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.
Minutes:
The following questions were asked under Council Procedure Rule 6.2.2:-
(a) Councillor Peter Scott asked the following question of Councillor C Healy, Cabinet Member: Neighbourhoods, Planning & Sustainability
“The Royal Victoria Hotel in Newport continues to be an eyesore that blights our town centre. It is good that the council continues to service the scaffolding and the building to keep residents safe but there is little or no obvious progress. We are told that a Compulsory Purchase Order has been applied for and that the current owner has challenged it but this was well over a year ago. Can the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Sustainability please give us an accurate update on the progress of the Order and an indication of how long the town must suffer this long rolling saga?”
Councillor C Healy responded that the Council had initiated the compulsory purchase order process under the legal provisions set out in the Planning Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act due to the failure of the building's owner to take reasonable steps to preserve the structure. The initial stage of the process involved discussions regarding involuntary acquisition.
Whilst the owner engaged in these discussions, no agreement could be reached, necessitating further preparation for the compulsory purchase. The building remained in a severe state of disrepair, compounded by structural safety concerns. As a result, urgent intervention was required to safeguard the structure. In March 2024, the Council served an urgent works notice. However, as the owner failed to carry out these works, the Council was compelled to intervene. Site works commenced in November 2024 and were still ongoing and once these works were completed, the Council would then be in a position to assess any further necessary interventions, finalise a viable development scheme, and progress the CPO process accordingly. The Council remained committed to preventing further deterioration of the building, ensuring public safety, and ultimately securing a sustainable future for this important building in Newport. They incurred substantial costs in carrying out emergency works and they would seek to recover these costs from the property owner.
Councillor P Scott asked a supplementary question and asked following on from the public question raised by Mrs Bickford-Smith about the need for supported living in Newport. Would the Council and whoever took on this building consider utilising the building for supported living due to the current lack of provision?
Councillor C Healy responded that the CPO process was difficult and it was not always straightforward in terms of a predictive timeline and she understood that it was frustrating for the residents in Newport. In terms of the use that Councillor Scott had suggested, a key part of getting through that CPO process was to have a viable use at the end of it. This was a very good suggestion and absolutely something that the Council would consider.
(b) Councillor C Chikandamina asked the following question of Councillor C Healy, Cabinet Member: Neighbourhoods, Planning & Sustainability
“At the last Full Council meeting there was a comment made about Telford being a grey urban jungle. This isn’t a description I recognise, so can I ask the Cabinet member how much green space there is in the borough and how Telford and Wrekin compares to other areas in this respect?”
Councillor C Healy assured members that the administration was firmly committed to protecting and enhancing the Borough's green spaces. Far from being a grey urban jungle, Telford was home to an extensive and well-managed network of green spaces that provided vital benefits for nature, residents, and visitors alike. The Borough boasted 20 designated local nature reserves covering 617 hectares, offering valuable habitats for wildlife and recreational opportunities for residents, 305 green guarantee sites protected from development and preserved for community use. In addition, the green network designation continued to expand with the draft local plan. There was a proposed overall gain of 330 hectares of protected green space compared to the 2018 local plan. That was a 13% increase, bringing the total green network designation up to 2,887 hectares, an area approximately seven times the size of Newport. The council was also developing a green pledge initiative - a scheme designed to work alongside private landowners to encourage the protection and enhancement of their green spaces. This would further strengthen the Council’s commitment to maintaining a greener, healthier, and more sustainable borough. Telford compared very well to other areas of the country, with residents having very high levels of accessible green space and around three times as much local nature reserve per thousand head of population.
Councillor C Chikandamina asked a supplementary question in relation to last summer when there were more wild grass and wildflowers growing, which were beautiful and as to whether this was something the Council would continue to do?
Councillor C Healy responded that for some years, the Council had some fabulous wildflower meadows, but they were mostly contained within our local nature reserves and last year, the decision was made to increase this along road verges and in some of our amenity grass sites and grassland sites which had increased the amount of wildflower meadow by about 170,000 square metres, which was a 32% increase. The Council now had 700,000 square metres of wildflower areas across the borough, which was about 70 full-size football pitches, and were looking to increase that further.
(c) Councillor E Davies asked the following question of Councillor K Middleton, Cabinet Member: Public Health & Healthier Communities
“At its January meeting, the Communities Scrutiny Committee received a presentation and had the opportunity to discuss the domestic abuse support available in Telford & Wrekin. For the benefit of the chamber and Ward Councillors, could you give an overview of the support that Telford and Wrekin has put in place, through the local authority domestic abuse grant funding, to support victims, perpetrators of domestic abuse and their families, including reference to support for male victims?”
