Agenda and minutes

Grace Tong,Chair of CultureKind Chinese Community and Director of Chinese Arts and Culture Centre, said prayers.

Councillor L D Carter and the Chief Executive declared an interest in minute number 67, Motion 14c which related to the out of hours GP service and indicated that they would leave the room.

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

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2025 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 announced that the Council would continue to serve the community to the best of its abilities standing up for the community with the fiercest determination and there were countless examples of this seen in action every day. 

The Leader wanted to make it absolutely clear that there would be no merger with Shropshire Council.  He was proud that the Council had achieved outstanding children services and Council of the Year twice, had good adult social care services, free parking, free green waste collections, investment into local leisure centres, libraries and community centres remaining open without threat of cut or closure, two pound bus fares, investment into every high street and once again having the lowest Council Tax in the Midlands. 

At the last Full Council meeting, the Leader had outlined the investment that would be presented as part of the medium-term financial strategy, and it was often easy to forget the fundamental drivers behind the budget which are the foundation upon which the Council’s mission was built.  It sought to serve and to stand up for the community with the fiercest of determination to protect, care and invest in the Borough.  Key investment projects included protecting and enhancing green spaces, investment into care for the elderly and the most vulnerable young people and retaining the financial ability to remain fleet of foot, which would be demonstrated by the announcements of a new Priorslee Innovation Fund, which had been designed to enable the Council to intervene in a key strategic site in Priorslee should the opportunity arise.  A rural flooding fund of three quarters of a million pounds would tackle flooding issues in rural areas. 

The Leader was proud of the Administration's track record and the budget set out to seize opportunities and solve problems and he welcomed debate that sought common ground rather than point scoring. He set out that it was more important than ever to remind Members of the reason they were here, whether it be to give a child an opportunity to learn, a young person given the opportunity to work on their skills, an older person given a second chance due to retraining, a better quality of life due to incoming business or better jobs and investment into quality homes and the refurbishing of older properties. 

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

The Mayor announced that he had hosted a bake sale for staff which had included indulgent cakes and healthier treats and felt that what made the event truly special was the opportunity to connect with so many incredible people and hear about the amazing work they do every single day.  Special thanks went to the daughter of a staff member who went above and beyond by designing eye-catching posters, baking cakes and cookies, and helping to make the event a huge success and he was inspired to see the younger generation stepping up to support such an important cause.  The event raised £166, all of which would be donated to Severn Hospice. A heartfelt thank you was given to everyone who played a part.

In April, the Mayor would be hosting a ‘Back Through the Decades’ Charity Ball also in support of Severn Hospice and welcomed people to join him at the event. 

The Mayor gave his deepest appreciation for the hard work of the staff at Telford & Wrekin Council and expressed that he saw firsthand how they went above and beyond to support the Councillors and the local community and that the dedication, passion and commitment did not go unnoticed.

In conclusion, the Mayor spoke of his absolute joy, honour and privilege during his year as Mayor and was immensely grateful for the experience.  Although his term as Mayor would come to an end at the next meeting in May, he would continue to make the most of his remaining time supporting the community.

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.

The following questions from the public had been received.

(i)         The following question to Cllr O Vickers Cabinet Member: The Economy was submitted by Stuart Parr

“I would like to ask the Cabinet Member for the Economy how many farmers have raised concerns with the Member for Ercall Magna about the impact of the government's inheritance tax plans for farms.”

Cllr O Vickers, Cabinet Member: The Economy responded that this issue had not been raised by either Councillor Bentley or the Conservative MP.

(ii)        The following question to Cllr K Middleton Cabinet Member: Public Health & Healthier Communities was submitted by Elizabeth Bickford-Smith

            “The supported living survey, twelve months ago, confirmed a need for appropriate accommodation in Newport. What progress has been made since then, and what plans does the council have to develop supported living for adults with learning disabilities/difficulties within safe walking distance of Newport town centre and its facilities?”

Councillor K Middleton, Cabinet Member: Public Health & Healthier Communities replied that the Local Plan contained a framework for specialist accommodation and the Council was committed to developing different models of supported living accommodation for adults with learning disabilities/difficulties across Telford & Wrekin.  Demand for such accommodation had seen an increase of 20% in the number of adults with learning disabilities requiring different types of accommodation, surpassing the national average.  Recently, there had been significant progress with the development of specialist and supported accommodation on seven sites in 2023-24. This has provided housing for a total of 53 individuals through various supported schemes, bungalows, and highly bespoke properties.

