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:
Before making specific announcements, the Leader began by wishing each and every one present in the chamber tonight, a slightly belated but very sincere Happy New Year.
(i) Malcolm Smith BEM
The Leader said that the Council had opened this evening and this year on a sombre note by lowering the Council flag to half-mast in memory of former Councillor and Alderman Malcolm Smith, a tremendous public servant. Malcolm had dedicated almost five decades of his life to the people of Telford and Wrekin, a community that he loved and served with great distinction. From even before his first election in 1970, Malcolm lived and breathed public service and left a legacy which ran deep in the borough. From an instrumental role in the regeneration of Hadley, by securing an investment to build a vibrant new centre, to a passion for local green spaces that included ensuring Telford Town Park became the first Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Field in the West Midlands, Malcolm left an indelible mark. As the Council reflected on Malcolm's life, the Leader was reminded of the quote, “one person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” Malcolm embodied that truth and the Leader believed public service at its best still did.
(ii) New Year’s Honours’
The Leader said this year's New Year's Honours List reminded everyone of the extraordinary contributions made by others across the borough also. He was proud to congratulate the following local recipients of MBE's and BEM's.
Traci Dix-Williams of Mayley for her work in Heritage.
Beverley Morris for outstanding public service through the Department for Work and Pensions.
Sally Crawford Angell-James for her commitment to the defibrillator provision.
Katie Foster of Newport for her tireless charitable and heritage work.
Scott Saunders of Telford for his service to the community.
These individuals represented the very best of Telford and Wrekin with compassion, commitment and an unwavering dedication to others. And already in 2026 public service in action had been seen on an impressive scale.
(iii) Storm Goretti
The Leader said that Storm Goretti had brought heavy snow and
freezing conditions earlier this month. Once again, residents witnessed what made the borough special. Council staff, emergency partners and residents working side by side, gritters clearing major routes, snow champions helping neighbours and volunteers across local communities doing what they always did, stepping up. Their response was yet another demonstration of the spirit that helped the local authority earn it the title of Council of the Year.
No matter what noise swirled around nationally or internationally in politics, in Telford, every week, it got on with a job quietly, determinedly and with a shared sense of purpose. It was noted by other authorities that Telford and Wrekin worked well, acted responsibly and put residents first.
(iv) Looking Ahead (Government Funding and Pride in Place etc.) and Budget-Setting next month
The Leader reported on the recent national local government funding settlement that finally invested properly in local government. From the multi-million-pound Pride in Place programme that would transform the south of Telford over the coming decade, to securing the future of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums by the National Trust. 2026 was already shaping up to be a year everyone could celebrate. Next month, the Council would meet again to set the budget, which would include significant investment in areas that mattered most to the borough’s residents, such as jobs and skills, transport and roads, homes, schools and other essential services that the Council had fought to protect.
The Leader acknowledged that national pressures around adult social care continued to present significant challenges for all local authorities and outlined the Council’s plans to prioritise support for vulnerable residents within the forthcoming budget proposals, stating that the Council was and always would be on the side of its residents. He thanked the MP for Telford who stood up and fought for Telford and Wrekin at every opportunity in Parliament.
He concluded by encouraging collective efforts and community involvement throughout the coming year.