Councillors and Decision Making

To confirm the minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Council held on 8 May 2014 and the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 29 May 2014.

Members are reminded that they must not participate in the discussion or voting on any matter in which they have a disclosable pecuniary interest and should leave the room prior to commencement of that item.

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.

(I) The Mayor will present the Royal Town Planning Institute certificate, recently awarded to the Borough council. The certificate celebrates and acknowledges the special contribution of Telford to the evolution of the science and art of special planning and all that is involved in the development of communities that thrive. (ii) To note the Mayoral Engagements undertaken since the Council meeting held on 1 May 2014.

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. (i) The following question to Cllr C F Smith, Cabinet Member: Housing Development and Borough Towns has been submitted by Mr V Rainsford: “Have the Council purchased the following sites 504 Donnington Farm, Muxton and site 351, site 88 Wellington Road, Muxton, and if so do you intend to sell them on to the Developers for a profit to allow for the Development of houses adjoining Breton Park as in the Shaping Places Document?”

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 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.

(i) 2013/14 Out-turn and Initial Monitoring for 2014/15 (26 June 2014) Recommended that – (a) the Revenue out-turn position and related virements for 2013/14, shown in Appendix 3 of the report (and subject to audit by the Council’s external auditors); the transfer to reserves detailed in paragraph 5.3 of the report; and the earmarking of the 2013/14 general contingency as a specific draw-down budget available to Adult Social Services in 2014/15 be approved; (b) the Capital out-turn position and related supplementary estimates, virements and re-phasing, shown in Appendix 4 of the report, be approved; (ii) Protecting Jobs in the Borough: Development of a Logistics Hub at MOD Donnington(Subject to Cabinet Approval on 10 July 2014) Recommended –that the investment as outlined in the report and the approval of prudential borrowing of up to £120 million to fund this commercial investment, and all associated changes to the capital programme, be approved.

(i) Audit Committee At its meeting held on 30 June 2014, the Audit Committee made the following recommendation to Council. Treasury Management – 2013/14 Annual Report and 2014/15 to Date Recommended – That the increases in Authorised and Operational limits for 2014/15 to facilitate the Council to potentially undertake very significant capital regeneration investments of a commercial nature, and the other changes to prudential indicators, be approved (ii) Council Constitution Committee At its meeting held on 7 July 2014, the Council Constitution Committee made recommendations to Council on changes to the Contract Procedure Rules and the terms of reference of Health & Wellbeing Board: Updates to the Constitution Recommended – (a) that the changes set out at Appendix 1 of the report relating to the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules (as amended by Council Constitution Committee) be approved with immediate effect (b) that the changes set out at Appendix 2 of the report relating to the Health and Wellbeing Board Terms of Reference (as amended by Council Constitution Committee) be approved with immediate effect

To note the following resolved Minutes: (F1-3) Boundary Review Committee – 3 February, 29 April and 23 June (draft) 2014 (G) Co-operative and Communities Scrutiny Committee – 19March 2014 (H1-3) Planning Committee – 30 April,21 May and 11 June 2014

To answer questions received under Council Procedure Rule 7. N.B. In accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 7.4 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.

(i) Councillor P R Watling will move, in accordance with Council procedure rule 11, the following motion: “This Council Notes with concern the recent DFE consultation on the power to delegate children’s social care functions and believes that, although the proposed regulations would enable local authorities to delegate responsibilities to small and medium sized social enterprises, there is a risk that it would lead to service provision shifting to large organisations with the potential for the pursuit of profit distorting decisions about children’s care. Therefore, this Council believes that these powers should remain with the democratically elected representatives of the people of Telford and Wrekin.” The motion will be seconded by Councillor G C W Reynolds. (ii) Councillor A J Eadewill move, in accordance with Council procedure rule 11, the following motion: “This Council calls on the Cabinet to consider reopening the consultation process for Shaping Places to ensure the fullest possible involvement by our community in the Borough and to facilitate those people who were not aware of the proposals in Shaping Places or discovered them too late to make a considered or detailed response.” The motion will be seconded by Councillor N A Dugmore.