Councillors and Decision Making

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.

Announcement

The Leader will present Telford Street Pastors with an Excellence in the Community award in recognition of their invaluable work within the Borough. Telford Street Pastors began working in the night time economy of Telford on 1 July 2011. Since then, working closely with their partners in the Borough of Telford and Wrekin and West Mercia Police, uniformed Street Pastors have made a significant contribution to reducing night time crime and anti- social behaviour in the areas of the Borough where they have worked.

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.

1. Question for Councillor Kuldip Sahota, Leader of the Council, from Thomas Hoof.

"Has the Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, or any member of his cabinet attended any meetings relating to Combined Authorities, more specifically any meeting relating to the West Midlands Combined Authority or West Midlands "Super Council" and if so who?"

2. Question for Councillor Kuldip Sahota, Leader of the Council, from Lucy Allan, Member of Parliament for Telford.

“Does the Leader agree that a collaborative approach to working with Telford's MP, is in the best interests of Telford. Further, will he commit to leading his cabinet members by example to ensure collaborative working in practice?”

3. Question for Councillor Liz Clare, Cabinet Member: Leisure Services & Culture from Fiona Hunter, Director, Clifton Community Arts Centre Ltd

“Does the Council support and endorse the creation of a significant Arts-based complex within the borough to provide a community-run facility for all sections of the population and to provide a wider range of programming, involvement, training and educational facilities than currently exists?”

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.

Cabinet – 23 July 2015

(i) Financial Management 2015/16

Recommended - that the changes to the Capital Programme shown in section 1 of the report be approved.

(ii) Youth Justice Plan 2015/16

Recommended - that the Youth Justice Plan 2015/16 be approved.

To note the following resolved Minutes:

Audit Committee – 30 June

Health & Wellbeing Board – 10 June

Licensing Committee – 9 June

Planning Committee – 24 June, 15 July, 5 & 25 August

Standards Committee – 7 July

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 Andrew Eade will move, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11 the following Motion.

“This Council notes with concern the Labour Administration’s refusal to adopt the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in February 2012 which has prevented the Authority from raising money from Developers to pay for secondary school provision across the Borough over a number of years.

The adoption of the CIL will also: -

• deliver additional funding for T&W to carry out a wide range of infrastructure projects that support growth and benefit the local community.
• give the local community flexibility and freedom to set their own priorities for what the money should be spent on.
• ensure greater transparency for local people who will be able to understand how new development is contributing to their community
• enable local authorities to allocate a share of the levy raised in a neighbourhood to deliver infrastructure the neighbourhood wants.

Consequently this Council resolves to instruct that a report on adoption of the CIL is presented to Cabinet as a matter of urgency.”

Councillor Stephen Bentley will second the motion.

(ii) Councillor Angela McClements will move, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11 the following Motion.

“Since the Government announcement that they will support 20,000 Syrian refugees, this Council, together with other councils across the country, have responded by saying we wish to play our part by offering support for refugees fleeing the Syrian war zone.

However, we note with concern that the Government will only currently fund councils for the first year and expect those councils to fund a further 4 years.  We therefore welcome the Local Government Association’s (LGA) stance on lobbying Government on behalf of all councils, in asking Government to recognise the long-term impact of resettling Syrian refugees in communities and urging them to make a firm commitment to make long term funding available to councils.  We feel that it is not right or fair to local council tax payers that this Council should be expected to pick up the tab.

This Council therefore calls upon the Government to fully fund Councils like Telford and Wrekin who wish to help and respond to this humanitarian crisis.”

Councillor Rob Sloan will second the motion.