Update May 2020

Whilst most people are staying at home, safe, council business is still going on in the background as you’d expect.

The leader of Shropshire Council, Peter Nutting, is meeting with MPs every fortnight mostly about   health issues such as PPE and more recently largely about finance or lack of it. He also has a weekly meeting with all the leaders and chief executives of the Midland Shire Councils but we all seem to have the same problems although it appears that Shropshire and Herefordshire have a lower incidence of Covid 19 than some more urban areas.

There have been with Sir John Peace, Chairman of Midlands Engine and with Councillor Mike Bird (no relation), Leader of Walsall Council. These two meetings have mainly centred around protecting the green belt in Shropshire and they are now both supportive of not allowing any housing on the green belt in the county. Robert Jenrick M.P. (Minister of Housing and Local Government) has made it clear that the government are very cautious about releasing green belt land for development. Until a few months ago the Combined Authority had expected Shropshire to take some of their housing numbers by allowing huge housing numbers at Junction 3 but attitudes have changed.

Shropshire Council estimates we will have increased costs or lack of income from the current crisis of at least £22 million and the government have promised around £18 million to help but it is likely there will be a shortfall of at least £4 million.

With regards to the Town Council, legislation has removed the requirement to hold an annual meeting in May and all decisions that would normally be taken at this time can be deferred until May 2021. The annual accounts and reports are currently required to be agreed and submitted to external audit by 31st July 2020.

We may be able to hold a meeting in June (obviously pending guidance from the Government) and that, if we could use a larger venue, we could ensure social distances, hold a face to face public meeting and complete all deferred business in a more objective manner. We do expect that guidance will be forthcoming on this matter. At this time there does not appear to be any issues that require a prompt decision as emergency powers have allowed delegation of routine functions and all larger items are on hold due to the restrictions.

I have been receiving emails over issues in Shifnal all these have reduced over the recent period.  I’m expecting an update within a week on the Shifnal Integrated Transport Scheme (or Town centre improvements). Following discussions, I’m hopeful I will be able to announce some very good news!