Parish and Town Council Meetings

This week, I attended the Donington with Boscobel Parish Council meeting and Shifnal Town Council meeting.

Discussions at Donington with Boscobel included the regular issue of shared costs between themselves and Albrighton, the provision of burial spaces and the Donington Church Centre Car Park and Rights of Way.

There was a presentation from Bob Watson on the great work of the volunteers of the Donington and Albrighton Local Nature Reserve http://www.dalnr.org/index.html

The Nature Reserve enjoys a good working relationship with the Parish Council.

If you have not visited before, to get to it, there is easy access from either the A41 Newport Road or the A41 Albrighton by-pass. (see location map for further details). Please only park in the designated car park which is clearly sign- posted at Donington Church. There is no charge for parking and from here it is only a short walk to the Nature Reserve.

I received a question from Shifnal Town Councillor Day about obtaining a revised timetable for the local plan review. The Interim Planning Policy and Strategy Manager, Eddie West, responded that the timetable is still under review but that Shropshire County Council are taking an updated position to Cabinet on 8th March. However he did speculate that they will be seeking to submit the Plan in July 2021 (although the current version indicates April), the caveat being that it had not been agreed by cabinet yet.

Concerns were raised at Shifnal Town Council regarding the growing budget and how it was scrutinized. It was recommended that the Internal Audit committee provide scrutiny prior to a full council meeting and provide recommendations. Shifnal holds substantial funds in its Business Accounts and it’s important that we use this more carefully for residents.

Following news reports regarding a new doctor’s surgery, to replace the Shifnal and Priorslee Medical Practice in Shrewsbury Road https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/health/2021/02/17/health-bosses-hope-work-will-start-on-new-gp-surgery-later-this-year/ the Town Council made a commitment to ensure that after previous delays and missed opportunities that residents get this important development in the Town.

We also welcomed two new councillors, Fern Potter and Ellen Moore to the Council and I’m sure they will make valuable contributions to Council business.

Finally I had a good, open discussion with Steve Brown, Head of Transport and the Environment at Shropshire Council regarding the Shifnal Integrated Transport Scheme. A meeting on SITS had taken place this week and it was agreed that the scheme would still be going ahead but that some modifications would be made. The Council has listened to feedback from residents and ensured that convenient Town Centre parking outside of shops will be retained in the plans. This is a massive investment for Shifnal and will improve the Town Centre tremendously.

I questioned Steve Brown about the budget and costs incurred to date and he has assured me that all work undertaken, and the project rates went out to tender, and that the work undertaken by WSP is completed at those rates. The costs currently quoted in the budget includes money not yet paid for inspection, for example, which will be done when construction work has finished. The project will shortly go out to tender and more information on costs will be made available at that point.