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 recommendation made by Personnel Committee on 9 January 2025 to designate the Director: Finance, People & IDT as the Council’s permanent S151 Officer.

To approve the Council tax base calculated for Telford and Wrekin for the 2025/26 financial year.

To receive an update on the Council’s financial monitoring position for 2024/25 and to approve changes made to the capital programme.

To note the work undertaken by Scrutiny during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 municipal years.

"With Telford & Wrekin comprised of two thirds of rural land and communities,  this Council recognises the vital role that farmers provide for this Borough and beyond and, as such, resolves to throw its full weight behind local Telford & Wrekin farmers and the farming industry by directly lobbying the Government to reverse the Chancellor’s terrible Inheritance tax proposals.”

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Stephen Bentley.

"This Council resolves to oppose top down imposed housing targets and lobby Government to allow housing figures to be determined locally in Telford & Wrekin. This Council also vehemently opposes the attack on local democracy which will take planning decisions on Housing applications away from elected members of this Council.”

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Tim Nelson.

“While noting the Labour party’s own figures of potentially 4000 pensioners dying due to this governments removal of the Winter Fuel Allowance, this Council notes the extra £100 paid to some local pensioners from the Emergency Relief fund provided by the previous government, but accepts that more needs to be done and consequently resolves to:

a)    Revisit financial reserves in order to consider providing further financial aid;

b)   Deplore the original decision to strip pensioners of their heating allowance and write to the Chancellor to demand this cruel decision is reversed; and

c)    Join the Unite Union’s campaign to force the current Labour Government to change its mind.”

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Rachael Tyrrell.

“Whilst noting the damage done to the UK Economy and the effect that the Labour Government  budget measures will have on the local economy in Telford & Wrekin, this Council welcomes the initiative in Ironbridge to offer free car parking over the Christmas period but calls on the administration to offset some of the negative impact of government policy and remove car parking charges in Ironbridge all together to provide a boost to the local economy.”

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Gareth Thomas.

"This Council deplores the Labour governments cruel and arbitrary decision to renege on the compensation for WASPI ladies in Telford and Wrekin. The Council calls on the government to reverse their decision, and so restore to many local residents the compensation they are legally entitled to. Surely every Councillor will have WASPI ladies they are aware of in their ward, an injustice has been done."

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Andrew Eade.

“This Council notes with concern the recent announcement by the UK Government to reduce the Army Cadet Force training budget by 50%. This Council believes that these cuts are short-sighted and jeopardise the future of an organisation that has provided young people with an introduction to military discipline, leadership, and opportunities for personal development for nearly 170 years. The Army Cadet Force (ACF) plays a vital role in inspiring the next generation of Armed Forces personnel, offering a unique pathway for young people to explore careers in the military. This is especially critical at a time when the UK Armed Forces are facing a significant recruitment crisis. This Council further believes that the ACF is not only a recruitment pipeline but also an organisation that fosters discipline, resilience, and teamwork in young people, contributing positively to their communities and society at large.

This Council resolves to:

1.    Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister to express our deep concerns about the impact of these budget cuts on the Army Cadet Force and the future of the Armed Forces.

2.    Urge the UK Government to reverse these budget reductions immediately to safeguard the future of the ACF and its essential contribution to national defence and youth development.

3.    Call on local Members of Parliament across Shropshire to advocate in Westminster for the protection of ACF funding.

4.    Explore local support measures to mitigate the immediate impact of these cuts on cadet units in our area, where possible.”

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Kim Tonks.

“This Council welcomes the Government’s plans to cut NHS waiting times to 18 weeks.

Recognises that there are currently 47,713 patients waiting for care at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals, part of more than seven and half million across the country – and accepts that this is far too many.

Notes that every single person on those waiting lists represents a life put on hold, stuck waiting for care often in pain or in fear.

In particular we welcome the creation of millions more appointments to get people the treatment they need quicker - that up to half a million more appointments will be made available each year thanks to great access to Community Diagnostic Centres and new or expanded surgical hubs, and that greater patient choice over follow-up care will open up a million appointments alongside better use of tech and other action to save another million missed appointments.

Urges local residents, patients, and NHS staff to take part in the government’s Change NHS consultation to ensure Telford and Wrekin's voice is heard in shaping the future of our health service.

Notes that the new Labour Government inherited an NHS that was broken, with too many waiting for treatment, people waiting too long for an ambulance even in the most serious of circumstances, and in A&E, and that those delays have cost and ruined lives.

Commits to work with government to ensure that we get our NHS back on its feet by providing the highest possible quality care, addressing poor health and health inequalities in our communities, boosting opportunities for our residents to enjoy exercise and healthy lifestyles and working with government, GPs, hospitals and other health leaders to ensure we work together to fix our health service as part of a wider plan to fix the foundations and get Britain back on track.” 

The Motion will be seconded by Councillor Kelly Middleton.