Councillors and Decision Making

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 A R H England, Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care & Older People has been submitted by Carol Scott MBE:

“680 women within the borough have signed the WASPI petition calling on the Government to reconsider transitional arrangements for women born on or after 6th April 1951. Will this Council pledge support to the campaign and write to the Prime Minister on behalf of local women affected by the changes?”

(ii)   The following question to Cllr S Davies, Leader has been submitted by Neil Phillips:

I am concerned that Telford is suffering because Lucy Allan MP and the Council do not appear to be working together for the benefit of Telford residents.  Can the Leader please tell us if there are any signs of an improvement in the relationship between the Council and Lucy Allan?

Cabinet – 16 June 2016

(i)    Service & Financial Planning Report – 2015/16 Outturn and 2016/17 Update

Recommended –
(a)    the Revenue outturn position for 2015/16 and related virements shown in Appendix 3 of the report (and subject to audit by the Council’s external auditors), and the transfers to reserves and associated approval to spend the reserves as detailed in paragraph 5.3 of the report be approved;
(b)    the Capital outturn position and related supplementary estimates and re-phasing shown in Appendix 4 of the report be approved;
(c)    the performance against income targets be noted; and
(d)    the key issues identified for 2016/17 and the Insurance update provided in paragraph 9.2 of the report be noted.

To consider the report of the Assistant Director: Governance, Procurement & Commissioning which seeks approval for changes to the Constitution.

Audit Committee

At its meeting held on 28 June 2016, the Audit Committee made the following recommendation to Council.

Corporate Anti Fraud & Corruption Policy

Recommended – that the updated Corporate Anti Fraud & Corruption Policy be adopted

To note the following resolved and draft minutes:-

Boundary Review Committee – 13 April 2016
Council Constitution Committee – 25 April 2016
Customer, Community & Partnership Scrutiny Committee – 26 April 2016
Health & Wellbeing Board – 9 March 2016
Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 2 March 2016
Licensing Committee – 23 March 2016
Planning Committee – 24 February, 16 March, 6 April, 27 April, 18 May 2016, 8 June 2016
Scrutiny Management Board – 17 March and 4 May 2016

To answer questions received under Council Procedure Rule 7.

NB   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 E J Carter will move, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8, the following Motion:

"I call upon Telford & Wrekin Council to make a commitment to actively work towards producing a parking strategy and a business case, that can lead directly to submitting an application for a Civil Parking Enforcement Order."

Councillor N C Lowery will second the Motion.

(ii)   Councillor S Davies will move, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8, the following Motion:

“The Land Registry has been state owned since its formation in 1862.

The Land Registry registers all land ownership in the UK, it provides a quality fully accountable impartial gold standard service in Land Registration and its system is copied across the World.
 
The Land Registry is no drain on the public purse, it is a trading fund, and has made a profit / surplus for the 19 years out of the last 20, in the last two years returned £246 million to the treasury.

It reduces its fees regularly and has a 96% customer satisfaction; being rated from good to excellent
 
The Land Registry employs around 300 people in Telford and Wrekin, these are well paid and highly skilled jobs.
 
This Council believes the Government plans to sell of the Registry will lead to a worse service for residents, which will cost more and diminish trust in the Registration of Land in this country.  There is a real risk that these 300 jobs, which will be lost to the Borough of Telford and Wrekin, will have a detrimental impact on the workforce & their families and the negative economic impact to the Borough will be significant.

This Councils urgently calls on the Government to abort the sale of the Land Registry and re-affirm that Land Registry jobs will be kept in the Borough of Telford and Wrekin which have been based in the Town for over 30 years.”

Councillor A D McClements will second the Motion.

(iii)   Councillor H Rhodes will move, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8, the following Motion:

 “This Council calls upon the Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner to take all necessary steps to ensure there is a dedicated Police Commander for Telford and Wrekin Council area responsible for community and investigative policing. That Police Commander must be based in Telford and Wrekin within the Divisional Headquarters for the area in order to continue that vital connection between local communities and local partners. We feel that a ‘top down’ & centralist approach will have a negative impact on the strategic delivery of policing across Telford & Wrekin, with less accountability.

Telford and Wrekin is a growing Borough with a variety of challenges and opportunities and losing a dedicated Police Commander that is currently delivering policing that meets local priorities and local needs would be a backward step and have a detrimental impact on Borough residents and businesses.”

Councillor W L Tomlinson will second the Motion.