Agenda and minutes

The Reverend Jacquie Osmund-Smith said prayers.

J Rowe, Acting Managing Director and J Eatough, Assistant Director: Governance, Procurement and Commissioning would leave the room for minute number 31.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Council.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 May 2019 be confirmed and signed by the Mayor.

The Leader of the Council may give an oral report on matters of significance to the Borough, comment upon the Cabinet decisions or make any announcements.

The Leader summarised that targets for this coming year which were driven by five key commitments to enhance the wider mission to invest, protect, care and create a better Borough.   This work included a review of the budget; delivery of significant investments across the Borough; protect vulnerable adults and children, including the victims and survivors of sexual exploitation and domestic abuse; invest in the local transport network; local schools and the safer routes to schools network and our Borough Town Centres. 

The Leader reported that a fact finding visit had taken place on Future Fit by the Independent Referral Panel who were considering the referral on Future Fit’s decision on hospital services.  A constructive meeting had taken place in which the Council’s case was put forward and it was reiterated on behalf of the Borough that it was the Council’s belief that the plans were not in the best interest of this area’s health services.  The Leader would continue to fight criticism within the County and felt that it was the Council’s duty to represent the people whom it served and who worked in the Borough and those who worked in the NHS and would continue to challenge the proposed decision and the way forward and bring forward practical solutions such as refurbing homes to help recruit junior doctors, which was proving successful.

The Leader drew attention to the work within the Borough on the environment and reported that the Council had signed up to the refill scheme to drive down current reliance on single use plastics and had introduced a food recycling service which would commence later this year.  He was pleased to announce that the Councillors Pride Fund would continue together with the Young Persons’ Grant Fund Scheme.

The Leader was pleased to announce that a balanced budget had been delivered for the eighth year in a row.  The financial future was uncertain but financial planning was taking place whilst the Government’s Green Paper was awaited although it was expected that the Council would be expected to make further cuts over the next three years. 

The Leader reported on the position with regard to child sexual exploitation and the Independent Inquiry.  Tom Crowther QC had been appointed as Chair and Terms of Reference had been approved which included all amendments from the Survivors Committee including to focus on cases prior to 1989 and he reiterated the importance of this inquiry and the Council’s commitment to work with it.

The Leader offered congratulations to those people who made Telford and Wrekin a special place: the Armed Forces, volunteers and those who contributed to the Telford Balloon Fiesta and to the Council’s Cleaning Tem who had recently won a Cleaning Team of the Year Award.

To note the Mayoral Engagements undertaken since the previous Council meeting.

The Mayor commented upon the engagements he had attended since the meeting on 23 May 2019 which included National Volunteers week where he was delighted and honoured to welcome Princess Alexandra; Shropshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2019; Shropshire Homes Schools Sports Festival; Crucial Crew;  Holmer Lake Primary School who received a national award from the IMLT, the launch event in memory of Jo Cox for the one million mentors at Telford College and Telford African Caribbean Resource Centre to celebrate Windrush Day.    The Mayor thanked the Deputy Mayor for his continued support.

To receive any questions from the public which have been submitted under Council Procedure Rules 7.11 and 7.12. The session will last no more than 15 minutes with a maximum of 2 minutes allowed for each question and answer. Questions can be asked of the Leader and Cabinet Members.

(a)       The following question to Cllr David Wright, Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure has been submitted by Gemma Everson:

With regard to the Shawbirch East site could the cabinet member for development clarify whether the extant planning permission granted by the Government for industrial development in 1991 can override any re-designation in the local plan?

(b)       The following question to Cllr David Wright, Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure has been submitted by Darren Bailey:

Would the cabinet member for the development confirm that the Government agency, Homes England, is pursuing this Council, who is acting as its agent, to sell the Shawbirch East site for Development?

(a)       The following question to Cllr David Wright, Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure was submitted by Gemma Everson:

With regard to the Shawbirch East site could the cabinet member for development clarify whether the extant planning permission granted by the Government for industrial development in 1991 can override any re-designation in the local plan?

Cllr D Wright, Cabinet Member: Housing, Transport & Infrastructure responded that in 1991 this land was granted consent by the Secretary of State under 7(1) of the New Towns Act 1981 for development for employment use and that consent remained in place to this day and any redesignation in the Local Plan would not change that consent in any way.

