit to unfunded expenditure or assume responsibilities that belong to other organisations.

We are asking the Council to consider the proposals constructively, explain its conclusions and identify any realistic opportunities for further development.

A stronger, fairer and more inclusive Shropshire should be built with its people. Residents' experiences, ideas and contributions deserve a meaningful opportunity to inform the decisions that affect their lives.

This ePetition runs from 18/10/2026 to 19/11/2027.

7 people have signed this ePetition.