Council to discuss going in a 'new direction'

Leader Heather Kidd has submitted the report "A new direction for Shropshire"

A report that hopes to take Shropshire in "a new direction" is to be discussed at a council meeting.

Submitted by leader Heather Kidd, she said the report, titled "A new direction for Shropshire", would focus on three priorities - financial recovery and stability, contract reform and value for money, as well as community engagement and partnership.

It comes as the Lib Dem-run council is in a precarious financial position - with a predicted overspend this financial year of £35.169m - £889,000 of which cannot be funded through reserves or other means.

"Some service areas may need to stop, some brought in-house, some delivered in partnership and some delivered through contract," said Kidd.

"Our focus will be on what works, not on a fixed idealistic approach."

The report will go before the authority's full council meeting on Thursday.

The authority also hopes to deliver, as part of this new strategic direction, a new highways contract and stabilising finances within two years.

Kidd said the report looks at making "difficult decisions" not made previously, such as potential short-term reductions to services, while meeting its statutory requirements, and increasing fees and charges.

It also outlines plans to improve areas like planning, adult social care, highways and flooding, children's services and more.

"We must become a 'can do council' and continue to work in partnership with other bodies, including enabling our town and parish councils, voluntary groups, and communities to take ownership of local priorities where Shropshire Council can no longer deliver key services alone," she said.

"This may mean shifting our role, in particular in those areas where discretionary spend is historically low."

She added that this shift should empower town and parish councils, voluntary groups, and communities to take ownership of local priorities.