(b)       The following question to Cllr David Wright, Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure was submitted by Darren Bailey:

Would the Cabinet Member for Development confirm that the Government agency, Homes England, is pursuing this Council, who is acting as its agent, to sell the Shawbirch East site for Development?

Cllr D Wright, Cabinet Member: Housing Transport & Infrastructure responded that under the Telford Land Deal the Council were marketing the site on behalf of Homes England and that the Land Development Board was a tripartite organisation which consists of the Council, the Local Enterprise and Homes England and prior to any disposal of the site the consent is required of all three partner agencies.

To receive the report on the Cabinet decisions made since publication of the last Council meeting agenda. Cabinet Members may speak on these decisions and Members may ask questions about key decisions of the relevant Cabinet Member for the purposes of clarification only.  Members are asked to note the additional delegations to officers granted at those meetings.

Members received the report on the Cabinet decisions made since the last meeting of the Council.   No questions were raised.

Recommended that:-

(a)  the Revenue outturn position for 2018/19 and related virements in Appendix 3 of the report which is subject to audit by the Council’s external auditors be approved;

(b)  the transfers to reserves and associated approval to the relevant Assistant Directors to spend the reserves detailed in section 5 of the report be approved;

(c)   the Capital outturn position and related supplementary estimates, re-phasing and virements shown in Appendix 4 of the report and as summarised in the report be approved; 

(d)  that delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director: Finance & HR to make any minor changes required as the outturn is finalised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Commercial Services and the Economy;

(e)  the performance against income targets be noted; and

(f)    the key issues identified for 2019/20 be noted.

Councillor L D Carter, Cabinet Member: Finance, Commercial Services and Economic Development, presented the report of the Assistant Director: Finance & HR (Chief Financial Officer).

RESOLVED that:

a)         the Revenue outturn position for 2018/19 and related virements in Appendix 3 to the report, which was subject to audit by the Council’s external auditors, be approved;

b)        the transfers to reserves and associated approval to the relevant Assistant Directors to spend the reserves detailed in Section 5 to the report be approved;

c)         the Capital outturn position and related supplementary estimates, re-phasing and virements shown in Appendix 4 and as summarised in the report be approved;

d)        delegated authority to the Assistant Director; Finance & HR to make any minor changes required as the outturn is finalised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Commercial & Borough Economy be granted;

e)         the performance against income targets be noted; and

f)          the key issues identified for 2019/20 be noted.

Recommended that the changes to the capital programme in Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

Councillor L D Carter, Cabinet Member: Finance, Commercial Services and Economic Development, presented the report of the Assistant Director: Finance & HR (Chief Financial Officer).

RESOLVED that the changes to the capital programme in Appendix 1 to the report be approved. 

Recommended that the programme be approved.

Councillor S Davies, Leader, presented the report of the Managing Director. 

RESOLVED - that

a)         The programme for the Council be approved; and

b)        The progress to date in delivering the commitments be noted.

Recommended that no change should be made to the Newport Town Council/Chetwynd Aston & Woodcote Parish Boundary.

Cllr C Cassar presented the report of the Assistant Director: Governance, Procurement & Commissioning.   In 2018 a request had been received from Newport Town Council for a Community Governance Review. 

RESOLVED – that no change should be made to the Newport Town Council/Chetwynd Aston & Woodcote Parish Boundary.

Recommended that the updated Corporate Anti-Fraud & Corruption policy, attached as appendix 1 to the report, be agreed and adopted.

Cllr C Smith presented the report of the Assistant Director: Finance & HR (Chief Financial Officer).

Upon being put to the vote, it was unanimously

RESOLVED that the updated Corporate Anti-Fraud & Corruption Policy, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be agreed and adopted.

Recommended –

(a)       That, with effect from 1 August 2019 the Director of Customer, Neighbourhood and Well-Being Services is designated Head of Paid Services and Council note that this arrangement will be reviewed by Council on 19 September 2019.

(b)       That with effect from 1 August 2019 the Monitoring Officer is appointed as the (Local) Returning Officer and Local Electoral Registration Officer and that Council note that this arrangement will be reviewed by Council on 19 September 2019.

(c)        That the Council’s Constitution and Pay Policy be amended to reflect these interim arrangements.

J Rowe, Acting Managing Director and J Eatough, Assistant Director: Governance, Procurement and Commissioning left the meeting for this item of business.

The Service Delivery Manager for Governance and Legal Services presented the report of the Assistant Director: Finance & Human Resources.

