Agenda and minutes

A minutes silence was held following the recent passing of Councillor Jackie Loveridge.

The Reverend Keith Osmund-Smith said prayers.

None.

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

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 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, with agreement from all Group Leaders, had agreed not to give a Leader’s speech but tabled an urgent motion.

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

“This Council condemns the senseless, brutal, and disastrous invasion of Ukraine by Russia and denounces the actions of Vladimir Putin and the Russian Government
 
We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people including those in this Borough who may have family and friends living in Ukraine.
 
This Council resolves:
 
1. To condemn the illegal and immoral actions of the Putin Regime. 
 
2. To do all it reasonably can to support the displaced Ukrainian people and those affected within the Borough to coordinate our community to support the ongoing relief effort as part of our nation’s humanitarian response.
 
3. We ask that our Group Leaders write a joint letter on behalf our Council to our MPs calling on them to support all possible diplomatic and economic measures possible by the British Government to restrict Putin’s regime military operations and to maintain the independence and freedom of Ukraine.
 
4. To express our support to NATO, UN and world leaders in their efforts to bring the matter to a safe and successful conclusion.”

Councillors N Dugmore and B Tomlinson seconded the Motion.

Following debate, it was unanimously:-

RESOLVED -  that the motion be approved.

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.   Although it had been a quiet start to the year due to the ongoing pandemic, he had attended a number of engagements including the first anniversary celebration of Inflata Nation and the official opening of the new Randle House at Dawley Town Hall.  His Mayoral Masquerade Ball would take place in March and he was looking forward to continuing the remainder of his term in office and attending future engagements.

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 N Dugmore asked the following question of Councillor S Davies, Leader.

“When will the remaining Afghan refugees that after several months are still in temporary accommodation be moved to permanent accommodation?”

Councillor S Davies responded that those who had been evacuated from Afghanistan were currently in temporary hotel accommodation, placed by the Home Office.  Consequently, the Council had no involvement or control over this as the Home Office decides on location of final and permanent accommodation..  The Council had permanently placed some families and had written to the Home Office and Secretary of State to ask that urgent steps are taken in order to allocate permanent housing to those who have been placed in hotels for several months.

Councillor N Dugmore asked a supplementary question:

“With the potential arrival of Ukrainian refugees, do you agree the current situation needs to come to a conclusion quickly and the Council should act quickly for houses to be decorated which is something that could easily be resolved by the Council.”

Councillor S Davies responded that the Council were looking after the Afghan refugees whilst they were in the Borough but onward settlement was not in the remit, or control, of the Council as those allocations and decisions were undertaken by the Home Office.

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 asked.

Councillor S Davies, Leader, presented the report of the Chief Executive in relation to the 2022/23 to 2024/25 Council Plan.  The Plan had been refreshed in order to drive the delivery of the Council’s vision to protect, care and invest to create a better Borough and set out the focus during the next three years.

During the debate, the focus was on equal homes for all, enforcement action to be taken against landlords who failed to meet good standards of rented accommodation, education attainment in both primary and secondary education, trees and the green agenda.

Upon being put to the vote it was:

RESOLVED – that the Council Plan 2022/23 to 2025/26 be approved.

Councillor R C Evans, Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Customer Services, presented the report of the Director: Finance & Human Resources (Chief Financial Officer) 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 for the next four years together with the budget framework for 2022/23.  A one year funding settlement had been received and there was increased demand for key services. There was a freeze on council tax for the next two years and the Council continued to invest in the Borough to make it an attractive place to live, work, learn and visit. 

A debate followed which focussed on investment in key services, affordable homes, borrowing, improving the highways, footpaths, cycleways, green spaces and the freezing of council tax.

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

For (37)

Councillors K T Blundell, M Boylan, A J Burford, E M Callear, L D Carter, G H Cook, S Davies, A R H England, R C Evans, C Healy, V J Holt, T L B Janke, A S Jhawar, J Jones, J E Lavery, A D McClements, R Mehta, K Middleton, L A Murray, G Offland, R A Overton, I Preece, G C W Reynolds, S J Reynolds, S A W Reynolds, H Rhodes, K S Sahota, P J Scott, C F Smith, M Smith, K T Tomlinson, W L Tomlinson, C R Turley, P Watling, B Wennington, D R W White and D Wright

Against (12)

Councillors S Bentley, S P Burrell, N A Dugmore, A J Eade, I T W Fletcher, V Fletcher, J Gough, E J Greenaway, M B Hosken, A Lawrence, T J Nelson, J M Seymour

Abstain (1)

Councillor E J Carter

And it was:

RESOLVED – that Full Council:

a)    approve the MTFS for 2022/23 – 2025/26 and the budget framework for 2022/23 set out in this suite of reports.

b)   approve a 2 year freeze of the general Council Tax level.

c)    apply the Government’s 1% Adult Social Care Precept in 2022/23.

d)   approve the investment of a further £5.16m into Adult Social Care in 2022/23 rising to £6.96m in 2023/24.

e)    approve net investment of £1.31m in to Children’s Safeguarding in 2022/23

f)     approve the budget savings listed in Appendix 13 totalling £5.656m in 2022/23 rising to £8.34m (after “leakage”) in 2023/24.

g)   approve 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 and to note the availability of the Invest to Save/Capacity Fund which is available to support partnership working. 

h)   approve the base budget in Appendix 6.

i)     approve the use of £0.220m special fund balances for works at Castle Green Cemetery

j)     approve the use of £250k  ...  view the full minutes text for item 188.

