Minutes:
(a) Councillor Lee Carter moved, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 7, the following Motion:
“This Council welcomes and supports the ongoing work of the Government to address Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) including commissioning the Casey Review, noting the previous Conservative Government's failure to implement any of the recommendations from the National Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) its failure to insist that the National Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse visit Telford and it’s failure to establish a standalone Inquiry with statutory powers in Telford 2018.
This Council resolves to share its best practice and learning from the Independent Inquiry into Telford's Child Sexual Exploitation (which it commissioned and funded) and pledges to support the Government and other Councils using the recommendations and work from that Inquiry which are highly regarded.
This Council notes the letter from the Leader to the Home Secretary unequivocally stating the Council’s support for the new National Inquiry, that it would welcome the National Inquiry to include Telford & Wrekin and that it will comply with any requests arising from the Casey Report and the subsequent National Inquiry.
This Council continues to pay tribute to the victims and survivors of CSE and continues to welcome the work of those with Lived Experience who are helping the Council to tackle CSE. This Council continues to resolve doing everything it can to provide the best possible local response to tackling this horrific and heinous crime.”
Councillor K Middleton seconded the motion.
Following a robust debate, the Motion was carried by a majority vote.
RESOLVED – that the motion be approved.
(b) Councillor Richard Overton moved, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 7, the following Motion:
“This Council is deeply concerned by the decision of the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner to reduce the hours during which Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are deployed, particularly after 8pm.
Residents and businesses have already expressed concerns regarding the visibility of police and PCSOs. These concerns are likely to intensify with fewer PCSOs present on the streets during evening hours.
This Council has been a key partner with the police in reducing crime and antisocial behaviour through its Safer Stronger Communities project. Since 2021, the Council has invested £5.5 million in this initiative, complementing police efforts and enhancing community safety. The proposed reduction in PCSO working hours threatens to undermine the success of this project and may be perceived as a step backward in community policing, potentially increasing feelings of insecurity among residents.
The Council notes that the new Labour government has committed to providing real-term increases in police funding annually over the next five years. This stands in contrast to previous cuts to policing, particularly neighbourhood policing, under the Conservative government.
Since 2016, the budget for the Police and Crime Commissioner's office has increased by £7 million—from £5 million in 2016 to £12 million in the current year—while frontline services face reductions.
The Council believes that every individual has the right to feel safe in their community. A visible police presence is fundamental to achieving this. Reducing PCSO hours will negatively impact community safety and may erode public confidence in local policing.
The Council resolves to:
· Call on the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable to withdraw the proposal to reduce PCSO hours after 8pm and to identify the £350,000 required to maintain current PCSO staffing levels, as this reduction is the equivalent of 25,735 PCSO hours of policing and this can be done by reducing waste and administrative costs, including those associated with Hindlip Hall and the Police and Crime Commissioner's office.
· Write to fellow West Mercia councils requesting their support in opposing this proposal and to collectively advocate for the restoration of full PCSO hours.
· Call on Councillors to encourage residents to sign Shaun Davies MP's petition demanding that the proposal to reduce PCSO hours be scrapped.”
The Motion was seconded by Councillor N England.
Following a robust debate, the Motion was carried by a majority vote.
RESOLVED – that the motion be approved.
(c) Councillor Andrew Eade moved, in accordance with Council Procedure
Rule 7, the following Motion:
“As this Council’s Labour Administration operates the Cabinet system of decision making it is vital that the Scrutiny process is adequately resourced and resolves that funding is made available immediately to repair the current broken system.”
Councillor G Thomas seconded the Motion.
Following a robust debate, the motion was lost by a majority vote.
RESOLVED – that the motion be not approved.
(d) Councillor Andrew Eade moved, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 7, the following Motion:
“This Council notes with dismay the Labour Government’s decision not to mandate the inclusion of at least one hollow “Swift Brick” to provide nesting facilities for endangered birds in this country. This Council further resolves to write to Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook, to request he reverses his incoherent decision and further resolve that Telford & Wrekin Council formally request every developer in the Borough to include at least one “Swift Brick” in every dwelling.”
Councillor R Tyrrell seconded the motion.
By way of an amendment, with additional words shown in bold and underlined, Councillor Carolyn Healy, seconded by Councillor Giles Luter, moved that:
This Council notes the wide-ranging provisions for enhancing the natural environment contained within the Environment Act, The Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the National Planning Policy Framework, where specific reference is made to ‘incorporating features which support priority for threatened species such as swifts, bats and hedgehogs’, and updated Natural Environment Planning Practice Guidance which encourages the use of swift bricks.
This council also notes the Labour Government’s decision, in line with the position of the previous Conservative government, not to mandate the inclusion of at least one hollow “Swift Brick” in new builds over 5m to provide nesting facilities for endangered birds in this country.
This council recognises that biodiversity enhancements are needed in all developments and that swift bricks can be beneficial to other bird species. This Council therefore resolves to write to Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook, to request he reverses his decision.
This council further resolves that Telford & Wrekin Council, in line with the draft local plan policies, formally request every developer in the Borough to include habitat improvements including “Swift Bricks”, bird and bat boxes, tree planting and so on, in every development and also resolves to develop a Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document to provide further guidance to developers.
Following debate and being put to the vote, the amendment was declared carried and became the substantive motion.
Following a robust debate, the substantive motion was carried by a majority vote.
RESOLVED – that the motion, as amended, be approved.
(e) Councillor Andrew Eade moved, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 7, the following Motion:
“This Council notes with huge concern the Labour Government’s recent and chaotic major policy U-Turns and agrees to write to the current Chancellor, Rachael Reeves, to urge her not to increase taxation to fill the Government created fiscal black hole to the detriment of our community in the Borough.”
Councillor S Burrell seconded the motion.
Following a robust debate, the motion was lost by a majority vote.
RESOLVED – that the motion be not carried.
“Following Wolverhampton University’s announcement of their Priorslee site’s closure during July this year, this council remains committed to the site’s use for education and community purposes and that it will protect the grade II listed Priorslee Hall for community use.”
Councillor S Burrell seconded the motion.
On the consent of both the mover and seconder of the motion, the motion was WITHDRAWN.
(g) Councillor Ollie Vickers moved, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 7, the following Motion:
“This Council commits to support Lingen Davies in its fundraising efforts as part of the Sunflower Appeal which will see the development of the Lingen Davies Cancer Centre at the Princess Royal Hospital.
The new Centre will mean most chemotherapy patients living in and around Telford can be treated at the PRH.
The Sunflower Appeal will mean patients across the region can have quicker and easier access to the care they need, when they need it.”
Councillor C Chikandamina seconded the motion.
Following a robust debate, the Motion was carried by a unanimous vote.
RESOLVED – that the motion be approved.