Upon being put to the vote, it was unanimously

RESOLVED that –

a)         With effect from 1 August 2019 the Director of Customer, Neighbourhood and Well-Being Services be designated Head of Paid Services and Council note that this arrangement will be reviewed by Council on 19 September 2019;

b)        With effect from 1 August 2019 the Monitoring Officer be appointed as the (Local) Returning Officer and Local Electoral Registration Officer and that Council note that this arrangement will be reviewed by Council on 19 September 2019; and

c)         The Council’s Constitution and Pay Policy be amended to reflect these interim arrangements.

Recommended –

(a)       That the Council approves the amendments to the Health and Wellbeing Board Terms of Reference as set out at Appendix 1.

(b)       That the Council authorises the Leader to grant delegation of those powers previously vested in the Managing Director and/or Head of Paid Service as set out in Appendix 2 to the Chief Operating Officer with immediate effect.

Cllr S Davies, Leader, presented the report of the Assistant Director: Governance, Procurement & Commissioning.

RESOLVED – that

a)         the amendments to the Health and Wellbeing Board Terms of Reference as set out at Appendix 1 to the report be approved; and

b)        the Leader be authorised to grant delegation of those powers previously vested in the Managing Director and/or Head of Paid Service as set out in Appendix 2 to the report to the Chief Operating Officer with immediate effect. 

To answer questions received under Council Procedure Rule 6.2.

NB      In accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 6.2.9 there will be a maximum of 30 minutes allowed for questions and answers.  Any question not answered within the 30 minute time limit will receive a written reply within 5 working days.

The following questions were asked under Council Procedure Rule 6.2.2:-

1.    Councillor Bill Tomlinson asked the following question of Councillor David Wright, Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure.

“Could the Cabinet Member for Development explain for the benefit of residents why a motion requesting a review of the local plan for the Shawbirch East site to be re-designated as green space was refused?”

Cllr D Wright, Cabinet Member: Housing Transport & Infrastructure responded that Cllr Tomlinson’s motion was asking for the Council’s opinion on the next review of the Local Plan in relation to the Shawbirch East Site and whether this piece of land could be re-designated as green space.  However, a Local Plan review must be undertaken in accordance with procedures which wee set out in legislation and involved stages of consultation and consideration of representations and an independent examination conducted by a Planning Inspector and all of these stages must have been completed prior to the Council being in a position to adopt the final version of the Local Plan.  Any review must begin with information and evidence gathering which was a crucial stage in the local planning process as without a strong evidence base for draft changes to the Local Plan changes that were proposed were unlikely to be upheld during the independent examination stage.  If the Council at the outset of any review process were to declare, such as the proposed motion to re-designate the lane as green space or to determine the position of a site prior to the process being undertaken, the Council would be fettering its discretion in relation to the formal planning process.

Councillor Bill Tomlinson asked a supplemental question of Cllr D Wright, Cabinet Member: Housing Transport & Infrastructure.

“What sort of actions would the Local Authority take to help engage with local population if such a review of the Local Plan should come about and how the review would take place.”

Cllr D Wright, Cabinet Member: Housing Transport & Infrastructure responded that the Local Authority was required on a five year cycle to review the Local Plan and it was the Administration’s intention to bring a paper later this year to discuss how the Council would conduct a Local Plan review.  As part of this process the Council would engage Local businesses, local community organisations and local residents and would want to strongly publicise to local residents to put forward their comments during any review process.  He was pleased to be meeting with Cllr Tomlinson and local residents in September to talk through the introduction of a community partnership to support the redevelopment of this site.  This site was currently designated and would remain to be designated, for employment use within the Local Plan until such a review took place.

2.         Councillor Karen Blundell asked the following question of Councillor David Wright, Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure.

“Given that Shawbirch and Dothill wards have local nature reserves and one in Apley Castle is imminent, and that Eyton upon the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

(a)        Councillor Stephen Bentley will propose the following Motion:-

This Council notes with concern the recent Statement by the Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury and Atcham concerning a wish to see this Authority either merged with Shropshire or completely abolished.

This council completely opposes both of these scenarios and while recognising the benefits of joint working and cooperation with Shropshire Council, we also recognise the importance of local accountability and democracy.

Consequently this Council collectively resolves to oppose any plans for abolition or merger by all and any means possible.

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Eric Carter.

