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.
Minutes:
The Leader of the Council made the following announcements:
(i) Successes Across the Borough
The Leader said that as the summer break approached, he wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate the many successes across the Borough. He said that the role of Members was always to serve the residents of Telford and Wrekin to the best of their abilities, and it was heartening to see individuals and organisations in the community recognised for their contributions.
The Leader said that, on the back of Telford and Wrekin Interfaith Council and Sustainable Newport, both had received well deserved King’s Awards for Voluntary Services at the end of last year, and that, in May this year, it had been very pleasing to see Fabwell Steel Products based in Madeley given the honour of King’s Award for Enterprise for sustainable development, which again showed how Telford businesses were leading the way.
The Leader went on to say that, in the even more recent King’s Birthday Honours, the Council was proud to learn that Telford-based recipients, Richard Howells, founder of Bronze Software Labs, had received an OBE for services to business and technology (another example of innovation and opportunity thriving in the Borough); Christine Still of Newport had been awarded an MBE for her dedication to gymnastics and sports broadcasting, and had inspired generations through coaching and commentary; and John McGlasson, Training Development Officer at RAF Cosford, who had received the British Empire Medal for his service to defence and charitable fundraising.
(ii) Armed Forces Community
The Leader said that everyone was proud of the Borough’s strong Armed Forces community and that this week had seen the soft launch of the Christopher Turley Armed Forces Community Hub, a one-stop-shop for serving personnel, veterans, and their families. He said that this initiative strengthened the Council’s ongoing support and commitment to those who served.
(iii) Council of the Year 2025
The Leader said that this evening’s meeting marked the first Full Council meeting since being named Council of the Year 2025 at the prestigious Local Government Chronicle Awards. He said that this was a remarkable achievement and a testament to the dedication of its members, staff, partners, and residents and confirmed that the work being done in Telford and Wrekin was exceptional.
The Leader went on to say that the Council had demonstrated a sustained track record of success and was one of only a few authorities to have received back-to-back ‘outstanding’ ratings for children’s services from Ofsted. Also, he said, the Council’s SEND services had received the highest inspection outcome from both Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission.
The Leader went on to say that the Council’s work around child sexual exploitation remained its top priority. He said that in respect of partnering with individuals with lived experience, the Council had been recognised nationally for its approach to tackling this horrific crime and that its efforts had recently earned a national award. He said that, later this evening, members would be asked to support the Council’s call for the new National Inquiry to include Telford and Wrekin and that the Council welcomed a government finally committed to addressing this horrific crime.
(iv) Community Safety
The Leader said that community safety was central to building a prosperous Borough. He said that, from the Telford Land Deal, which had brought over £1 billion in inward investment, to Invest Telford support and Council-led Growth Fund investing £65 million to create jobs, the Council had a compelling story to tell. He said that other authorities were keen to learn from Telford and Wrekin’s success, including the recent announcement that Rheinmetall would produce tank gun barrels in Hadley, a development the Council’s Administration backed. He said that the Council’s team had beat competition from five other areas to secure this investment.
(v) Environment
The Leader said that while development continues, the Council’s environmental efforts had also earned national recognition. He said that the Borough had been named among the top 20 greenest places to live in the UK, and this week had won a record eight Green Flag awards for its parks and green spaces.
(vi) Service Provision
The Leader said that day-to-day services remained a priority. He said the Council was proud of its clean streets and well-maintained parks and was one of only 10 councils that still offered free year-round garden waste collections. He said the Council also provided free council car parking and had capped local bus fares at £2, all while maintaining the lowest Council Tax rate in the Midlands and among the lowest nationally.
(vii) Transport Infrastructure
The Leader said that, from individuals receiving King’s Honours to the Council’s staff delivering outstanding public service, the Borough had much to be proud of. He said that, just weeks after being named Council of the Year, the Council had received confirmation from the Government that the M54–M6 link road had been given the go-ahead. This, he said, was a landmark moment for the Borough, supporting economic growth and cutting journey times for commuters and it was thanks to an MP for Telford and a Government keen to partner with the Council to continue moving this fantastic Borough forward.
In conclusion, the Leader said that, for those heading away this summer, know that when they returned to Telford and Wrekin, they were coming home to a nationally leading Borough, one that was thriving, ambitious, and very much on the move.