Agenda and minutes

A minutes silence was held following the recent passing of Mrs Christine Smith.

Mr Gill, representing Oakengates Sikh Gurdwara, said prayers.

None.

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

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2022 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 stated that since the last meeting of Full Council, the nation had celebrated the Queen’s jubilee, but then showed our sorrow for her passing. The nation had welcomed a new King and seen three different Prime Ministers.

The Country had continued to experience difficult times, not only due to the war in Ukraine and the continuing impacts of the pandemic but also due to the actions of Central Government. The Cost of Living Crisis was impacting on residents and businesses throughout the Borough. The Council could not solve national problems, however, they had implemented a range of support to help, including a pledge to freeze Council Tax and grants to food banks and other community groups.

The Leader shared his congratulations to Councillor Kuldip Sahota, who had recently been inducted into the House of Lords and thanked him for his years of dedicated local service. The Leader also congratulated the Deputy Speaker, Councillor Hilda Rhodes, who had received a national lifetime achievement award at the LGIU awards.  

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

The Mayor asked Members to note the report on Mayoral Engagements since

the last meeting of full Council. In particular, the Mayor noted his attendance at the Local Proclamation and Service of Prayer and Reflection following the death of Her Majesty, The Queen.

The Mayor noted that his Fundraising Launch had taken place in October, which had been a great success.

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.

No questions were received.

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:-

(a)       Councillor P J Scott asked the following question of Councillor Shaun Davies, Leader:

“I welcome the Telford and Wrekin Council Cost of Living Community Grants that were announced recently. Do the council have any plans for creating their own Warm Spaces in the Borough and specifically the Newport area where those suffering through the Cost of Living and Energy Crisis can access warmth, food, support and company?”

Councillor Paul Watling, Cabinet Member: Safer and Stronger Communities, on behalf of The Leader responded and stated that the Council had been working with community groups across the Borough. The Council had established a fund to help these groups remain open and, to date, 30 applications had been received from groups across the Borough. The Council also had its own facilities, such as libraries and leisure centres, which would remain open for residents to access.

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 of clarification were raised.  

To receive an update report in respect of the steps that have been taken to support, and progress, the implementation of recommendations following the publication of the report of Mr Tom Crowther KC, the Independent Chair of the Independent Inquiry into CSE in Telford.

The Cabinet Lead: Independent Inquiry presented the report of the Director: Policy & Governance which provided Members with an update in respect of the steps that had been taken to support, and progress, the implantation of the recommendations following the publication of the report of Mr Tom Crowther KC, the Independent Chair of the Independent Inquiry into CSE in Telford (‘the Inquiry’) on 12 July 2022.

RESOLVED that:

a)    The updates contained within the report in respect of the steps taken following publication of the Independent Inquiry into CSE in Telford to ensure recommendations are implemented be noted;

b)   The governance model for implementing the recommendations as set out in Appendix A of the report be noted;

c)    The steps taken to date to secure an Independent Chair and an Independent Facilitator for the Strategic Implementation Group as identified within the report be noted;

d)   Authority be delegated to the Director: Policy & Governance to take all steps necessary to engage the Independent Chair and Independent Facilitator for the Strategic Implementation Group as identified within the report;

e)    Authority be delegated to the Director: Policy & Governance to take all steps necessary to engage an Independent Chair for the CSE Partners Group as identified within the report.

To receive the report with the latest financial monitoring position for the year.

The Cabinet Member: Finance, Governance & Customer Services presented the report of the Director: Finance & Human Resources. The report provided an update on the revenue budget and progress related to the capital programme.

RESOLVED that the changes to the capital programme as detailed in Appendix A of the report be approved.

RESOLVED – that the report be recommended to Full Council.

The Chair of the Audit Committee presented the report of the Director: Finance & Human Resources. The report provided an update on the outcome of Treasury Management activities for 2021/22 and detailed the position for 2022/23 to 31 May 2022.

RESOLVED that:

a)    The content of the report be noted;

b)   The performance against Prudential Indicators be noted.

RESOLVED to RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the appointments of Thomas Senior and Julia Lynch as Independent Persons for Telford and Wrekin Council be approved for an initial period of four years.

The Chair of the Standards Committee presented the report of the Director: Policy and Governance. The report sought approval from Full Council to appoint two new independent persons to assist the Monitoring Officer when considering complaints under the Code of Conduct for Elected Members.

RESOLVED that the appointment of Thomas Senior and Julia Lynch as Independent Persons for Telford and Wrekin Council for an initial period of four years be approved.  

RESOLVEDthat

Councillors Miles Hosken and Karen Tomlinson have requested that they be granted up to six months leave of absence from Council duties.

The Leader presented the report of the Director: Policy & Governance which sought approval for leave of absences for Councillors Vanessa Holt, Miles Hosken, Leon Murray, Malcolm Smith and Karen Tomlinson.

RESOLVED that leave of absences for Councillor Vanessa Holt, Councillor Miles Hosken, Councillor Leon Murray, Councillor Malcolm Smith and Councillor Karen Tomlinson until 2 March 2023 be approved.

(a)       Councillor A J Burford moved, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 7, the following Motion:

“This Council calls on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to carry out an urgent review and reversal of the Government’s downgrade plan for our health and social care services and to provide the necessary resources to ensure Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire has the health and social care services that our residents deserve.

The Government’s shambolic plans to downgrade Telford’s 24/7 A&E to a so called ‘A&E Local’ has been discredited by a number of clinical bodies and means that Telford would be the largest and growing town in England without a fully functional A&E.  The government also still plans to move our Consultant led Women and Children Unit from Telford, which flies in the face of recognised clinical need, the very reason why it was built in Telford!  We note, with deep concern, that the cost of the Government’s downgrade plan is between £500m and £600m, yet they have only allocated a loan of £312m, which will inevitably mean some vital services will have to be cut as a result.

This does not make sense - Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire residents deserve better. This Council agrees to:·

• Urgently write to the Health and Social Care Secretary to ask for an urgent review and reversal of the Government’s downgrade plan; and

• Take all steps necessary to make a referral to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel to seek a review of this decision.”

Councillor A D McClements seconded the Motion.

In accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 9.5, a recorded vote on the motion was taken, the voting being as follows:

For 42.

Councillors S Bentley, K T Blundell, M Boylan, A J Burford, S P Burrell, E Callear, E J Carter, L D Carter, G H Cook, S Davies, N A Dugmore, A J Eade, A R H England, N A M England, R C Evans, I T W Fletcher, V A Fletcher, J Gough, C Healy, T L B Janke, A S Jhawar, J Jones, R T Kiernan, J Lavery, A Lawrence, A D McClements, R Mehta, K Middleton, T J Nelson, R A Overton, I Preece, S A W Reynolds, H Rhodes, K S Sahota, P J Scott, J M Seymour, C F Smith, B J Thompson, W L Tomlinson, C R Turley, P R Watling, B Wennington

Abstentions 4

Councillors E J Greenaway, G Offland, S J Reynolds, D R W White

Against 0

RESOLVED -  that the motion be approved

(b)       Councillor P R Watling proposed the following Motion:-

“This Conservative government has crashed the British economy from Downing Street as a result of their unfunded ‘mini’ budget. Families and households here in Telford and Wrekin will pay more for their mortgages, rents, food, and fuel and public services will have less money to pay for services that residents here in Telford and Wrekin rely on – from social care to education, health and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 234.