Agenda and minutes

Mrs Belinda Ezeazu, Chair of the Nigerian Community, said prayers.

None.

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

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the special meeting of Full Council and the meeting of Full Council both held on 30 November 2023 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 reported on the commitments and ambitions for the coming year.  Strong financial management and a number of important capital investments were key and included investments into schools, supporting town centres and high streets, and a new swimming pool to mark the 150^th anniversary of Captain Webb.  These investments would support residents to become fit and healthy and supported a carefully balanced income stream for vital front-line services.

The Leader gave details of the expansion to Nuplace and Telford & Wrekin Homes which would provide high quality housing for rent and the income would support the growth fund and attract jobs and businesses to Telford which would support front line services.

The Leader reported that both locally and nationally there had been an increased demand for services for vulnerable adults and children and welcomed the additional funding that had been announced by the government but felt that a longer term solution was required.  Due to the cuts and the cost of living crisis it was necessary, alongside every other local authority across the country, to increase Council Tax by 4.99%, but despite this Telford still had the lowest rate of Council Tax within the Midlands and the second lowest in the Country.  The Council needed to be creative and determined to protect care and invest in the Borough.

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

The Mayor noted the engagements that had been attended since the last meeting of Council and thanked the Deputy Mayor for stepping in at the last Council meeting whilst he had the honour of having dinner with Queen Camilla.   In particular, he highlighted the recent charity bake off and the funds raised towards the Mayor’s Charity and the marking of Holocaust Memorial Day. 

The Mayor looked forward to continuing in his term of office and attending his Charity Ball which would take place in March.

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 Scott asked the following question of Councillor R Overton, Cabinet Member: Homes and Enforcement

“I am hearing a lot of comment on the Local Plan review that asks about the general infrastructure that is needed alongside the extra housing. Many people are very concerned that the potential extra influx of people into the borough will lead to a reduction in services that are already overstretched.  Can the Cabinet Member for Homes and Enforcement please give me an outline as to what plans are being considered by the council in relation to school places, health services and roads?". 

Councillor R Overton responded that the consultation on the Local Plan had provided an opportunity to share sites with the public and seek their feedback and a recurring theme was the infrastructure for new development.  In the absence of the Local Plan, it would be very difficult to plan for new infrastructure and there would be a risk of development coming forward piecemeal.   Once the consultation had closed, the key strand of work was to produce the next version of the Plan and identify any specific infrastructure required to support the sites allocated in the plan.  This included new and expanded schools, play and recreation facilities as well as improvements to highways infrastructure. Officers are also working with external partners such as the NHS Integrated Care Board to understand the impact of new development on GP services and how any new capacity could be addressed.

It is important to note that an independent planning inspector would look at this as part of the examination of the Local Plan evidence base.

Councillor P Scott asked a supplementary question:

“Following the review of the NPPF by Michael Gove will housing numbers of 8,800 become advisory due to the objections on some of the proposals within the consultation, and do you think that number will be affected?”

Councillor R Overton responded that Councils were asked to review their Local Plans and to formulate their housing needs by the calculation given within the Local Plan.  That evidence had to be put forward to the Planning Inspector.  Legislation had to be followed and if the figures were incorrect the Local Plan could be thrown out.

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 the report setting the Council Tax Base 2024/25.

The Cabinet Member: Finance, Customer Services and Governance presented the report in relation to setting the Council Tax Base and Special Fund purposes for the financial year 2024/25 as prescribed by section 8 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 2021.

This was the first stage in the process of setting the Council Tax for 2024/25 with final recommendations on council tax levels being presented to Full Council on 29 February 2024.

Following the debate, as required, a Recorded Vote was taken:

For: (48) Councillors E Aston, S Bentley, K T Blundell, M Boylan, A J Burford, S P Burrell, E Callear, L D Carter, G H Cook, E Davies, S Davies, P Davis, F Doran, N A Dugmore, A J Eade, A R H England, N A M England, S Handley, Z Hannington, C Healy, T L B Janke, A S Jhawar, J Jones, L Lewis, G Luter, A D McClements, R Mehta, K Middleton, H Morgan, T J Nelson, R A Overton, I Preece, S J Reynolds, H Rhodes, R Sahota, P J Scott, S Syrda, G Thomas, P Thomas, B J Thompson, K Tomlinson, W L Tomlinson, K Tonks, C R Turley, R Tyrrell, J Urey, O Vickers, P R Watling, D R W White.

Against: (0)

Abstain: (0)

RESOLVED – that:

a)    the calculation of the tax base for 2024/25 as set out at paragraph 4.4 and Appendix A of the report be approved; and

b)   in Accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012:2914), the amount calculated for Telford and Wrekin Council Tax base for 2024/25 for its Special Fund Area shall be as per the appropriate parish amounts detailed in Appendix A to the report for the parishes listed in paragraph 4.5 be approved.

To receive the Councillor Leave of Absence report.