In 2023-24, 40% of all specialist and supported accommodations were developed for those with learning disabilities/difficulties. This had enabled individuals to live independently within the community. The Council recognised the importance of continuing this effort and was committed to engaging with individuals, their families, and carers to explore options for further delivery, particularly within the Newport area. Developing these options would take time, and the Council would continue to co-produce solutions to best meet the needs of our Borough's residents.

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 Peter Scott asked the following question of Councillor C Healy, Cabinet Member: Neighbourhoods, Planning & Sustainability

“The Royal Victoria Hotel in Newport continues to be an eyesore that blights our town centre. It is good that the council continues to service the scaffolding and the building to keep residents safe but there is little or no obvious progress. We are told that a Compulsory Purchase Order has been applied for and that the current owner has challenged it but this was well over a year ago. Can the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Sustainability please give us an accurate update on the progress of the Order and an indication of how long the town must suffer this long rolling saga?”

Councillor C Healy responded that the Council had initiated the compulsory purchase order process under the legal provisions set out in the Planning Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act due to the failure of the building's owner to take reasonable steps to preserve the structure. The initial stage of the process involved discussions regarding involuntary acquisition.

Whilst the owner engaged in these discussions, no agreement could be reached, necessitating further preparation for the compulsory purchase.  The building remained in a severe state of disrepair, compounded by structural safety concerns.  As a result, urgent intervention was required to safeguard the structure. In March 2024, the Council served an urgent works notice. However, as the owner failed to carry out these works, the Council was compelled to intervene. Site works commenced in November 2024 and were still ongoing and once these works were completed, the Council would then be in a position to assess any further necessary interventions, finalise a viable development scheme, and progress the CPO process accordingly. The Council remained committed to preventing further deterioration of the building, ensuring public safety, and ultimately securing a sustainable future for this important building in Newport. They incurred substantial costs in carrying out emergency works and they would seek to recover these costs from the property owner.

Councillor P Scott asked a supplementary question and asked following on from the public question raised by Mrs Bickford-Smith about the need for supported living in Newport.   Would the Council and whoever took on this building consider utilising the building for supported living due to the current lack of provision?

Councillor C Healy responded that the CPO process was difficult and it was not always straightforward in terms of a predictive timeline and she understood that it was frustrating for the residents in Newport.  In terms of the use that Councillor Scott had suggested, a key part of getting through that CPO process was to have a viable use at the end of it. This was a very good suggestion and absolutely something that the Council would consider.

(b)       Councillor C Chikandamina asked the following question of Councillor C Healy, Cabinet Member: Neighbourhoods, Planning & Sustainability

“At the last Full Council meeting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

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 approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 – 2028/29.

Councillor Z Hannington, Cabinet Member: Finance, Governance & Customer Services presented the report of the Director: Finance, People & which set out how the Council would deliver the Strategy and its five key priorities.   It sought approval of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy together with the budget framework for 2025/26.  It was noted that there had been a significant increase in costs and the demand for services, together with higher costs in relation to the provision of Adult Social Care.  There were high levels of financial pressure and complexity of need in relation to both Adult Social Care and Children’s Servies which had led to a Council Tax increase of 4.99% all of which would go to vulnerable children and adults.

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Amendment) Regulations 2014, a recorded vote was taken on the recommendations as follows:

For (43) Councillors E Aston, K T Blundell, M Boylan, A J Burford, E Callear, L D Cater, C Chikandamina, G H Cook, E Davies, P Davis, F Doran, A England, S Handley, Z Hannington, C Healy, T Janke, A Jhawar, J Jones, J Kaur, L Lewis, G Luter, A D McClements, R Mehta, K Middleton, H Morgan, R A Overton, N Page, L Parker, I Preece, S A W Reynolds, S J Reynolds, H Rhodes, R Sahota, P J Scott, S Syrda, P Thomas, B J Thompson, K Tomlinson, W L Tomlinson, K Tonks, J Urey, O Vickers and D R W White

Against (6) Councillors S Bentley, S P Burrell, A J Eade, T J Nelson, G Thomas and R Tyrrell.

