Shropshire

Shropshire Council has launched a public consultation to look at ways to develop a ‘fairer’ cost for residential and nursing beds and we want to hear your views.

We would like to invite you to a meeting to a discuss and explore the consultation and the proposals in more detail to give you an opportunity to share your views and any issues or concerns.

The meeting is scheduled for:

Date:   Wednesday 27 March 2019 

Time:   9am until 11am 

Venue: The Lantern, Meadow Farm Drive, Shrewsbury SY1 4NG

Please could you confirm your attendance to Jayne Smallman-Brooks (jayne.smallman-brooks@shropshire.gov.uk) – 01743 258916

The consultation document details what the Council spends on nursing and residential care and outlines proposals to consult with providers.

Shropshire Council has launched a public consultation to look at ways to develop a ‘fairer’ cost for residential and nursing beds.

The consultation which starts this week (Monday 18th March) will run for 6 weeks until 26th April 2019 and is open to any interested parties across the county including resident, practitioners and voluntary organisations.

Shropshire Council currently spends just over £50 million per year on Nursing and Residential Care in total. The expenditure in 2017-18 excluding Adult Learning Disabilities (ALD) and Mental Health (MH) was £33.3m (Nursing care £17.7m, Residential Care £15.6m).

The current arrangements for commissioning of residential and nursing beds are being reviewed to ensure that the council can meet the evolving needs of the county’s population.  This is during a time of significant change in the way that public services are funded, commissioned and delivered.

The scale of pressures for the county, including an ageing population and reduced funding from central government means that the local authority needs to do things differently to make a permanent improvement for our residents and communities.

Shropshire Council have published and increased rates for residential and nursing beds annually, with a 2% increase in 17-18 and a 2.5% increase for 18-19. However, analysis of expenditure during 17-18 indicates that there is a wide variance in rates paid on a case by case basis.   It is recognised that the level of the rates the council currently offers have not been fundamentally reviewed for some years and consequently do not reflect current market pressures.

Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care, health and social housing, said:-

“With continuous financial pressures and growing demands in adult social care, we must have effective commissioning arrangements to help moderate  escalation of cost and to create sustainable market conditions.

“The focus of these proposals is to achieve a balance between managing expenditure and meeting demand whilst creating sustainability for the providers, choice for the individuals in the market place and maintaining standard of care.

“We understand that any transition to a revised pricing structure requires further exploration to understand the impact of any proposals.  The consultation period gives providers and their representatives the opportunity to review, comment upon and plan for any changes.

“Feedback on this consultation will help us provide transparency and equity to our support our review and will ensure we can continue to provide a vibrant and resilient market place.”

To have your say you can get involved in the following ways:

Link:                http://shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/review-of-rates-for-commissioning-of-residential-and-nursing-beds/

Online:             https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/

Email:              tellus@Shropshire.gov.uk

Telephone:      01743 258422

Postal:             A paper copy of the survey included in the consultation document at Appendix 1

and you can post to:

FREEPOST RSXA-YGES-CXCE

Tell Us

Shropshire Council

Shirehall

Abbey Foregate

Shrewsbury

Shropshire

SY2 6BR

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News from our partners Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH)

A team of clinicians from The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) will be travelling to India and Dubai this week in a bid to recruit up to 20 new A&E doctors. 

The group of four medical staff will be interviewing candidates during the six-day trip for positions within the Emergency Departments at the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH).

It is hoped that they will be able to recruit substantive middle grade doctors and consultants to help fill the vacancies within the EDs.

SaTH is working with a specialist recruitment company which has helped other Trusts in the UK secure clinical staff from overseas, and it will be the first time that the Trust has sent staff to Dubai and India to interview and recruit staff.

Dr Jenni Rowlands, Director of Postgraduate Education at SaTH, is part of the team travelling to Dubai and India. She said:

“This is the first time that we have been overseas to recruit like this. We are hoping that the trip will be a successful one for the Trust, and that we will be able to make job offers whilst we are there.”

Simon Wright, Chief Executive at SaTH, said:

“This is a really exciting opportunity for us to be able to recruit the staff that we need to what is still a very fragile service.