(b)        Councillor Carolyn Healy will propose the following Motion:-

Part 1 - This Council resolves to declare a Climate Emergency and to:

·                     Make a commitment for the Council’s operations and activities to be carbon neutral by 2030;

·                     Work with partners to identify and implement adaptation and mitigation measures to deal with the effects of the onging changes in climate;

·                     Collaborate and engage with residents, partners and businesses in Telford & Wrekin and at a regional and national level to achieve our aspiration for the borough to be carbon neutral by 2030 – making sure we take communities with us, protect employment and without impoverishing our most deprived communities;

·                     Measure our current carbon footprint as a baseline to enable us to report on progress;

·                     Set up a partnership to develop an action plan to move this declaration to delivery.

Part 2 - This Council resolves to support the Plastic Free Communities Campaign and to:

·                     Make a commitment to remove single-use plastics from the Council’s operations and activities, replacing them with sustainable alternatives, by 2023;

·                     Continue to support national plastic-free campaigns such as Refill;

·                     Develop an action plan that sets out how the Council will reduce its own use of single-use plastic, and how the Council will encourage and promote plastic-free initiatives borough wide;

·                     Establish a Plastic Free Telford Community Group to help achieve our aspiration for the borough to become a certified Plastic Free Community.

This Council also resolves to:

·                     Call on this Government to provide the powers and resources to make both parts of this motion possible, and ask local MPs to do likewise;

·                     Ensure that the Council Plan and all Council reports consider their contribution to our commitments to becoming carbon neutral and plastic-free and identify the actions to be taken to address these issues;

·                     Report back to Council with a progress update on Plastic Free Telford in September 2019 and on Climate Change in January 2020.

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Hilda Rhodes.

(c)        Councillor Stephen Bentley will propose the following Motion:-

The members of this Authority are united in their support of all residents aged 75 and above to have free TV Licenses irrespective of financial status.

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Stephen Burrell.

(a)       Councillor S Bentley proposed the following Motion:-

This Council notes with concern the recent Statement by the Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury and Atcham concerning a wish to see this Authority either merged with Shropshire or completely abolished.

This council completely opposes both of these scenarios and while recognising the benefits of joint working and cooperation with Shropshire Council, we also recognise the importance of local accountability and democracy.

Consequently this Council collectively resolves to oppose any plans for abolition or merger by all and any means possible.

The Motion was seconded by Councillor E J Carter.

Councillor G Reynolds then moved an amendment, with additional words shown in bold and underlined. 

““This Council notes with concern the recent Statement by the Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury & Atcham concerning a wish to see this Authority either merged with Shropshire or completely abolished.

Since 2011 Telford & Wrekin Council has a proud record of investing, protecting and caring for our Borough and being innovative in delivering local services, despite over £100m of Government cuts.  This Council therefore completely opposes both of these scenarios and while recognising the benefits of joint working and cooperation with Shropshire Council, we also recognise the importance of local accountability and democracy.  A merger would cause severe detrimental consequences to the Borough of Telford and Wrekin.

Consequently this Council collectively resolves to oppose any plans for abolition or merger by all and any means possible and calls upon Daniel Kawczynski to publicly apologise for his continuous disruptive and disgraceful attacks on Telford & Wrekin Council and its residents.”

The amendment was seconded by Councillor E Callear

At the end of the debate, a vote was taken on the amendment put forward by Councillor Reynolds which was unanimously CARRIED. 

RESOLVED - that the amended Motion be approved

(b)       Councillor C Healy proposed the following Motion:-

Part 1 - This Council resolves to declare a Climate Emergency and to:

·                     Make a commitment for the Council’s operations and activities to be carbon neutral by 2030;

·                     Work with partners to identify and implement adaptation and mitigation measures to deal with the effects of the onging changes in climate;

·                     Collaborate and engage with residents, partners and businesses in Telford & Wrekin and at a regional and national level to achieve our aspiration for the borough to be carbon neutral by 2030 – making sure we take communities with us, protect employment and without impoverishing our most deprived communities;

·                     Measure our current carbon footprint as a baseline to enable us to report on progress;

·                     Set up a partnership to develop an action plan to move this declaration to delivery.

Part 2 - This Council resolves to support the Plastic Free Communities Campaign and to:

·                     Make a commitment to remove single-use plastics from the Council’s operations and activities, replacing them with sustainable alternatives, by 2023;

·                     Continue to support national plastic-free campaigns such as Refill;

·                     Develop an action plan that sets out how the Council will reduce its own use of single-use plastic, and how the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.