Councillor K Middleton responded that the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 set out new obligations for local authorities, including the provision of safe accommodation and specialist support for local domestic abuse survivors. As part of the domestic abuse partnership strategy approved by the cabinet, the Council commissioned a new local domestic abuse service which went live in June 2022 and was provided by Cranston in partnership with West Mercia Police and Women's Aid. The service offered a single point of contact telephone number and online access, safe accommodation, specialist support for local domestic abuse survivors, specialist support for children and young people affected by domestic abuse, and a behaviour change programme for domestic abuse perpetrators. The commissioned Domestic Abuse Service worked in partnership with Telford and Wrekin Council, including the housing options team, which also managed the domestic abuse refuge, local registered social landlords, West Mercia police, and other partners. In terms of providing safe accommodation for those escaping domestic abuse at home, there were a total of 457 referrals between June 2023 and September 2024. Thirty-seven referrals, which was 7.5%, were male survivors. One of the local housing providers offered safe accommodation for single males who were fleeing domestic abuse. Local male survivors fleeing domestic abuse with their children were provided with a self-contained unit of safe accommodation within the borough if it was safe to do so or alternatively if it was not appropriate, the Council would work with Cranston to source accommodation out of the area, and in the interim provide, bed and breakfast if emergency accommodation was unavailable.
(d) Councillor J Thompson asked the following question of Councillor O Vickers, Cabinet Member: The Economy
“Can the Cabinet Member for the Economy provide an update on our council-run bus services, including on how the recent Bus Survey will shape our bus services going forward?”
Councillor O Vickers responded Members would recall the bold decision the administration took in December 2022 to launch Council-run bus services. Since then, they have gone from strength to strength. He was delighted to be able to announce to the chamber that bus services had reached half a million passenger journeys. These were journeys that helped Telford and Wrekin residents get to and from work, children to get to school and residents get to hospital appointments. Fares had been frozen at two pounds for adults and just one pound for children, so everybody could get around the Borough on reliable public transport at a low cost. Routes had been retendered and would be launched in July and this would freeze bus fares again so there was no increase in cost for our residents. In relation to the bus survey that was carried out at the end of last year and hundreds of responses were received from residents. This feedback had been taken on board and it featured in the new and improved services that were currently going through the re-tendering process, but in the meantime the Council was finalising aspects of the number 100 serving the town centre, timetable adjustments for routes 102 and 103, and also improving links between South Telford and Telford College were being considered.
Councillor J Thompson asked a supplementary whether Councillor Vickers would welcome cross-party support for Council run bus services as set out in the budget?
Councillor O Vickers responded would welcome cross-party support for the Council-run bus services in the budget. The buses ran through the whole of our borough and had such a positive impact.
(e) Councillor H Morgan asked the following question of Councillor K Middleton, Cabinet Member: Public Health & Healthier Communities
“As a Mental Health First Aider, I have seen first-hand the growing challenges around staff mental health and wellbeing. The ability to signpost support and create safe spaces for open conversations is a privilege and a responsibility I take seriously. From my experience, this increase in mental health struggles stems from rising pressures on individuals and families to meet ever-growing demands, making stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout part of everyday life for many. With this in mind, could the Council confirm how many trained Mental Health First Aiders are currently in the Telford & Wrekin workforce? As one of the largest employers in the Borough, I believe we have an opportunity to lead by example in championing workplace mental health support. I would also like to encourage other employers across the Borough to follow suit so that together, we can create a healthier and more resilient workforce.”
Councillor K Middleton responded that Health and Wellbeing Board and Telford and Wrekin Integrated Place Partnership clearly recognised that resident and staff mental health had been negatively impacted by the pandemic, the cost of living crisis and wider worry about global affairs. Improving community-based support for the mental health of adults, children and young people was at the heart of a range of health wellbeing board and TWIP programs. Mental health first aiders play a vital role and among Council staff there were seven volunteer staff who provide support and sign posting for any staff member with mental health and mental wellbeing at work. The staff Mental Health Ambassadors had completed the Zero Suicide Alliance training and undertaken the Assist Suicide training. A corporate bereavement policy had been introduced and bereavement grief training would be included in the 2025 -2026 staff training programme. In her cabinet member role, she would connect with the Council's mental health ambassadors to discuss training opportunities in other roles and organisations in the borough, such as schools and businesses. The Cabinet Member would propose a council motion at a future meeting which would encourage more local organisations to train their staff in mental health first aid as it was important to have a good culture within the workforce that supported the mental health and wellbeing of staff. This was a relatively new piece of work will continue to develop and expand.
Councillor H Morgan asked a supplementary question as to whether the progress on the work could be communicated to future meetings of the council and if she could be included in supporting that work where appropriate.
Councillor K Middleton responded that she would be happy to bring progress reports and to work alongside Councillor Morgan.