“Whilst we managed to recruit enough middle grade doctors to keep the A&E at PRH open 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week at the end last year, they were a mixture of locum and agency staff. We are still considerably short of the substantive staff that we need to support our current teams.

“We have not stopped working behind-the-scenes to recruit to our EDs and we are leaving no stone unturned. We are hoping that this trip to India and Dubai will give us a real chance of securing staff into those substantive roles.

“With the reconfiguration of our hospitals now a reality, as well as all the efforts that are ongoing to make Trust an attractive place to work, we hope that this will further help our ability to recruit the ED doctors that we need to work in our Trust for the benefit of our patients.”

The Trust’s EDs currently have seven substantive consultants, two locum consultants with another due to join next month; and 14 substantive middle grade doctors and 10 locum middle grade doctors.

Another team from SaTH is also heading to Dublin at the end of the month to recruit qualified nurses to work in a number of departments across the Trust.

As well as the overseas recruitment drive, the Trust is working on a number of initiatives to improve its offer to emergency medicine doctors including The Clinical Fellowship Programme and the CESR CESR (Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration) scheme, which are being developed jointly with Wolverhampton University.

Work has also begun on creating a new doctors’ mess within the PRH and six houses to accommodate junior doctors are being refurbished thanks to a DIY SOS-style appeal led by Telford & Wrekin Council.

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News from our partners Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH)

The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) has taken delivery of new patient monitors – thanks to the fantastic fundraising efforts of the League of Friends of RSH.

More than £6,000 has been donated to the RSH by members of the Berrington and Whitchurch branches of the League of Friends to buy three new monitors.

Patient monitors

Nigel Watkinson, Medical Engineering Services Manager at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust which runs the RSH, said:

“Monitors purchased for the hospital by the Berrington and Whitchurch branches of the League of Friends of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital allow the hospital’s frontline nursing staff to carry out swift, reliable and accurate measurement of patient vital signs.

“These high quality monitors have boosted the hospital’s fleet. They also have the facility to monitor ECG, so nurses can do this critical measurement from the one device without searching for additional devices.

“Nursing staff have welcomed these additional devices and describe them as helping with early identification and management of patient condition. The monitors have also helped the standardisation of equipment, replacing out of date and limited function machines, which is a huge benefit to ward staff with familiarity of equipment.

“We are incredibly grateful to the League of Friends for their very kind donation.”

The Medical Engineering Services department at the Trust has just been certified for achieving an internationally agreed standard that sets out the requirements for a quality management system specific to medical devices. It gives assurances to hospital colleagues and patients of the team’s commitment to quality and continual improvement.

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The following decisions were made by Shropshire Council’s Central planning committee at its meeting at Shirehall, Shrewsbury on Thursday 14 March 2019.

Proposed crematorium north of Nesscliffe, Shrewsbury (18/04965/FUL) Erection of a new crematorium with associated access, car parking and landscaping.

Decision

That consideration of the application be deferred to a future meeting of this committee to allow the opportunity for a more independent need assessment and an additional noise assessment.

Proposed residential development land adjacent to Crosshills, Nesscliffe, Shrewsbury (18/05893/VAR) Variation of Condition No. 2 attached to planning permission 17/00282/FUL dated 27 June 2017 – alterations/amendments to plot 2 and 3 house types.

Decision

That planning permission be granted as per the officer’s recommendation subject to the conditions as set out in Appendix 1.

Hill Cottage, Top Road, Pontesbury, Shrewsbury (18/05095/FUL) Erection of replacement dwelling and detached garage; formation of vehicular access.

Decision

That planning permission be refused as per the officer’s recommendation.

Crowmoor House, Frith Close, Shrewsbury (18/05560/COU) Change of use from C2 Residential Institutions to House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) to provide up to 10 units (sui generis use).

Decision

That planning permission be granted as per the officer’s recommendation subject to the conditions as set out in Appendix 1.

The Red Barn, 108 Longden Road, Shrewsbury (19/00070/FUL) Creation of three additional parking spaces.

Decision

That planning permission be granted as per the officer’s recommendation subject to the conditions as set out in Appendix 1.