Councillor R C Evans, Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Customer Services, presented the report of the Director: Finance & Human Resources (Chief Financial Officer) which sought to determine the levels of Council Tax for Telford & Wrekin 2022-23 and took account of the requirements by Telford & Wrekin Council, the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority, together with the Parish and Town Councils.

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

For (51)

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

Against (0)

Abstain (0)

And it was:

RESOLVED – that Full Council approve the formal resolutions to determine the levels of Council Tax for 2022/23 as detailed in the report.

a)    2021/22 Treasury Update Report and 2022/23 Treasury

           Management Strategy

Councillor C Smith presented the report of the Chief Finance Officer regarding the Treasury Management activities during 2021/22 to date and the Treasury Strategy 2022/23 which had been recommended for adoption at Full Council by Audit Committee on 25 January 2022. 

RESOLVEDthat full Council approve the Treasury Strategy, including the Annual Investment Strategy for 2022/23 together with the associated Treasury Prudential Indicators, sources of borrowing and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement, which will apply from 2021/22 onwards.

a)    Revised Constitution

Councillor C Smith presented the report of the Associate Director: Policy & Governance which gave details of a recent review of the Constitution.  Following a meeting of the Council Constitution Committee held on 17 February 2022 it was recommended that the revised Constitution be adopted by Full Council. 

RESOLVED – that Full Council adopts the new, revised Constitution.

That full Council approve the Treasury Strategy, including the Annual Investment Strategy for 2022/23 together with the associated Treasury Prudential Indicators, sources of borrowing and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement, which will apply from 2021/22 onwards.

Please note the relevant report can be found at Page 269 in this agenda pack.

Councillor C Smith presented the report of the Chief Finance Officer regarding the Treasury Management activities during 2021/22 to date and the Treasury Strategy 2022/23 which had been recommended for adoption at Full Council by Audit Committee on 25 January 2022. 

RESOLVEDthat full Council approve the Treasury Strategy, including the Annual Investment Strategy for 2022/23 together with the associated Treasury Prudential Indicators, sources of borrowing and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement, which will apply from 2021/22 onwards.

That the Committee approves the Draft Constitution at Appendix 1 [of the associated report]; and recommends that full Council adopts the new Draft Constitution.

Councillor C Smith presented the report of the Associate Director: Policy & Governance which gave details of a recent review of the Constitution.  Following a meeting of the Council Constitution Committee held on 17 February 2022 it was recommended that the revised Constitution be adopted by Full Council. 

RESOLVED – that Full Council adopts the new, revised Constitution.

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

“This Council is deeply concerned about the cost of living crisis, which is having a devastating impact on household budgets across Telford and Wrekin – with every sign that things will only get worse.

This Council condemns the Conservative government’s lack of action to support families and households across our Borough, instead, being focused on defending the alleged law breaking in Downing Street.

This Council believes that this government have continued to fail our residents by:

• Scrapping the £20 uplift for those on universal credit

• Increasing National Insurance by 10%

• Freezing personal tax allowances – which will see more people pay more income tax than ever before

• Introducing a forced loan to every household energy bill rather than provide real support via an energy windfall tax

Whilst energy and tax bills will increase for the typical family to over £1,000 per annum, a £150 ‘rebate’ is simply just a ‘drop in the ocean’ whilst this government writes off £4bn of fraud.

We therefore call on the Government and our Telford and The Wrekin MPs to do more to help households rather than letting off fraudsters and defending rule breaking in Downing Street” The Motion will be seconded by Councillor G C W Reynolds”

Councillor G C W Reynolds seconded the Motion.

Following a robust debate, it was:-.

RESOLVED -  that the motion be approved.

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

““Telford and Wrekin Council reaffirms its strong objection to any merger with Shropshire Council and opposes the Government’s proposal of an elected Mayor for Shropshire. There are no circumstances where a merger or an elected Mayor of Shropshire is in the best interests of our residents of Telford and Wrekin.  On behalf of our residents we will not consent to such a move. A Telford and Wrekin Council, under a Labour administration, is on the side of our residents and there are no circumstances where such a merger or an elected Mayor of Shropshire is acceptable for our residents. Telford and Wrekin Council will continue to put Telford and Wrekin first."

Councillor E Callear seconded the Motion.

Following a debate a recorded vote was requested by the requisite number of councillors and that vote was as follows:

For (50)

Councillors S Bentley,  K T Blundell, M Boylan, A J Burford, S P Burrell, E M Callear, L D Carter, G H Cook, S Davies, N A Dugmore, A J Eade, A R H England, R C Evans, I T W Fletcher, V Fletcher, J Gough, E J Greenaway, C Healy, V J Holt, M B Hosken, T L B Janke, A S Jhawar, J Jones, J E Lavery, A Lawrence, A D McClements, R Mehta, K Middleton, L A Murray, T J Nelson, G Offland, R A Overton, I Preece, G C W Reynolds, S J Reynolds, S A W Reynolds,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 191.