October Update

Motion at Shropshire Council again withdrawal of Winter Fuel Payments

Like many of the electorate, the Shropshire Conservative Group were shocked by the recent announcement by the new Labour Government to stop payments to pensioners of the Winter Fuel Payments unless they are on Pension Tax Credits.

In Shropshire we have 82,000 people over 65 representing 25.3% of the population against the England National average of 20.7% of people over 65.

 With the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Payment Shropshire will be adversely affected more than most counties across the country due to our demographics and higher percentage of pensioners . It is compounded in a very rural county with many communities not on the National Gas Grid resulting in alternative fuels for heating at greater cost. We already have many pensioners in Fuel Poverty and the result of this withdrawal will result with many more. The outcome of this will then create further pressures on the local NHS and Social Care compounding the problem making the Governments decision a false economy and push many pensioners into an additional cost of living crisis.

We therefore instruct the Leader to write to Rachel Reeves MP  Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer to request she:

1.Reverse her decision on the removal of the Winter Fuel Allowance

2.If the Chancellor is not minded to reverse the decision we ask that the income level at which Pension Tax Credit can be obtained should be increased significantly to protect those less well off in our Rural Community, specifically those just about managing.

3. We note The Household Support Grant has been extended until April 2025. This now needs to be substantially increased to take into account the pensioners who will now be apply for the scheme which is already over subscribed dealing with the poverty across all demographics in Shropshire.

4.Change the system within DWP so that when applicants apply  and qualify for benefits they are automatically flagged for Council Tax relief with their Local Authority .

Relocation of Council Offices

As outlined at Cabinet on 17th July 2024, the Council is now moving towards its strategic operating model, which reflects the transformation required to become the organisation it needs to be in terms of its financial sustainability and future key priorities. This recognises that our staff are our most important asset and it often
overlooks the role property plays in enabling a healthy organisation and ensuring financial sustainability. The health, safety and wellbeing of the staff is paramount. The move from the Shirehall into a smaller town centre premises, more quickly, will support the Medium Term Financial Strategy and will also assist the acceleration of
several of the essential elements of remote flexible working and the implementation of our Digital Workforce, Asset Management and Carbon Reduction plans. By investing in further technology, training and support for staff and customers, there is huge potential to reduce our reliance on office space, giving us the opportunity to
share buildings with partners to improve service delivery as well as make financial and operational efficiencies.

The Council has the opportunity to make use of a former administrative base that is becoming vacant, following the recent tenure, of the University of Chester (University
Centre Shrewsbury) coming to an end. The Council owns the freehold of the former Guildhall site and is now bringing forward plans to take back the existing building and convert it into a modern fit for purpose administrative venue. These plans will take
into account the consultation, research and best practice to create modern and efficient spaces to support its administrative, back office and service based requirements. To support the proposed move to the Guildhall, the Council’s accommodation strategy is transforming to support a hub and spoke based approach across Shropshire.

Work is also underway to develop community and family hubs in key market towns around the county. A mixed method approach (working with available and appropriate assets) will support staff to work at these front facing hubs, or at hub locations specifically for staff to coalesce with colleagues from across directorates
and partners. This will provide additional provision for staff alongside the core administrative hub and spoke offer. The community and family hubs will provide a customer focus including our prevention and service provision offer; and in some of our small market towns these may combine with our administration function.

The Council’s MTFS assumes revenue savings from vacating the Shirehall by 31st March 2025 of £0.325m for the financial year 2024-25 and a further £1.300m for the financial year 2025-26. These savings are unachievable with an updated assessment of
savings set out below:-

Homelessness Review and Strategy

The Homelessness Act 2002 requires every local authority to carry out a review of homelessness every five years, to develop and publish a homelessness and rough sleeping strategy based on this review, and to consult with other local statutory and
voluntary organisations. Tackling homelessness and rough sleeping is a key priority for Shropshire Council and its partner organisations.

Here are a few stats outlining the size and scale of the issue in Shropshire:

Following this review, the Council will produce and publish a homelessness and rough sleeping strategy. This will ensure a strategic approach to tackling homelessness and
rough sleeping across Shropshire, ensuring that local solutions can be developed to meet the needs of its community. Shropshire’s Homelessness Forum will be fundamental to the development of this strategy, and the implementation and monitoring of the targets agreed within the action plan.