As representative for Shifnal South and Deputy Leader of the Shropshire Council Conservative Group, I attended the County Council’s Transformation and Overview Committee. It is my duty to look past the political theatre and report on the cold, hard facts regarding our Council’s finances. The latest reports prepared for the Transformation and Improvement Overview and Scrutiny Committee reveal a financial outlook that is not just worrying—it is catastrophic.
The Accountability Gap: Refused Questions and “Optimism Bias”
At a time when transparency is most needed, it appears the administration is closing ranks. At the most recent meeting, the Chair, Councillor David Minnery, refused to sanction a question regarding exactly who is responsible for the “over-optimistic budget setting” that has led to this emergency.
When a budget fails this spectacularly, it represents a breakdown between the professional advice of officers and consultants.
From “Bare Cupboards” to a £130 Million Hole
For months, we have heard the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Roger Evans, repeat the same tired refrain: like “Old Mother Hubbard,” he claims he went to the cupboard and found it “bare”. But while the administration stays busy rehearsing nursery rhymes, the actual financial health of Shropshire Council has worsened significantly under their watch.
The projected budget gap for 2026/27 has exploded to a staggering £130 million. Far from stabilising the ship, this administration projects that this gap will deteriorate every single year, reaching nearly £195.2 million by 2030/31.
Who is Responsible for Future Savings?
The administration’s “Plan A” for future stability is equally concerning. The reports recommend that Cabinet “work with Officers” to develop a new Financial Sustainability Strategy. This means that the same combination of people responsible for the previous “optimism bias” are now tasked with finding £45 million in annual savings by 2030/31.
The Borrowing Trap
Since the cupboard is supposedly “bare,” the administration is begging the government for Exceptional Financial Support (EFS): £71.4 million for this year and £130 million for next year.
Let’s be clear: EFS is not a grant. It is significant borrowing that creates “additional cost pressures in the form of interest and debt repayment charges”. By relying on this, the administration is effectively taking out a massive credit card to pay the mortgage, saddling future generations with debt while they refuse to answer who got the numbers wrong in the first place.
Critical Inaction
While they claim they have no money, they are finding £3.7 million for “additional staffing capacity” and £15 million for a “transformation investment” fund. Meanwhile, vital infrastructure is being “paused” or reconsidered.
Conclusion
Shropshire deserves better than nursery rhymes and blocked questions. We need a plan for savings that doesn’t just involve more and more borrowing. It is time for this administration to stop blaming the past and start taking responsibility for the future they are currently bankrupting.
Edward Bird - Councillor for Shifnal South and Cosford 