Mulberry House, Acton Burnell, Shrewsbury (19/00097/VAR) Variation of Condition No.2 (approved plans) attached to planning permission 14/01477/FUL dated 18/06/2015.

Decision

That planning permission be granted as per the officer’s recommendation subject to the conditions as set out in Appendix 1.

For further information relating to the decisions go to our online planning register and search for the application by using the reference number or keyword.

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Shrewsbury has scooped top spot for food hygiene ratings in the West Midlands, according to a new report released this month (March 2019).

The Food Hygiene Ratings report published by elearning provider High Speed Training analyses data from 250,000 food businesses across the UK, to investigate how regions, towns and cities compare nationally. Shropshire Council’s regulatory services inspect food premises and issue the Food Hygiene Ratings used in the report.

Shrewsbury attained the highest rating in the West Midlands, with an average of 4.66 out of 5, and was the only West Midlands town to be placed in the top 10.

Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for communities, place planning and regulatory services, said:-

“I am absolutely delighted with the results from this report. This demonstrates the hard work and commitment of the team who work with businesses to ensure that they meet the requirements of food hygiene law so that food is safe to eat for our customers. It’s now great to see that Shrewsbury is one of the safest places to eat in the West Midlands.

“We are very proud of our food industry in Shropshire and our ethos of producing and serving a fantastic variety of home-grown produce. We can also boast that we have some of the best restaurants outside London.

“I would therefore like to thank all those people that work hard in our food industry across the county in helping to shape Shropshire as a special place in the food world, well done!”

Seb Slater, executive director of Shrewsbury BID (Business Improvement District), which represents businesses and delivers innovative projects to support and enhance the town centre, added:-

“This is great news for Shrewsbury and is testament to the high quality of food establishments operating in the town.

“One of Shrewsbury’s greatest strengths is the huge variety of places to eat and drink within the town centre, and this news confirms that Shrewsbury is one of the finest towns in the region for dining out.”

High Speed Training took an in-depth look at the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme and aggregated Food Standards Agency data to provide an overall picture of the nation, complete with an interactive map and league tables. You can view the table here: https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/food-hygiene-ratings-report-2019/

Tim Clode, public protection officer, presenting a Food Hygiene Rating certificate.

To find out more about how food safety in Shropshire visit https://shropshire.gov.uk/environmental-health/food-safety/ or view our video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuidWKEgZjk&feature=youtu.be

Find out about where to eat in Shrewsbury by visiting https://ratings.food.gov.uk/ or www.originalshrewsbury.co.uk

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A special celebratory event was held this week (Wednesday 20 March 2019) at Shrewsbury Town FC’s stadium to mark the achievements of young people with disabilities completing their supported internships.

Celebrating their supported internships: some of the young people who attended

The event, organised by Shropshire Council’s SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) team and Enable Employment Services, was attended by over 170 people.

Attendees included young people who have completed, or are currently on, a supported internship, Shropshire employers who have offered placements and employment to the young people, social care practitioners, IASS workers, Shrewsbury Colleges Group, Hereford and Ludlow College, as well as their parents and carers who came along to share in the celebrations.

There was also a dance performance from Derwen College students (Derwen on tour).

“Thank you for supporting me and always believing me – and thank you for trying to think of other jobs for me to do” Georgie

“I was really impressed by all the young people who stood up and gave their views on their internship.  It is wonderful how much help you give these sometimes forgotten youngsters and the progression they have made into adulthood. Enable is truly a wonderful organisation.”  (mother of supported intern)

Supported internships are for young people aged 16-24 with learning difficulties or learning disabilities, who want to get a job and need extra support to do this.

Alongside their time with the employer, young people complete a personalised study programme which includes the chance to study for relevant qualifications required by the employer, which includes English and Maths.

During the conference employers and interns described their experiences of taking part in the programme. The event also provided attendees an opportunity to share good practice around how to achieve an inclusive workforce as well as highlighting the benefits of employing a young person with a disability.