Abstain (0)

RESOLVED – that:

a)    the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2025/26 to 2028/29 and the budget framework for 2025/26 set out in this suite of reports be approved;

b)   a council tax increase of 4.99% for 2025/26 including the Government’s 2% Adult Social Care precept, equivalent to £0.69 per week general council tax increase for the average Band B property and £0.46 per week for the ASC precept, which will be fully invested in the provision of social care services for the most vulnerable members of our community be approved;

c)    the net investment of £7.7m into Adult Social Care in 2025/26 be approved;

d)   the budget savings listed on Appendix 10 totalling £13m in 2025/26 and £11.8m ongoing be approved;

e)    the continuation of work with partner organisations, including Town & Parish Councils and Voluntary Sector and Community Groups to seek to identify ways to mitigate the impact of some of the cuts to services that we can no longer afford to deliver and to note the availability of the Invest to Save/Capacity Fund which is available to support partnership working be approved

f)     the base budget set out in Appendix 8 be approved;

g)   the policy framework for Reserves and Balances and their planned use outlined in Appendix 6 be approved;

h)   the Risk Register at Appendix 14 be approved;

i)     the endorsement of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme a link to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

To approve the formal resolutions to determine the levels of Council Tax for 2025/26.

Councillor Z Hannington, Cabinet Member: Finance, Governance & Customer Services presented the report of the Director: Finance, People & IDT, which sought to determine the levels of Council Tax for Telford & Wrekin in 2025-26 and took account of the requirements of Telford & Wrekin Council, the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority, together with the Town and Parish Councils.

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a recorded vote was taken on the recommendations as follows:-

For (43) Councillors E Aston, K T Blundell, M Boylan, A J Burford, E Callear, L D Cater, C Chikandamina, G H Cook, E Davies, P Davis, F Doran, A England, S Handley, Z Hannington, C Healy, T Janke, A Jhawar, J Jones, J Kaur, L Lewis, G Luter, A D McClements, R Mehta, K Middleton, H Morgan, R A Overton, N Page, L Parker, I Preece, S A W Reynolds, S J Reynolds, H Rhodes, R Sahota, P J Scott, S Syrda, P Thomas, B J Thompson, K Tomlinson, W L Tomlinson, K Tonks, J Urey, O Vickers and D R W White

Against (6) Councillors S Bentley, S P Burrell, A J Eade, T J Nelson, G Thomas and R Tyrrell.

Abstain (0)

RESOLVED – that the levels of Council Tax for 2025/26 as set out in the report be approved.

To receive the annual CSE Report.

The Leader presented the report of the Director: Policy and Governance. 

The purpose of this report was to provide an update to Members on the actions taken to date since the Independent Chair of the Independent Inquiry into CSE, Tom Crowther KC, published his 2-year review report on 12 July 2024 and to provide the CSE Annual Report in respect of 2023/24.

The Annual Report provided the Council, and partner organisations, with data that allowed for continuous challenge of the Council’s procedures and practices.

Upon being put to the vote it was, unanimously:

RESOLVED – that:

a)    the Council restate its commitment to continue its work, through co-production with lived experience consultees and partners as appropriate, to respond to the challenge of CSE within the Borough;

b)   the proposal for the Leader to write to government to ask that it mandates the publication by all local authorities of data akin to that included in the Council’s Annual Report be approved;

c)    the update provided in this report on the actions taken following the publication of Tom Crowther KC’s review report in July 2024 be noted;

d)    the contents of the Annual Report be noted; and

e)     the work the Council is doing to share learning within the local government sector be noted.

To approve the publication version of the Local Plan.

Councillor C Healy, Cabinet Member: Neighbourhoods, Planning & Sustainability presented the report of the Director: Prosperity & Investment which set out the Council’s proposals to protect green spaces, care for existing communities and invest in the future.

The Local Plan would allow the Council to deliver on its priorities in relation to good quality affordable homes that met the needs of the community including homes for young people, families and older people.  The plan would provide more energy efficient buildings to help lower costs for running homes and businesses, retain the Council’s proud identity as one of the greenest places in the country by protecting heritage and enhancing our green spaces, invest in established communities by revitalising borough towns and tackling derelict and vacant sites that blight local people’s daily lives, securing around 17,000 new jobs through new land for existing businesses to grow and new business to invest, securing new and improved infrastructure for the future, including six new schools, expanded GP surgeries and improving transport networks and tackling climate change by introducing policies to reduce carbon emissions and improve sustainability.