The Cabinet Member: Policy and Governance presented the report for a request for a Councillor Leave of Absence which sought approval for a 12 month period of absence for the purpose of maternity leave for Councillor G Latham-Reynolds.

RESOLVED – that a leave of absence for Councillor Gilly Latham-Reynolds until 18 November 2024 be approved.

The Cabinet Member: Finance, Customer Services and Governance presented the Financial Monitoring Report which was taken to Cabinet on 4 January 2024.

It provided an update on the revenue budget and progress relating to the capital programme. The report included some changes to the capital programme and reserves which now required formal approval by Full Council.

RESOLVED – that the changes to the capital programme and all associated changes to the Medium Term Financial Strategy, including Treasury and Prudential Indicators; and the use of and re-purposing of reserves as detailed in Appendix A to the report be approved.

“This Council resolves to give a comprehensive briefing to representatives from each opposition group on progress implementing individual recommendations arising from Mr. Tom Crowther KC’s CSE inquiry within the Borough to include our partner organisations The Police and NHS as previously requested.”

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Nigel Dugmore.

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

“This Council resolves to give a comprehensive briefing to representatives from each opposition group on progress implementing individual recommendations arising from Mr. Tom Crowther KC’s CSE inquiry within the Borough to include our partner organisations The Police and NHS as previously requested.”

Councillor Nigel Dugmore seconded the Motion.

Following a robust debate and, in accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 9.5, seven Members requesting one, a recorded vote on the motion was taken, the voting being as follows:

For: (47) Councillors S Bentley, K T Blundell, M Boylan, A J Burford, S P Burrell, E Callear, L D Carter, G H Cook, E Davies, S Davies, P Davis, F Doran, N A Dugmore, A J Eade, A R H England, N A M England, S Handley,  C Healy, T L B Janke, A S Jhawar, J Jones, L Lewis, G Luter, A D McClements, R Mehta, K Middleton, H Morgan, T J Nelson, R A Overton, I Preece, S J Reynolds, H Rhodes, R Sahota, P J Scott, S Syrda, G Thomas, P Thomas, B J Thompson, K Tomlinson, W L Tomlinson, K Tonks, C R Turley, R Tyrrell, J Urey, O Vickers, P R Watling, D R W White.

Against: (0)

Abstain: (1) Councillor E Aston

RESOLVED -  that the motion be approved.

“This council has led the campaign to save Telford’s A&E from the government closure plan and to move the consultant led Women and Children Unit to Shrewsbury.

Council notes:

The government closure plan will make Telford the largest town in England without a full A&E and make people in Telford, Wrekin and the East side of Shropshire travel further and longer for A&E care. 

The recent independent expert panel said that the term ‘A&E Local’ should not be used to describe what will replace Telford’s A&E as it risked undermining patient safety and understanding; A so called ‘A&E local’ would not provide a service where hospital admission for emergency treatment may be required.

This council calls on NHS leaders locally and nationally together with the government to depart from the use of ‘A&E’ Local and calls on those Members of Parliament who have used it to apologise for adopting the term when it could undermine the safety of patients in the Borough.”

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Paul Watling.

(a)       Councillor S Davies moved, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 7, the following Motion:

“This council has led the campaign to save Telford’s A&E from the government closure plan and to move the consultant led Women and Children Unit to Shrewsbury.

Council notes:

The government closure plan will make Telford the largest town in England without a full A&E and make people in Telford, Wrekin and the East side of Shropshire travel further and longer for A&E care.

The recent independent expert panel said that the term ‘A&E Local’ should not be used to describe what will replace Telford’s A&E as it risked undermining patient safety and understanding; A so called ‘A&E local’ would not provide a service where hospital admission for emergency treatment may be required.

This council calls on NHS leaders locally and nationally together with the government to depart from the use of ‘A&E’ Local and calls on those Members of Parliament who have used it to apologise for adopting the term when it could undermine the safety of patients in the Borough.”

Councillor Paul Watling seconded the Motion.

Following a robust debate and in accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 9.5, with seven Members having requested one, a recorded vote on the motion was taken, the voting being as follows:

For: (41) Councillors K T Blundell, M Boylan, A J Burford, E Callear, L D Carter, G H Cook, E Davies, S Davies, P Davis, F Doran, A R H England, N A M England, S Handley,  Z Hannington, C Healy, T L B Janke, A S Jhawar, J Jones, L Lewis, G Luter, A D McClements, R Mehta, K Middleton, H Morgan, G Offland, R A Overton, I Preece, S J Reynolds, H Rhodes, R Sahota, P J Scott, S Syrda, B J Thompson, K Tomlinson, W L Tomlinson, K Tonks, C R Turley, J Urey, O Vickers, P R Watling, D R W White.

Against: (8) Councillors S Bentley, S P Burrell, N A Dugmore, A J Eade, T J Nelson, G Thomas, P Thomas, R Tyrrell,

Abstain: (0)

RESOLVED -  that the motion be approved.