 “It was a great day and it was inspiring to see the journey the young people had made in a supported environment.  I felt it was a real success – and hopefully will encourage other employers to give a young person a chance.” Shropshire employer

James Mitchell, a supported intern and member of the Enable focus group* spoke to attendees about his employment journey and how he is now starting an apprenticeship with his employer.

James Mitchell

James said:-

“With Enable and supported internships, you get out what you put in. Doing a supported internship has made me come out of my shell a lot. I like the world of work!”

The celebration event marked the end of an 18-month employment project SEND and Enable have been working on to increase employment opportunities for young people with disabilities.

Councillor Lee Chapman with some of the supported interns

Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care, health and social housing, added:-

“Shropshire’s supported internship event was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements of young people and the employers who generously give their time and support to develop our learners’ independence skills in the workplace.

“Their success is also a testament to our SEND and Enable teams who over the past 18 months, have worked in partnership with young people to ensure the success of the supported internship programme.

“It was a humbling experience seeing their hopes and aspirations turn into reality and seeing their proud parents and carers, who I know constantly strive for the best for their children.

“This event served as yet another reminder of why we do what we do – the effect the programme has on each learner and their families is extraordinary, we are so proud of all involved.”

For further information about supported internships and inclusive apprenticeships please contact Tracey Newell at Enable tracey.newell@shropshire.gov.uk or call 01743 276900

Further information

Enable were commissioned by the SEND team to raise awareness of supported internships and to increase the number of employers involved in the programme. Supported internships are a structured study programme based primarily with an employer with the aim of getting a paid job.

They enable young people aged 16-24 with a disability who have an Education, Health and Care Plan to gain employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work, through learning in the workplace.

*Enable established a focus group made up of young people with disabilities who have met regularly over the last 18 months and contributed substantially to the success of the project.  The group have delivered presentations to senior managers at Shropshire Council and have been instrumental in helping the council provide inclusive apprenticeship opportunities as a progression route after a supported internship.

The focus group have been involved in preparing for the celebration event and all of them were involved on the day.

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Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership and Shropshire Hills Tourism and are jointly hosting their annual tourism conference and leaflet swap on Wednesday 3 April 2019 at Ludlow Racecourse.

The day’s programme starts with a morning leaflet swap and Expo. The morning will include talks about the proposed Tourism Ambassadors Scheme and new destination branding.  Gemma Davies, Head of Economic Development at Shropshire Council will talk about the importance of tourism in Shropshire.

The Shropshire Hills Late Autumn by Jordan Mansfield, www.shropshireprints.co.uk

Over thirty attractions and other businesses from across the Shropshire Hills will be there promoting their services. Last year’s event attracted over 80 local tourism business owners to pick up leaflets and network.  This year, over 100 bookings have already been taken, with two weeks left until the event which is free to attend. For booking details email shropshirehillsaonb@shropshire.gov.uk.

Cyclists on The Portway on The Long Mynd by Simon Whaley

The event will also launch The Great Shropshire Hills Cream Tea Trail and awards to encourage visitors to explore the area sampling its best cream teas. Visitors will vote for their favourite and the winner will be awarded at the Ludlow Food Festival. Bite-sized cream tea tasters will be served at the Expo by Ludlow Farmshop who are sponsoring the trail.

The afternoon conference will be opened by Cllr Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for culture and leisure.

The key note speaker will be Carol Ritchie, Chief Executive of the Europarc Federation, who will be congratulating the Shropshire Hills for their recent Sustainable Tourism Award. Carol will talk about the value of being a member of an international network of destinations, renowned for their outstanding landscapes and important heritage. Invited speakers also include Shane Harris from North Pennines AONB and Tish Dockerty from Local to Ludlow.

Cllr Lezley Picton said:

“This annual event gets bigger and better every year. It shows that the benefits of working together locally. It also celebrates how we are part of an international network of special places all working towards greener, more responsible tourism.

“I’m looking forward to the event and to exploring the Shropshire Hills in search of the finest cream teas!”

Paul Davis, Chair of Shropshire Hills Tourism, said:

“This is the biggest tourism event in the area, with people coming from Herefordshire, Powys and Worcestershire to join us. It’s an efficient way to make sure every business can pick up leaflets and find out what’s going on in tourism. It is also a great opportunity to develop partnerships and promote new things, like the Cream Tea Trail.”

Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership and Shropshire Hills Tourism are working together as part of the Shropshire Hills Destination Partnership to promote green tourism in the Shropshire Hills.

Notes to editors

For more information about the event and Cream Tea Trail contact Nigel McDonald, Sustainable Tourism Officer for Shropshire Hills AONB (nigel.mcdonald@shropshire.gov.uk  01743 254744).

For more information about the leaflet swap and Expo contact Paul Davis, Chair of Shropshire Hills Tourism (pauldavis@gmail.com)

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Map showing the proposed route of the Shrewsbury north west relief road

Key people and organisations from across Shropshire and the West Midlands have welcomed today’s news that Shropshire Council has been awarded £54m by the Department for Transport towards the construction of the Shrewsbury north west relief road.

Shropshire Council’s response can be seen here.

Daniel Kawczynski MP

“The construction of the North West Relief Road in Shrewsbury has been a long standing campaign for me ever since became a Member of Parliament. I therefore made securing the funding for the North West Relief Road one of my key election pledges and have spent considerable time at Westminster campaigning on this issue, speaking in informal parliamentary debates, submitting Parliamentary questions and having meetings with Ministers and officials.   I am delighted that funding has been granted by the Government.

“Not only will the road unlock large amounts of economic growth for the county bringing with it jobs, it will also improve congestion both in small villages and the Town Centre. Many people in rural villages are understandably unhappy that their village roads are being used as a rat run because of a lack of a North West Relief Road.

“The new road, once built, will significantly reduce journey times by around two thirds. It will also lead to a reduction in air pollution as cars don’t need to sit in traffic and will be less inclined to use the town centre route. Carbon dioxide emissions will also see a reduction.

“We are all very proud of Shrewsbury and how the town is developing but clearly this has to be in a sustainable way. This new road will not only help Shrewsbury to cope with its growth, but provide a sustainable footing for the future.”

Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)

Graham Wynn, chairman of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, said:

“This scheme is a crucial part of strategic plans for the region’s economic development being drawn up by the LEP and its partners.

“Improved infrastructure and communications are vital if we are to realise our ambitions to grow the region’s economy to £23.8billion by 2038 and create 58,700 new jobs. This scheme, for which we secured the funding to develop the master plan, will help us create a transport network which is fit for purpose for years to come and which drives that growth.”

West Midlands Combined Authority

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:

“I’m delighted that the Government are investing heavily in Shropshire’s transport links. Combined with the improvements to the train services we will see in May, these investments will continue to drive the economic performance of Shrewsbury, Shropshire and the wider West Midlands.

“Today’s confirmation of the North West Relief Road is great news for the Shropshire economy. It will enable essential development to occur and reduce transport barriers, it will open up new locations for housing development for families and at the same time enable essential commercial space to be developed. The impact is beyond a road as this will encourage inward investment into the County. The aim now must be to encourage and secure new employers into the County bringing higher skilled jobs and opportunities so the full potential is realised.”

Midlands Connect

Maria Machancoses, Director of Midlands Connect, said:

“Shropshire has earned this timely announcement. In total it’s been almost half a century to get the North West Relief Road from local idea to central government investment. Today’s commitment will help future-proof the local road network for the next half century.

“Midlands Connect congratulates the leadership of Shropshire Council, the Marches LEP and local representatives in parliament for their tireless work in bringing these plans to fruition. I look forward to continuing working with them over the coming months and years to make our region’s roads and railways fit for the 21st century and beyond.

“Today’s announcement is a vote of confidence in the economic potential of Shrewsbury, Shropshire and our region. I’m sure it is the first of many major investments we’ll welcome and celebrate as the Midlands speaks with one voice to earn the backing our potential deserves.”

Shropshire Business Board

Paul Bennett, chair of Shropshire Business Board, said:

“The Shropshire Business Board are focused on inward investment, protecting jobs, creating career opportunities locally and using technology to help the business community thrive. This is a significant boost to those aims. Shropshire Council are to be congratulated on successfully securing the funding for this announcement from central government at a challenging time. We must now focus on realising that huge potential and I know Shropshire Council will want to work with the Shropshire Business Board to ensure this happens.

