Agenda

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

To receive the annual CSE Report.

To approve the publication version of the Local Plan.

“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.”

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Tim Nelson.

“Telford and Wrekin Council welcomes the new governments approach to investing in children and young people here in Telford and Wrekin; The council acknowledges that following 14 years of the Conservatives in government:

• Special educational and disability needs (SEND) is broken.  The former Conservative Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said is “lose, lose, lose”, costing a “fortune” and not providing the “right service.” i.e. it’s broken
• Schools across Telford and Wrekin have had real terms cuts
• Over £181million has been removed from the council budget which means less money for council services for all young people and families here in Telford

In contrast, the new government has already,

• Set out £1billion of extra funding for SEND
• Provided 9% boost Telford and Wrekin Councils funding
• Confirmed extra funding of £20 million for specialist school support across England, including for schools within Telford & Wrekin
• Provided an extra £30 million to create free breakfast clubs for children across Telford and Wrekin and the rest of England
• Provided investment of £69 million for network of Family Hubs and their expansion

This council believes every child should have the best start in life and the council notes that the proposed council budget for Childrens Safeguarding is over £49million.

This council resolves to:-

i)                 Ask the Leader to write to both MPs representing Telford & the Wrekin welcoming this new government’s roll out of breakfast clubs, providing much needed funding and support for families after 14 years of savage cuts and to ask them both to commit to working towards a future where no one is living in food poverty and so no child in Telford & Wrekin is too hungry to learn.

ii)                Ask the Leader to call on both MPs to acknowledge the lack of investment by the former Conservative Government and that they request that Telford & Wrekin Council is invited to be an Early Adopter and help shape the future of the government’s national breakfast club policy.”

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Lee Carter.

“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 will be seconded by Councillor Bill Tomlinson. 

"This Council deplores the Conservative West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner’s decision to cut 150 jobs from West Mercia Police Force, despite receiving a £180.9m grant from the new Labour Government, amounting to a 6.5% funding boost.

This Council resolves that rather than the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner spending over £2.8m on his ballooned office costs, he should spend that money on 92 new frontline police officers serving the West Mercia region."

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Ollie Vickers.

“This Council confirms its commitment to support residents suffering from the operation of the Granville Landfill site; including holding the Environment Agency to account and pressing for the termination of the operator’s licence and closing the site to new deliveries of waste forthwith.”

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Paul Thomas.