A recorded vote was taken on the recommendations as follows:-

For (33) Councillors E Aston, A J Burford, E Callear, L D Cater, C Chikandamina, G H Cook, E Davies, P Davis, F Doran, A England, S Handley, Z Hannington, C Healy, A Jhawar, J Jones, J Kaur, L Lewis, G Luter, A D McClements, R Mehta, K Middleton, H Morgan, R A Overton, N Page, L Parker, I Preece, S A W Reynolds, S J Reynolds, H Rhodes, R Sahota, B J Thompson, O Vickers and D R W White

Against (14) Councillors S Bentley, K T Blundell S P Burrell, A J Eade, T Janke, T J Nelson, S Syrda, G Thomas, P Thomas, K Tomlinson, W L Tomlinson, K Tonks, R Tyrrell and J Urey.

Abstain (1) Councillor P J Scott.

RESOLVED – that:

a.         the Publication Local Plan, the Publication Policies Map and the Site Allocations be approved;

b.        that any representations on the publication version of the plan are received be agreed

c.         submission of the Publication Local Plan and associated documents, to the Secretary of State for examination be approved;

d.        delegated authority be granted to the Director: Prosperity & Investment, following consultation with the Cabinet Member, to exercise all relevant powers under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 and associated law to:

i.             Receive, action and collate representations made for submission to the Secretary of State

ii.            Prepare the plan for submission to, and examination by, the Secretary of State

iii.          Publish the outcome of the examination and recommendations.

e.         delegated authority be granted to the Director: Prosperity & Investment, following consultation with the Cabinet Member to exercise the Council’s powers relating to its duty to cooperate in relation to the planning of sustainable development as set out in Section 33A Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and any other associated legislation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63a

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

“This council welcomes and supports the recent announcement by H.M

Prime minister that the government is to begin a program of construction, and investment into the provision of nuclear energy SMRs across the nation, and will seek through effective public consultation in our emerging local plan to identify suitable sites within the borough.”

Councillor T Nelson seconded the Motion.

Following a robust debate, the Motion was lost by a majority vote.

RESOLVED - that the motion not be approved.

(b)       The Speaker announced that as a result of engagement with the government the Council had been appointed as an early adopter site and due to this being the action sought, Motion 14b had been withdrawn.

(c)        Councillor K Middleton proposed the following Motion:

“This council is concerned and disappointed at local health bosses decision not to award the ‘out of hours’ GP service contract to the not-for-profit GP co-operative organisation Shropdoc as the preferred provider for out of hours services for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, which has been serving our Borough for almost 30 years. 
 
The service is vital to the residents of Telford and Wrekin and council resolves to seek urgent clarification from NHS Telford and Wrekin that any new contract will: 
 
1.         Ensure that under the proposed new arrangements there is no decrease in the services based at the Princess Royal Hospital currently provided by Shropdoc.

2.         That the number of GPs are maintained and enhanced

3.         That the number of other qualified care professionals are maintained and enhanced

4.         That the number, accessibility and availability, of face-to-face appointments remain the same or are increased

5.         That GP and Care Professionals home visits out of hours continue as they do now or are increased

6.         That access to the services across Telford and Wrekin are enhanced

7.         That the new contract should not increase demand at A&E

We note that this re-tender was conducted under procurement law specific to the selection of Health Care providers but note that the new government will shortly be implementing legislation which requires public bodies to consider the overall public interest when commissioning services.  As part of the assurances above, this council resolves to seek clarification as to the assessment criteria for the new contract, assurances that the interest of residents within the Borough was taken into account and, in particular, how all aspects of the procurement complied with s.242 National Health Service Act 2006.

Council also recommends that the ICB reports every 3 months to the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee on how the Out of Hours contract is performing.”

The Motion was seconded by Councillor W L Tomlinson.

Following the debate, the Motion was unanimously approved.

RESOLVED - that the motion be approved.

(d)       Councillor R A Overton proposed the following Motion:

“This council deplores the Conservative West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner’s decision to cut 150 jobs from West Mercia  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.