“We very much welcome news of this multi-million pound investment into Shrewsbury’s infrastructure, which will have long-lasting benefits to the local economy.”

Shrewsbury BID

Seb Slater, executive director of Shrewsbury BID, said:

“There are ambitious plans for improving Shrewsbury, as outlined in the Big Town Plan, and one of the priorities is to make movement in and around the town centre better for everyone.

“This includes better pedestrian and cycle routes, and reducing through traffic in the town centre.

“The North West Relief Road will be a big step towards that vision, as it will allow greater traffic flow around Shrewsbury and lessen the need for people to drive through the centre.

“That would then unlock the exciting opportunity of making the riverside and West End of Shrewsbury much more enticing to visitors.

“There will also be a wider benefit of encouraging more inward investment into Shrewsbury as a whole, creating jobs and growing the economy, which will of course have a positive impact on our town centre members.”

University Centre Shrewsbury

Anna Sutton, Provost, University Centre Shrewsbury, said:

“University Centre Shrewsbury welcomes today’s announcement and we offer our congratulations to all those who have worked so hard to bring this about. Not only will the North West Relief Road (NWRR) provide much needed relief from traffic and pollution within our historic town, it will also facilitate business and housing growth.  We are particularly pleased with the great attention the Council has taken to insure that the road is environmentally-sensitive and we look forward to working with our colleagues in Shropshire Council on this critical aspect of the NWRR.”

Shropshire Chamber of Commerce

Richard Sheehan, Chief Executive of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, said:

“The north west relief road will significantly improve the travelling time between the business parks, especially for young employees in their quest for work in the town, increasing use of public transport which in turn will ultimately reduce the congestion throughout Shrewsbury centre.

“All will help to develop the infrastructure in the town, making it a more attractive offer for inward investment, providing economic growth and bolstering the already thriving business community of the town.”

Albrighton Estate and Farms

Joyce Jagger, said:

On behalf of Albrighton Estate and Farms, I welcome the news of funding for the relief road. The increase in traffic has made it a necessity.”

The post Warm welcome across the region for north west relief road funding award appeared first on Shropshire Council Newsroom.

Map showing the proposed route of the Shrewsbury north west relief road

Shropshire Council has welcomed today’s announcement by the Department for Transport (DfT) that they are to invest £54m in the construction of the Shrewsbury north west relief road.

(To see the response from key people and organisations from across the West Midlands, click here).

Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said:

“Today’s announcement is brilliant news and means that our thorough and detailed business case for a Shrewsbury north west relief road has been recognised and supported by the government. I’m also delighted that the lobbying of government by a large number of people over a long period has been successful. Today’s announcement really is the culmination of many years’ hard work by a great number of people and it’s been a real team  effort between council officers, councillors, MPs, our engineering consultants and many more.

“The NWRR will benefit not just Shrewsbury but the whole of Shropshire and, though there is some way to go before the road is built and in use, securing this funding from the government is a huge step towards making this much-needed road a reality.

“As we outlined in our business case, it will provide a new, high standard, direct route between the north and west of Shrewsbury, offering big time savings for road users. Traffic will therefore transfer from the existing routes, reducing congestion and making them more efficient. These benefits will be felt over a wide area, including the outer bypasses and rural lanes, as well as the roads leading into and through the town centre.

“The NWRR will also help to reduce accidents and carbon emissions, and will improve air quality in areas where people shop, work and live. It will give Shrewsbury a more efficient and resilient road network and support the county’s continued growth and economic development.”

Further information

The cost of constructing the NWRR is estimated to be £71m. The government have committed to contributing £54m and Shropshire Council will provide the balance of the cost, estimated at £17m , and responsibility for any cost increases.

The road is scheduled to be completed within five years. Before then, there will be a refresh of the evidence base and a full planning application will be submitted by Shropshire Council, at which time further detailed information will be available to the public on the proposals, and the opportunity for the public and stakeholders to comment further.

The below video is a ‘fly through’ of the proposed north west relief road.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=9is6Pj9bfUs

More information on the NWRR proposals can be found on the Shropshire Council website – click here.

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Artists, community and voluntary art organisations and anyone interested in the arts are invited to attend an Arts Network Event on Thursday 4 April 2019 at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery from 7pm to 9pm.

The event is FREE to attend and provides an opportunity to network, exchange ideas, information and learn new skills.

The first Arts Cafe event will be held at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery

The event will feature a talk by Ellesmere Sculpture Initiative about ‘Children Displaced by Conflict: The Heritage of Eglantyne Jebb, Founder of The Save the Children Fund’.

Children Displaced by conflict – Remembering Eglantiyne

The Ellesmere Sculpture Initiative is a Heritage Lottery Funded project and explores the work and legacy of Eglantyne Jebb and the Save the Children Fund.

Ellesmere Sculpture Initiative will share how they developed an idea into a successful project that is now engaging communities in a programme of creative activity and will talk about the forward-looking vision of Eglantyne Jebb and the work over the years of Save the Children.

The main focus of the evening will be a creative workshop. You will have the opportunity to take part in an experiential workshop using different arts media, including drawing and literature to explore the experience of being ‘displaced’. No arts skills are necessary.

Ellesmere Sculpture Initiative will also be sharing poetry and writing produced by refugee children.

Throughout the evening, artists will have the opportunity to network and exchange ideas and information. Refreshments will be available.

Alexa Pugh, Arts Development Officer, Shropshire Council said,

“This is a great opportunity to learn more about the work of a local project that has used art to share such an important message so come along and mingle and chat with other artists and people interested in the arts.”

To book a place at the event, please contact Alexa Pugh (Arts Development Officer, Shropshire Council), email: artsservice@shropshire.gov.uk or Tel: 01743 257731.

For more information about Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, click here.

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Some important decisions were made by Shropshire Council’s Cabinet at its meeting today (Wednesday 20 March 2019).

To see the full agenda and papers, click here.

These items on the published agenda were discussed and approved in line with the recommendations:

• North Midlands Adoption & Permanency Partnership
• Proposed Hackney carriage and private hire licensing
• Proposed closure of Shropshire Council bring bank sites
• Market Drayton Neighbourhood Development Plan
• Woore Neighbourhood Development Plan
• Shropshire Local Plan Review – strategic development sites

Video of meeting:-

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Shropshire Council has begun a six-week consultation on proposed changes to travel assistance for nursery pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and post-16 students.

 The consultation – which was approved by the council’s Cabinet on 6 March [2019] – runs from 18 March to 26 April [2019] and can be found here.

The council is proposing a change to the policy about how post-16 transport is funded and proposing to reduce the subsidy for mainstream post-16 transport, and to introduce contributions for SEND children that are in line with the mainstream scheme. It’s also proposed to remove the council’s financial support for nursery SEND transport over time.

The consultation itself will seek feedback from members of the public and from all the relevant stakeholders and interested parties, including councillors, town and  parish councils, schools and colleges, parents and students.

All responses to the consultation will be carefully considered before the consultation findings, and recommended next steps, are considered by Shropshire Council’s Cabinet on 22 May [2019].

Any changes would come into effect from 1 September 2019 and will be applicable to new applicants only.

Nick Bardsley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children and young people, said:

“The proposals relate to areas of support that the council is not required to provide and we have tried to reduce the potential impact of the proposed changes as much as possible – and have already reviewed our initial proposals to reduce the impact.

“Despite what has been claimed by some, this will be a genuine consultation. No decision has yet been made and we genuinely do want to hear the thoughts and views of students, parents, carers, education providers – anyone with an interest in this matter. All comments received will be carefully considered before the results of the consultation will  be presented to Cabinet in May for a final decision.

“Nobody wants or likes to change or withdraw services or funding, but – as is  well known – across the council we are having to make savings in the face of severe budget pressures. The council’s passenger transport team have already introduced a number of innovative transport solutions to reduce the pressure on the home-to-school transport budget and, whilst these have been and continue to be successful, in order to realise a significant budget reduction a policy change is needed.”

To find out more and to take part in the consultation, go to www.shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved.

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